Joe's Book Cafe 2016 Door 10

Illustrations by Igor Oleynikov

Welcome back to the cafe!

They liked this one I wrote over on the AAC Poetry Month thread, so I thought I should share it here, too.

A Good Book

Here goes:
Miles Vorkosigan, the pluckster,
Any time. A mystery set in
Asia, most rainy days and
Train rides. Easy Rawlins, Fearless
Jones, Socrates Fortlow, R.L., every
Difficult day. Sharpe and Harper,
Wherever they march again. John
Berryman, shaking that word cup.
Billy Collins, shoveling snow and
Drinking cocoa. James Wright
Dragging a hand in the black river.
Robert Bly, fresh snow on the mailbox.
Sharon Olds when I cut myself,
Homer, when life needs to be bigger.
Spenser and Hawk, for a snack.
Wodehouse, when it's bubbly time, with
Music hall on the radio.
Dean Young for surprises.
Dickens, for family and a
Blanket by the fire.
Harry Potter to cheer and find out.
Jane Austen, to travel slowly, and
Patiently, correctly, find satisfaction.
William Gibson, for Sarah Sze in words.
Haruki Murakami, for unsettling shapes in a darkened room,
Neruda for passion. Yeats for
Fife and fairy and bee-loud glade.
T.S. Eliot for a hand at the
Shade, above the early morning
Slowly stirring street.

2016 Books

January

1. Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson
2. Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
3. Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich
4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
5. Cold Mountain by Han Shan (re-read)
6. Bryant & May and the Burning Man by Christopher Fowler
7. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
8. Valis by Philip K. Dick
9. Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyaka

February

10. Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami
11. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
13. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
14. Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick
15. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
16. Natural Birth by Toi Derricotte
17. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
18. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
19. Heap House by Edward Carey

March

20. Evicted by Matthew Desmond
21. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
22. Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis
23. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
24. Dead Man's Mirror by Agatha Christie
25. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones
26. Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs
27. Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick
28. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
29. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
30. Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
31. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
32. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
33. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
34. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer

April

35. Off the Grid by C.J. Box
36. Lighthead by Terrence Hayes
37. At The Threshold of Memory by Marjorie Agosin
38. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
39. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
40. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
41. Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith
42. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Inga Moore (re-read)
43. The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick
44. In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan
45. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
47. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer
48. The Bangkok Asset by John Burdett
49. The Swallows by Adriana Ramirez
50. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
51. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
52. The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell



May

53. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
54. Shaman Pass by Stan Jones
55. Poems from the Typewriter Series by Tyler Knott Gregson
56. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George



Graphic Novels

1. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker
2. Concrete Park by Tony Puryear
3. The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua
4. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
5. Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine
6. Sleeper by Ed Brubaker
7. Where is Jake Ellis by Nathan Edmondson
8. Lucifer by Mike Carey
9. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Omnibus by Philip K. Dick
10. Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
11. The Fade Out Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
12. Low Moon by Jason
13. The Fade Out Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
14. Fatale by Ed Brubaker
15. Demo by Brian Wood
16. Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna
17. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton
18. The Property by Rutu Modan
19. Descender by Jeff Lemire
20. Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson
21. The Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
22. Lucifer Volume 2 by Mike Carey
23. Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan
24. The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
25. Ruins by Peter Kuper
26. Harrow County by Cullen Bunn

Joe's Top Reads for 2015

Book of the Year: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande



Fiction

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Non-fiction

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Graphic Novels

Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman

Mystery

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Ancillary series by Ann Leckie

Top 5 First Quarter of 2016

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami (finally available in the U.S.)
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Top graphic novels so far in '16:

Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
The Sleeper Omnibus

Top 5 Great American Novels as Voted by Cafe Patrons:

7 Nominations : To Kill a Mocking Bird
6 Nominations : The Grapes of Wrath
4 Nominations : Lonesome Dove
3 Nominations : Plainsong
2 Nominations: My Antonia and Invisible Man

*Thanks to Paul C. for tabulating the first four.

Charming topper images!! Happy new thread, Joe!

Those doors keep a-opening Joe. Well done mate on another new thread - one of the best places to hangout in the ether I can state with some degree of confidence.

Happy new thread, Joe!

Good morning, Joe. lovely new thread. Artwork above is wonderfully strange and yet filled with childlike imagination.

>6 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! Glad you like them toppers.

>7 PaulCranswick: Hey, buddy. Thanks, Paul. We may run that in the local paper if you don't mind: "One of the best places to hang out in the ether."

>8 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Fun to see who's awake in the LT world. :-)

>9 brodiew2: Hey, there's our guy. Thanks, Brodie. Good morning.

Nice description of the artwork - I'm a pushover for things wonderfully strange and a childlike imagination, as you can probably tell.

Morning Joe! Not So Sweet Thursday! And Happy New Thread! Love the Igor toppers!

I should also include my GN reads at the top, since I don't include them in my regular reading list. Note to self...

>11 msf59: Morning Mark!

Yeah, pretty crummy out there. Debbi and I are walking over to the Cultural Center soon to catch that Strandbeest exhibit.



I think it'd be great if you included your GN reads at the top. I don't include all of mine, but I do include the ones I think others might be interested in. You can bet I'd be interested in yours.

The illustrations and art on your threads are always the best!!!

>13 EBT1002: Amen to that!

>1 jnwelch: Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Looks like my cat, Molly, in the second piece.

>13 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! I'm glad to hear it. The idea in my mind is we can all use a pick-me-up at the cafe, so I'm happy when it works.

>14 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie!

>15 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, good, sounds like I'm forgiven for forgetting that other Uncle Billy, Linda. :-) Yay for wonderful!

That cat in that second piece looks to be in charge, so I'm guessing Molly has an alpha cat personality?

super toppers.

animaris ordis, a beest at the beach. never heard of such as that. amazing. i like it wind blown more than person pushed. happy-face-making thingy.

Aren't the Strandbeest's amazing, Ellie? That guy in the linked video is the inventor/artist. So cool. Yeah, I love the wind-driven ones. He uses "bottle stomachs" on them to help store propelling wind energy in some way, so it can be used when the wind is low. Huh?

The Cultural Center had ones we could touch and person-push, and that was really cool. The huge, artsy ones understandably were "do not touch." Over on FB you can see some pics of it, and I'll try to get one over here showing Madame MBH person-pushing. (So much easier to post pics on FB!)

Definitely a happy-face-making thingy. And his ideas are being carried forward in new ways by others (with his encouragement).

>16 jnwelch: Well, Molly is more or less in charge of US, but she turns into an awful wimp when any other people (particularly of the rug rat variety) show up. Hides under beds and desks and stuff.

>19 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, we had a white cat like that named Grace. Way back when we had a clawfoot bathtub, and she liked to squirm herself under that when rug rats and unfamiliars showed up at our place.

As usual - fabulous artwork up there. Figured I should stop in and say hello before I totally miss the thread and end up on the next one.

Love the art Joe. And I see that Tokyo Decadence link is finally working above - thanks - I must go and post my review in the hope of further ER booty!

Hi Joe. I love that poem you opened with - how could I not being as it is about books! It's great that Miles Vorkosigan got the opening line. It would be fun to go through the poem and insert one's own favorite reads - for example after shoveling snow and with hot chocolate I would pick Neil Gaiman and for me, Georgette Heyer for bubbly time!

>21 SuziQoregon: Ha! Hello! I know what you mean, Juli. The LT train keeps moving, but there's always another train car coming along.

Glad you like the artwork! Thanks for the tip with Mark on the GN Lady Killer.

>22 charl08: Oh, good, Charlotte. He's got a great touch with the art, doesn't he?

I know - so frustrating before with Tokyo Decadence. The touchstone now works, and the book's finally available on Amazon, among other places: http://smile.amazon.com/Tokyo-Decadence-Stories-Ryu-Murakami/dp/4902075784?ie=UT...

I couldn't find an ER book I received, Shrunken Treasures, for a long time (it got buried in a stack of magazines in a first floor clean-up). I thought that would sink me for further ER booty. But I found it a couple of days ago, so now I need to read it and review it!

>23 DeltaQueen50: Oh, thanks, Judy! That does my creative heart wonders. I figured the poem was a natural for our LT 75ers. When I started writing it, Miles Vorkosigan was of course the first one I thought of. Who else? :-)

Feel free to recast the poem with your favorites. It's funny you mention Georgette Heyer in place of P.G. Wodehouse. He's the one her writing reminds me of, despite the (to me) mislabel "Regency Romance". I love Gaiman, too. If the poem were longer, I'm sure he and some others would've worked their way in.

>25 jnwelch: You have a real talent there, Joe, I hope you share more of your creative works with us.

>26 DeltaQueen50: :-) That's very nice of you to say, Judy. Thanks! I did get a few published in my yute, as my Cousin Vinnie would say, but then life intervened. I have kept up a bit over the years, so this weekend I'll see if I can find something else that cafe-goers might enjoy.

Thanks for sharing the poem!

Love the artwork, the poem, and the venue, Joe!

Nice new thread, Joe! Great opening artwork, as always.

last thread.....#256
Re: the Richard Derus method of starting a new thread after 250 posts...remember the thread police?!! Lol, that seems so long ago now!

Love the donkey in the top post, he sure is carrying a load and a half! We've all been there ;)

Morning, Joe! I really love your poem up there - fabulous!

Happy new one, Joe! Love the poem!!

>28 banjo123: My pleasure, Rhonda! I hope all is well out in Portland.

>29 ronincats: Ha! Thanks, Roni! Glad we're hitting on all cylinders for you.

>30 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl. Isn't his artwork cool?

>31 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. The thread police - yes. Who the heck were they, or were they just a threat that might appear?

The donkey is something, isn't he. And I love the birds "helping" him.

>32 Crazymamie: Oh, thanks, Mamie. That's great to hear. I didn't really know what to expect as a reaction, but it seemed to fit LT well. Someone over on the poetry thread called it something like an Ode to BBs. :-)

>33 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! Great - so glad you love the poem. I don't have anything else quite like that, but I'll see if I can find another over the weekend that might fit here.

By Steep, in Peru

Ode to BBs is perfect!

>37 Crazymamie: Ha! :-)

>2 jnwelch: wonderful poem Joe. It's comforting that I know at least 75% of the authors mentioned. :-P

>36 jnwelch: Nice.

Morning Joe! Happy Friday! Another gloomy, chilly one. Oh, joy.

I am enjoying Life on Mars. She goes pretty deep and dark too. You know I am fond of those attributes.

I think I will start a Longmire. I won't finish it before vacation but at least I will get a healthy start.

Fun poem!

>41 msf59: Good morning, Mark. I have done a season and a half of Longmire and enjoyed it. I just haven't prioritized it. the good new is there a lot more to enjoy!

>39 brodiew2: Love it! Thanks, Brodie. I'm happy to answer q's about anyone in the 25%. :-)

>40 kidzdoc:. Thanks, buddy. Glad you like it. Per your suggestion, I'll keep bringing in the street art.

>43 brodiew2: Does that include reading the books or just the show?

>41 msf59: Morning Mark! Happy Friday!

Yeah, this weather stinks. All it's got going for it is it's not snow. I hear it's 70 degrees and gorgeous in Boston year-round. Just sayin'.

Oh, that's good news re Life on Mars. She's a smartie, isn't she? She does indeed go deep and dark on occasion. That book was one of the best gifts for me from the AAC Poetry Month.

It's always a good time to start a Longmire, as far as I'm concerned. That should be good plane reading after your healthy start.

I probably mentioned it on your thread, but When Breath Becomes Air so far is as good as promised.

>42 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy! How often do we get to say that - "fun poem". I love it. That's a quality that stuck out for me when I started reading Billy Collins - poetry doesn't have to be solemn and fun-free (not to say that there aren't an awful lot of good ones that are just that). There's a wealth of possibilities, and fun surely is one.

>43 brodiew2: Madame MBH (my much better half) and I love that Longmire tv series, Brodie. So good. We're ready for the new ones to start.

>45 msf59: "Inquiring minds want to know."

>39 brodiew2: Will do, Joe.

>45 msf59: >47 jnwelch: Sadly, I have not read any of the 'Longmire' books. But, keep in mind I have been to Wyoming recently. I visited a certain game warden. ;-)

The images at the top of your thread are incredible. I did a google search and found such lovely illustrations. Thanks for this!

>36 jnwelch: oh!

afternoon, proprietor. happy weekend to you upcoming.

>49 Whisper1: Oh good, I know you're a connoisseur, Linda. Aren't his illustrations great? I'm glad you tracked down more. You're welcome!

>50 mirrordrum: Mornin', esteemed patron. :-) >36 jnwelch: Cool beans, eh?

>50 mirrordrum: you're too fast for me. i realized it was afternoon. erck.

>51 jnwelch: Oops. The time bandit is faster than either of us, Ellie. I thought it was still morning. erck, indeed. No wonder I'm hungry.

Happy new thread, Joe, love everything you put up there in the first msgs, art, poem, Strandbeest :-)

Wishing you a great weekend. I've finished my marvel and am hoping to track the next one down soon (of course). Also: when's the film adaptation?

Glad to hear you're enjoying When Breath Becomes Air and I'll look forward to your comments when all is done. It is on my watch list.

And I really need to get the tv productions of the Longmire series. It seems like good fodder for a tv mystery series.

Meanwhile, I'm working my way through my current ER book, The Atomic Weight of Love which is in the middle range so far. And I am looking forward to a good May of reading.

Happy Weekend, Joe!

your poem immediately made me think of Woolf's Clarissa and another favorite bit, so ineluctably Woolf "For having lived in Westminster—how many years now? over twenty—one feels even in the midst of the traffic, or waking at night, Clarissa was positive, a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a suspense . . . before Big Ben strikes. There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; then the hour, irrevocable. The leaden circles dissolved in the air. Such fools we are, she thought, crossing Victoria Street. For Heaven only knows why one loves it so, how one sees it so, making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps (drink their downfall) do the same; can't be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they love life. In people's eyes, in the swing, tramp, and trudge; in the bellow and the uproar; the carriages, motor cars, omnibuses, vans, sandwich men shuffling and swinging; brass bands; barrel organs; in the triumph and the jingle and the strange high singing of some aeroplane overhead was what she loved; life; London; this moment of June."

Happy new thread and happy weekend, Joe. Great thread toppers. I think we left the cinnamon buns behind on the last thread.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend Buddy.

I often wallow in the delight of your cafe here is mine:

Morning, Joe! Happy Weekend!

>57 mirrordrum: I love that quote! Thanks for posting it.

Morning Joe! Happy Saturday! The rain is falling...why couldn't my vacation have started today? Looks up to the sky for some kind of answer...

>54 FAMeulstee: Ha! Thanks, Anita. I'm glad you liked everything up there in the first posts. The Strandbeests were very cool. I'm so glad Theo Jansen thought up and created these "kinetic sculptures". Fantastic.

>55 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I hope you a great weekend, too. So far so good on my end - we slept in (Madame MBH had a big performance at a benefit yesterday that - no surprise - went well), and then had a good walk for coffee.

I love those Ms. Marvel GN, and I'm glad you're having a good time with them. Thank goodness comics are finally diversifying. The light-hearted glimpses into Muslim-American lives help make this series a standout.

You're right about a movie - someone has to be giving that some thought, with the success of the series.

>56 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Debbi loved When Breath Becomes Air, and so far I do, too. I'm also reading Island of Blue Dolphins, a good one I missed when I was young.

Oh, the Longmire tv series is so good! The guy playing Walt is perfect - and he's Australian, I'm pretty sure. You'd never know it. Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry Standing Bear is outstanding, too, and the whole cast is good. It doesn't follow the books in plot, but does very much in spirit. I appreciate that, because you end up getting a new set of stories with the characters you like.

I'll look forward to your comments on The Atomic Weight of Love. I finally found my buried ER book, Shrunken Treasures, so I'll report back on that.

Happy Weekend!

>57 mirrordrum: Wonderful quote from Mrs. Dalloway, Ellie. That's my favorite Virginia Woolf book so far. If my poem led you to think of that, I'm even happier. :-)

Here's another one I love from Mrs. Dalloway:

“Beauty, the world seemed to say. And as if to prove it (scientifically) wherever he looked at the houses, at the railings, at the antelopes stretching over the palings, beauty sprang instantly. To watch a leaf quivering in the rush of air was an exquisite joy. Up in the sky swallows swooping, swerving, flinging themselves in and out, round and round, yet always with perfect control as if elastics held them; and the flies rising and falling; and the sun spotting now this leaf, now that, in mockery, dazzling it with soft gold in pure good temper; and now again some chime (it might be a motor horn) tinkling divinely on the grass stalks—all of this, calm and reasonable as it was, made out of ordinary things as it was, was the truth now; beauty, that was the truth now. Beauty was everywhere.”

>58 Familyhistorian: Hiya, Meg. Glad you're happy with the new digs. Cinnamon buns? How could we have forgotten to bring those over? Here we go:



>59 DianaNL: LOL! Thanks, Diana. Great quizzical look from le chat. We're doing very well today, thank you, and I hope you are, too.

>60 PaulCranswick: Hiya, Paul. Happy Weekend, mate!

I like the looks of your cafe. Much more exotic than the ones near me. Do you hang out there much? With the young kids and your work, there probably isn't a lot of hang-out-at-the-cafe time to be had?

>61 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Happy Weekend!

I love that Ellie/Clarissa quote, too.

>62 msf59: Ha! Good morning, Mark! Happy Saturday!

I suspect the sky doesn't have much of an answer for you, other than to dump more raindrops on you as you look up.

Mother Nature should treat you better. We got out and walked before it started coming down hard here, but we've got to go over and help Becca soon, so I hope it lets up. Fingers crossed it gives you a break, too. Hope you've got something good going on the audio. Knowing you, you do.

>67 jnwelch: It is the clubhouse in the condominium that has a decent cafe/restaurant and I often entertain there (the Ghanaian delegation for example). I probably get there fortnightly but the kids are regulars there.

>69 PaulCranswick: Sounds good, Paul. Glad you have a good nearby place to entertain visitors, and that the kids are regulars. When you slow down as much as I have, you may be able to spend more time there. I know I plan to hang out more at our neighborhood cafe once my schedule trims back.

Here's a photo of our much more urban one:

Hope you enjoy a lazy weekend and it stops raining for you, Joe. Thanks for the cinnamon buns. Any tea to wash them down?

>71 Familyhistorian: You're welcome, Meg. I'm busy trying to be lazy now. We've been running around, but good stuff - at our neighborhood independent bookstore, Roscoe Books, I got Anna and the Swallow Man and Salt to the Sea, and a mmmphmumble book for our daughter's birthday (she occasionally reads this thread so we'll keep it quiet).

Tea? Mais oui.

That sounds like a wonderful kind of day, hanging out in bookstore. There are no independent bookstores in my neighbourhood but I think I will squeeze in a visit to one of our non-independent bookstores later when I go for a walk this afternoon - maybe even the art store too. Thanks for the inspiration and the tea!

>73 Familyhistorian: :-) A pleasure, Meg!

A cup of tea! Just what I wanting! Happy Weekend and new thread, Joe! We have wonderful weather here, supposed to be 22 C or more the next couple of days ( That is like 70 - 72 F )

>65 jnwelch: oh that is a wonderful quote. i don't remember it. i'll see if i can find it online so i'll know where it is in the book. you know, Siegfried Sassoon was one of the Bloomsbury Group both before and after the war and, eventually, if we can believe Pat Barker, suffered from shell-shock. even if he didn't personally, he would have known many officers who did from his time at Craiglockhart. i wonder what he thought of her portrayal of shell-shock via Septimus. of course, VW would have known the madness from her own bipolar disorder and, one presumes, the consequent nightmare of incompetent therapist interventions at first hand. thanks, Joe.

i think sometimes that, had VW been treated medically as people w/ bipolar disorder are today, we would have been unlikely to have had Mrs. Dalloway. i wonder what VW would have chosen.

>72 jnwelch: is mmmphmumble one you've read? i hope Seasons enjoys it. i know she likes a good whodunit. that tea is too gorgeous to drink, btw. i swear i can smell it.

I put the tea pot away. Down here in Alabama it is iced tea weather now. Almost time for some blueberry iced tea.

Morning, Joe!

>75 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! Happy Weekend!

I'm glad the tea hit the spot and you're having such good weather. Ours continues to muddle along about 15 degrees F cooler than average, but starting tomorrow we supposedly get a warm-up for the week. (Last weekend was gorgeous; this one is for the flowers and plants, I guess).

>76 mirrordrum: Isn't that wonderful, Ellie? There are so many editions of Mrs. Dalloway, but yes, it's Septimus, and it should be around page 69.

I didn't know about the connection with Siegried Sassoon. It reminds me we took a guided Bloomsbury group walk in London which we liked very much. Yeah, shellshock would be PTSD today, I think. Loved how poor Septimus could see so clearly and be so connected with the universe at times.

I've had your same thought about medication and genius. Horrifying to think of not having Mrs. Dalloway, but also sad to think of what she suffered through, and how she left us.

Your instincts are good re the book for Seasons. I'll be able to say more toward the end of May. :-)

>77 benitastrnad: "I put the tea pot away." That's kind of like our putting the winter coats away here, Benita. And I have to say - we haven't, darn it. We were just talking about that yesterday. But I'm glad it's iced tea time in your part of the country. Blueberry iced tea has a nice sound to it. Walklover loves peach iced tea.

>78 Crazymamie: Oops - how did I miss you, Mamie? I guess it took me that long to do the others.

Morning! How about a pecan roll for our slowosity?

OK, for those of you who enjoyed the poem up in >2 jnwelch:, here's one of mine called "Dream Baby". It's absolutely chock full of useful advice.

Dream Baby

Dream lightly, then glide
Wakefully through a loose-lipped life
Bang each drum brought your way
Apologize where necessary
When tossed a ball, toss it back
When planted in the ground, be sure to multiply
Given twenty, save ten, spend
Ten, make up ten, and dedicate ten
Dream lightly, but carry a big lipstick
When randomized, pour concrete
When straitjacketed, get Houdini
And apply your favorite decals.

Give everyone the time of day
When you can, or are grateful.
Trade membership in a high society
For inkwells and clarinets.
Donate all largesse to various
Open-eyed wanderers.
When left in front, consider the back.
If no car appears,
Dream lightly, and leave no prints.

If tomorrow will not come, split
Up today. If today convenes
At a special time, then
Give it a bump and a boot.
Triangles can add up, squares, too.
Give no quarter, but consider larger
Amounts, or more than one.
Dream lightly, and leave the prince behind.

Don't buy the party line, but
Please consider the conga line.
If the shoes fit someone else,
Try on some sandals.
Dream lightly, and dance
Whenever asked, or not.

If you spot a star somewhere overhead
Imagine a life you think cannot be.
Dream lightly, then come to me.
I'm waiting serious/not serious
As can be.

Joe, I love the thread-topping pictures. So whimsical! As is your poetry. Kudos on >2 jnwelch: and >81 jnwelch:. I recognized so many of the authors and situations in the first one because of the books we share. I love that you started with Miles Vorkosigan! Dream Lightly (and bang each drum) is such good advice. I see a second or third career for you. Have you published any poems?

>81 jnwelch:

Don't buy the party line, but
Please consider the conga line.
If the shoes fit someone else,
Try on some sandals.
Dream lightly, and dance
Whenever asked, or not.

Love that, Joe. See poetry is growing on me.

>77 benitastrnad: What, people actually put their teapots away for the summer - strange customs you all have on that side of the border.

>82 Donna828: Oh, good. I'm glad you like the thread toppers, Donna. How does he convey that whimsy? I'm always amazed at what these talented visual artists can do.

Thanks re the poems. It's fun to share that first one where there are so many folks who understand the sentiment. Miles Vorkosigan - that guy brings so much joy, and I can really relate to how much he can annoy others. :-)

I actually do believe in the advice in that second one, as bizarre as it may sound in parts.

I did get some published when I was young. I haven't tried again in many (many!) years, but Madame MBH is pushing me to send some more out. The LT reaction certainly has been encouraging.

>83 Familyhistorian: Oh, I like that excerpt, Meg. Just my kind of poetry. Who the heck wrote that one?

This is great - I'm glad poetry is growing on you. As far as I can tell, it's the hardest sell in the written word world. People (at least some) think of it as "difficult", but it's just different. Takes a little patience and giving up preconceptions, right?

Your teapot thought crossed my mind, too. We don't get our teapot out much, but it still comes out in the warmer weather on occasion. Including to make tea that Madame MBH then ices. But our weather is quite different from that in Alabama, where Benita is. I doubt winter coats are as big a deal there as they are here in Chi-town.

I really liked this graphic novel, The Nameless City. The story is not complicated, but it is well told. The central characters are young Rat (a girl), a native of the oppressed Nameless City (nameless because it has had so many conquerors and so many names), and young Kaidu, a member of the conquering nation, the Dao. Kaidu doesn't think like the other Dao boys being trained in martial arts, nor, as it turns out, does his father. Chance leads to Rat and Kaidu meeting and clashing. Her life is hard, and she blames the Dao. Eventually she and Kaidu come to understand one another. This leads, in turn, to their eventual involvement with some Dao trying to create a different, more inclusive, government. This is an easy-to-grasp post-colonial story that I can see appealing to younger readers, too.

The story will be continued in one called "The Stone Heart" (no touchstone yet).

>81 jnwelch: marvelous! more than a touch of the poet, i'd say.

>80 jnwelch: surely Mamie won't mind if i just look closely at one of those scrummy pecan rolls or, as it may be, sticky buns. and some nice English bkfst tea. haven't had any of that for ever so long.

Enjoying your poetry. On board for more of Joe!!!

Wow, what a gorgeous opening. Congra4s on your new shiny thread, Joe. I'm far behind this year with all the threads. Wishing you a great start into the new week.

Morning, Joe!

>87 mirrordrum: Thanks, Ellie! Glad you liked the poem.

I'm sure Mamie wouldn't mind a little pecan roll snarfing, and we can find you some nice English bkfst tea.

>88 Berly: Oh good, thanks, Kim. This is quite a change for me. I haven't shared any of this stuff for many a moon. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'll look for some more this coming weekend.

>89 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I'm happy that you like those opening illustrations by Oleynikov. I know you've been busy. So far so good for the week - I hope yours gets off to a great start, too.

>90 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I'll be over to Scaife Manor shortly.

Joe!! I love Dream Baby! It speaks to me - my favorite lines are "Dream lightly, but carry a big lipstick" and "Don't buy the party line, but Please consider the conga line." YOu have made my morning with that, so thank you!

>87 mirrordrum: I am always happy to share, Ellie!

>93 Crazymamie: Ha! Great! So glad to hear it, Mamie. It's fun to get positive reactions to these poems. Making your morning - I'm a happy guy. ;-)

>81 jnwelch: What a wonderful poem!

>92 jnwelch: T8day my spring holiday is starting. I'm at home this week and on Sunday I'm leaving for my spa holiday at the Black Forest.

>95 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! You're one of the ones who persuaded me to try another. I'm glad you like it!

>96 Ameise1: Great news, Barbara. Enjoy your well-earned break. Time at home with no work obligations followed by a spa holiday at the Black Forest - sounds very relaxing.

Riverside sculpture by Chong Fah Cheong

>98 jnwelch: Put your feet together, kid!!!!

>98 jnwelch: Great sculpture, Joe!

>99 laytonwoman3rd: LOL

>99 laytonwoman3rd: LOL! Poor guy, this may hurt, Linda. :-)

>100 kidzdoc: Isn't that great, Darryl? I believe it's somewhere in Singapore.

Ditto re >99 laytonwoman3rd:.

Gorgeous sculpture, Joe.

Good morning, Joe! I hope you had a great weekend.

>98 jnwelch: Awesome sculpture!

That's such a fun sculpture. Thanks for sharing Joe.

>102 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara.

>103 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie! Yes, thanks, it was a great weekend. We took it pretty easy; my esteemed wife had a big performance at a benefit on Friday, so we cooled out after that adrenaline rush.

Glad you like that sculpture! He's so good at conveying action.

>104 charl08: A pleasure, Charlotte. Glad you like it.

>81 jnwelch: Joe, I absolutely love that. Thank you for sharing. Just thank you.

>106 EBT1002: Oh good, Ellen. My pleasure. That's great to hear.

>107 EBT1002: Good inspiration! I'm doing my best (and I'm sure others are, too). It helps that

>108 jnwelch: oh, sweetie, i nearly fell off my chair! i'll be chortling the rest of the day.

>109 mirrordrum: Callooh! Callay! It's a great day for chortling, isn't it, Ellie? :-)

Love the sculpture but I think I like Ellen's sentiment in
>107 EBT1002: even better

>111 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli. Yeah, it's close. Cool sculpture, but awfully valuable advice from Ellen. :-)

Morning, Joe!

>113 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

Why, thank you!

>115 Crazymamie: Ha! I have to admit, I wanted to snag one of those myself. :-)

hullo, proprietor.

>116 jnwelch: re: >115 Crazymamie: if i were you, Joe, i'd sample one just, you know, for quality assurance. in fact, you should probably sample a couple, randomly selected. you never know. your customers will thank you and Mamie will understand.

It is finals week here in the library and there are lots of last minute studiers just outside my office door. The AC is on and it is a bit chilly in here. I was thinking that a nice pot of tea and some gingersnaps sounds good.

I know - it is spring - not winter, but it is cold in this room and tea and crisp gingersnaps sound so good right now.

>80 jnwelch: We Pennsylvania Dutch call that a sticky bun. Mmmmmmmm.

>117 mirrordrum: hullo, esteemed patron.

I'm with you, Ellie; quality assurance has to be paramount. I'm all about random samples, carefully devoured. You never know, is right. Thank you for reminding us of fundamental principles. I'll get busy stuffing my face.

>118 benitastrnad: You got it, Benita. Bless you for your patience with those durn students. Back in my day we never waited until the last minute. Oh, never mind. Let's get those for you.

>119 weird_O: I can see why you would, Bill. Around here we call it "better bring more than one napkin for this messy sugary delight". Sticky bun seems a lot easier.

>121 jnwelch: in case you need someone to do a little QA on them thar sticky buns, i'll risk it. i live to serve (doing my best humble).

>122 mirrordrum: You're so thoughtful, Ellie. Yes, please. Sticky bun help is greatly needed. I have to walk around the block to build up another appetite. Plus for some reason I seem to be on a big sugar buzz.

Mmm sticky buns, ginger snaps and tea - you know how to appeal to us sweet tooths.

Good thing I was full when I came to visit today!! Yum

Oh, ginger snaps! One of my favorites!

Morning, Joe!

Morning, Joe!

>124 Familyhistorian: Ha! It's a specialty here at the cafe, Meg. Apple pie breakfast cake?



>125 Berly: :-) I know, Kimberly. I get all my wishful thinking food fixes here. The calorie count is excellent.

>126 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Me, too - love them ginger snap cookies.



>127 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Always does my heart good when I see your and Amber's bright shiny faces in the cafe in the morning. :-)

In When Breath Becomes Air neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi (close to completing his residency) writes about being diagnosed at age 36 with widespread lung cancer. In this slim volume, he manages to tell us about his childhood in Arizona, his aspirations both in literature and science, the treatment of his disease, and his ruminations on life's fundamental issues. All this while faced with a much earlier death than he ever could have anticipated. For me, some of the most riveting parts involved his taking us inside the neurosurgeries he performed (he was able to keep operating even as his own physical pain intensified), and his views on the doctor-patient relationship from both sides. This is someone you would wish for as your doctor. And he explains the path attaining that status took.

The loving and wise epilogue by his wife, also a doctor, is a knockout. As I mentioned to Amber, I finished the book on the train to work, and ended up teary-eyed. There must have been something awry with the ventilation system. Five stars.

>130 jnwelch: Truth.

>132 Crazymamie: :-) Woo. Ain't it, Mamie?

>129 jnwelch: Good morning, Joe. Yes, I, too, love Ginger Snap. I have two favorites brands, when not lucky enough to have homemade: Trader Joes and World Market around Christmas time (look for the ornamental red tin).

I love these!

Delicious! And, fantastic for dipping into coffee.

>134 brodiew2:, >135 Crazymamie:, >136 brodiew2: Nice, Mamie and Brodie. Are the ones in >136 brodiew2: World Market? My father keeps those on hand, and they're great - addictive, too, with that skinniness. I've had the Carr's in >135 Crazymamie:, and they're scrumptious all right. I'm sure I've had Trader Joe's' ones, too. They're all health food products, as far as I can tell, as Madame MBH says ginger settles the stomach.

>137 jnwelch: Yes, Joe, they are the WM ginger snaps. And, yes, so addictive!

I finished the book on the train to work, and ended up teary-eyed. There must have been something awry with the ventilation system.

Interesting. I had the same experience when I read the epilogue of When Breath Becomes Air. I attributed it to my allergies.

Nice review of a very moving book, Joe.

>138 brodiew2: I thought so, Brodie. They sure are. :-)

>139 kidzdoc: Ha! I hadn't thought of allergies creating the teary-eyedness, Darryl. Maybe that was it.

Thanks, buddy. It sure was a very moving book.

Joe, here are some examples of Keith Haring's street art.



Mural painted by Haring and kids from the Brandywine Workshop; Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia.



Mural in Barcelona.



Houston Street, NYC

>141 weird_O: Love it. Thanks, Bill. I'll have to find that one on Houston street, and we hope to be in Barcelona next year.

I enjoyed his letter as a boy (aspiring to be an artist) that you posted on your thread.

'lo, prop.

>128 jnwelch: seriously? i mean, SRSLY? wow. (drool)

>131 jnwelch: sometimes, Joe, awryed dust from the train gets in the ducts and whattaya gonna do. mortality, mortality and yet again mortality. 5 stars, huh?

nahsomuch with gingersnaps, me.

>143 mirrordrum: 'lo, patronus.

Ha! Isn't >128 jnwelch: droolworthy, Ellie? I wish I'd started my day with that one, although I'd probably need to jog in place while eating it.

Yeah, When Breath Becomes Air is a five star. I see that it averages 4 and 1/2 stars on the LT book page. I couldn't find a reason to take a half star off, I'll say that much. Beautiful and economic writing, a remarkable couple and story, and what a conclusion written by his wife. As Darryl has said, shattering. Uplifting in its own way, too. These are admirable people dealing bravely with the scythe-wielder showing up way too soon - lots of love, and both of them doctors, so that we have a perspective rarely shared.

We'll spare you the ginger snaps, and keep the apple pie coming.

In case I forget, I'll be off traveling for business tomorrow (day trip), and probably won't be on Librarything. I'll be thinking of you all though. :-)

Good morning, Joe. Have a safe trip.

>135 Crazymamie: Mamie: Ooooh, me, too!! Those are second only to McVitties Digestives.

Morning, Joe!

Morning, Joe! Sweet Thursday! Greetings from New Hamphire. I hope the week is going well.
You should plan a visit to Boston. Caroline and Marianne are wonderful hosts.

Morning, Joe! Wishing you safe travels.

>147 scaifea: *grin* They are full of YUM, aren't they?!

Hi, everyone.

All is well.

I'll check in with you manana.

Have a good evening, Joe.

Apple pie for breakfast, apple pie with ice cream - keeping it coming, Joe. Apple pie is good any time of day especially deep dish apple pie - yum!

Apple pie! I'm in. Also strawberry rhubarb. ; )

Happy Friday, Joe. It's sunny and warm here. I hope you've got nice weather, too.

Safe journey back Joe.

Have a great weekend buddy. I'll try to stop by with some almond filled pastries shortly to take with your coffee.

Morning, everyone. I'm back up in the saddle after a there and back, but I'm a bit foggy. I'll join you after a cuppa joe or two.

By Os Gemeos

>147 scaifea: Thanks, Barbara. It was a productive trip, but I'm glad to be back.

>148 msf59: Sweet Thursday and Happy Friday, Mark!

I'm glad you're having such a good east coast swing. As I probably mentioned, we used to be in Boston all the time, but not in my LT era. We'll have to fix that. I'd love to spend time with Caro and Marianne.

>149 Crazymamie: Thanks for stopping by, Mamie. The travels were safe and fine. I was in an American Eagle plane (they're small ones), and I'm not that tall, but I sure had to hunch over to keep my head from banging the top of it. Not the first time, but it always surprises me how low the ceilings are in those.

>151 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie. Thanks. Got back late, and once I caught up on the day's events with Madame MBH, I was ready for some sack time.

>152 Familyhistorian: I'm with you, Meg. Any time is good apple pie time. Deep dish - I like your thinking. Here we go.



>153 Berly: Hiya, Kim. Mmm. Strawberry rhubarb pie. Nice. Staff says yes, we have it:



Rhubarb always seems like such an unlikely pie ingredient to me, but it works, doesn't it?

>154 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barbara. I'm glad you've got some good weather - you're on your break, yes?

I can't believe I can say this after the gray, chilly stuff we've had recently, but yes, we're having quite good weather here. Sunny, and in the 70s F - somewhere around 23 C. Nice indeed.

>155 PaulCranswick: Oh, you're a godsend, Paul. I'm still prying my eyelids open. Looking forward to the almond filled pastries, but for now I'll enjoy the coffee from freshly ground beans.

Morning, Joe! Happy Friday! I think I would probably never have to hunch. Just saying...

Small planes: No thanks!

Love the pie. I'm a fan of rhubarb in just about anything. Rhubarb fool is a favourite though...

>162 Crazymamie: Ha! There are advantages . . . Madame MBH wouldn't either. I work with someone married to a pilot for American who's 6 foot 6. That's got to be hard, but he loves it.

BTW, I finished Shaman Pass, and had another good time with Nathan Active. I wondering whether he might get more acceptance in the community now, despite growing up in Anchorage with white parents, now that he heroically leapt from the plane and toughed it out the way he did, and also let the Frosty one slide away into the ravine, so he wouldn't be a tourist exhibit.

>163 charl08: Yeah, I don't blame you re the small planes, Charlotte. The worst ride we had was years ago, flying in a small plane over some mountains to land somewhere near Helena, Montana - lots of turbulence, and we thought it might be our last flight, or last anything.

I thought rhubarb fool might be slang for a particular type of ignoramus, but apparently not. Let's see if we can find some in the back.

I made rhubarb jam today. Gosh, I love rhubarb. Unfortunately the season for it is so short.

>164 jnwelch: Right - I think so, too. He is proving himself on their terms.

>166 Ameise1: I had no idea we had so many rhubarb fanciers in the cafe, Barbara. I've never tried rhubarb jam, but you've got me thinking I should find an opportunity to do that (we have a gourmet food store near us that carries a lot of different jams).



>167 Crazymamie: Yeah, thanks - nice to be able to think about his situation with a fellow series reader.

Ooh rhubarb fool is wonderful, definitely not slang. I'd take some of Barbara's jam (with permission only).

>157 jnwelch: very cool. The defined lines and 3D effect is incredible.

>168 jnwelch: yummy

>170 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. Agreed. I really like his art. I'd love to have one on the wall at home.

>171 Ameise1: :-)

>170 brodiew2: Yikes! That message had three different typos. Thanks, I think, for not calling them out, Joe. ;-)

>173 brodiew2: Ha! I'm just glad you're here, Brodie. We can sweep up any typos that fall on the floor.

I have to admit, I'm loving Yo Yo Ma's "Soul of the Tango". I can't stop playing it. If you like tango music, try this one. Here's the first cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwpR5_49uk

Huh. I don't know that I would have said I "like" Tango music. I would probably have said I'm neutral. But that video is delightful. I love how much fun he is clearly having while playing!

I wonder if he is coming to Benaroya Hall this year....

Oh, and here is how I feel about rhubarb: it is a good way to ruin an otherwise perfectly good strawberry pie.

On the other hand, we've found a recipe for Earl Grey-Blueberry jam that we plan to make this summer.

Books? Um, I started Bruno, Chief of Police and it's shaping up to be a perfect weekend read.

>176 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I actually do like tango music - we've got a bunch from Argentina. I'm glad you enjoyed that one. Yo Yo Ma's amazing, isn't he? Very adventurous with his music.

>177 EBT1002: Ha! Great line, Ellen - rhubarb "is a good way to ruin an otherwise perfectly good strawberry pie."

Our DIL is in town for a friend's birthday, and for dessert last night had rhubarb "cake" (kind of like a tart), with cardamon ice cream and ginger crumble. She was with our daughter, who had a goat cheese and blood orange gel flan with caramel sauce. As you can tell, it was a fancy meal, which they went to in early celebration of our daughter's birthday, to take advantage of Adri being in town.

Earl Grey blueberry jam - I can't even imagine that one. We'll look forward to reports back.

>178 EBT1002: Oh yeah, Bruno is a perfect weekend read. I'm re-reading My Side of the Mountain (young boy runs away and survives in the woods, by the author of Julie of the Wolves), and plan to start Dancing at the Rascal Fair, for Mark's AAC.

Don't know where this is located, but I'd sure like to visit it.

>175 jnwelch: Beautiful! And oh, so fun! When Abby was little, she used to call him Yo Ma Ma, which always made me belly laugh. I said, it's funny that you should refer to him that way when you are talking to me. And she said, why? Well, because that is probably how he would refer to me if he were talking to you. It took her a bit but she got it.

Morning, Joe! Hoping that your Saturday is full of fabulous!

>181 Crazymamie: Ha! Oh, I love "Yo Ma Ma". That is great! You got a belly laugh out of me.

Double ha! You're right, that's what he'd call you.

Morning, Mamie! It's fabuloso so far. We're off to a birthday brunch for a newish friend, with seasonsoflove and Adri. I'm hoping to sneak in a trip to the library after we get back.

Hope the weekend is fabulous for you and yours at the Pecan Paradisio. I suspect that great weather is continuing for you, and we've finally got some of that here.

From a 2013 Festival at the Montreal Botanical Gardens

>160 jnwelch: See what I started with my simple request? Rhubarb lovers unite!! LOL And let me know when you want to visit Tim >180 jnwelch:. Happy Saturday.

>184 Berly: We've had a bit of a rhubarb (Slang: a quarrel or squabble - who in their right mind would think this is a spoiler?) about rhubarb, Kim. Ellen sees it as a strawberry pie ruiner. Others like Barbara make rhubarb jam, and seemingly can't get enough of it.

I'm not sure what Yo Yo Ma (or Yo Yo Mama) thinks about rhubarb.

Is Tim's place in Portland? Do you know Tim? Is it as beautiful as that photo? Does he serve tim sum? Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks for posting the Yo Yo Ma---it's great. I love rhubarb pie. Strawberry rhubarb is good, too, but plain rhubarb is special.

Also I used to have a really good recipe for rhubarb cake.

>180 jnwelch: That looks like a booklover's paradise, Joe. Thanks for all the pie, I am a rhubarb strawberry pie lover too.

>187 Familyhistorian: Doesn't it, Meg? You're welcome.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all our LT mothers!

We'll be out celebrating, so have a wonderful day.

Hi Joe. I am slowly working my way through threads trying to get caught up. I continue to love all the great street art. All of them have been wonderful and very creative. All those cinnamon buns ... and now the pies! are making me hungry... and we had a huge breakfast!

Happy Sunday Joe!

I love all things rhubarb. But "rhubarb always seems like such an unlikely pie ingredient to me" does not compute. My grandmother simply referred to it as pie plant. I'm not sure how old I was when I learned its "other" name was rhubarb. Simply stewed and sweetened, with or without strawberries, it makes the very best topping for waffles ever.

I'm looking forward to May 28 when a group of friends are getting together for A Prairie Home Companion. One of them has the annual rhubarb pie assignment. It's the highlight of our day!

Morning Joe! We are back, my friend. I decided to take a "cushion day", so I can re-acclimate. Just don't tell anyone.

Looks like we brought the cruddy weather back with us. Sighs...

Nice to see both of our baseball teams tearing it up. Wow!!

>180 jnwelch: "Like"!!

Montana has been lovely! Niece #2 graduated from Montana State University on Saturday in a long but fun ceremony. I got too visit with friends from long ago back in my school teaching days in Kansas and had a good time at the After party. Yesterday we went back to Yellowstone and walked the Norris Geyser Basin hiking trail while reading a book about the geology of the area.

Oh and I almost forgot - on Friday we drove over to Missoula and then visited thee Garden of 1,000 Buddhas. Today will be quiet - I will be exploring the downtown of Bozeman. After we drive over to Wheat Montana for breakfast. I am going to have their famous biscuits and gravy and croissants with my coffee. I love that place!!

Before we left for Yellowstone yesterday, we had breakfast at Wild Joe's. This is a famous coffee shop in downtown Bozeman. Keith McCafferty has written about them in his murder mysteries. Haven't heard of him? He writes murder mysteries about a detective who is a fly fisherman and all of them are set in the Bozeman area. Dead man's Fancy is one of his books.

>190 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! It helps to hear the positive reactions to the street art. I'll keep posting them. Here's another one by Os Gemeos, two brothers from Brazil, who are one of my favorite street artists (Seth, and of course, Banksy) would be up there, too.

>191 laytonwoman3rd: Hiya, Linda. You are a true and complete rhubarb aficionado. "Pie plant" - I like that.

How about rhubarb crumble bars?



>192 drneutron: Who knew there were so many rhubarb pie fanciers, Jim? What exactly does getting together for Prairie Home Companion mean? We listen to it on the radio from time to time, but I suspect this get-together is more than that?

ah! springtime in Montana. I'm jealous. I love rhubarb and have a wonderful memory of a dog I used to have who loved to nap under the rhubarb leaves on hot days. (yes, Seattle does have hot days, just not very many).

I'm caught up with your thread after having left it to pile up posts sky high. I'm feeling accomplished.

>193 msf59: Welcome back, Mark! What a great trip - thanks for those photos over on your thread.

I think you're wise to take another day to readjust - sorry the weather's crummy. It was quite nice over the weekend. I won't mention your day off to anyone, and you know cafe-goers are discreet. :-)

Yeah, the Cubs and Sox are on fire. Whoever thought we'd be saying that?!?

>194 benitastrnad: Oh, sounds great, Benita. Glad you're having such a good time in Montana. I've never heard of the Garden of 1000 Buddhas. Sounds like my kind of place.



We love Yellowstone! I haven't explored Montana as much as I probably should. As you know, I've got a sister in Helena, but I haven't been to Bozeman or Missoula. A mystery series set in Montana by a Bozeman writer? Intriguing. Have you read any of them?

>186 banjo123: Hiya, Rhonda. Sorry I missed your rhubarbalicious comments up there. I'm generally leery of taking too many eating risks with rhubarb, but you guys are all starting to convince me to venture beyond strawberry rhubarb pie and give it a try.

>197 maggie1944: Good to see you, Karen! Congrats on catching up; you deserve to feel quite accomplished about it. I have to remember to go back and copy that "neurotypical" parody, because even Debbi has trouble catching up sometimes.

I know, springtime in Montana sounds awfully good. I'm not sure I'd deal well with the long winters, but my sister and BIL love it in Helena. We sure had a great time there one summer, including visiting beautiful Glacier National Park.

Hi Joe, I'm glad to see there are some more rhubarb fans here. If we wouldn't have our rhubarbs every year for making jam or pies it would be like a 'lost' year. Seriously.

>196 jnwelch: Every Memorial Day weekend, they bring the radio show to Wolftrap here in the DC area. We've had tickets for the live radio show for the last nearly 10 years now. Wolftrap is set up as a park, so we meet three other couples for a picnic, then go to the show. We're responsible for drinks, one couple brings rhubarb pie, another brings pulled pork BBQ, the other brings sides. I'll post a pic or two after this year's show!

>200 Ameise1: We may have to have some kind of special "Rhubarb Day" here, Barbara, there are so many fans. I don't feel as strongly as you do about rhubarb by a long shot, but for me a year without cookies would be a 'lost' year, so I have some idea of how you feel.

>201 drneutron: Ah, that sounds great, Jim. What fun - and a great excuse to get together with pals and have a good time.

We went to the live radio show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", hosted by Peter Sagal, a couple of times, and had a blast.

Good morning, Joe! Happy Monday. I hope all is well with you.

>202 jnwelch: "Wait, Wait" is one of my favorite Saturday morning shows! It's on right as I'm usually out and about running errands and such. I'll bet it was a blast to see.

>203 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie! All is well on my end, although I never miss a chance to grumble about this particular day of the week.

Hope you're doing A-OK in your part of the world.

>204 drneutron: It was a blast to see, Jim. Peter Sagal is so quick and funny, and the panelists were great, too.

>175 jnwelch: Yo Yo Ma rules but tango? wow. :-)

>206 mirrordrum: He does rule, doesn't he, Ellie.

You know, it probably says something about my outlook on life, but it never occurred to me that liking tango music would seem unusual. :-) I love it. Something about the atmosphere and melody when it's well done. Daniel Barenboim would play it with the Symphony Orchestra here, and I grew to love Astor Piazzolla's tango music. This Yo-Yo Ma collection is so good.

I've also got Yo Yo Ma playing Baroque, Brazil, Silk Road . . . Jeez, if there was any doubt I'm a nerd, I guess I've put that to rest.

happy Monday, dear Prop. so much to like in this thread, including rhubarb.

>184 Berly: count me in amongst the rhubarb lovers, Kim, but sadly and sadly, now out of the rhubarb eaters category. my grandmother grew rhubarb in her back yard so i grew up eating stalks of rhubarb. just plucked 'em and et 'em like a rabbit with a radish.

i had never heard of anything fool until Dame Judi's character, Jean, mentions gooseberry fool in As time goes by. never had gooseberries neither.

i think raspberry fool sounds best.

i came here to rave about my audible.com book excitement. went on t'other day and found that they've now got many of Mary Renault's books heretofore unavailable and a number of Virginia Woolf's that have been inaccessible to me. i called Mamie's advice to mind and bought a couple of each, just in case. i'm now happily immersed in Renault's The last of the wine. *contented sigh*

>207 jnwelch: I've also got Yo Yo Ma playing Baroque, Brazil, Silk Road . . . Jeez, if there was any doubt I'm a nerd, I guess I've put that to rest.

Are you kidding?? Yo-Yo Ma is totally COOL, awesome or whatever would be the appropriate term these days, and by default that makes you totally cool, too, Joe :)

>208 mirrordrum: Happy Mmmphhday, dear patron Ellie.

I can't imagine eating stalks of rhubarb like a rabbit with a radish, but if I grew up with it, I'm sure I'd chomping down.

I know, fool as a dessert, I can't remember when I first heard that, but it was past my youth days. I had gooseberry pie out in Montana and liked it. Huckleberry, not so much.

Raspberry fool might be runner-up to damn fool for me, but I like it at the top of the fool desserts. Let's get some!



Oh, you probably remember, I'm a big fan of Mary Renault's books. Ate them up, I did, including The Last of the Wine. (Maybe I drank that one up).

Good news re the Virginia Woolfs; hard for me to imagine their not having the full menu available of those, but I'm glad they fixed it. Good idea to follow Mamie's advice on getting a couple.

>209 kac522: Ha! Ah, excellent, Kathy. As usual, hanging out with the right people seems key. Nerd becomes totally cool if you're surrounded by totally cool Yo Yo Ma fans. :-)

My stomach is officially growling after visiting your thread.

>212 thornton37814: Ha! It's late afternoon for both of us, Lori. I bet ours aren't the only stomachs growling after visiting this thread. :-)

All caught up here, Joe! Hoping that Monday was kind to you. I'll weigh in on the great rhubarb debate to say that I have never eaten it. Shocking, I know. I do remember that we used to have it growing in the yard of the house I grew up in, and that my mom loved rhubarb pie.

>207 jnwelch: I have a pretty good sized collection of Yo Yo Ma too. A sign of taste IMO.

Such whimsical and wonderful images on your thread, Joe! I should visit more often. One of my son's brought me a box of wonderful chocolates yesterday for Mother's Day, with the warning that I ought not to eat the entire box in one sitting ;) , so your pictures of food are not tempting me today. Amazing! :)

Morning, Joe!

Morning, Joe! Latte me up, please!

>214 Crazymamie:, >218 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie! Monday was reasonably kind, I must admit. I wondered why you picked pecan trees for the paradisio, instead of giant rhubarb trees. I was going to say you haven't missed much, but then I'd be ducking rhubarb missiles thrown by Barbara and others. Even my eat-your-fruits-and-vegetables wife hasn't tried any rhubarb dishes at home. My guess is that in the hands of a skilled rhurbarbist, those dishes are delicious.

Latte? You got it.

>215 Oberon: Well put, Erik. Good to have a fellow Yo Yo Ma appreciator. I'm going with what you say.

>216 vancouverdeb: We feature whimsy and wonder here, Deb. Yes, please come more often!

Ha! You've been immunized by the chocolate - good for your son. I gave Madame MBH a small box of Vosges chocolates (she doesn't want large); they were caramel-filled and dusted with Hawaiian sea salt. She gave me a bite of one - excellent.

>217 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I'll come by and visit. Not sure what kind of weather you've got, but it sure is stormy here.

Yo Yo Ma love.....and rhubarb. What a group this is!! Have a nerd fix, everyone.

>219 jnwelch: Now we're talking! Thanks, Joe! I'll just take that over to the corner booth, where I shall continue being amazed by Life on Mars. Loving this poetry collection, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Um...rhubarb as a view? I think not. Let's see:


This?


Or this?

>221 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Guilty as charged, Linda. Can't wait for Yo Yo Ma to play in the Rhubarb Garden.



>222 Crazymamie: I got inspired, too, Mamie, up above. :-) Yeah, it takes some work to get a rhubarb view dolled up to the level of pretty. Pecan trees, on the other hand, are ingredients for a paradise, don't you think? Is that Abby working among the pecans in the second photo? Jeez, that's not a small backyard you have. Great!

Isn't Life on Mars amazing? She really got me. I'm so glad you're having a good time with it.

Add me to the kids who ate rhubarb stalks right outta the garden patch! Yum. Loved gooseberries, too!

I'm driving myself around the bend: misplaced my calendar and This House of Sky! I was so enjoying that book, and wanted some more Doig, so this morning I started listening to Last Bus to Wisdom. Listening to it is different, but also enjoyable.

Good eyes, Joe! Yes, that's Abby. And we don't own the grove, but we have permission to be over there any time that they are not working in it. Abby likes to take photos over there. We do have almost three acres, so our yard is not at all small, but those trees do not belong to us. The grove backs up to the properties all down our block, so we get to enjoy that incredible view daily.

And I have to admit that you have made the rhubarb look pretty, but still...no.

>224 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen!

We used to eat corn and peas and carrots right outta the garden patch at my cousin's place in Wellfleet, MA. No rhubarb, though. And I didn't try gooseberries until well along in life.

Jeez, I know that problem with misplacing things. The best, of course, is when you made sure to put the calendar and book in a special spot where you'd be sure to remember it - and now you only need to remember where that special spot is.

I can understand your Doig inclinations. I'm reading his Dancing at the Rascal Fair, and enjoying the humor and the background on the Scottish immigration to Montana and elsewhere in the U.S.

>225 Crazymamie: Ah, that's a good arrangement, Mamie. I'll bet Abby likes to take photos over there. Beautiful. How great to have that incredible view.

Three acres . . . that's what we lose living in the city, although I love our backyard, which Madame MBH has turned into a garden with a patio. Three acres sounds awfully nice.

Ha! Yeah, that's one pretty rhubarb layout, but I understand your . . . no. :-)

Colorado Convention Center

OK, here are our new bookshelves in our family room, surrounding the tv cabinet. Before filling and not-quite-after, as we're still moving books onto the shelves.

LOVE that, Joe! How fabulous!

Lovely shelves. Although I suspect I'd struggle to get to the top shelves...

nice shelves! I love Doig's descriptions of early Montana.

>230 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! We've taken to matching the shelf colors with the room colors, and really like the look.

>231 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. That's one of the main reasons Madame MBH keeps me around. To reach the high shelves, and to open stuck lids.

>232 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen! I'm becoming a believer with Doig. Dancing at the Rascal Fair is very enjoyable so far.

>222 Crazymamie: I vote for the second one. I love the tree line and the green grass in between.

>228 jnwelch: That's an awesome sculpture. Funny!

>229 jnwelch: Beautiful new bookcase. Nice lighting, too.

Morning Joe! Well, the last work day it was raining and now my first day back, it is raining. I am beginning to see a pattern....

I am also enjoying Life on Mars and will be starting my Doig today.

LOVE the bookshelves. A work of art, I must say.

>234 brodiew2: Ha! Me, too, Brodie, re >222 Crazymamie:. Isn't that bear great in >228 jnwelch:?

Thanks re the bookcase and lighting. We're really happy with it. Gave us some more floor space, too, as we had an armoire there before.

>235 msf59: Hey, there's our guy. Morning Mark!

Yeah, we had some brief interludes of sun and warmth while you were out east, but there's been an awful lot of this rainy stuff. I will say all the greenery and flowers are loving it. But I think the rest of us wouldn't mind drying out for a while.

Ah, excellent; I'm glad you're enjoying Life on Mars. She's got a lot of interesting ideas going on up there in the brain tower, and expresses them beautifully.

Thanks re the bookshelves. The guy we work with is a former neighbor, and he's really talented. We'll get you back over so you can see this latest set of shelves in person. I remember you liked the others.

I just love your new bookcases, Joe! I turned our dining room into a library and had bookcases built in there. Our dining room table is mahogany so it looks like an old library table to me!

>238 Dianekeenoy: Thanks, Diane!

It's funny, the dining room is the one room in our house (besides bathrooms) that doesn't have bookshelves. Your dining room sounds great, especially with that mahogany table.

Love those shelves! And YAY! for becoming a Doigian.

>240 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Thanks, Linda. We just found hardware for those doors in the bookshelves, so we're almost done. "Doigian" sounds science fictional, doesn't it. So far, so good.

>229 jnwelch: Nice bookshelves - but there are empty spaces!

OHmygosh, I LOVE the new shelves! Beautiful!!

Morning, Joe!

>242 Familyhistorian: Ha! Thanks, Meg. Fewer empty spaces today. Gradually we're shifting things around. We even have our tbrs there now.

>243 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! We're really happy with them. We're having a "Progressive" party this weekend (the neighborhood goes from house to house partying), and we'll be showing them off as our latest change.

>244 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I'm guessing a pecan delectable might suit better than rhubarb? Here's a pecan danish.

Talk about high bookshelves!

>246 jnwelch: Looks like that ladder only goes up part way. I wonder how they get to the rest of the books?

>247 Familyhistorian: Probably standing on each other's shoulders, Meg, a librarian totem pole?

>233 jnwelch: That's one of the main reasons Madame MBH keeps me around. To reach the high shelves, and to open stuck lids. Joe. I've got that job at my house. Damn, we're good, aren't we?

I do like your new book 'n' video furniture. The central section seems it'd accommodate books arranged two deep. Nice.

>249 weird_O: Damn, we're good, aren't we? Couldn't agree more, Bill. :-)

Thanks re the new shelves. We're trying to avoid two deep, but it seems inevitable, doesn't it? Yes, that section can handle it, and the others, too, if necessary.

Please come on over to the new cafe . . .