Maggie1944's Autumn & Winter, 2016

New thread for these last four months seems appropriate.

Happy new thread!

I had a skin cancer growth removed from the top of my head yesterday and today I have a sore head! I took tomorrow off - so should have had some quality reading time in the last two days. Not so - I did other things. I hope to spend most of the day tomorrow reading.

Happy New Thread, Karen!
I'm glad you are home and recovering. I hope the healing goes smoothly and well.

We didn't get to the Storm game last night because P was still really sick. I tried to give the tickets away but couldn't find anyone who could make it at that last minute. Oh well.

I plan to take Summer Moon to North Carolina with me next week. I have quite a (mental) list of possible reads this month!

>2 drneutron: Happy thread. Yes, I think a thread for 4 months is a good idea.

>3 benitastrnad: ouch. I hope it wasn't extensive and all is well.

I hit Ignore This Thread by accident and couldn't see your kind thoughts until just now. My wi-fi is also acting up, and my land line phone is not working. I need to go talk to Comcast, so I'll answer your kind messages a little later. Benita, feel better!

I think Mercury is in retrograde or something like that. No wonder you are having communication problems!

Glad to hear your surgery went well. Hope you will get some reading time in.

Happy new thread and great to hear you are recovering well, Karen. I hope you get your communications fixed.

Hi, Morphy. and Meg. Yup, the recovery is going good. Although I have been visited this morning my the impatience bug. Already! It has been three days! Really.

Any way, back to doing some good reading today.

I spent my three days of recovery doing little of nothing. I laid in bed late and talked on the phone to lots of people I haven't had time to contact for awhile. I did nothing of the work I wanted to do while at home. I spent most of the time knitting, talking, and doing some reading. Maybe on Monday I will feel more like doing some work, but I had a great time being lazy.

Happy New Thread, Karen!

Ha, I'm familiar with the impatience bug. Just distract yourself as best you can, I guess. Hope you're having a good holiday weekend despite being hobbled.

>6 maggie1944: Kind of cracks me up that you accidentally clicked to ignore your own thread.

Honestly, I'm not a fan of Comcast. But I'm not a fan of Wave, either, which is the only cable/wifi company we can get on our block of the street.

Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!

Yes, it is funny to ignore one's own thread. It is sort of like my setting priorities for how I should spend my time and then day after day I find ways to avoid the priority items. Hmmmmm .... food for thought.

I hope you are enjoying your stay, and that the heat is not too burdensome. It is lovely here and I know you'll be glad to be home.

6- Comcast is the Devil!

Yes, I agree, and feel very disadventaged because it is the only provider in the area where I live.

Hi Karen. Happy Saturday and Happy New Thread!

I read about your mobility frustrations recovering from your surgery. I know you only have a few weeks left, but if you can find a medical supply store that rents knee scooters you and your dog friend will be ever so much more mobile. I know I have warbled about them several times since I was in a boot for several months a few years back. Wonderful! It really saved my sanity. I have no ideas why doctors don't mention them to their clients.

I think part of the recovery is carefully controlled "weight bearing" on the foot, and the newly remodeled bone of the big toe. I am doing "physical therapy" on the toe now, bending it one way and then the other as far as I can stand and repeat. The doctor explained we want the toe to be very flexible when we are done, not immobilized by scar tissues. I am OK with working to accept the fact that I am slower than I normally would be, and get tired more quickly. It is just a phase, and the end game is good feet for good walking! Yay!

Thanks for the suggestion but I don't think it would support our goals for my new foot.

Hi Karen, I'm sorry that you've had issues with needing surgeries. ouch. Be well and take good care of yourself.

Just saying hi!

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

I very much appreciated the well researched and documented account of the horrendous "wars" which accompanied the "American settlers" advance through the north American territories held by indigenous people for centuries. Gwynne accomplished the tricky balance between the opposing forces finding both praiseworthy as well as vicious characteristics in some of the more well known actors on both sides. The book was held together with a thread beginning with a kidnapping of a 9 year old girl who becomes completely acculturated to the native culture, "married" a Comanche chief and was the mother of three children. One of her children, Quanah, became the major Comanche chief in the last battles of the war for territory, and afterwards becomes a major figure in the settlement of Indians into the more dominant culture. Fascinating, and very refreshing piece of the history of "manifest destiny".

Next, I'll be reading Kate Atkinson's A God in Ruins for the f2f book group, reading a little bit more of Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer.

If you have not dipped into Dark Money, do so before you vote in November's election. Good information to have.

I have to see what the Silver Glen readers have for their next book. I also have quite a few ! books with bookmarks showing I cracked them and left them. Need to finish some.

On the audio: Elephant Whisperer which I am definitely enjoying.

>20 maggie1944: I loved Gwynne's book. I agree that he found a balance not often found in these kinds of histories.

Hope you are healing and have a great weekend!

>22 witchyrichy: Hi, Karen! Glad you stopped by. The weekend has been good so far, spent a bit of time weeding a little (2 foot X 1 foot) bed which had a couple primroses struggling against HUGE dock (weed). With my foot still in The Boot, I can't do too much but I got some weeds out and transplanted some more primroses into the little bed. Should look nice and it is right where I walk Greta every day so I can keep an eye on it.

The weather is intermittent rain showers with some little bit of sunshine. Temps are very tolerable. Nice.

Rest of day to be spent with laundry, and perhaps some good reading time.

Finally managed to get caught up Karen.

Kate Atkinson is the lady featured in the British Author Challenge this month so you can tick that one off too!

Have a lovely weekend.

>24 PaulCranswick: Welcome! I know what if feels like to think you might never catch up. I fell into the pit of "stop following so many readers" and find that I can just barely keep up. But until I can devote more time to my Reading Habit (Hobby) I think I'll just deal with LibraryThing Light for now.

Very nice to see you! Thanks for stopping by, and checking on what I'm reading. Its good reading buddies like you that keeps me keeping up as best I can with both the actual reading of books, and the posting my responses to those books and keeping up with my buddies! Yea! Team!

>25 maggie1944: :D

"...I think I'll just deal with LibraryThing Light for now." Love that.
I'm trying hard to give myself permission to "fall behind" without worrying that I'm missing out or that someone will be upset that I didn't visit their thread as often as I used to. Because what we need in life is more pressure, right?

And yes to good reading buddies! :-)

>27 EBT1002: My participation goes up and down with life's busyness, and I think pretty much everyone would understand if someone needs to back off some. So give yourself permission! :)

Thanks, Ellen and Jim. Good ideas. Truth be told, I've already backed off quite a little bit. I only follow a handful of folks, many fewer than I used to follow.

Have a great week!

Agreed re easing up on Librarything when you need to, Karen. Everybody does understand, I'm sure.

Hope your week is going well.

Week is going well. I've decided Tuesdays are Toss It Out days, and Fridays are Do the Filing days. I'm prepping my apt. for the arrival of new shades all around, which means moving some furniture out of the way of the windows. I'm also making cards for the Craft Fair. Reading! Yes, I am.

Been picking my way through A God in Ruins but today, I received David Axelrod's Believer: My Forty Years in Politics and I am so tempted to jump right into it! It is the November book for Silver Glen's little book group.

Today has been smack dab beautiful. Bright blue skies, leaves turning all sorts of orange and red, just cool enough to wear a sweat shirt, no coat. I love Autumn in the Seattle climate. But wait: October 31st is my sign post for whoops.... now we are in for it. Cool, cold, rainy, wet, cloudy, and very short days.

Thanks for stopping by Joe.

Hi Karen. I've started reading A God in Ruins but you'll see on our book group thread that I can't attend this week. MY BIL is in town and staying with us; I need to be home to spend time with him.

I hope you are doing well!

It has been so hot and dry here in Alabama that I have been staying in the house and doing lots of reading. Or Knitting. For some reason the load at work hasn't diminished either so I am really tired when I get home at night. That has shortened my before I fall asleep reading time.

The drought here in Alabama is hitting serious levels. Domestic water use has been restricted, so lawns can only be watered on even days for houses with even numbers and odd on odd numbered days. October is usually dry here but the dry spell is going on two months. This part of Alabama is heavily forested so wild fires have become a problem as the trees drop their leaves so all campfires in state and national forests and parks has been banned as well. We really could use some serious rain.

I will miss you Ellen but certainly understand a chance to visit with a family member who normally lives a long, long ways away.

Benita. I'm sorry. We are worried about drought here too but to a different level. Eastern Washington is very dry and has big fires, but western Washington is usually pretty wet. But it is getting less wet, and some of our trees and bushes are definitely showing stress. (can you say Climate Change?)

Sigh.

The election is definitely making me tired. But I am hooked on listening to the TV about it. And am hooked reading Axelrod's book.

I find the thought of drought inconceivable in Malaysia's wet and humid climate although incompetence in water storage and distribution did almost lead to rationing in one of the states a couple of years ago.

The US elections are irritating everyone here too. Something along the lines of "The USA is seen as the leader of the so called free world - are these two really the very best you can do?"

Have a lovely weekend, Karen, despite HRC and especially The Donald.

Just saying hello!

Paul, it is a troubling question as to why the USA has two candidates who appear to be unusually flawed, and perhaps inappropriate for the highest elected office in our republic. Why? Why?

How much has the instantaneous news cycle which spreads bad news faster than a hummingbird can fly contributed to knowing more bad than good about these people?

Where did the poisonous partisanship come from? How can members of Congress get elected on the platform of "I will do everything I can to kill government"? Really! There are ideologues who are dedicated to the idea that Freedom is the highest value, and that the effort of government to further the health of community, of common efforts to solve common problems is the enemy.

I was happy to vote for Clinton as I believe most of what is said about her is propaganda from the right wing but I am troubled by "where there's smoke, there is fire". I am sure there are flaws. But I take comfort from the fact that every US President since the very beginning was a flawed human being. And still, progress is made, year after year, somehow.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm still reading but at a pace which is a fraction of previous efforts. Right now I'm nearly finished with Hillbilly Elegy which I'm finding very interesting. I think my maternal grandmother's heritage is much similar to the author's and so I feel as if I'm poking around in my own roots. As soon as I finish this book, which should be today or tomorrow, I will go back to All the Light We Cannot See which is my book group's next book. I am looking forward to reading it!

Hi, Ellen!

Happy Monday everyone. A new week!!!! Yay! Perhaps I can get more of my personal goals accomplished. I always am willing to try.

Happy Tuesday, Karen!

I'm pretty much in the same place as you in this election, sounds like. I would've voted for Hillary eight years ago but for Obama being such an exceptional candidate. I'd take a third term from him in a blink.

The right has been after Hillary for so long, and nothing. What a waste of a lot of money that Benghazi investigation was.

Something that's interesting to Debbi and me is how many Republicans are withdrawing from that party, due to the loathsomeness of Trump and the turn to the alt-right of the party. Might the withdrawers start a moderate Republican third party? I'd welcome that, if it happened.

My parents were moderate Republicans, and threw up their hands when the party got taken over by Tea Partiers and other extremists. Three significant parties, with a moderate Republican candidate, would've certainly have made for a different election this time around. The Libertarians and the Green party are just too marginal, and it looks like they always will be.

I am thinking that the "alt-right" is full of fundamental Christians, and perhaps some Mormons. Their common thinking is anti-Roe v. Wade; pro-Second Amendment in its most liberal interpretations (all guns, for everyone); and a militaristic solution to all troublesome freight affairs issues. These are, obviously, my wild guesses, but I don't think I'm smoking anything.

I finished Hillbilly Elegy and I do recommend it highly to everyone who wishes to understand just from where all those Trump supporters come. I really appreciated this young man's appreciation for his culture (hillbillies) while also calling out the self-defeating philosophy which seems to make for a depressing continuation of very poor economic future, along with all the other troubles - drugs, alcohol, violence, abused or neglected children, and shortened life spans.

Really, read it! It is not long, nor dense, but very evocative and insightful.

Nice to see your comment, Joe.

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

A fascinating, touching, interesting, informative memoir of growing up in a poor, white, family in the hills southeast USA. I recommend it for a peek into a culture we have known about from afar forever (Hatfields and McCoys, Hollywood Hillbillies) but we have not known it from the inside. Here's your chance. It is worth it. It will help you understand where Donald Trump's supporters come from, at least in part.

>40 maggie1944: Everyone seems to be talking about how good Hillbilly Elegy is. Sadly, the wait list is in the several hundreds at the library so it is unlikely that it will come before the election.

Oh, I don't think it is a book to try to read before the election, particularly. I doubt very much that it would affect any one's decision as to voting. But it is a book to read if you want to understand the political climate in this 21st century, and where the politically minded people need to go...

I am an exception as I am very pleased that Hillary Clinton is the candidate. I am not that much of an Obama person. I think he has made a good president and made some very good but hard decisions during his tenure. I do not think he is inspiring - talk about a dry speaker and boring rhetoric - he has it in spades. I never could understand the love affair that people have with him and especially the part about he is so inspiring. I just didn't see it. And still don't. I find him to be very calculating and cool. He is smart and makes smart decisions based on a pragmatic and calculated benefit scale. On the charisma scale I find him lacking.

Hillary appeals to me because she is a woman who spent her whole life working for women's issues. She knows that she has to placate the big boys and so has never been "unleashed." I find her much more charismatic than Obama, but think that both of them have the right ideas and the ability to play the political game enough to be able to push the country into a nicer attitude. However, I suspect that is impossible simply because Hillary is a woman.

The anit-woman venom in this campaign is nothing to which I, and millions of other working women aren't accustomed. Hillary can't do the same things male candidates would do because she is a woman and the microscope is on her more and more. If anybody but Donald Trump was running against her she would be losing, but he is so bad that nobody with any sense wants him to be president. It hurts me that people don't see Hillary as capable outside of framing her with Donald Trump. I think you are right Karen, to ask how in the world did Donald Trump get to be the candidate for the Republicans? I would only add that it is sad that people can't see Hillary's abilities without saying that she is so much better than Trump. Why can't American's see women as leaders like Angela Merkle, Indira Gandhi, Golda Mieir, and of course, Margaret Thatcher? Why is America so anti-woman? I suspect that the answer is the same reason why we are now so anti-immigrant.

There are so many answers to that question that I think it would take a room full of learned people to even start on some explanations. Part of it is pure and simple "prejudice". In the old sense of the word: to prejudge without having all the necessary information. Some judge others because they are women; some because the skin color and the different culture makes them the "other"; some because they grew up in a class different from the judge's class. Some because of all three. People believe what they learned at their Pappy's knee is the truth, and don't bother them with additional information.

And to that you have to add: the world is changing rapidly, and there is a global economy and it is in that economy that you have to compete. Not everyone is up to it. The United States of American cannot "rest on its laurels"; they have wilted and probably weren't true in the first place. That is when reading Empire of the Summer Moon and Hillbilly Elegy have a lot to teach us. Thank goodness for good book! Go read.... yup, that's the best answer, go read....!

>44 maggie1944: Not to sound to pessimistic but take a look at the number of Americans who have read any books in the last year. It is a disturbing number. More than 25% of the population did not read a single book. I agree that reading would help a great deal but very few citizens do so and even fewer read widely and deeply enough to actually educate themselves.

I know, I know. I'm doing my little best: set up a Little Library outside my door, with a sign which says "Take a book, leave a book, no need to return a book, Free, Free, Free". It is a small thing but I do like to remind my neighbors that reading a books is a good thing.

>39 maggie1944: I reorganized the library shelves today and put Hillbilly Elegy on the top of the reading basket.

>46 maggie1944: Good for you for setting up a little free library. I love the one in my neighbourhood and visit it often.

>47 witchyrichy:, Karen, I think you will appreciate the book. An easy, sometimes amusing read which is definitely informative.

>48 Familyhistorian:, Meg, thanks. It is slow going around here because there are a limited number of people who read seriously. Many of the books in the paperback library on one floor in each building are of the most popular type...what I call Grocery Store Books.

I love it that you set up a Little Free Library. It reminds me of the time I set up a little office library at work once.

Good Monday morning. I went to bed waaaaay too early last night and am up and drinking coffee in the dead of night. Also, reading a bit of Believer: My Forty Years in Politics on the Kindle, as I cannot find my hard copy. Oh, man! I have got to get a handle on the organizational system, or lack thereof, in this little apt. The community is having their discussion of Believer on Thursday evening, and I really want to have finished the book. This may be a reading challenge for this week.

I also am listening to The Elephant Whisperer on the Kindle, as well as Your Brain at Work and All The Light We Cannot See (I have both audio and print of this one on the Kindle). The latter on is for our November 15 meeting of our little group. I have set a bar high for these next few days.

You've convinced me on Hillbilly Elegy, Karen. Thanks for the helpful comments. You've got a lot of good listening/reading going on!

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
23. Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod

I loved the book. I love politics. I've been in love with political consultants; and have lived through and worked on political campaigns. Axelrod's ride with Barak Obama was extraordinary and the President comes across in the book as the man I loved being able to vote into office.

Read it.

It will cheer you up in this era of so little cheer.

>54 maggie1944: So enjoyed the balanced political discourse here Karen. I am of the group that finds it difficult to square HRCs rhetoric that she stands from the poor when it is so obvious that she is the darling of Wall Street and she espouses her beliefs in a sponsored big-business limousine. Obviously as a socialist it would be anathema for me to vote for someone with Trump's anti-foreigner (if he hates foreigners so much why does he keep marrying them?) and anti-woman diatribes. He has a point about the loss of American jobs and the misguidedness of American foreign policy but he spoils it all with his prescription of policies. I haven't see any policy really from Hillary but she is not going to bring change either for good or bad although I do fear her hawkishness on foreign policy.

Have a lovely weekend.

Thanks, Paul. I also worry about Clinton's "hawkish" attitude. I'm not a fan of the Military Industrial Complex, never have been. Was anti-war from Vietnam to today....

I just voted for her because I could not vote for D. Trump and his perverse view of government. He is not a wonderful businessman, but even if he were, I would never vote for a businessman or woman to run our democratic republic government. Government is not a profit making endeavor. Capitalism is not a system of government. Every time the capitalists were in charge the people suffered.

Plus, I do like the idea of a woman running the White House finally. I do believe men and women are equally suited to leadership. Or maybe women make better leaders, not sure of that yet. But it might be true.

Thanks for stopping by.

#56
I agree with you about so much this political season. I have often wondered why the U.S. hasn't had a woman in a real position of power. I was happy that Nancy Polosi was Speaker of the House. At last a woman, I said.

I think the same about H. Clinton. I don't believe that she has done anything a man wouldn't do to get elected and yet it is wrong for her.

I don't see her as "hawkish." See her as firm. When a woman is "firm" she is often portrayed as aggressive.

Politically, I am so disappointed in the Obama administration. I think he has been to cautious in all aspects of government. I wanted a leader who will step out and call it as he sees it. Obama wouldn't do that. The National Health Care Act is a case-in-point. It is a mess because he compromised in order to get it passed. The Clinton's wouldn't cooperate with big pharma and the, largely male leadership of the medical establishment, so National Health Care had to wait. And, it is still waiting. I simply refuse to call the Band-aide that Obama got passed a solution to anything, but rather the cause of many more problems.

I am also of the opinion that it doesn't really matter who is president. What matters is who is the leader in Congress. Until that changes nothing will change.

I think real change will have to wait until we begin to educate our young people again so they know it is their duty to be informed, to be civil in their discourse, and to understand complex problems are not solved with simple slogans.

I think Obama's health care act did solve several very real problems for millions of Americans who did not have any insurance at all, and do now. And I think it helped particularly with people who could not get coverage because they, like I, had pre-existing conditions. If I lost my insurance now, I'd never be able to get any under the old system; and I could never afford the medications. I would be crippled within a year or two, and suffer with incredible pain until the last day of my life.

I agree Congress must have many, many new members; and yes, new leadership. We must get rid of those people who think "my way or the highway" is a responsible position in a democracy.

Nice to see you Benita!

I understand that the National Health Care Act provided coverage for many people who had no insurance. My own sisters and cousins are recipients of that largesse. however, it is so limited in scope that it isn't really that much help - other than some medical insurance is better than none. However, it rings the death knell of many, if not most, of the small rural hospitals in the less populated parts of the country, and it suffers from a lack of participation of large numbers of affluent heathy people. I believe that those of us who have Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage (and other huge health insurance companies) should have been rolled into the National Health Care program, along with all 18 year-olds, regardless of parental coverage (just like the daft). This would have made the program viable. The way it is now, it has no hope of succeeding, and will soon be gone, leaving millions of people without quality health care.

oh, so, you think Trump or the Republicans will have enough power after the election and will shut it down? I know my foster daughter who is handicapped by her chronic health problems has benefitted greatly by having the coverage. I hope it doesn't disappear. I worry that she might commit suicide if she does not get some help soon. Social Security has denied her first application for disability, and she's working on an appeal. Meanwhile, she has friends who actually support her with money, and I don't know how much longer that will last.

Regardless, of who wins the Presidency, I think the government is so grid locked I'm not sure anything very dramatic could happen.

>55 PaulCranswick: Paul, the HRC website is full of positive policies. She hasn't had much chance to discuss them as she debates Trump and ducks the usual and unusual criticisms and accusations that have been made.

I'm terribly worried about the actions of the FBI personnel who leaked incomplete and misleading information about Hillary, with nary a peep about Trump's problems. This election is by far the worst, in terms of distraction and misdirection, I've ever experienced, and I take that all the way back to the first one I was aware of, in 1960. Democracies structured as ours is have inherent flaws that can be capitalized on by demagogues, and even though we have lasted for 240 years, there is no guarantee we will not capsize.

Some good news: Latino/Mexican/Spanish speakers have been energized like never before. Lots of new registrations; lots of new voters! That is a good thing.

I also think the media has some self-examination to do. How much did Trump's crazy behavior and the media's attention to it result in some of the very dysfunctional stuff???

The FBI has always needed to be watched more carefully. I'm glad the dysfunctional stuff there is being seen, too. The right wing nuts who are agents and the fact that they did not stay "above politics" is like someone finally said "the Emperor has no clothes!"

Well, more shall be revealed....

>60 maggie1944: No, it will capsize on its own because of the insurance companies. Between them withdrawing from the pools and customers withdrawing because of outrageous premiums and deductibles, the ACA will collapse without the "help" of Congress.

Well, that is an interesting prediction. I guess we'll see...

#63
I agree with Morphy. I think that the whole ACA was set up to fail because it was the product of to much compromise with the insurance companies. Most people in government know that we need some kind of coherent national health care policy, but we are not likely to get one due to the lock on profits that most insurance companies and big pharma have on the industry. It is a sad state of affairs for the U. S. but that is the way it is.

#62
I agree about watching the FBI more closely. This last trick was really low down and ugly.

Just lurking, Karen. Hi!

All I have to say this morning is - Unbelievable!

I have spent all my working life struggling against the barriers that women have to face in the workplace - lower wages, no reward for innovative and imaginative thinking, and for playing "nice" with the boys who are in power, and lending a helping hand to other women, and look at what has happened. No matter what the pundits may say, I am convinced that HRC went down because she was a woman.

I won't disagree with you, Benita. And I sincerely fear what other attacks on women's independence will be arriving. I'm contemplating starting some new monthly contributions to maybe NARAL and Planned Parenthood and .... well, I don't know - maybe the Southern Law Center (I know that is not the real name, but it escapes me just now). These are all organizations which touch on important experiences of my life.

Sigh.

I will pay attention to Hillary Clinton's request that we contemplate a Trump Presidency with an open mind, and give him a chance to lead, but there will be limits to how long that will be an active effort on my part.

We're increasing our give to Planned Parenthood after this, Karen, and I'll mention to Debbi doing the same for the Southern Poverty Law Center (I'm not sure I've got that right, either).

It is the Southern Poverty Law Center and is based in Montgomery, AL. They put out some very good teaching materials on subjects like tolerance.

The fountain at the entrance to their modest building is a beautiful piece of artwork. It was designed by Mia Lin and is just as effective as is her other monument of note - the Vietnam War Memorial.

They publish a magazine for teacher's titled "Teaching Tolerance." It has some articles in each issue and classroom activities.

Thank you, Joe and Benita. It is so nice to have a place of civil discussion. Whoa! FB is wearing me down. I think I need to go read a book.... hehehehehe

Happy Birthday to me! I'm 72 today, but have been feeling 72 for a few weeks. I'm off to Starbucks this morning to collect my free birthday treat, in the company of two of my new friends here at Silver Glen. I'm still very depressed about the state of our democracy. The stories of the spread of stories which are totally untrue during the campaign makes me worry if we can ever have a really fair national election again. Social media is uncontrolled and the trolls are taking advantage of people believing what they read, regardless how believable and regardless of whether it is verified by any one.

I decided, reluctantly to drop out of FB, maybe forever, maybe just for a while. There are rumors of totally untrue stories which have been reposted hundreds of thousands of times. Yikes.

Then I heard on TV that the Russian interference was verified by some Russian sources, having been in touch with members of Trumps campaign for a long time. WTF???

Have a fantastic Birthday!

Hey, Happy Birthday, Karen! How great!

I think you're smart to take a break from Facebook. As Dr. Jim says, it has become apocalyptic after the election.

Relax and enjoy this special day, and treat yourself well every minute of it! And then have a great weekend!

Happy birthday!

I was made even more unhappy with the news of Leonard Cohen's death. I loved his songs and his music. Now there was a great poet. When it was announced that Bob Dylan got the Nobel Literature Prize, my first thought was that Leonard Cohen deserved it more.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks, Carrie Lee! Nice of you to stop by and leave your good wishes for me. It was a very nice day, filled with some friends, some dog walking (met a lovely standard schnauzer and her very nice family) at the big dog park in the warmish fall weather! Not quite sunshine, but close. Also bought some additional hummingbird feeders because we are getting a nice group hanging with us in the colder weather. And now a lovely quiet evening at home, just put out the new feeders with the sugar water, waiting to hear the hummers come flying.

Yes, Joe. The news that sent me to bed last night to put my head under the pillow was that the Russians were "in contact" with Trump's campaign; clarified this morning that the Russians said they were in contract with some people who supported Trump, not that they had contact with the actual campaign. Now that is bad, but not as bad as I first thought. I'm feeling a wee bit better today, but I am still very nervous about this guy. Privatize Social Security? No longer an entitlement? What will it be? Welfare for the over 65? or over 75? Maybe we should make it 76 in honor of 1776?

Thank you for stopping by and reminding me there is some wisdom around, such as putting FB in the "later bin".

Thanks, Morphy! I appreciate your stopping by, too. Hope this finds you healthy and happy!

Yes, Benita, I, too think he was a better poet. And am very sad to have him moving on to another plane of existence. I am sure he'll be able to help the Celestial Chorus!

Anita, thank you very much for stopping by.

My thread has become very mundane with my slow slow slow reading this year, but I think I'll hit 24 books, and can call it 2 a month, which is better than I used to be able to do.

Cheers, everyone. We can always go read a book!

I am still stunned. I can't believe that Billy Bush lost his job over his "locker room" talk and the other guy won the election. I can't help but wonder if Billy Bush learned any lesson from this at all? And if so - what lesson did he learn?

I know.

Very belated happy birthday Karen. I think we have all been going around stunned after the US elections and not paying attention to the little things that matter whilst the big things seem so screwed up.

Yes, I saw an article in the NY Times this morning which seemed to make some sense of it all. If you can see if you can find "The End of Identity Liberalism" by Mark Lilla. It was in the Sunday Review section of the Sunday Times. Very interesting.

My life is pretty idyllic here and I am feeling like I'm in a cocoon.

Yes, I saw an article in the NY Times this morning which seemed to make some sense of it all. If you can see if you can find "The End of Identity Liberalism" by Mark Lilla. It was in the Sunday Review section of the Sunday Times. Very interesting.

My life is pretty idyllic here and I am feeling like I'm in a cocoon.

>83 maggie1944: That was an excellent article.

I upped my giving to Planned Parenthood Northwest and added Southern Poverty Law Center to my monthly giving (through work).

And I'm going to confirm our lunch date for over winter break.

Happy Thanksgiving, Karen!!

I am thankful for your presence in the group, Karen.

Thanks, Ellen, and Paul. I really appreciate your good book buddy friendships!

>39 maggie1944: Horribly behind in reading threads but I just finished Hillbilly Elegy and also found it a fascinating book, a loving but critical portrait.

Belated good wishes for the holiday!

Thank you, Karen. I love Thanksgiving, there is so much less pressure. It seems in my family to be OK to spend this holiday with friends. I had a lovely time with friends. It was funny, 6 adults and 6 dogs. We had a great time, good food, good conversations!

I'm still not making good progress in reading but I've got the books! and I'll get to them.

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
23. Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
24. Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister

A charming account of Timmermeister's purchase and development of a very small farm on the island, off Seattle, where I used to live, and which I still love. I enjoyed reading about the step by step journey he took from being a chef in a restaurant to being a chef on his own farm, serving pretty much only what he had raised and what was of the land on which he lived. I did not relish the chapter on butchering the hogs but I did appreciate the respect he gave to the animals he slaughtered, and I appreciated his ode of praise to how good was the meat he raised , better than anything we see in the grocery store cases. I have to see if his farm still has dinners on Sundays, and perhaps see if I can find my way over there to have one of his dinners.

Just saying hello and giving your thread a bump. :-)

Thanks, Ellen. Gave me a smile. I've been watching too much Rachel Maddow Show. Shocking stuff going on.

Uh oh. You know, I think it's important to stay up on what is happening in the world but I do recommend taking a break now and then, too, my friend.

I'm looking forward to seeing you later this month!!!!

I was beginning to wonder if you were working again this Christmas since I hadn't seen you around the threads.

The more I hear about this election and all the shenanigans the more I think I will just settle in with a good book and my knitting. I have been listening to lots of books instead of watching TV. It makes for a very nice evening.

I baked oatmeal bread this morning for Christmas gifts. They turned out well and gave me a chance to use my new KitchenAid stand mixer.

Hi, Benita! Nice to see you stop by. I think my relationship with LT is changing and I'm not entirely sure just what it means. I know that I'm spending a great deal less time reading postings, and posting myself. I'm still reading but at a slower pace than before probably at least partially because I am on the Board here at SG and it keeps me busy with stuff or with recovery from busy days. I still am active in the little LT inspired book group which meets near here once a month. I just finished reading Cheaper by the Dozen for that group; and have cracked open Auntie Mame which will also be discussed at our next meeting.

I also have Dark Money which I need to finish. I enjoyed reading Growing a Farmer which was set on Vashon Island where I used to live, and which has a large chunk of my heart.

And my photography and card making have combined to make me a little money. At the "arts and crafts fair" we had here, just for our community, I made a nice little bit and then I went on to do some custom cards for a lady who wants to send Christmas cards to people who used to live here but have moved on - mostly to Assisted Living places. I'm loving spending some time do the photographs, and doing the card making.

Life is good for me just now.

>95 maggie1944: Oh, how nice to start a new adventure with the cards!

Thanks, Judy. I have been working at this for a while and like the 20 cards I made for this lady; but, I still have some refinements to master. I like doing this and have lots to learn as I go. I call that a good thing!

Happy holidays to you and yours!

>95 maggie1944: "Life is good for me just now."
That's good news.

I haven't attended to this month's reading at all, and likely won't. But I'm looking forward to seeing everyone (I know Bill can't make it).

And I'm really looking forward to our lunch date later this month!

I unfortunately, and sadly, bumped into quite a bit of racist writing in Auntie Mame and frankly made me sad that I had recommended we read the book. It continues to be a notable work of sarcasm and satire but scenes set in the south of the day (1950s) were poisoned by the racial attitudes of the day. Yuk!

I am looking forward to chatting with the book group about next years "picks" when we get together later this month. And then, yes, I am too excited about having lunch with you. By then I can tell you how I responded to some books I'll be getting in the next couple of days, based on discussions on your thread.

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
23. Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
24. Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister
25. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.
26. Auntie Mame by Jerome Lawrence
27. Unsaid by Neil Abramson

I am of two minds about this book. First, it grabbed me and held me down all day yesterday. It has been sitting on my shelf for months after I picked it up at a book store because I loved the picture of a dog on the front of the book. It's cover advertised it to be about the bonds between people and animals and it certainly was. I raced through it and cried more than once as some of the people and animals do die, and I did care about multiple characters, and multiple animals.

Second, it was written by a lawyer who has been associated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and reflects this bias.

I don't like it much when a fiction writer uses a tear-jerk story to "argue" in favor of a point of view, even if I happen to agree with the point of view. I like my fiction to be about the human condition in all its complexity and without having come to firm conclusions about any of the issues we face. This book clearly wants our legal system to stop treating animals as if they were things, and not sentient beings. I agree, but I don't like fiction to be the avenue for discussing this important issue.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Ah, yes, Paul my friend, you have some very good wishes there and I'll join you in crossing fingers and closing eyes and wishing with all my might.

Thank you.

Happy Christmas Karen!

I think I can make it to 30 books by reading a couple of graphic books before Saturday night. And here's one that took me a little over an hour to savor:

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. He spent 5 years wandering about shooting photographs of interesting looking people. He did ask their permission, and he did listen to their stories when they wanted to share. He also took some pictures which maybe he just "got" and did not ask permission. But they are fun and fancy-full pictures!

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
23. Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
24. Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister
25. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.
26. Auntie Mame by Jerome Lawrence
27. Unsaid by Neil Abramson
28. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

next up: Humans of New York Stories by, you guessed it, Brandon Stanton and the people he met.

Are you still living at thee Bothell address? just mailed your Christmas card there.

Benita, nope. I'm living in Bellevue. I'll send you a PM. Don't feel as if you need to send a card, I'll accept your note here as my season's greetings.

Books Finished in 2016

1. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
2. Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson
3. Huck #1 by Mark Millar and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
4. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
5. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
6. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
8. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison
9. Tisha: The Wonderful True Love Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness as told to Robert Specht.
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
11. The War That Saved My Life
12. The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
13. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
15. Woof: Twenty-Five Years as a Dog Trainer by Mordecai Siegal (6-6-16)
16. This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
17. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
18. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
19. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
20. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson
21. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
22. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
23. Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
24. Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister
25. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.
26. Auntie Mame by Jerome Lawrence
27. Unsaid by Neil Abramson
28. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
29. March - Book One by John R. Lewis

Congressman Lewis has written a delightful account of his youth in Alabama, culminating in his being active in the very beginnings of the 1960s civil rights movement. As I was a fund raiser for SNCC at the University of Washington I feel very attached to this story. I remember the training we all received in how to resist nonviolently and am touch again, as I was then, of the courage of the young men and women who began the Movement by sitting in at lunch counters.

Recommended for anyone who has a love of history.

Happy Holidays, Karen!

I'll be following your lead on the retirement front. I'm so glad you enjoyed March Book One, and what a great perspective you bring to it. The next two are just as remarkable.

I have them both, Joe, and am looking forward to reading them. However, I have distractions: Ancillary Justice for my f2f book group; The Unwinding for my retirement community's Progressive Caucus (of which I am the leader.... I skipped a meeting to go to the doctor and look how they rewarded me :-)

And then today, I saw that the Barnes and Noble which is just around the corner, within walking distance, is having a huge clearance sale because they are closing that store. The mall did not renew their lease. Sad, sad face!

So, that news + the rebate I received from B&N due to their over charging on e-books = BOOKA Gentle BUYING... fun, fun, fun.

I bought A Gentleman in Moscow: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Destiny of the Republic by CandiceMillard, and Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies by Ross King. I saw it was 50% off! I am thrilled. I spent a total of $23.82 on two hard backs, and one paperback. Somedays life hands you a gift or two.

I also went grocery shopping and was trying to find some Ghee. Had to ask at the Customer Service desk whether they had any and the gentleman who was there to help just lit up with happiness. I'm guessing he is Indian or Pakistan in origin, and he announced he used it all the time. So, no they did not have any but then I showed him my butter and said I was going to make some.... and he said "how?" and I told him what the cook book said.... It was fun. Nice to make a person feel good by being interested in the food they eat all the time.

Well, onwards. The weekend should be nice but New Year's Eve is predicted to drop into some cold temps for us, and the cold should hang around for about a week. Sunshine, too. Nice for walking the dog.

^ oooh, great book haul. I'm dying to get my hands on a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow. I have it in my Amazon shopping cart but I haven't yet clicked on "purchase."

Wait, and I will work to read it soon, and lend it to you, or maybe sell it to you as a used book. I like to get "rid" of the books after I read them, so sometimes I sell them to the library here, or to Half Price. I'd just as soon sell it to you, for a good price, too.

Oh my, I'm sorry the B & N is closing, but what great books you got at big savings! I've been looking with longing at that Ross King book about Claude Monet and the Water Lilies.

>111 maggie1944: It's a deal!

Congrats on your book haul! And how cool that your cards are doing so well!

I'm about half way through March: Book One and loving it.

>110 EBT1002: It's not my usual fare but it intrigued me enough to put in my Maybe TBR.

Hi, Joe! The cover is beautiful and I was fascinated with imagining Monet working to get the painting done before the garden was destroyed. At least that is what my imagination suggests.

OK! Ellen - its a deal.

Thanks, Janet. I am loving Book 2, too. I am happy with the cards, also. Even if they are being bought because my fellow retirees are supporting me. I don't know how they'll do in a shop with the general public.

Morphy, I'll be sure to make it clear if I post a review. It probably won't be soon, though, as I have so many other books calling my name, just now.

I confess buying those books reminds me of all the TBR books I have in storage. I must go get them, and even if I have to make piles on the floor I need them here so I can repress my desires for "new" books by looking at all I have already!

>116 maggie1944: lovely that your cards are selling. How do you create them? On your printer?

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Karen

Hi, Judy (117), I mostly use my photographs on remade card stock of an appropriate size. I did buy a printer which does very well at printing my photographs. I have more to figure out such as where to get photo paper which is not glossy at a reasonable price; and how to do some very basic editing on my photographs.

The cards which do well tend to be plants, and flowers, and an occasional dog, or landscape. I don't take portraits, nor do I stage cute pictures. I also don't try to pretend I'm an impressionistic painter, as some photographers are doing.

I hae had some training in using rubber stamps and I do a little bit of that, too, when it is appropriate.

It is fun. And I almost like doing it more than I like reading. Horrors!

Happy new year, dear friend.

Hi Paul, you are so welcome here and in my 2017 thread!

Wishing you a wonderful 2017, Karen.

OK, I am finished. Number of books finished this last year is 29, did not get to finish one more. But who pays much attention to numbers here, anyway????

If you'd like to join me in 2017, please come on over to this thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/243916#

This thread is officially unscarred, and complete. I'm not coming here to answer posts any more. So there! Happy New Year!