scaifea's 2015 challenge - thread #10

Welcome to thread X!



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. 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)
-Stormbreaker (1001 Children's Books list)
-English Fairy Tales (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-John Tyler (Presidential Challenge)
-(pending next trip to the library) (audio book)
-Stand on Zanzibar (Hugo & BFSA award lists)
-The A.B.C. Murders (Christie bibliography)
-The Puppy Place: Mocha (Charlie's bed-time book)
-The Marvelous Land of Oz (Charlie's bath-time book)
-Cicero (off of my classics shelves)
-Essential Tibetan Buddhism (Buddhism list)
-She (year-by-year book list, 1887)
-Tears of the Giraffe (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)
-Rebecca (British Author Challenge, NEH list)
-Neil Patrick Harris Choose Your Own Biography (Christmas present!)

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.)

MARCH
117. (#27) The American (AAC, NEH list) - 9/10 = A
118. Plants We Wear (public library book) - 8/10 = B
119. The Way Back Home (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
120. Hello Kitty: Happy Graduation (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
121. The Dark (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
122. Count the Monkeys (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
123. National Geographic Kids: Trains (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B-
124. A Day in the Sun (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
125. How to Train Your Dragon 2: A Tale of Dragons (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
126. Good Night, Fairies (public library book) - 9/10 = A-
127. (#28) Mary Poppins (Charlie's bedtime book) - 9/10 = A-
128. (#29) Brown Girl Dreaming (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
129. Rhino? What Rhino? (public library book) - 8/10 = B
130. T Is for Teachers (public library book) - 8/10 = B
131. The Incredible Book-Eating Boy (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
132. Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A-
133. (#30) The Night Watch (BAC, 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read list) - 9/10 = A
134. Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Treasury (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
135. Red: A Crayon's Story (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
136. A Story for Bear (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
137. Help! We Need a Title! (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
138. Hello Kitty: Fall Surprise (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
139. (#31) Brideshead Revisited (BAC, NEH) - 8/10 = B+
140. Hello Kitty: Beach Day (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
141. (#32) The Wizard of Oz (Charlie's bath-time book) - 8/10 = B
142. (#33) Excalibur (from the TBR shelves) - 9/10 = A-
143. (#34) Needled to Death (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
144. (#35) Pierre and Jean (Books by Year challenge) - 8/10 = B
145. (#36) Joss Whedon: The Biography (from the Read Now shelf, Christmas present) - 7/10 = C
146. (#37) Faust, Part II (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List) - 8/10 = B
147. (#38) Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy (audio book) - 9/10 = A
148. Pete the Cat: Play Ball! (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
149. Hello Kitty: The New Friend (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
150. (#39) Goblin Market (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B+
151. (#40) Pran of Albania (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
152. (#41) Summer Camp (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
153. (#42) The Tower of London (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
154. (#43) Trouble in Space (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
155. (#44) The Polar Bear Express (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
156. (#45) The Mona Lida Is Missing! (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
157. (#46) Escape (CYOA) - 8/10 = B
158. (#47) Hyperspace (CYAO) - 8/10 = B
159. Money, Money, Honey Bunny! (public library book) - 8/10 = B
160. Who's Making That Mess? (public library book) - 8/10 = B
161. (#48) The Jumping-Off Place (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
162. Learn About Weather: Rain (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
163. The Solar System (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
164. The Magic School Bus: A Journey Through the Solar System (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
165. Cat Up a Tree (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
166. (#49) Little Blacknose (Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
167. Biscuit's Day at the Farm (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B

The Charlie Topper (or, How We Spent Our Afternoon Today):

And the Bonus Question (thanks to Valerie for this one!):

What's one thing your current self would say to your sixteen year old self?

Safe to come in?

BQ: Forget about those cool guys. Find yourself a nice, quiet nerd. They make the best husbands :)

ETA: On a more somber note, I'd tell myself to tell my mom to get a mammogram.

ETA2: Happy new thread, Amber!

>3 scaifea: Katie: Perfect timing (I only need three posts to get things started round here)! And sing it, sister! I married one of those perfect quiet nerds, too, and he's, well, perfect!

ETA: Oh, boy, yes, much more somber note. I'm sorry, Katie.

>4 katiekrug: - Eh, it is what it is. But both pieces of advice to my 16 year old self could have maybe saved some heartache :)

Reading List Note: Charlie and I have abandoned How to Train Your Dragon: he liked the movie version better, and I'm not too happy with all of the coarse name-calling and such. We're shelving it for now and he may like it when he's a bit older. Instead, tonight we'll start one that he chose at the book fair, a chapter book about puppies, apparently. I'm not expecting high literature here, but we'll see how it goes...

>6 katiekrug: Katie: I'm finding this one a hard one to answer, because I'm pretty sure that my 16-year-old self wouldn't listen to a *thing* I'd tell her. Humph.

BQ: I'd tell myself "You're going to meet a better guy---THE guy---very soon! Don't make promises you'll need to break later."

>3 scaifea: Dear Marie, spend more time with your sisters and grandmother. Life can be very short. Also, you are so not going to end up with your current boyfriend, but have fun anyways and don't worry - you marry a great guy.

P.S. When you do get married... make sure you spend more time thinking about how your hair will look at the wedding. Otherwise, yikes!

Hi Amber, happy new thread my dear, hope you are having a good Monday.

>4 katiekrug:, >9 laytonwoman3rd:, >10 rosylibrarian: Hmmm....does there seem to be a trend here?

The topper makes me think of the Henry Huggins books, somehow.

Bonus: I would tell my sixteen-year-old self two things: 1) Give the boys a break. Some of them are probably all right under all that bluster. 2) Don't give up on math and science the second they'll let you. Your brain will catch up a bit to that kind of thinking, and later you'll wish you had some more grounding in it.

>7 scaifea: - Oh, dear. See, I'm a terrible judge of these things - I think snot names are still funny. But remember, I'm also one of the ones who extolled the virtues of a well-timed fart joke so I should not be trusted :D

Enjoy your trip home, Amber. I am planning on heading off to see my Mom next week, it's been since Xmas for me too - and that's far too long!

I would like to tell my sixteen year old self to be more adventurous and get all the crazy out of your system, but also to spend more time on the schoolwork cause it does shape your future!

Hmm...one thing, huh? I'm kind of with scaifea in that I'm not sure my other self would have believed me, but I'd probably try to convince her that things would get better in college. I was bullied terribly through jr. high and high school and I was pretty withdrawn and quiet until college. I didn't go to my prom and didn't want to, nor did I date. College was like being born again and having a second chance at a social life.

Oh, yeah, and I'd tell her that when that nerdy used bookstore owner in Muncie asks if you want to get a cup of coffee from next door, don't forget to tell him you'd take a cup of cocoa instead! (This was really Derek's first invitation to an informal date, and my answer. I'm not a coffee fan, but I do love my cocoa!) :)

>3 scaifea: Dare!

Happy New Thread, Amber.

I would say to myself: You are lovely, you are not fat at all. Enjoy the way you are now!

Hmm, I think I'd tell 16 year old me not to hermit so much. Not that she'd listen. Or that I do either. :P

>9 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Ooooh, interesting!

>10 rosylibrarian: Marie: *snork!* I'm not very fond of my hair in my wedding photos, either.

>11 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! It's been a fantastic day!

>12 laytonwoman3rd: Yes, Linda, very interesting...

>13 lycomayflower: Laura: Cool! I have Henry Huggins in the stack of books from which Charlie gets to choose the next bed time read when we've finished one, but so far he hasn't gone for it. Eventually, though, and I'm certain he'll love it.

>14 katiekrug: Katie: It's not really the names themselves (which are pretty funny - and I love a good fart joke as much as the next guy, really!); it's the mean-spiritedness. That's what seems a little old still for Charlie (and for me, too, really). There's none of that in the movie, which is hilarious and adorable.

>15 DeltaQueen50: Judy: Safe travels to your mom, too! I can't wait to see mine (and my dad) tomorrow!

>16 CassieBash: Cassie: Junior High was The Worst, wasn't it? Ugh. But, yeah, It Gets Better is a great piece of advice. In fact, there's an amazing little video on youtube somewhere, of various celebrities who were bullied in school for various reasons, telling the camera that very message. It's really moving and I recommend it to any kid going through the hell of junior high or even high school, if there's bullying going on.

>17 PawsforThought: Nice!

>18 connie53: Connie: Great advice!

>19 MickyFine: Micky: I kind of reveled in my hermit ways as a high school kid and a college student. And I don't really regret it. I came out of my shell in grad school and had a fantastic time then.

Happy new thread! Glad to see it is warm enough for you guys to spend some time outdoors.

So interesting...my 16 year old self would probably hear me say that dork you think you are in love is a millions miles off the mark. My husband wins hands down in ALL departments. He's a nerd guy too. He used to be quiet and then I think I infected him with my loudness. ;)
Oh! And I would tell her to stop being a chicken and get those freaking wisdom teeth out...haha! :D

I would tell myself to see more and take more chances.

>21 jolerie: Valerie: Ha! Throwing your 16-year-old self under the bus about those teeth, I see. Brutal.

>22 xymon81: And would you have listened, do you think? I wouldn't have. Too timid (still am).

I would tell my 16-year-old self to go ahead and get a driver's license, because driving is actually a lot of fun.

I didn't actually get around to learning to drive until I was 26.

>24 casvelyn: That is a good one! I didn't get mine until I was 27 and in my last trimester pregnant with my oldest son. You bet I used that as leverage to pass my test. ;)

>24 casvelyn: That *is* a good one!

>25 jolerie: Valerie: Wow - good for you!

>24 casvelyn: & >25 jolerie: Reminds me of my mum, who during my entire childhood (particularly after my brother got his learner's permit) made me constantly promise to get my license as soon as I possibly could. No daughter of hers would be dependent on anyone else, no sir!

Happy New thread, Amber! Love the Charlie on the Bike Topper! That is perfect. It looks like you are picking a good week, to visit Indiana. It supposed to be above normal all week. Have a great time.

>27 PawsforThought: My mom had a very similar argument.

>28 msf59: Thanks, Mark! We're both so looking forward to it.

139. (31st non-picture book) Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (BAC, NEH, 402 pages) - 8/10 = B+

I'm not really certain how to talk about this one. I liked the first half, which seems to be some mix of Wodehouse and Wilde, but more subdued, much better than the second half, which just turned sad and fatalistic. The writing, though, is lovely, of course, and that's enough to make me happy.

Just want you to know that derisive Purdue reference on your last thread did not escape my attention. But I still like you, Amber!!

My advice to my 16yo self would be to lighten up and live a little, take risks and make mistakes. Sometimes I have to advise my 53yo self of this!!

>24 casvelyn: Interesting...I waited a while (although not to age 26) to get my driver's license, and so did my daughter. I wouldn't have hurried myself about that, though...I think I got mine exactly when I should have. And I've scarcely let the wheels stop turning since!

I'd say to 16 year old Lynda, "Oh, stop being such a
baby and just do it!" Then I'd hug her and tell her you only live once, don't be such a scaredy cat.

Nice to see it's t-shirt weather in your neck of the woods.

Looks like we pretty much thought the same way re: Brideshead.

>31 lauralkeet: Laura: Ha! It's so nice that we can be friend despite the obstacles so clearly set against us.

>32 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: I think that if I had grown up in an urban area with public transportation I would have taken my sweet time to get a license. But since I had been driving tractors and such since about 6 years of age, it wasn't really a bit deal for me.

>33 Carmenere: Lynda: I'll have to swing back by your thread to read your review - I likely skipped it before because I don't read reviews of books I'm currently - or about to - read...

140. Hello Kitty: Beach Day by Jenne Simon (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
Another in the boxed set of Hello Kitty picture clue readers we ordered for Charlie in the last month's scholastic flyer. He loves them, of course.

141. (32nd non-picture book) The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Charlie's bath-time book, 354 pages) - 8/10 = B
I've never been partial to the books (I do love the movie, though), but Charlie really seemed enchanted by this one and wants to read the next in the series. So, well, fine with me.

Also Read Today:
-Mickey's Mystery List
-The Sesame Street Library Volume 11

>30 scaifea: Brideshead did seem like two different books, didn't it?

I kind of think my 16 year old self was hopeless, and needed to make all the mistakes she had ahead of her. So no advice for young Rhonda, just hugs.

What great advice everyone has for their 16 year old self. I would tell my 16 year old self to do what she really wanted to do with her life and not listen to the adults and advisers who said it was the wrong direction to go. Another piece of advice would be to confident in myself, to not feel bad that I was not part of a couple and once I did have a relationship to have enough courage to walk away when it was time because it wouldn't get any better.

>24 casvelyn: I didn't get my drivers license until I was 26 either and the instructor who taught me pointed out the people in class who he said wouldn't continue to drive. I was one of them so I had to prove him wrong! (I get into more trouble trying to prove people wrong, sigh.)

I'd tell my 16-year-old self to take time to explore possibilities, that there were many things I could do that I had never imagined. But my 19-year-old self figured that out on her own, so it all turned out pretty well, I think. (I might also whisper a word in her ear about that guy she was crushing on -- but she probably wouldn't listen to me!)

>36 banjo123: It sure did, Rhonda. It kind of threw me for a loop, I have to say. And I love your advice! Perfect.

>37 Familyhistorian: Meg: What a jerk that instructor sounds like! Gah. I'm glad you've proven him wrong!

>38 foggidawn: I wonder just how many of us wouldn't listen to ourselves...

On the agenda for today:

Driving! To Indiana! YAY!!

I'll have only my phone with which to check in here, so I'll not be posting much this week. Have a great week, everyone!

Morning Amber! Have a safe trip, my friend. Do you listen to anything while driving? Inquiring minds...

Safe travels!

Have a wonderful trip, Amber. Can't wait to read your stories and see some pics when you return.

Top o' th' mornin' to you, and Godspeed, scaifea! May the wind be at your back (especially since today's wind gusts are 10-20 mph!). :)

Hope you and Charlie have a fun trip and a good visit.

Holy Runaway Threads! I wore out three horses (but treated them to sumptuous quarters and dining, jenny/lunacat) catching up with you, Amber!

Safe travels. May the wind always be at your back, and the chocolate chip cookies soft and delicious.

We've made it to Indiana safe and sound, although Cassie's right - it's blustery out there! Sun is shining, though, and we opened my parents' door to the smell of baking bread. It feels good to be here! Thanks, all for the visits and well-wishings - more later!

Happy new thread Amber!

Bonus Question: I would say "come out of your shell and mingle with people. They cannot get to know you - and like you - until you open yourself up to the idea of getting to know them". I was a very shy, wallflower kind of girl. I have since then become a rather gregarious adult, so we will just chalk it up as being a late bloomer. ;-)

Interesting perspective on Brideshead. The story did have a perceptible shift and I like how you have captured it.

Have a safe trip!

>3 scaifea: Ha! I would tell myself that instead of taking work release my senior year, I should take calculus and physics because it will save a bundle at university when I decide to major in zoology. And also the thing about quiet nerdy guys. I love my nerdy introvert. :)

I totally get why you've shelved How to Train Your Dragon. A couple of years makes a big difference with the rudery and so forth. Not that it's nicer after they get older, but it's more common at school and makes for good discussion.

Bonus question:

As I was thinking about what I might tell my younger self, I realized two things. One, I learned a lot of this stuff at 19 and into young adulthood (I think someone else said that?) and two, I probably wouldn't have listened anyway. But what I wish I knew at 16 is: it's okay to loosen up a little. You don't have to figure out everything you want to do with your life now: despite what everyone else says, there is time for exploration. Relax a little, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Also, your future boyfriend is a liar.

To my 16 year old self: Don't take things too personally. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Accept you aren't perfect and other people aren't either.

I sound like a 59 year old! Wait, I am!

>30 scaifea: Brideshead felt like two different books to me, too, but I liked the second one better than the first.

Bonus question: What would I say to my 16-year-old self? Probably hi and have fun. My high school years were special because of chorus and madrigals. We had an outstanding director who knew how to get the best out of us. We sounded as good as many college choirs. I knew at the time that I was part of something very special and creating memories that I would treasure.

Have fun in Indiana! I spent a lot of my spring breaks at my grandparents' home in Indiana. I have fond memories of coloring Easter eggs with my grandma.

Ooh, excellent bonus question. I would tell my 16 year old self that all the stuff in books about brushing your hair to make it shiny is lies - it just makes it fluffy like first Harry Potter movie Hermione. And cutting a fringe/bangs is actually a good idea. And don't let Mum convince you that if she is finally going to buy you a proper pair of brand name running shoes they need to be 1.5 sizes too big - your feet have finished growing and you'll be stuck with those damn shoes for the next 10 years. And seriously, don't stress about that one boy. And when you get to university, call your mother within the first couple of days, even if it is really hard to find a free phone to use!

I'd say to my 16 year old self: "it will all be okay". I kinda thought that then anyway, but it would be reassuring to hear it from my geezer self.

I'd also say, buy as much Starbucks stock as you can get your hands on, once it shows up. You'll thank me. I mean, I'll thank me.

Hope you are having a wonderful trip, Amber. :)

Thought of you when I read this little piece about Lorem Ipsum.

>56 lycomayflower: And smiled, as I did, I'll bet.

>53 evilmoose: LOL!

What's one thing your current self would say to your sixteen year old self? You're trying too hard.

Hi Amber, I've finally got time to visit you. Happy New Thread and a most lovely weekend.

Happy Saturday, Amber! We are missing you. Hope you had a nice time with the folks. Are you back today?

Bonus question: I would probably tell myself that just having a boyfriend does not mean you're in love. :)

>3 scaifea: For once I am stumped for a glib answer - perhaps the result of a pretty hectic week. I would probably tell myself that your metabolism slows as you get older so keep on keeping on and keep off those inches.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Well, hello, everyone. Charlie and I are finally home from Indiana, where we experienced what may be the Worst Spring Break in the History of Ever, No Really. (Well, okay, not really, in the grand scheme of things, but at the time it felt pretty danged awful.) Here's what happened:

We drove to my parents' house on Tuesday; Charlie was just getting over his cold and had a slight residual cough, but nothing to be concerned about, and I had the version of a cold I always get, a very slight case of bronchial something-or-other, not even enough to call it my usual bronchitis reaction to colds, and I only had the small cough and no other cold symptoms (no congestion, runny nose, anything like that). So, we went. The next morning, somehow my something-or-other had turned into a nasty head cold and full-on bronchitis. Gah. The next morning (Thursday), Charlie woke me up at 4am by vomiting all over the bed, and then he had bouts of diarrhea all day, woke up the next morning (Friday) and did it again. I left him with my parents on Friday while I went to a local acute care clinic to gets some antibiotics for my now-raging bronchitis and sinus-infection-level head miseries (I had a sinus-like headache so severe that I really shouldn't have driven myself, probably, but I'm stubborn that way and wanted both parents at home to help with Charlie). Saturday (the day we were supposed to drive home), Charlie seemed better, but I certainly wasn't ready to drive 7 hours, so we stayed on another day. And Saturday night, starting at about 10pm, both my parents and I were up all night racing back and forth to the bathroom vomiting and dealing with some serious diarrhea and suffering the worst abdominal pains I've felt in a, well, since last week - ha! Between the three of us I think we may have slept 30 minutes total. Thankfully Charlie slept through the whole affair, and his earlier-in-the-week version of this awful bug wasn't nearly as severe as ours, thank goodness. I called Tomm very early yesterday morning to see what we should do, and he offered to come and get Charlie and bring him home so that he wouldn't miss any school, and then I could rest at my parents until all my various illnesses cleared up a bit. So we agreed to that, and Tomm came to get Charlie. But the early afternoon, unbelievably, I felt good enough to drive home, too, so I followed them home separately, just in case I needed to make more frequent stops for the residual, um, residuals of the night before.
And, of course, I feel *terrible* that I brought whatever that bug was home to my parents, who are in their late 70's/early 80's, and my mom has Type 1 Diabetes, so it was particularly rough on her. They were, of course, amazing about it and told me not to dare blame myself and they were glad that I came so that they could help out with Charlie while I was sick (Tomm was out of town on business for most of the week, and admittedly it would have been difficult to be here alone with Charlie and sick), but dang it. They were starting to feel better, too, when I left yesterday, but I sure felt like a jerk making them sick and then abandoning them. But they insisted that I go if I felt good enough, so that I could be home with Charlie in case he got sick again (and I think he may be - he's still sleeping but he was so pale and worn out last night). Well, at least school is canceled today so he'll have a forced day of rest - yep, it's canceled because it's snowing like crazy right now. Up to 8 inches predicted. Perfect ending to this spring break. Holy. Moly.

So, anyways, that's why I've been silent so long, and I'm sorry for not responding individually to your posts - many thanks to all of you for visiting me while I was away. I'll come back hopefully later today to update my reading - I did manage to finish a few books...

Oh, Amber! You poor, poor baby! That is A LOT to deal with. Glad that you are feeling better and that there is no school today, but so sorry about the horrible spring break and the 5 more inches of snow. YIKES! That stomach bug is really making the rounds this year - very prevalent down here in Georgia. Birdy had it not that long ago, and then she got it back again this weekend. NOT fun! Hoping that you and Charlie are feeling much better very soon.

Sending you healing mojo and hugs.

Thanks, Mamie! It was a rough week, for certain.

Oh Amber, what an awful situation. I'm glad you and Charlie are feeling better ... are your parents doing better as well? And snow -- well that sucks. We had some on Friday but it warmed up enough on Monday to make it disappear.

If you need cheering up, there might be a puppy on my thread.

I thought it was terribly unlike you not to check in at all. I'm so sorry for that awful week. And now more snow on top if it all...you need someone to come in and take over and Be Amber (do everything for you just as you would yourself...I know, impossible!) for a week, so you can do nothing but read, sew if you want, and mother Charlie til you've both forgotten all about it.

>67 lauralkeet: Laura: I'm waiting to hear from my parents this morning - I told them to call me after they woke up - but they were slowly feeling better yesterday already. It seems to be a fast-moving virus, at least.

>68 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I'd love to have a second me for a week! I think... At least I'd like to relax and cuddle with Charlie for a whole week. We'll do that today, for certain.

Oh dear. That does sound like the worst spring break ever. I'm glad you made it home safely and that your parents seem to be on the mend. Maybe the extra day out of school will help to check the spread of the virus.

>70 cbl_tn: Let's hope so, Carrie. I'm now worried that Tomm may come down with it, and he's scheduled to leave for yest another business trip tomorrow morning...

HOORAY! Amber's back!

HOLY SCHNIKEYS! What a nightmare!

So sorry for all that - may you ALL be well and truly on the mend.

>72 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I'm pretty knackered today, but that's partly the medication, I think. Charlie seems much better today, thankfully, and I just talked with my parents and they're tired but definitely on the mend. Whew!

Oh, lord, what a mess of a week! Glad you're all home safe and sound and on the mend. Here's hoping for no more sickness and no more snow!

Yikes! That's a heckuva trip. Glad you're all on the mend...

>74 lycomayflower: Laura: Thanks - me, too! Honestly, at this point, the snow was the lowest on the Awful Scale, I mean we do live in Wisconsin and these things happen here. But, yes, I think I'm ready for this to be over!

>75 drneutron: Thanks, Jim - heckuva trip, indeed.

Hi, Amber! So sorry to hear about your visit and illness. What a drag, my friend. I hope you are doing better.

ETA: Snow sucks!

Wow. Surely this entitles you to a holiday do-over? Hope you're all feeling on the mend.

>77 msf59: Mark: I know, right?! Are you getting this snow where you are?

>78 charl08: Charlotte: Oho, no thank you, I am *finished* with this particular holiday and don't want to do it over! Ha!

Working on entering my latest finished reads - back soon...

142. (33rd non-picture book) Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell (from the TBR shelves, 433 pages) - 9/10 = A-
The end of the Warlord Chronicles trilogy, which is a re-telling of the Arthur legend. I really enjoyed this series and think that it's a cool take on the stories. I love the main guy, Derfel, and Cornwell's versions of all the traditional characters (Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Nimue,...) were excellent. This last one, though, had a bit too many (and too detailed) battle scenes for me.

143. (34th non-picture book) Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton (series I'm reading with my mom, 239 pages) - 8/10 = B+
The second in what is shaping up to be a fun little cozy mystery series. The writing isn't High Literature, but the books so far (this is the second one in the series) are fun, easy comfort reads.

144. (35th non-picture book) Pierre and Jean by Guy de Maupassant (Books by Year challenge - 1888, 176 pages) - 8/10 = B
When Jean learns that he is the sole beneficiary of the inheritance of an old family friend, his brother, Pierre, becomes obsessed with jealousy and with discovering why this friend would choose to leave him nothing.
An interesting little book that follows the disintegration of a family over what at first seems to be a small-enough event. I'm a fan of Maupassant's style, which is leisurely and thoughtful.

145. (36th non-picture book) Joss Whedon: The Biography by Amy Pascale (from the Read Now shelf, Christmas present, 440 pages) - 7/10 = C
Well, this was a disappointment, I have to say. The facts were fine, and interesting, and seemed to be well-researched, but the writing was terrible. I mean, honestly, it was awful. Yeesh. I hope Whedon hasn't read this, because his perfectionist tendencies when it comes to writing would, I think, demonstrably not be pleased.

146. (37th non-picture book) Faust, Part II by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, 285 pages) - 8/10 = B
Significantly weirder than the first part, but still a pretty cool read.

147. (38th non-picture book) Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee (audio book) - 9/10 = A-
Three months after her mother's death, Ophelia, her sister and her father travel to a foreign country for her father's job - he's a sword expert and is tasked with putting together a huge new display on swords for a museum there. During the day as he works, Ophelia spends her time exploring the huge and meandering museum, even though she and her sister have been warned by the beautiful yet strange curator that little girls have been known to become quite lost wandering on their own through the halls and rooms. What Ophelia finds is a very old little boy and way more adventure - and danger - than she thinks she really wants.
Wow. Amazing story. I mean, what more could you want than magic, a ginormous and labyrinthine museum, and a very cool little girl who is, of course, stronger than she knows? Well, a slightly better ending is what. I thought that it fizzled a bit at the very end, but other than that, I loved it and will be buying a copy for Charlie's shelves. Definitely recommended.

Oh gosh friend....I'm feeling your pain!!
I'm glad you were able to get some help during the rough times but I hear ya on feeling bad that your parent's had to deal with it as well. Glad you were able to feel good enough to come home with your boys.
Is the family all better now? Sending you healing vibes!!

>81 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie! I admit that I thought of you in the wee, agonizing hours of Saturday night as I was hugging the toilet. Okay, I know that doesn't sound too flattering, but I was just remembering that you and yours had just gone through something similar and I was sympathizing...

Hi Amber, you have all had a rough time of it my dear but glad you are all feeling much better and hopefully that is the last of the illness for the Scaife family for a good while. Sending love and hugs to you all my dear.

Top reason to be thankful for 8 inches of snow: snakes do not like snow. It's a beautiful day here, mid-70s. I will not go into details because I know you're as phobic as I am, but let's just say that I cut Adrian's walk short this afternoon.

I hope all are now well in your house. I had the stomach stuff and thought I was going to die.

Eesh, what a tough spell of illness at your parents' place. What good-spirited folks you have. Sounds like they made a tough situation as tolerable as it gets.

Sorry to hear the Joss Whedon biography was a disappointment. Our daughter is a big fan (he graduated from her school), and I was thinking about getting it for her.

>83 johnsimpson: Thanks, John - I certainly hope it's the last illness we see for a long time, too! Yeesh.

>84 cbl_tn: Oh, Carrie, no! *shudders* I'm so sorry you saw one of THOSE today. Did Adrian see it? If so, how did he react?

>85 BLBera: Beth: It's really, really not fun, is it? I haven't felt that sick in a long, long time. Thank goodness it didn't last long!

>86 jnwelch: Joe: My parents are the absolute best. So loving and supportive and always helpful. I hit the jackpot there, I have to say. And yeah, I think I'd pass on getting the Whedon book for her and wait it out; surely there will be another one at some point, and it has to be better than this one...

I am so sorry Amber that your trip home turned into a week of sickness. Glad everyone is ok after being hit by what sounds like a particularly nasty bug. One of my worries is that I will take something home to my 94 year old Mum, but she is amazingly healthy. Hope the whole family is feeling better and that next time you and Charlie go visiting, you don't take any bugs along with you.

>88 DeltaQueen50: Judy: It's a big concern for me, especially with my mom, who is 78 and has Type 1 diabetes. Imagine my guilt when she started vomiting, too. Dang it. I try so hard to keep from bringing sickness with us and have canceled several planned trips to visit them because either Charlie or I weren't 100% healthy, but this time we didn't know we were carrying whatever it was until we were already there, so it's not always possible.

So sorry you all had to suffer through that ordeal, Amber. It sounds just like what's known over here as "Winter vomiting disease", a virus that pops up every year (though luckily, most people don't get it THAT often - I've only had it once). It's horrendous.
Glad to hear you're all on the mend now. And stop feeling bad about bringing the virus to your parents. You couldn't possibly know so there is nothing to feel bad about. One should only feel bad about things one does on purpose of could have stopped from happening. None of those things apply to you.

>87 scaifea: It wasn't moving. If Adrian saw it, I don't think he knew what it was. He didn't put up much resistance to turning around and running toward home, thank goodness.

>90 PawsforThought: Many thanks for the kind words - it's nice to have that reassurance!

>91 cbl_tn: Carrie: Whew! Still, that must have been unsettling; it would have shaken me for the rest of the day, for certain!

148. Pete the Cat: Play Ball! by James Dean (public library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
Pete the Cat does his best at his baseball game, doesn't scoare a hit and missed a couple of throw, but still had fun.
I like Pete the Cat - he's pretty cool and the illustrations are hilarious.

Also Read Today:

-It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

Howdy Amber. I am glad you're feeling better. Stinks to be sick when you are visiting your parents. I hope they are better soon too.

Loved Charlie's cupcakes!

I would tell my 16 year old self to be a little wilder.

Sorry to hear that you had such a horrendous March Break, Amber. Good to hear that everyone is on the mend.

So sorry to hear about your visit to your parents being such a disaster, Amber. I hope your folks are feeling much better now, and glad that both you and Charlie are.

>94 luvamystery65: Hi, Roberta! And thanks! I talked to my parents again yesterday evening and my mom is a little slower to recover fully, of course, but she's getting there, sleeping lots and just resting. But, yeah, I think we're all on the way to recovery, although I did have a scare last night when I though my stomach was cramping back up. It was fine, though - just, I think, my innards getting used to food again (I ate a half-way real meal for the first time since Saturday afternoon last night).

>95 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg - I'm glad we're on the mend, too, especially since Tomm left again this morning early for another business trip and won't be back until Friday night...

>96 ronincats: Roni: Thanks! Yep, we're all slowly getting back to normal, thank goodness.

On the agenda for today:

Not much, let me tell you. I'll take Charlie to school this morning (he was feeling much better, though still a little tired, yesterday) then head to the grocery store for a few supplies, come home for a long, hot shower and then we'll see how I'm feeling. I'll likely try to take it pretty easy today. I may putter around in the sewing room, or just sit and read.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of Pran of Albania yesterday afternoon, which so far doesn't seem like anything spectacular, but maybe it'll pick up a bit as I go along. The last night I finally started in on Johnny Got His Gun; hoo, this one is going to be a doozy, and I'm hesitant about it because I'm not very brave when it comes to such intense sorts of books, but I'm going to hang in there with it because I think it's an important read. Plus, well, it's a list book, so, yeah, must read.

The calendar book for today: A Higher Calling: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos. Anyone read this one? Thoughts? I don't know that I could take on another war book right now, and this one sounds a bit too focused on detailed battle descriptions, which hold no interest for me...

Morning Amber! I sure hope you begin to feel better today. Fingers crossed. At least it's not snowing, right?

>99 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I think I am feeling a bit better today - whew! And I think the snow will be gone by tomorrow, since we're supposed to get rain tonight. Here's hoping, anyway!

Sorry to hear about everyone getting sick and ruining vacation! Hope everyone's on the mend now and your next break makes up for it in spades.

>101 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

Nasty illnesses have been going around everywhere! We've had a lot of sick faculty and students here over the past few weeks, some with ailments similar to yours (though I haven't asked about details, of course!). Right now it's our spring break so I'm hoping that everyone who's been ill can rest up and get better before returning with (hopefully) renewed energy and enthusiasm. I, on the other hand, must be as healthy as the proverbial horse (real horses are prone to colic, in my experience), as I've managed to dodge most of the illnesses that have been thrown my way this year. Maybe it's due in part to the promise I made to Derek that I would take echinacea to boost my immune system if I even thought I was getting sick. Maybe I've just built up my immunity working year-round with students and faculty members. When I was working in the public library, I had years where I was like teflon and no illness ever seemed to stick, and then I'd have a year where I'd catch every respiratory and digestive ailment kids could throw at me. My working hypothesis is that, every so often, your immune system flags and you need to re-develop immunity to the common illnesses that occur every year. While I know that these viruses are never the same, there are some strains that are so similar that immunity to one form will mean immunity to a whole host of similar strains. The CDC has an interesting web page about this here: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/change.htm. I've weirdly fascinated by infectious diseases--their history, their pathology, etc.--but I've learned a lot about not just them but our immune systems reading up on them. And having read about smallpox, we are very, _very_ lucky that this disease is all but wiped out. It is one of the most painful and horrible diseases I've read about, and the fact than anyone survived having it is absolutely amazing.

Anyway, here's hoping that next year, you and your family will have a "teflon" year!

>103 CassieBash: Cassie: Well, I'm going to just let you have all of that fascination for infections, lady. I'm not interested in them any more - ha!

I'm sorry about your spring break, Amber. That sounds awful. I'm glad you're back home and feeling better, though.

>105 kgodey: Thanks, Kriti!

I really hope you've opted to just sit and read today, Amber. Because the nurse is coming around, and she is likely to be pretty stern with you if you're pushing yourself...uh oh....is that her?

Sorry to hear about the attack of the nasty virus, Amber, but glad that it sounds like everyone is on the mend. Take it easy!

I'm sorry that you, Charlie and your parents had such a horrible week of illness, Amber. I'm glad that all of you, especially your parents, are slowly recovering.

(Message edited due to news about Amber's mother.)

My sister just called me: my mom fell this morning and hit her head pretty hard. She's not very coherent, apparently, and her blood sugar is high, and she's on the way to the emergency room in an ambulance. I could hear my dad crying in the background. Please, if you have a moment today, spare a thought for her. I'm feeling very scared and sad and very much too far away from her right now, and Tomm's in between Chicago and Florida and I have no good solution for how to get back home to my family for the next few days.

Oh, no! I'm very sorry to hear about your mother's fall, Amber. I'll say a prayer now for you, her and your family. Please keep us posted on her condition.

>110 scaifea: Yikes! I'm so sorry, Amber. It sounds VERY scary!

Amber, is anyone other than your father nearby to keep an eye on your mother? If so, as hard as it may sound, it may be better to sit tight until you find out how she is doing. It's far better to stay at home by the phone and keep updated on her condition than to drive in a panic in bad weather and possibly compound the current situation.

>112 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen.

>113 kidzdoc: Darryl: My sister and my brother are with my parents at the hospital. And, no, I'm not going anywhere. It wouldn't do for me to get in my car and make that 7-hour drive right now, which would likely wear me back down and get me sick again, and so there I'd be at my parents' not being able to help in any way and making my family worry because I'm still not well, which is, of course, the last thing they need. Also, Tomm's away and so I'd have to take Charlie with me, pulling him out of school and putting him through that drive again when he's just now getting well, too, and then since Tomm can't go with me I couldn't really be at the hospital with my family because I wouldn't put Charlie through long hours in the waiting room.
So, yeah, it makes no sense for me to go right now. But that doesn't make it any easier to sit here and wait, either, and the guilt I'm feeling right now for even unknowingly bringing this sickness to them with our visit and then leaving them before they were wholly well from it is indescribable.

>114 scaifea: That's good that your sister and brother are with your parents, Amber. I'm glad to hear that you've decided to stay at home. I understand that the upper Midwest has had more snow, and the last thing your family needs is for you to (God forbid) get into an accident while you're rushing to see your mother (which has happened to at least two family members of hospitalized kids that I took care of).

Speaking from experience, it's very hard to sit tight when a parent or other loved one is sick and you are far away from them. Fortunately my brother lives very close to my parents, and his work office is only a 10-15 minute drive away, and my parents have good and very trustworthy neighbors on their street, so I know that they are in good hands should anything acutely happen to them. It's still difficult to be so far away from them, although I know that I can hop on a flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia and get there in short order if I'm needed emergently.

This may not mean anything now, but you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened last week. You didn't know that you and Charlie were sick, so it can't be your fault for causing their illness. And, assuming that your parents, Charlie and you were sick with rotavirus gastroenteritis, which we've seen a lot of over the past month, it's an incredibly contagious illness which is almost impossible to keep from passing from one person to the next, so there wasn't much, if anything, you could have done to keep them from getting it.

My thoughts and prayers remain with you and your family. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.

Amber, I'm so sorry to read about your mother. It's good that your brother and sister are there to support your parents but I know how horrible it is worrying about a parent long-distance.

Oh Amber, you really have been through the wringer. So sorry to hear you've all been ill, then to hear about your Mum on top of it all. Thoughts are with you - and empathising madly. With everyone apart from my immediate family in the UK, therefore inaccessible outside of boats and planes (and frequent fog/storms in winter), I understand not being able to get to loved ones when you need to.

Again, thoughts are with your family and with you and Charlie, hoping you two feel better soon too.

Oh no, saying a prayer for your mom and family. Please keep us updated when you can.

Oh, Amber...my heart goes out to you. I've been in the position of having an extremely ill family member out of range, and it's agony. As parents and children at the same time, we can be caught in such turmoil over where our responsibilities lie. But you're right to stay put for now. It sounds like your mother is in good hands, and your siblings are on the scene. The LT mojo is cranking up, too, and that's always a good thing. Hang on.

Thinking of you and your Mum, Amber.

Ohh Amber, such a terrible story. The four of you getting sick at the same time. And feeling so awful. And now your Mother! I will be thinking about her and say a little prayer for her.

Sparing multiple thoughts for your Mom and for you, Amber! I'm so glad your sister and brother are there for your Mom and Dad, and your clear thinking and rational decision-making regarding staying put or rushing over are admirable! I think you are doing exactly right (but I know that doesn't help you with the feelings of guilt - nothing will - such an insidious emotion). But we are all here to back you up. Hang in there, friend!

Thinking of you Amber with the situation with your mother. Sorry to hear that you've all been under the weather too.

Hugs, Amber. Thinking of you, your mom, and all your family.

Thank you all *so much* for your kind words and support - I need it today and I'm so very grateful to you all.

>115 kidzdoc: Darryl: I suspect you're right about the rotovirus bit, and thank you for your reassurance - I can't say how comforting those words are, especially from someone who clearly knows about what he speaks.

Mom Update:
The MRI they took shows that everything is fine with her head and they'll just be putting a couple of stitches in where she was cut just above the eye. The real issue is dehydration and so they've put her on IV fluids and apparently she's already better as far as strength and coherency goes. They're keeping her overnight just to be certain, but as long as things keep going as they are they'll let her go home tomorrow. My new slight worry now is that her endocrinologist is not at this hospital and that they'll try to manage her insulin without her input - she's very good at knowing how much and which kind to take and how to adjust it, and we've heard not-so-great stories in the past from others at how non-specialists at this hospital tend to not be overly-open to listening to the Type 1 patients on this but changing up their insulin schedules to bad results. So, we'll see how it goes overnight. I'm also worried about my dad, who, after his stroke last summer now becomes so very easily upset and worried, and I know from what my sister said earlier that he's in a state over it all. If mom stays overnight at the hospital, I'm worried about him being alone at home tonight and working himself into another stroke. I'm hoping my sister will stay with him, but he's pretty stubborn and may not let her.

Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts - keep them coming, please!

That's great news about your mother, Amber! Will one of your siblings be able to stay with her tonight to help ensure that she is properly watched and managed? One of them may want to call her endocrinologist, to let her know that she is in the hospital, and to get the specialist's advice on how she should be managed, to avoid mistakes by the non-specialists.

Maybe your sister could come up with a lame excuse to stay with your father tonight?

Please continue to keep us updated on their conditions.

*Hugs* to you my friend. Just another dang thing after another is not what you need. Don't be hard on yourself with guilt. Your parents know you love and care for them and would be there in a heartbeat if you could! I'm glad to hear the MRI came back with nothing serious. Your family are in my prayers and thoughts today, Amber! Sending you an umbrella for all the rain because you know how the saying goes....

Oh Amber I'm just catching up with the initial news and the update on your mom's condition. I too am far away from my parents and it is so hard to deal with when there are issues both small and large. Sending you a hug ... hoping your dad accepts help overnight, and that all goes well with your mom so that she's discharged and back home with him tomorrow.

>126 kidzdoc: Darryl: I think that her endocrinologist is too far away (another county) to have any privileges at this hospital, but I'm not sure. More good news, as far as I'm concerned: ad is going to stay at the hospital with my mom tonight and that makes me much less worried about the both of them - he'll already be in the hospital should something happen with him and on the other side, he'll fight for her right to make decisions about her insulin if needs be.

>127 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie - I'll take that umbrella, for certain.

>128 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. It's really hard being so far away, isn't it.

OK, Amber...just breathe, now. Dehydration is a bugger, but so easily reversed once identified in time. Don't let other people's "horror stories" creep in and take over your head. If your Dad's strong and wilfull enough to "not let" your sister stay with him, then he's not in THAT much of a state, and he'll be OK. And listen up to Darryl (gosh, isn't it wonderful to have an in-house physician to help with this?).
EDIT: Oh, see...typing while you were typing, and all my Superior Wisdom is just clutter now!

Keeping you and your Mom in my thoughts, Amber.

>130 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Not clutter at all - you gave me my first chuckle all day and that's certainly worth something! And yes, I'm pretty grateful for our in-house doc, most definitely.

>131 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie.

>129 scaifea: I have two thoughts regarding your mother's endocrinologist: first, you or one of your siblings could check online to see if she has privileges at that hospital. That should be easy to do, by looking at the hospital's web page and searching for the endocrinologists on the hospital staff, or looking at the endocrinologist's web page, to see which hospitals she has privileges at (alternatively, a call to the hospital or to that doctor's office should also provide that information). Second, if the endocrinologist does not have privileges at that hospital she could still help with your mother's diabetes management, and the physician(s) taking care of her may well appreciate guidance from the specialist. I've had hundreds of families ask me to call a non-Children's specialist or the child's primary care physician, either to help with inpatient management, to determine what medications the child is supposed to be on (for kids with chronic health problems), or to obtain more information about the child which would be useful to me. I almost always find those calls to be helpful, and if your father or sibling provides the physician caring for your mother with the endocrinologist's phone number there's a good chance that the specialist will be called by that doctor for advice, which would help ensure that no mistakes are made in your mother's IDDM management.

*steps gently off of soapbox*

ETA: I should have mentioned that I received a phone call on Monday from the primary care pediatrician of a 3 week old baby that I discharged from the hospital the day before. The baby was fine at the time of discharge, but she took a sudden turn for the worse yesterday, and he wanted to know what the little girl looked like at the time of discharge, and my opinion what he should do with her today. I told him that she should be seen in our ER and probably readmitted to hospital (which she was), and he was grateful for my advice.

*really getting off soapbox now*

It's so easy to blame ourselves when things go wrong, isn't it? I join in the chorus though in saying to try not to let it bother you too much. Sometimes life is just messy and there isn't anything we can do or could have done to fix it.

I'm glad that the situation with your mother resolved relatively easily. I imagine you were panicked there for awhile. She has so many advocates that I'm sure she'll make it through the night unscathed. As for your father, perhaps your sister could just refuse to leave? Or I like the idea of a lame excuse too! :D

I send warm virtual bear hugs to you and yours.

ETA: Yay on your dad staying with your mom!

Oh so sorry to hear about your mom's fall. What a mixed bag of updates :( Though I'm glad the MRI came out okay, and I'll send good thoughts that they listen to her about the insulin. It can be so frustrating when people won't listen to someone who really knows their body/needs!

Stopping by to drop off some good thoughts for you and yours.

Sorry to hear about your mom's fall, but glad that things seem to be under control. Take a couple of deep breaths and a soothing cup of tea, and know that we are all gathered around you in spirit.

>133 kidzdoc: Thanks for that, Darryl. I don't know what her doctor's name is, but I'll pass your solid advice on to my sister and brother. Your expert soapbox is welcome here any time!

>134 Morphidae: Thanks so much, Morphy.

>135 bell7: Mary: Here's hoping that no insulin issues crop up tonight and that she gets to go home tomorrow.

>136 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli.

>137 foggidawn: Many thanks - I think I'll take your advice about that tea...

Oh Amber, sorry to hear about your Mum's fall. But she sounds like she is in the right place for her recovery. It is always very worrisome to be far from loved ones when they are ill. Take care of yourself and take strength from the support she has around her now.

>139 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.

I heard from my brother just now, who just got home from being at the hospital all day. My sister likes to sugar-coat things and he wanted to give me a clearer picture of what happened. When they got her to the hospital this morning, she was apparently in really bad shape, enough so that her eyes were glazed and not responding to the penlight test (or whatever that's called), and her blood pressure and such were extremely low. He said that they were hustling to get her stabilized and he, who was for years a fire fighter and emergency responder and knows these things) was really worried. Not good. But, of course, the dehydration bit means that now that they've given her three bags of fluids, she's made lots of progress just today.

All kinds of feelings going on now. Relief that in the end it turned out not to be as bad as my imagination fretted at first, distress that it came closer than I realized to being very bad, sadness that my mom - and my very best friend - had to go through this today (not to mention the worry and stress that my dad's been through today, too), guilt for all the reasons listed earlier. But also gratefulness for my brother and sister living so close and being so good to them, and to all of you for your kind words and comforting thoughts. I can't thank you all enough for what you've done for me today, nor adequately express how much help you've been to me.

OMG, Amber! Sounds like you had a very scary day. It sounds like your Mom is being well taken care of and I hope that gives you some piece of mind.

Keep us updated. Hugs, to my pal.

Amber, I'm sorry your family has had such a rough day. I am praying for both of your parents. I hope you'll be able to sleep well tonight knowing that your parents are together and that your mother is getting the care she needs to recover from the dehydration and fall.

Amber, I just now read what a terrible day you and your family have been having. I am sending healing thoughts and hugs.

Sorry you've been through such a wringer of a day, Amber. I sincerely hope tomorrow is much, much better.

Amber, I know very well what it feels like to be far away when a family member has a serious health issue. I'm glad your mother is doing better tonight and your dad is able to stay with her. My prayers are with your family.

Sorry to hear about your mum. Dehydration can be a right b****, and it happens so easily! Glad to hear things are getting better, though. Hope your mum does get to go home tomorrow and hopefully get right back to normal soon. (And how nice that your dad could stay at the hospital - what a comfort for the both of them, and you!)

>141 msf59: Mark: Yep, it was a pretty rough day. I'll let you all know as soon as I hear anything today.

>142 cbl_tn: Carrie: I was, indeed, able to sleep, eventually, but stayed up reading for a good while first to try to keep my mind off things. Once I did put the book down (I tried reading until my eyes wouldn't stay open), I drifted off pretty fast, thank goodness.

>143 DeltaQueen50: Thanks so much, Judy.

>144 MickyFine: Many thanks, Micky.

>145 ronincats: Hugs to you, Roni, and thanks.

>146 PawsforThought: It's strange how fast = and how badly - dehydration can strike, isn't it? But thank goodness it's pretty quickly reversed. I'm hoping that they both had an okay night in the hospital last night.

On the agenda for today:

Another day at home while Charlie's at school (I'm usually scheduled to volunteer on Wednesday afternoons, but I let Charlie's teacher know that I couldn't do it today - I want to be home for news if there is any and have another full day at home to get more fully recovered myself). I may bake something, for the comfort of it, and I need to get cracking on that crayon costume hat (the dress-up day is next week). I'd also like to start thinking about the talk I'll be giving next month at school on Ancient Rome, but we'll see if that happens today. Otherwise, a day of reading while waiting for news about mom.

On the reading front: I finished a couple of books last night during my Read Until I Can't Stay Awake plan to keep me from thinking too much about mom - I'll report back later on those.

Amber, I was so pleased to read that the MRI came back fine, and the IV fluids were working. It's scary to think that dehydration can have such a serious effect, but at least it's easily fixed. And how great that your Dad could stay overnight - neither of them would have been worrying about the other one, and I'm sure that must help. Your day looks quite busy for someone who still isn't fully well - shall I give you my stern look so you take a task or two off that list? :-)

>149 susanj67: Susan: I'm so glad, too, that dad stayed with mom last night - my brother told me that they gave her a private room and wheeled an extra bed in for dad, which is great. And thanks for the stern look - ha! I usually over-plan my days and on ones that I'm not feeling 100% I don't fret too much about not getting it all done, so don't worry, I'll definitely rest today. An afternoon break involving a cuppa, a book and my rocking chair sounds pretty good.

Morning Amber! I hope you receive nothing but good news today. Fingers crossed. Hugs given!

Baking and reading sound like just what you need today, Amber. Sending you a hug!

>151 msf59: Thanks, Mark.

>152 lauralkeet: Laura: Well, my sinus headache is flaring up again this morning, so even the baking may be dropped. We'll see.

Glad to hear your mom is doing better, Amber. Hope things continue to improve. Thinking of you and hoping you get some relaxing in today. How's Charlie doing with it?

>154 lycomayflower: Laura: Charlie doesn't know that his Granny is in the hospital. No need to worry him, especially since it seems that she's going to make a good recovery.

Just dropping by to add to the 'good thoughts' headed your way.

Good morning, Amber! I hope that your mother is doing well today. Severe dehydration can be life threatening, as you're undoubtedly aware by now, but it can be quickly reversed if it's recognized and caught on time. As odd as it may sound, your mother's fall, assuming that it didn't cause any lasting damage, could have been a good thing, as it may saved her from developing potentially irreversible organ failure.

That's a wise move to not tell Charlie what happened to his grandmother. Young kids are often deeply affected out by a significant illness or hospitalization of someone they love dearly, as I was when my maternal grandmother was hospitalized when I was four or five years old. Many parents bring their children to the hospital if a sibling is an inpatient, and especially when both parents stay with the hospitalized child, as the other siblings are often very stressed out and sometimes fear the worst unless they see their beloved brother or sister for themselves. Needless to say it's also helpful for the hospitalized child to see their siblings as well.

Please continue to keep us updated on your mother's recovery!

>156 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.

>157 kidzdoc: Darryl: I haven't heard anything yet this morning, but I hope I will soon - the longer the morning goes on the more nervous I get that something's not right...
I do think you're right about the fall - my brother told me last night that he was the one to suggest the ambulance to my dad, who just was too panicked to think straight.
And yes, if Charlie were a little older I'd be willing to be more open with him about what's happening, but he's too young to have such worries on him if it isn't absolutely necessary, and he's such a sympathetic little guy that I know he'd worry tons - he's very attached to my parents.

Amber, try not to worry. Isn't hospital discharge time late morning? If your Mum had a good night then she's probably waiting for a final check-up before she can leave. Otherwise I'm sure you would have heard something from your brother or sister.

It's great that they found a bed for your Dad - that would have been much more comfortable than an easy chair. I hope they managed to get some rest.

150. (39th non-picture book) Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list, 37 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Not really a book but a poem (although my edition is published as its own book with lovely illustrations by Arthur Rackham), it tells the cautionary story of two maiden sisters, one of whom is too sorely tempted by the fruits offered at the goblin's evening market.

151. (40th non-picture book) Pran of Albania by Elizabeth Cleveland Miller (Newbery Honor book, 257 pages) - 8/10 = B
A coming-of-age story about a young Albanian girl trying to help her family and her tribe through a time of war, worrying about growing up and falling in love.
Meh. It was okay, but nothing spectacular.

>159 susanj67: Thanks, Susan. It's difficult for me with my way-too-overactive imagination not to worry about not hearing anything. I just keep thinking that if I were the one there and one of my siblings was far away and was waiting for word, I would have called as soon as I got to the hospital this morning to let them know that everything was fine (and they both said that they would get there early today). I'm not complaining that they haven't called, mind, I'm just trying to explain why I worry.

>161 scaifea: Yes, that's frustrating, but they might be waiting for the doctor to come round, and then update you on everything at the same time.

But I know what you mean - when my father was in hospital for his heart bypass my brother was my contact (my stepmother called him and then he updated various people) and he was supposed to call me one night (after the operation) and didn't...and didn't...and I imagined the worst of course, so finally I rang him and he said "Oh, sorry, I forgot." Sigh. So it can be that simple. Or one of them thinks the other one has called you, when in fact that one *meant* to, but got sidetracked. I hope you hear something soon.

>162 susanj67: Those are all good points and you've made me feel better about it - thanks!

Hi Amber - I hope all is now well with your mom and that she is back at home.

Mom Update:

They're keeping her another night because her potassium and magnesium levels are too low yet and they want to check her heart to make sure she's okay there, too. This information is from my sister, so I'll wait to talk to my brother later maybe to get a more accurate story about how she is today.

Still keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers today, Amber.

Take it easy today, my friend. *Hugs*

Just got caught up--sorry to hear about your Mom's fall. And I wouldn't have told Charlie either, for pretty much the same reasons you gave--no sense in worrying him unless you need to. I'll be praying for your Mom specifically and your family in general. It's rough when someone you love is sick and you can't be there to know right away what's going on, but I'm sure your family will make sure you know what's going on whenever they get updates on how she's doing.

>160 scaifea:: Goblin Market is a classic poem and harkens back to when fairies were wild and unpredictable, even dangerous, creatures. But Arthur Rackham is an awesome illustrator. I have print editions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Rhinegold and the Valkyrie with Rackham's illustrations, and every time I look at them it seems that I see something new, particularly with Sleepy Hollow. It's like one of those look and find books. He's considered a classic illustrator and my artist sister loves his work. If you liked his style, you can get free eBooks he's illustrated through Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org), including The Rhinegold, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, and some fairy tale collections.

Thanks for the update about your mother, Amber. I'm glad that the doctors were keeping a close eye on her electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus), as they frequently go out of whack in diabetic patients in ketoacidosis (DKA) and/or those who develop severe dehydration, from DKA or another cause. It sounds to me that they are on top of her care.

Oh Amber, I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope she gets better soon. I keep you and yours in my thoughts and sending you a load of positive vibes. Hugs xx

>155 scaifea: I thought you might not have told Charlie, since you hadn't mentioned it. I suspect you (and so many others here) are right--no need to worry the little guy. Hope you hear more soon and it's good news.

>166 jolerie: Thank you, Valerie.

>167 CassieBash: Thanks, Cassie, for the reassurance about not telling Charlie; that's one thing that I'm confidence was the right decision here. And thanks for the tip about other Rackham editions.

>168 kidzdoc: Darryl: Thanks, friend. My brother, who was also a Type 1, once suffered from very serious DKA, and it was one of the previous times (there were a few with him before the end) that we nearly lost him.

>169 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara.

>170 lycomayflower: Laura: I'm hoping that she's good enough to go home tomorrow, because I know how much she hates hospitals and if she's safely able to be at home I know that she'd be much more relaxed there, of course.

Just checking in for a mom update. Good to see Dr Darryl weighing in favorably. Hope she's able to go home tomorrow.

>172 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura - me, too.

I gave myself a sort of day off and didn't do much of anything, in the end, but instead sat in my rocking chair and read all day, mostly catching up on the Choose Your Own Adventures I've found for Charlie's shelves. It was, I think, just what I needed today.

152. (41st non-picture book) Summer Camp by Judy Gitenstein (CYOA, 53 pages) - 8/10 = B
153. (42nd non-picture book) The Tower of London by Susan Saunders (CYOA, 51 pages) - 8/10 = B
154. (43rd non-picture book) Trouble in Space by John Woodcock (CYOA, 51 pages) - 8/10 = B
155. (44th non-picture book) The Polar Bear Express by Edward Packard (CYOA, 53 pages) - 8/10 = B
156. (45th non-picture book) The Mona Lisa Is Missing! by Ramsey Montgomery (CYOA, 118 pages) - 8/10 = B
157. (46th non-picture book) Escape by R. A. Montgomery (CYOA, 125 pages) - 8/10 = B
158. (47th non-picture book) Hyperspace by Edward Packard (CYOA, 116 pages) - 8/10 = B
159. Money, Money, Honey Bunny! by Marylin Sadler (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
160. Who's Making That Mess? by Philip Hawthorn (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B

Also Read Today:
-My First Book of Tractors

Oh no! I'm sorry about your mom's fall! Many thoughts and prayers for her and your family.

>175 cal8769: Thanks, Carrie.

Hiya. Just getting caught up here. You have been through the wringer. Prayers for you and your parents. I'm glad that things are looking better. We are just starting to enter the whole ageing parents scenario. It's going to be tough, isn't it?

If you need distraction I've a question - If not, just ignore it because it's not important. What do you think of the direction Etsy is moving and the filing for the IPO? It seems to me to be moving away from the original model, but I could be wrong.

>177 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn.
Honestly, I don't really know what's going on with Etsy. I've never been involved with the intricacies of the site as I likely should be; I just post my stuff in my shop and if it sells, great, and if not, that's fine, too. What do you think?

On the agenda for today:

Another day of resting and not doing much, I think. I'll likely work on Charlie's crayon hat a bit, and I need to make up a grocery list for next week's menu, but otherwise I'm planning another sit-and-read day while I wait for word about mom getting home (hopefully).

On the reading front: I read a few pages of the Tyler biography last night. He seems like a slippery fellow, really, going to all sorts of lengths to get Texas annexed...

Sweet Thursday, Amber! Hope you have a nice relaxing day. Did you mention, that your Mom is going home today?

>180 msf59: Thanks, Mark! We don't know for certain yet, but the doctor apparently seemed pretty confident yesterday that she would be able to go home today. They'll see what those potassium and magnesium levels are first, I suspect, and the outcome of the heart tests, whatever they were.

I am so glad, after reading through the story here, that your mother has been well looked after and is getting better, going home soon, maybe even today.

Re Etsy - it is rated as a B corporation - don't know how much you know about that, but there is a whole movement toward a 'different' way of doing business and Etsy is a leader, actually. So going public is part of it, bringing awareness right out there that a company can be socially responsible and still be good business. Here's a link and a bit more about the B corporation movement: http://www.bcorporation.net/community/etsy.

>182 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy. That's interested about etsy. Since I have a shop there, I really should look into it more, I guess.

No news on Mom this morning, but I'm taking that as very good news that they're busy getting her ready to go home. I'm sure I'll hear something soon.

161. (48th non-picture book) The Jumping-Off Place by Marian Hurd McNeely (Newbery Honor book, 321 pages) - 9/10 = A
A Newbery Honor book from 1930 about a family of 4 orphaned siblings who leave their Platteville (!) home to make good on their late uncle's land claim in South Dakota.
Very Laura Ingalls Wilder meets the Boxcar Children. Well-written and a neat story, and McNeely was from Dubuque!

Hi Amber, just catching up on your thread. I'm glad your mom is doing better, that sounds scary. You've been having a rough couple of weeks, hugs to you!

Just checking in hoping to hear good news on your mom.

>184 scaifea: Looks good, or a least the kind of book I would've loved as a kid (I devoured both the Little House and the Boxcar Children books).

>185 kgodey: >185 kgodey: Thanks, ladies!

Mary: You should check it out - it's a fun little read.

Mom Update:

They're going to keep her just one more night and send her home tomorrow, as long as she keeps improving as she is now. She did pass out again this morning on the way to the bathroom, but a nurse was with her and so she didn't fall. They're not overly concerned about it now, though, because they've decided that it's her blood pressure, which seems to have become more brittle (much like her diabetes/blood sugar levels as she is getting older) and so they're lowering her blood pressure medicine, thinking that she's taking way too much right now. She was also still taking her water pills (! while suffering severe dehydration!) in the hospital, so they've taken those away from her, too. My brother laughed on the phone, saying that she was already complaining that she'll gain weight without them, so it sounds like she's getting back to her old self, at least. Her potassium and magnesium are still a little low, and that combined with the dehydration (she still has a bit of that, too), means that they're giving her more fluids today.
Essentially, what happened was that she's let herself go way too long without a visit to her primary care doctor, whom she doesn't really like, and has relied on her endocrinologist just to renew her prescriptions for her (blood pressure medicine and the like) without regular check-ups. And then this virus comes along and does more damage to her out-of-whack system than it normally would have done. My mom is stubborn that way (and I have to say that I'm now not exactly fond of her endocrinologist for going along with this scheme!), but I think that this episode has been scary enough for her that maybe she'll submit to a new doctor and regular visits.
Anyway, here's hoping that all goes well this evening and tomorrow morning and she'll get to go home tomorrow. Thanks again, so much, for all of your kind words and thoughts.

>188 scaifea: On the whole, sounds like good news! Hope she does get to go home tomorrow and that you get to talk to her soon.

So happy that your mom is doing better. It's a good thing that she's stubborn :). The stubborn are survivors.

About Etsy, I have loved being a part of it. I think that the original model is a good one. I think that it does have to adapt to continue to be relevant in the marketplace. I'm just not sure if all the adaptations are good. Particularly the allowing of some mass produced merchandise. I think it will be next to impossible to retain that small business driving the market feel that it has had in the past. Anne posted a link to an article that discusses that issue pretty fairly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/16/business/media/etsys-success-raises-problems-o...
I might want my business to grow to the point of needing employees, but I always figured that meant I had outgrown Etsy. It's going to be an interesting thing to watch.

This may turn out to be a good thing for her overall state of health. If she can get a new primary care physician she does like (and why hasn't she been looking??) that would be good.

#188 Fingers crossed she'll be home soon and you can speak to her yourself - you know you'll feel better when you can chat to her.

>188 scaifea: It sounds like your mother may leave the hospital in better shape than she was before getting the virus. Maybe a silver lining in the cloud that's been hovering over you for the last several days.

>189 lycomayflower: Laura: I hope so, too. I miss her lots when I don't get to talk to her every day; my day just doesn't get started properly until we've had our daily morning chat.

>190 nittnut: Jenn: Yes, I'm not particularly happy with the mass-produced product stuff, either.

>191 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: She hasn't been looking because she'd rather not go to a doctor at all, ever. Stubborn, as I've said. (Yep, I get it honest.)

>192 BekkaJo: Thanks, Bekka!

>193 cbl_tn: Here's hoping, Carrie.

162. Learn About Weather: Rain by Christopher Hernandez (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
An easy reader from a packet we ordered from the monthly Scholastic order form.

I'll have to read The Jumping-Off Place! I loved both Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Boxcar Children.

I read my first picture book this year: Little Elephants by Graeme Base. I reviewed it on my thread.

I prayed for you as I read this thread. I'm glad your mother's on the mend!

Lovely to read some good news this morning. Hope your mum has an uneventful return home. Is Charlie identifying clouds from his weather book, or is it a different kind of weather? (!) Thought this was quite fun as a kid (yes, geek).

>196 jjvors: Thanks, Jeff.

>197 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. The book isn't exactly a non-fiction book (sort of); it's a very easy reader in rhyming verse about splashing in puddles and such, bought for the easy reader part and not for the science of it. Right now he's really interested in learning about the planets.

On the agenda for today:

A quick trip to the grocery store for next week's menu supplies this morning, then home to work a bit on the Rome talk I'll be giving for Charlie's class next month, and then reading while waiting for news that mom is home (hopefully). Tomm gets home this afternoon and Charlie and I are both looking forward to seeing him. Keema with Spiced Rice for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front: I read a good chunk of Stand on Zanzibar yesterday, which is getting less weird and more interesting. Still 400 pages to go, though...

Happy Friday, Amber! Snow & cold? WTH? Gimme a break. I am not familiar with Stand on Zanzibar or the author. Good?

>200 msf59: Mark: This is the first Brunner I've read and it's good but weird.

Fingers crossed for your mother's release from the hospital today, Amber!

>190 nittnut: Great piece! Etsy really has to face that fork in the road, doesn't it?

>202 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

Hopefully the updates from your mom get better and better. I'm sure you'll be thrilled to have Tomm home later!

Oh Amber, sorry about your mom's illness and hospitalization. I know how hard that can be. It sounds like she is doing better, so that's great. I hope she is back to her old self soon!

>205 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie! I'm so happy that he's coming home today!

>206 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda - I hope so, too!

So so sorry I didn't know about mom sooner, Amber. She's heading in the proper direction, it sounds like, and the rallying of the clan can only help her recovery.

xoxoxo

>208 richardderus: Thanks so much, Richard.

I got a call - from my mom! - a little bit ago! She's home, but exhausted, of course. We didn't talk long, but it was so good to hear her voice. *big sigh*

And in other news...
Remember the crayon costume? That I've been working on for, oh, at least a month? And just finished yesterday? The dress-up day is scheduled for Tuesday; they announced today that they've CHANGED THEIR MINDS about the theme. WHAT THE WHAT?! I don't get angry very easily, and it's likely a bit due to the last couple of weeks I've had, but I'm mad. I. am. mad. And I suspect I'm not the only parent that's irritated about this...

Oh no! Why would they do that?

I'm glad your mom is at home. I hope your weekend is tranquil.

>210 scaifea: Oh, so glad Mom is home where she can really rest. You must be very relieved now that you have been able to speak to her.

Changing the theme of a dress-up day at the last minute isn't ON, don't they know that? I think an uprising is in order. (I forget, what WAS the theme? Can't you make a crayon fit the new one, though? Somehow? Crayons belong everywhere, after all.)

>211 BLBera: I don't know why they changed it.

>212 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. And, no, the crayon won't fit the new theme, which is to dress up like Mr. Brown (their principle). Dang. Well, I'll at least get him to put it on and take a photo, I guess. Gah. I even mad a hat, for sobbing out loud!

ETA: If Mr. Brown were a crayon, he'd be a red one, I bet... *snork!*

He should dress up as Mr. Brown dressed up as a red crayon!
Sorry to hear about the change. That is the LAST thing you need at the moment.

I agree - dress him as Mr Brown dressed as a crayon and screw them all! Not on!

Glad your Mum is home :)

Mr. Brown, dressed as a crayon. And, although I don't tend to make big deals about stuff, I might say something to the teacher about changing themes three days before the event. I really, really might.

So happy that your mom is home and you got to talk to her. :)

>214 jolerie: Ha! Thanks, Valerie. I know it's a small thing, but after these past two week, it just sent me into sobs. Seriously, I was sobbing over a crayon costume this afternoon.

>215 BekkaJo: Bekka: Ha! But not entirely fair to Charlie, who would feel totally the oddball out.

>216 nittnut: Jenn: Oh, I'll be saying something, for certain, and I bet I won't be the only one.
And thanks - it was so good to hear mom's voice! I've missed that so much over the past few days.

I'm so glad you got to talk to your mom, and that she's home. I'm sure she will be able to rest better at home. You don't get much rest in the hospital. Just about the time you get to sleep, someone comes in to take your blood pressure or draw blood. Then there are the doctors who make their rounds at 5 a.m., cleaners, medicine rounds, etc. I'm making myself tired just thinking about it.

I share everyone else's outrage at the change in theme. Seriously?! Could you get Mr. Brown to dress up as a crayon that day? Maybe a brown one?

>218 cbl_tn: Carrie: I never could rest properly in a hospital, either, so yeah, I'm glad she's home.
And I like the idea of Mr. Brown dressing as a crayon!

So glad your mom is home now. And a pox on the teacher for the switcheroo.

Hooray for mom resting at home!

And boo to the change in theme's, but here's an idea for the new costume:



It's even book themed!

I've been checking in every new message for the latest on your mom. So glad she's home and you were able to talk to her. And I second the comment above about it probably being much for the best that she got sick enough to be taken in to the hospital before her chronic conditions resulted in a total collapse! Also, much sympathy re: the crayon costume.

>220 lauralkeet: Laura: To clarify: it's not the teacher's fault (Charlie's teacher is pretty amazing and we love her) - this was a school-wide dress-up day, so I'm not sure who exactly is to blame.

>221 banjo123: Rhonda: Oho, there won't be a new costume, or at least not one that I'm putting much effort into. Mr. Brown dresses in shirts and ties and so if Charlie wants to dress up he can wear his dress pants and clip-on-tie.

>222 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni.

163. The Solar System by Kenneth Walsh (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B

Also Read Today:
-Little People: Easter Is Here!

So glad your mom is doing better!

Well, here's hoping that the costume will come in handy sooner or later -- maybe they will do another dress-up day, or maybe Charlie will want to be a red crayon next Halloween? :-)

>210 scaifea: Amber, I'm very gald to hear that your Mom is safely back home.

What a mess with this costume day. It's unbelievable what they are doing with the kids and parents. As a teacher I can only say that when our headmaster suddenly is changing his mind about something I try to convince him that he can't do this in such a short notice.

Nevertheless, I wish you a wonderful weekend.

So glad your mom is back home and you got to talk to her!

Boo on whoever made the last-minute switch. My cynical side suspects there's a reason behind it that serves a small group's interests while ignoring the needs of everyone else. Like someone made noise about "having to put so much effort into these costume days" or something. Ah well. We all know the costume you made was aces. Hope Charlie has fun on the day anyway!

>225 drneutron: Thanks, Kim!

>226 foggidawn: I'm hoping they decide to do this dress-up day before the school year is over...

>227 Ameise1: Thanks, Connie - I know that some of the teachers feel the same way when these decisions get made. Our principle is new this year and very young. He's a nice guy and well-meaning, but he has a bit of a complex about taking advice from the teachers, wanting to appear confident and capable, I think, and not realizing that part of what would make him good at the job is listening to those with more experience and taking their advice under consideration. *shrugs*

>228 lycomayflower: Thanks, Laura! I'm sure Charlie will have fun - it's school-related, so that pretty much cinches it for him.

On the agenda for today:

Mom called me this morning, so all feels more right with the world because the day got started as it should, chatting with her. She has a long way to go to get back to full strength, but she seems in good spirits. She did tell me about the MRI experience and how horrible it was for her (she's claustrophobic), and that they found a small, but benign (thank goodness!) tumor at the back of her brain, which apparently they'll just leave because it's not doing any harm. I don't know anything about this sort of thing, so I hope that's fairly normal?

In other news, we're off this morning to a kennel to have a look at a new-born litter of golden retrievers. Charlie may be getting his puppy in about eight weeks...
And then a trip to the library, then home to do laundry, bills, organizing photos, and possibly bake a cake. Yesterday I got the Rome presentation put together (notes and slides) for Charlie's class, which will happen later in April, so this weekend I'd like to start in on making the toga and the children's tunics, if I feel up to it. Hoping for some rocking chair reading time this afternoon, too. We'll see. Orange Chicken for dinner, I think.

On the reading front:
I started in on The A.B.C. Murders yesterday and got about halfway through already. A nice, comforting Poirot mystery is just what I need right now.

The weekend book calendar quote (can you guess from which novel this comes?): "Whatever we had missed, we possessed together the precious, the incommunicable past."

Happy Saturday, Amber! I'm glad to hear that your mother was released from the hospital and is recuperating at home. I'll bet a month's salary that her children will be much more insistent that she see her PMD (primary medical doctor) on a regular basis from now on.

My mother has been asking me to go with her to her doctors' appointments for the past year or so whenever I visit them, and of course I always agree to do so. She tends to forget something that she had been meaning to ask the doctors, and she relies on me to remember her key questions, and to help her understand and communicate with these physicians, and vice versa.

I say that whoever made that change should be in charge of designing — and buying — costumes for the students. I'll bet that would put a quick end to that last minute nonsense.

part of what would make him good at the job is listening to those with more experience and taking their advice under consideration

I think a statement along those lines should be in the orientation manual of every person who starts a new job.

LOL, I'm Barbara, but never mind. I agree with new young principels. They have to learn a lot and advices from 'old' teachers aren't the worst ones.

>230 scaifea: My mother has one or two meningiomas, which are benign tumors that arise from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. They are benign, and don't cause her any problems, but she gets MRI or CT scans every 12 months or so to ensure that they aren't enlarging and aren't pressing on sensitive parts of the central nervous system.

If it was me, I'd get a copy of the MRI report that the radiologist read, as it should tell you what type of tumor it is. My father provided me with my mother's MRI report and a CD of the films, so that I could learn more about it, talk with my best friend, who is a pediatric neurologist, and let them know what I found out. If she has had prior head imaging studies I'd try to get those films as well. Your mother, or your father (assuming that he's her legal guardian), should be able to get that information from the hospital.

It sounds like today is another lazy and useless day at Scaife Manor... ;-)

ETA: >229 scaifea:, >232 Ameise1: See, I'm not the only one who does this!

>230 scaifea: Oo, puppies! Have fun!

>231 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. It's not going to be easy to get her to go to her doctors, still, though - this morning she told me that she'd rather just die than ever have another MRI. *sigh*

>232 Ameise1: *SNORK!* Sorry, Barbara! I'm such a dingaling.

>233 kidzdoc: Darryl: Are CT scans less loud and scary? I wonder if we could convince her doctors (and her) to do those instead, if they will show what needs to be shown?

>234 lycomayflower: Laura: I know, right? I think puppy therapy is what's called for today after these last two weeks.

I'm glad your day got off to such a good start with a phone conversation with your mom!

My father wanted me to go to his medical appointments with him after he was diagnosed with temporal arteritis. He didn't always know what questions to ask his doctors, and he sometimes didn't remember to mention some of his symptoms that were more important than he thought they were. He had some age-related hearing loss, so having a second person there who could hear what the doctor actually said was very important.

Happy Saturday, Amber! A new puppy in your future? How exciting.
Glad your Mom is doing better. Enjoy the weekend.

Amber, so glad to hear your mom's out of the hospital and you were able to start your day right with a phone call.

Sorry to hear about the sudden costume day change - how disappointing & frustrating for everyone who has to change it up last minute.

>236 cbl_tn: Carrie: I would definitely go with them if I could, but I live too far away. I know that my brother will go with them, though, and that's a comfort.

>237 msf59: Morning, Mark! The puppy is very exciting.

>238 bell7: Thanks, Mary. The costume is a small thing compared to others, but it is frustrating.

I have reversed the pox spell that I cast on Charlie's teacher. Sorry!!

Ooh puppy!! I hope you like what you see ... Then it's just dealing with the waiting.
*this post written with a warm puppy in my lap*

One of these two little gals will, in a few weeks, be coming home with us:

>240 lauralkeet: Laura: Ha! No pox spells necessary. And yes, the waiting, which I think will be a certain kind of agony for Charlie, but not really for me. I'm excited about the puppy, but I also remember Tuppence as a puppy and so I know *all* of what's in store... I'll be enjoying the few weeks of relative calm while they last. Ha!

Awww! Sweet pups. Do you have a name picked out yet?

>235 scaifea: It's not going to be easy to get her to go to her doctors, still, though - this morning she told me that she'd rather just die than ever have another MRI.

Oy. That is one of several reasons I decided to choose pediatrics as a career...

Are CT scans less loud and scary?

Yes. They are less noisy and confining, and they are also much quicker. They also cost more than a CT scan. However, a CT scan does require a very large dose of radiation, whereas MRIs use magnetic waves to produce computer generated images. CT scans don't provide the same level of detail as MRIs do, and they will miss subtle lesions than an MRI would detect.

It's certainly possible that your mother could have CT scans in the future to monitor the progress of the tumor, but a neurologist would be the best judge of that. (My mother sees a neurologist once or twice a year to monitor her meningiomas.) Another option, if her neurologist or PMD suggests getting MRIs in the future, would be to see if a local hospital or imaging center offers open MRIs, which are supposedly easier for patients to tolerate than the traditional closed MRIs found in hospitals.

I just made another batch of Beth's Zuppa Toscana. Should I set a place for you? Have you made it for the Men of Scaife yet? It's a very easy and quick recipe.

Amber, it's great to hear that your Mum is home, and it sounds like she had a thorough check-up while she was there.

Cute puppies!

>244 kidzdoc: Seconding Darryl, my mom is a bit claustrophobic and has had open MRIs instead.

>241 scaifea: Awwwwwww!

Catching up, Amber. So glad things worked out well in the end for your Mom, and she's home and getting back to her old self.

The late costume theme change sure is stupid. I like Darryl's idea of letting the person who came up with that buy/make the kids' new costumes.

I also agree with him in liking part of what would make him good at the job is listening to those with more experience and taking their advice under consideration

So true, at any job. The good ones where I work do that, but others are hobbled by their pride, and end up not consulting our more experienced resources when they should. Focus on the end result, people, not foolish pride.

Hope you're having a great weekend. Very cool that Charlie is going to get one of those cute pups.

>243 lauralkeet: Laura: Charlie has decided on Mario. For a female puppy. And I kind of love that.

>244 kidzdoc: Darryl: Ha! Yes, stubborn patients would be no fun, I suspect. And thanks so much for the information on CT scans and open MRI's. I'll definitely pass along the bit about the open MRI's, which will, I suspect, make her feel better.
And I'm so glad you mentioned the zuppa! I had forgotten all about it! I'll definitely print out the recipe and try it soon.

>245 susanj67: Thanks, Susan!

>246 bell7: Mary: I know, right? So cute and tiny.

>247 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. And yeah, this principle is a nice guy and I think he'll come around eventually to realizing what he's doing wrong. He's just super young and insecure about that. He'll get there.

Amber, they are so cute. It will have a wonderful home at your place.

>223 scaifea: "so I'm not sure who exactly is to blame." Well, my money's on Mr. Brown, actually. And "dress like the prinicpal"???? How lame is that? Now, if he tended toward plaid pants, or bow ties and argyle sweaters, maybe...

Adorable puppies. Of course. It's gonna be rough on Charlie waiting for Miss Mario to come home, though.

>241 scaifea: Puppies! They're adorable! Good luck with the training. I thought about a puppy myself, but since I live alone and work full time I was concerned about having enough time and energy to devote to training.

>248 scaifea: You're welcome, Amber. If your mother decides to get an open MRI she should check with her insurance company to make sure that it will be paid for.

BTW, the Zuppa Toscana recipe makes four adult sized bowls of soup; I had a bowl for lunch and froze the rest in single sized Tupperware containers. The hyperlink in message #244 goes to the Zuppa Toscana page on the Budget Bytes web site.

The puppies are adorable!

>250 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! Tomm is pretty hilarious around puppies, he loves them so much, so yes, this will be a loving home.

>251 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Well, I was trying to be nice about it, but yeah, I think you're right.
And the breeder will be sending us pictures periodically, and we'll be able to go visit, too, so that will help (it's only about 20 minutes away).

>252 cbl_tn: Carrie: That's partly why we waited until near the end of school - I don't want to be the only one training this puppy! Ha! But, yeah, if I had a full-time job we wouldn't be getting a puppy, either.

>253 kidzdoc: Darryl: Will do. And thanks again for reminding me of the recipe - I'm printing it out right now!

Eeeeek! So cute and adorable. Whichever pup does come home with you guys is one lucky puppy. Can't wait to welcome the new member of the Scaife Manor home. :)

Miss Mario -- I love it!

ooo puppies :-) off to google 'puppy cam'

Hi Amber, good to see that there is good news on the mom front. Boo to the costume change at the last minute and yay to cute pups. There have been some pretty dramatic ups and downs for you lately.

Awww, puppy cuteness! But what will Miss Tuppence think? ;-)

I have a very tasty carrot cake recipe, with cream cheese frosting, I'll be happy to share if Amber doesn't. Or even if she does! It will need typing, but I will get to it this weekend.

>257 charl08: Hi, Charlotte!

>258 Familyhistorian: Meg: It has indeed been a bit of a roller coaster around here lately. Here's hoping things smooth out a bit now.

>259 foggidawn: She'll look askance at first and then adjust. I think she's been a bit lonely since Susie's been gone.

>260 Samantha_kathy: Samantha: This is my favorite carrot cake recipe:

Ingredients:
• 4 eggs
• 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups shredded carrots (about 6 medium)

1. Heat oven to 350⁰.
2. Coat 13x9-inch pan with baking spray.
3. Beat eggs and oil in small bowl.
4. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
5. Add egg mixture and mix well.
6. Stir in carrots.
7. Pour into prepared pan.
8. Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
9. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack.
10. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

>261 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Oh, let's have yours, too, please!

>262 scaifea: Oooh, favorited so I can find it later!

Here goes:

2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
2- 2 1/2 c. sifted flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
3 c. coarsely grated carrots
1 1/2 c chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients, adding carrots and nuts last. Spread in greased and floured 13 x 9 x 2 or bundt pan. Bake at 300F 1 hour, or until cake tests done.

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese
1/4 c. unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla
1 lb 10x (confectioners') sugar

Cream cheese and butter at room temperature. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar. Spread on cooled cake.

If making in bundt pan, add a little milk for thinner frosting, and pour onto cake while still slightly warm, to create a glazed effect.

Adorable puppy faces!!!!

I work with an Anesthesia group who will give sedation for people who really need MRI's but can't lay still that long or can't handle the process of them. They are confining and loud!

All these delicious sounding recipes are making my mouth water.

>263 ronincats: Welcome, Roni!

>264 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: They look pretty similar - it makes a wonderfully moist cake, doesn't it?

>265 cal8769: Carrie: Oh, interesting! I wonder if sedation would be a possibility for my mom...

>266 Samantha_kathy: You're welcome, Samantha! Enjoy! Carrot cake is one of my favorites.

On the agenda for today:

It's a rainy, chilly day here, so we're cozying up inside. Tomm will be gone on business a couple of days again this week, including April 1st, so Charlie and I are making our annual April Fools' Day dinner tonight (meatloaf 'cake' and dirt pudding cake for dessert). Otherwise, I have one more load of laundry to finish and then I'd like to spend some time getting started on the toga (I opted for a nap yesterday instead). And possibly some reading time...

On the reading front: I started Little Blacknose, another Newbery Honor book, which isn't fantastic so far, and then last night I managed one chapter in the Cicero biography before nodding off. It's a great biography so far of one of my favorite people.

164. The Magic School Bus 3D: A Journey Through the Solar System (Charlie book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
One of our book fair purchases, from which we've been reading a page a night. Pretty cool because, well, Magic School Bus, but also because it comes with 3D glasses and the images are neat.

165. Cat Up a Tree by John Hassett and Ann Hassett (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
An old lady sees a cat up the tree out her window and calls the fire department, but they won't help. The next time she looks there are 2 cats, but the police won't help. And so on until there are 40 cats and she decides to help them herself.
A silly and fun little book. There were giggles.

Happy Sunday, Amber! Love the puppy photos. Did you decide a boy or girl? I may have missed it, if you mentioned it earlier.

>270 msf59: Mark: Those two in the photos (the two of the litter that are left) are girls, so a girl it is!

Happy Sunday, Amber. Here it's a rainy and stormy day, too.

My high school art teacher had a female pug names Louis (her son named her). Miss Louis was a sassy lady and she looked like a Louis. I think Mario will be a fine name for a female puppy, although from one Mario fan to another, I'm partial to Luigi. :) (As long as Charlie doesn't go with Peach, I think I'll be okay. Peach is a fluffy pink idiot.)

Puppies! Yay!

>140 scaifea: Praying!!!

Opps, also wanted to highly recommend a wonderful children's illustrated book -- my favorite this year --The Farmer and the Clown. I believe foggidawn pointed this one to me.

>272 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! The sun finally came out for a little while, but most of the day way pretty grey.

>273 casvelyn: Luigi is my favorite, too!

>274 sibylline: Lucy: I know, right?

>275 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. And I'll keep an eye out for the picture book.

166. (49th non-picture book) Little Blacknose by Hildegarde Hoyt Swift (Newbery Honor book, 149 pages) - 7/10 = C
A mediocre little book about the DeWitt Clinton steam engine. Meh.

167. Biscuit's Day at the Farm by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
Another easy reader from a scholastic book order. Biscuit is a pretty cute little puppy.

Very behind, but wanted to say Hi! before you start another thread. Hopefully I can keep up on that one. ; )

>279 Berly: Hi, Kim! Well, here's hoping the next thread is less eventful, eh?

On the agenda for today:
Well, since I still didn't get started on the toga yesterday (opted for another nap - these dang antibiotics are really throwing me for a loop), I'll do that today while Charlie's at school. I may also make a quick stop at the library on the way to pick him up after school to pick up a couple of reserves. And I think I need to start a new thread, too. And that's it. I nice quiet day in the sewing room, hopefully. Twice Baked Potatoes for dinner, I think.

On the reading front: I started Stormbreaker yesterday and I'm really not impressed. Possibly the worst YA I've read. Yeesh. And then I finished the lengthy introduction to Essential Tibetan Buddhism last night, which gives an excellent background on the history of Buddhism in Tibet.

Today's calendar book, in honor of his birthday: Dear Theo: The Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh by Irving Stone, which is a collection of the letters that he wrote to his brother throughout his life. Anyone read this one?

Amber, I hope that soon your mind is put to rest regarding your mom's difficulties. As for the pug pups, they are darling! I know a pug named Phoebe, and I think that name is very cute! So many names to chose from. Our maltese/ poodle cross is named Poppy. My husband and I had quite a time deciding on her name - though not too bad. I like Rosy, and he preferred Poppy, which I liked quite well. This is our third dog, but our very first puppy, so this is the first time we actually had to name our dog. She is just 1 1/2 years old, so I recall the fun but exhausting first weeks. Our first pup was a Border Terrier and was 5 months old when he came from the breeder, and he had the name Geordie, so we stuck with that. Second time round, we adopted young dog from our local SPCA , and she was already named Daisy, a bichon. Once again , we did not have the heart to change her name. Pugs are so darling! Enjoy!

>282 vancouverdeb: Deb: They're not pugs - they're golden retrievers. Since it will be Charlie's dog, it's only fitting that he get to name her, of course, and I love that he's chosen Mario for a female dog. Fits right into our quirky life here at Scaife Manor. I've long wanted a Wire Fox Terrier, and if I ever get one, I'll name her Hannigan. And our dog, Tuppence, who was a birthday present to Tomm from me in our first year of marriage, is named after the Agathe Christie crime-solving duo, Tommy and Tuppence.

Morning Amber! I hope you had a nice weekend. And Go Mario!!

Morning, Amber!

>284 msf59: Morning, Mark!

>285 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

Happy start to the week, Amber! (Is that some kind of oxymoron?)

>287 jnwelch: Ha! Thanks, Joe!

The new thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/189501