scaifea's thread #25

Welcome to thread XXV!



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-15 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. An unread book from my shelves.

10. A book from my Classics shelves.

11. A book from our Science Shelves corner.

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

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

14. An audiobook for the car.

15. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

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

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

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



What I'm reading now:
-Andersonville (Banned Books)
-Tree of Freedom (Newbery Honor Book)
-The Complete Sherlock Holmes (1001 Children's Books (sort of))
-The Gods of Pegana (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy)
-The Worst President: The Story of James Buchanan (Presidential Challenge)
-Like Water for Chocolate (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-The Dispossessed (Nebula, Hugo & Locus awards)
-House of Leaves (unread book from my shelves)
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Charlie's bed-time book)
-The Twits (another Charlie bed-time book)
-Don Quixote (an unread book off of my shelves)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (from my Classics shelves)
-Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics (from the Science Shelves)
-Old Path White Clouds (Buddhism list)
-A Lear of the Steppes (books by year, 1870)
-The Full Cupboard of Life (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-Prairie Tale (from the Read Soon shelf)
-The Odyssey (everyday audio book in the car)
-The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare re-read)
-War and Peace (because Charlie wants me to)

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

Books Read:

JANUARY

1. The Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfoot (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
2. Slaves of Quentaris (audio book/1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
3. Runner of the Mountain Tops (Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
4. The Blue Cat of Castletown (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
5. Princess Academy (Newbery Honor book/ audio book) - 8/10 = B+
6. Olive's Ocean (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
7. The Wanderer (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
8. The Terrible Two (potential Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
9. The Puppy Place: Scout (Charlie's bedtime book) - 8/10 = B
10. A Daughter of the Seine (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
11. Roller Girl (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
12. Abe Lincoln at Last! (Charlie's school library chapter book) - 8/10 = B+
13. How I Live Now (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10 = B+
14. The Terrible Two Get Worse (loaned to me by a school librarian) - 8/10 = B+
15. Ella Enchanted (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
16. Echo (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A-
17. Bone Gap (Printz award winner) - 9/10 = A
18. The Ghosts of Heaven (Printz Honor book) - 8/10 = B-
19. George (Stonewall Award winner) - 9/10 = A
20. The Return of the Native (audiobook for the car/book-a-year challenge, 1878) - 9/10 = A
21. Hoot (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
22. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
23. Magic Tree House #17: Tonight on the Titanic (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
24. The War That Saved My Life (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
25. Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Abraham Lincoln (public library book) - 8/10 = B+

FEBRUARY
26. Crenshaw (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
27. Noah Barleywater Runs Away (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A-
28. The Midnight Dress (Blind Date with a Book) - 8/10 = B+
29. Twilight (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
30. Don't Break the Balance Beam! (public library book) - 8/10 = B
31. Hattie Ever After (sequel read) - 8/10 = B
32. A to Z Mysteries: Secret Admirer (Charlie bed-time read) - 8/10 = B
33. A Good Night for Ghosts (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
34. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
35. Zachary Taylor (Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
36. Books Can Be Deceiving (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+

MARCH
37. The Magic Tree House: Leprechaun in Late Winter (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
38. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (school library book) - 8/10 = B-
39. Bink & Gollie (school library book) - 8/10 = B+
40. The Magic Tree House #3: Mummies in the Morning (school library book) - 8/10 = B
41. The Spoonflower Handbook (just because I wanted to) - 9/10 = A-
42. The BFG (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
43. Circus Mirandus (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
44. Mr. Pants: Slacks, Camera, Action! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
45. Hour of the Olympics (school library book) - 8/10 = B
46. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
47. The Puppy Place: Patches (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = B+
48. Black Boy (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A-
49. The Religions Book (Charlie book) - 8/10 = A
50. The Boy Whom Swam with Piranhas (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
51. Blizzard at Black Swan Inn (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
52. The Nest (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
53. Belle Prater's Boy (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
54. Pax (potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
55. Fleece Navidad (series I'm reading with my mom) - 9/10 = A-
56. Dandelion Wine (NEH Children's Classics list) - 10/10 = A+
57. The Crystal Cave (Mythopoeic award list) - 8/10 = B+
58. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A

APRIL
59. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave (Jeffers/Boyne bibliography) - 9/10 = A
60. The Naming of Tishkin Silk (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
61. Minn of the Mississippi (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
62. High Tide in Hawaii (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
63. The Apple and the Arrow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
64. My Side of the Mountain (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
65. Rascal (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
66. Millions (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
67. The Magic Tree House #10: Ghost Town at Sundown (Charlie's school library book) = 8/10 = B+
68. Davy Crockett (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
69. To Be a Slave (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
70. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (Charlie's bedtime read) = 10/10 = A+
71. Serafina and the Black Cloak (book fair purchase) - 8/10 = B+

MAY
72. Detective Gordon: The First Case (CCBC list, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
73. Grimpow (audiobook/1001 Children's Books list) - 7/10 = C
74. Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
75. Enchantress from the Stars (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
76. To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Hugo Award) - 9/10 = A-
77. Millard Fillmore (U. S. Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
78. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
79. The Arrival (1001 Children's Books) - 10/10 = A
80. Finding Serendipity (book fair purchase) - 9/10 = A
81. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (bought as a potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
82. Magic Tree House #44: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborne (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
83. Ollie's Odyssey (William Joyce bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

JUNE
84. E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
85. The Knight at Dawn (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
86. Moby Dick (audiobook) - 9/10 = A-
87. The Three Muskeeters (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
88. Memoirs of Hecate County (banned books list) - 7/10 = C+
89. The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection (audiobook) - 10/10 = A
90. A Fine White Dust (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
91. The Sonnets (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A
92. Five Days at Memorial (from my Read Soon shelves) - 8/10 = B-
93. The Light of Asia (Buddhism reading list) - 8/10 = B+
94. The Centaur (National Book Award) - 8/10 = B
95. The Sign of the Beaver (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 9/10 = A-

JULY
96. The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
97. Nimona (checked out from the Lancaster public library as part of our Library Visiting Adventure) - 8/10 = B+
98. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
99. The Waters of the Wondrous Isles (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
100. The Sandman: Overture (Gaiman bibliography) - 10/10 = A+
101. The Kalahari Typing School for Men (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
102. Not My Father's Son (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
103. Graven Images (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
104. Far from the Madding Crowd (Book-a-Year Challenge) - 9/10 = A
105. The Fledgling (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
106. The Gods Themselves (Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards lists) - 8/10 = B+
107. Danny the Champion of the World (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
108. Dear Committee Members (Read Soon Shelf) - 10/10 = A+
109. The Silver Dream (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
110. Eternity's Wheel (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
111. Phoebe and Her Unicorn (75er recommendation) - 9/10 = A
112. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (audiobook, The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B-
113. The Path to Enlightenment (Buddhism reading list) - 9/10 = A
114. Attack of the Monster Plants (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
115. The Miss Liberty Caper (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
116. Clues in the Woods (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
117. George's Marvelous Medicine (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
118. A Necklace of Raindrops (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
119. Inside Out and Back Again (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
120. The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (Boyne bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

AUGUST
121. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (because one must, of course) - 8/10 = B+
122. Puppy Pirates: Stowaway! (Charlie read-aloud) - 8/10 = B
123. A Newbery Zoo (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
124. The Bluest Eye (Banned Books, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
125. Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
126. Audubon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
127. Justin Morgan Had a Horse (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) = 8/10 = B
128. Due or Die (series read along with my mom) - 9/10 = A
129. The Catcher in the Rye (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A
130. Gone-Away Lake (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
131. Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
132. Red Moon and Black Mountain (Mythopoeic award) - 7/10 = C
133. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
134. My Brother Sam Is Dead (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B
135. Across Five Aprils (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
136. The Coral Island (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
137. The Knight of the Swords (BFA) - 8/10 = B
138. Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
139. Penn (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-

SEPTEMBER
140. Arabel's Raven (because it's illustrated by Quentin Blake and I love him) - 9/10 = A
141. Amelia Bedelia Unleashed (Charlie's read-aloud book) - 8/10 = B+
142. The Perilous Road (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
143. The Railway Children (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
144. The Well at the World's End (Green Dragon Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
145. Around the World in 80 Days (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
146. The Singing Tree (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
147. Rendezvous with Rama (Nebula, BSFA, Hugo, Locus & Campbell awards) - 8/10 = B+
148. The Elements (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
149. The Sandman and the War of Dreams (Charlie's bedtime book) - 10/10 = A+
150. Thanksgiving on Thursday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
151. Blue Willow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B

OCTOBER
152. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
153. High Rise (audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A-
154. A Scanner Darkly (audiobook, BSFA) - 8/10 = B+
155. A Clockwork Orange (audiobook, Banned Books) - 9/10 = A
156. So You Want to Be a Wizard (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy) - 8/10 = B+
157. No Such Thing As a Witch (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = B+
158. Franklin Pierce (U.S. Presidential Challenge) - 7/10 = C
159. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (everyday audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A
160. The Bell Jar (Banned Books, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
161. I Capture the Castle (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
162. Fog Magic (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
163. Wonderstruck (Charlie's book club book) - 9/10 = A
164. Some Writer! - 9/10 = A
165. I Am Legend (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 9/10 = A-

NOVEMBER
166. Beyond Apollo (Campbell award) - 7/10 = C
167. The Witches (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A-
168. The Eagle of the Ninth (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
169. Daughter of the Mountains (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
170. Collected Stories and Other Writings (Pulitzer) - 8/10 = B
171. The Twits (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
172. Lord of the Flies (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
173. Seventh Son (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list/audiobook) - 9/10 = A
174. Dropped Dead Stitch (series I'm reading with my mom) - 9/10 = A-
175. Dog Man (Charlie's read-aloud book) - 8/10 = B+

The Charlie Topper:

And the bonus question:

Tell me something that makes you happy. Any little thing will do.

Happy new one, Amber!

Lots of things make me happy, so I'll go super shallow and say getting upgraded on flights, especially long ones :)

ETA: Ooooh, look at me - I'm first!

>4 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Tomm is a big fan of the flight upgrade, too. He usually texts me, super-excited when it happens. Ha!

He is a man after my own heart :)

Happy new thread! Being able to stay in my jammies with Chloe, and having no where to go today, makes me happy!

Happy New Thread, Amber!

>2 scaifea: Excelsior!

What could be better than a pile of leaves in Autumn?

My soft snuggly cat makes me happy, not least because she knows nothing of politics and other such human nonsense.

>3 scaifea: Watching movies as a family. Last night it was "Kubo and the Two Strings," and it was quite good.

Happy new thread, Amber, that picure of a happy Charlie with the leaves makes me happy :-)

Happy new thread Amber my dear, hope you are not as sad as you were a couple of days ago. Something that makes me happy is waking up on a morning next to the love of my life and after 34 years together and 32 married she still makes my heart skip a beat, I know this may be a bit slushy but hey ho. Sending love and hugs and if we ever get to visit we will make sure we have fresh baking with us.

Happy new thread!

mrsdrneutron and I spent some time outside Saturday afternoon working on tree pruning. When we got done, we sat on the back deck and listened to the quiet. That made me happy.

I'm generally pretty happy and it doesn't take much to make me that way either so I'll go with one of my favourite little things: popping bubble wrap. It's just so satisfying.

Happy new thread, Amber.

Happy?

I suppose the ladies in my family all in harmony. Hani and Yasmyne have a fairly tempestuous relationship so when they are perfectly attuned and getting along the world is in equilibrium for me.

Happy New Thread, Amber! Hooray for #25!!

"Tell me something that makes you happy." DUH! BOOKS!!

Happy new thread! A nice hot bubble bath makes me happy (thinking about having one tonight, which is why it came to mind). Other contenders were a cup of tea prepared just so, snuggles with my dog, and, of course, a good book to read. Hooray for simple pleasures!

>6 katiekrug: Katie: *grins*

>7 ChelleBearss: Chelle: A PJ day with your little one is a perfect day!

>8 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I love the photo of Charlie. I always look forward to playing in the leaves with him.

>9 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: It's difficult to beat a warm, sleepy cat, eh?

>10 London_StJ: Luxx: Ooooh, I really want to see that one soon!

>11 FAMeulstee: Aw, thanks, Anita! It makes me happy, too.

>12 johnsimpson: John: And that post of yours makes me happy just reading it! I love it!

>13 drneutron: Jim: That sounds like a perfect weekend day, friend.

>14 MickyFine: Oh, Micky, good one! Do you like to pop them one at a time, or are you more of a multi-popper?

>15 PaulCranswick: Paul: I can see how that would make your like happier - ha!

>16 msf59: Mark: YES! Perfect answer, of course! B. A. G.!

>17 foggidawn: foggi: Oh, gosh, I haven't had a bubble bath in, oh, 8 years. One of these days...

Happy new thread, Amber. I was able to get in towards the beginning of this one which makes me happy. What else makes me happy is taking research trips to wonderful places - it feels like magic.

>19 Familyhistorian: Morning, Meg! What has been your favorite trip so far?

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, laundry, some writing, and then working the book fair again this evening.

On the reading front:
I read a nice chunk of the Cheever collection yesterday. Boy, though, it's going to be a struggle for me to get through this one. The writing is very good, but the stories are really just not my thing. Too stark and bleak.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Irene Hunt (Up a Road Slowly, 1967 Newbery Medal) worked at her kitchen table She had a desk in the den but felt it was 'much too proper' to write comfortably there."

What We Read Yesterday:
-If You Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff (Charlie book, picture book) - 10/10 = A+
We LOVE Laura Numeroff, and we've been waiting for this one to come out for ages. So we were of course very excited to find it at the book fair!
-Chapters 9-12 in The Twits
-The second half of chapter 21 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Charlie's conference went really well! We love his teacher this year, tons.

As usual for him, Charlie has tested well above where 2nd graders are expected to be at the *end* of the year, and we're delighted to have learned that his teacher has methods already in practice to make sure that he is challenged and doesn't get bored. She actually told us that she worried about him getting bored with school and she wants to make sure that he continues to love school. Yes! She also asked us if we thought he was happy in school right now, as she isn't always sure about him because he's so shy - she's afraid that he doesn't tell her when he's unhappy. We reassured her that, as far as we know, he's quite contented.

I'm pretty confident that he'd tell me if something were wrong, especially since he just pointed out something last week that's making him unhappy: they have Guidance Class once a week and he dreads it because the guidance teacher always, apparently, pushes him to talk out in class. So, we discussed this with his teacher last night, and she agrees with us that this isn't great for him; we've all along taught him that it's okay to be shy, and she also agrees with us that pushing him to talk to you is the absolute wrong way to approach a relationship with him. She volunteered to have a talk with the guidance counselor to get her to back off and let him gradually open up to her.

I LOVE that she is such an advocate for him! Another example: he gets sad on days in which they have assemblies, because they hold them in the gym, and a gym with 450 elementary students in it gets loud and crowded (and you all know that's not his scene). She caught me in the hallway a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I'd be okay with her offering him some noise-cancelling headphones to keep him his cubby and to use whenever he felt he needed them. I said yes, of course, and they've worked a charm for him. We're so grateful that he's got such a fabulous teacher this year! WOOT!

Happy new thread, Amber!
What makes me happy? Too numerous to mention, I'm happy most of the time.

>23 scaifea: that's one terrific teacher. I'm so happy for you (and Charlie too of course)!

Morning Amber! Hooray for a good teacher!

I am enjoying a day off. Probable dog/bird walk, later this A.M.

>24 Carmenere: Lynda: I love that you're happy most of the time! I'm the same, usually, although this past week has tried my happiness a bit...

>25 lauralkeet: Laura: I know, right?! We're so fortunate to have her this year!

>26 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yay for days off! Enjoy the birding today!

>23 scaifea: Great to hear re Charlie, Amber. Bless that teacher.

I missed the "what makes you happy" question. Mark's answer works for me - books! But to add something different, I'd say my first cup of coffee in the morning. Great way to start the day.

>23 scaifea: That's absolutely fantastic! Way to go, teach. It's wonderful that she's an understanding advocate.

>20 scaifea: Most of my research trips are pretty special, Amber. I think my last one where I got to visit museums and archives in Scotland and England was one of the best. For the most part I was traveling with a group of fellow family historians but when I went out on my own I got to stay in a hotel on Islay with family connections and, later, checked out Chelmsford in Essex. I didn't know until I visited a museum there that Marconi had sent up his factory in the town. It was a special trip but too bad I couldn't meet up with Joe and Darryl while I was there. That would have made it over the top wonderful!

It sounds like Charlie has a great advocate in his teacher. He lucked out there.

Wow, Charlie's teacher sounds awesome! Wish I had of had one like that when I was young!
I was a lot like Charlie and was shy and had a hard time speaking out in class and doing presentations. Unfortunately, I never grew out of that. My panel interview for full time this year turned me into a quaking mess, thankfully I knew my stuff and they overlooked my nerves!

People have suggested to me over the years to try something called Toastmasters. Apparently they teach people to overcome their fears of speaking in public, but seeing as I don't have a job that I would need to do that often I decided to just be me. If I had a job where I would need to present my work to a group then I probably would have given it a shot.

>28 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Yep, we're really grateful for her. And I hear you about the coffee, although mine is tea.

>29 London_StJ: Luxx: I really love that she approaches us first with her ideas and asks if we think it's the proper response. So excellent that she's willing not only to help but to collaborate.

>30 Familyhistorian: Meg: Oh, that UK trip sounds amazing! Maybe next time you can meet-up with the LT ex-patriots...

>31 ChelleBearss: Chelle: I was pretty shy as a kid, too, but not quite as much as Charlie. I was forced right out of it my first day of grad school, when I was given my own class to teach and essentially no guidance on how to do it. Trial by terror. Ha!

>32 scaifea: Trial by terror. Yup, sounds familiar.

At the moment this thread is making me happy. Love all the stories. The standard one: a book token and a bookshop with good stock...

>23 scaifea: Isn't she the teacher who is forcing Charlie to read those horrid books at home?

MrMorphy makes me happy. He makes me laugh every day.

>33 charl08: Charlotte: Oh, yes, excellent answer!

>34 Morphidae: Morphy: Yes, he does still have to read two easy readers each week at home, and the books themselves are out-dated and silly. I'm absolutely willing to forgive that, though, because these other things are so important to us and so great. I'm also hoping that the books we're buying for her classroom from the book fair will help, too - I suspect she just doesn't have the budget or the pocket money (which is to what many teachers resort) to restock her classroom library, especially with books at the level Charlie needs, since the majority of her students aren't there.

>18 scaifea:, Even if we could be axe murderers, lol.

>36 johnsimpson: John: I would totally take the risk of you two being murderers for some of Karen's baking and a cuppa and a chat with the two of you!

>37 scaifea: SantaThing should be starting this week!!

I'm so excited! I don't know.if I will be able to sign up but I love running the donation thread.

>38 mellymel171328: Melissa: I've never done SantaThing, but I know lots of people really love it. I'm glad you're one of them!

On the agenda for today:
I have a few last things to take care of for the book fair over at Charlie's old school this morning, then it's home for treadmilling and some writing. Charlie has gymnastics today after school, so I'll have some guilt-free reading time this afternoon.

On the reading front:
I read a few pages in Daughter of the Mountains yesterday, which really isn't getting my interest just yet.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Robin McKinley compared Aerin's battle with the dragon in The Hero and the Crown (1985 Newbery Medal) to living in an urban slum. At the time she wrote the book, McKinley lived in a run-down section of Staten Island, New York."

Morning Amber! Happy Hump Day!

>41 msf59: Morning, Mark! Wishing you a light letter load today!

Morning, Amber! Happy new one - I really love the Charlie topper. Kindness makes me happy - I love the little things like someone holding the door for you or letting you go ahead in line when you have just two things and they have their cart full.

>43 Crazymamie: Mamie!!! MAMIE!! So, so, SO glad to see you, lady! How are things?
I love those little things, too. They can really make your day, no?

Aw, shucks! Thanks, Amber - I have a cold. Again. And things have been very busy at the Pecan Paradisio lately, so I have not had much time for other things. But we are are all fine. I am hoping for a slow down soon - I am missing my books and LT.

The little things are where it's at, I think. Small moments are my favorite ones.

>45 Crazymamie: Mamie: Oh, dang. I'm sorry about the cold, friend. Here's hoping you're feeling better soon and that things slow down a bit for you.
Those small moments are the best, giving and receiving them. The look on a person's face when you do something unexpected and nice for them is pretty wonderful, too.

>39 scaifea: It is without a doubt a highlight of my year! I just hate that my disability limits me so much but I have been so blessed to get a sponsor the last couple years.

Good morning, Amber!

Don't forget to take a peek at The Poet's Dog some time. You'll be glad once you do.

>47 mellymel171328: That's so good to hear, Melissa!

>48 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Adding it to the list!

Hello Amber, happy new thread and what a lovely topper of Charlie. I just love the joy of playing in the leaves - there's nothing like it, is there? Also glad to hear the conference went so well and he has a fabulous teacher.

Things that make me happy.... hm, there are many small joys that people have already mentioned in baths, tea, coffee, and books. I will add my niece Mia and snuggles from babies.

>50 bell7: Hi, Mary! Love all of your happy answers - I agree with them all!

Hi, Amber--finally getting caught up on your new thread after being at a craft fair all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and catching up at home for the next few days. Charlie's teacher sounds like a winner for sure--I loved having teachers who were willing to make the effort to treat kids' needs as individuals when I worked, and unfortunately, that wasn't very common. I truly love the things she is doing for Charlie.

>52 ronincats: Hi, Roni! We're absolutely thrilled with this teacher. I wish there were tons more like her.

On the agenda for today:
This morning I'm helping to take down the book fair at Charlie's school, then it's home to do some menu planning and get the grocery list organized, laundry and some writing before heading back to school for my Thursday afternoon volunteering.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished with Daughter of the Mountains - I hope to finish it today.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Karen Cushman (The Midwife's Apprentice, 1996 Newbery Medal) refused to learn how to type to avoid having to make her living as a secretary."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Sculpture by Ron Bacon (Charlie's reading homework, easy reader) - 810 = B
-Chapters 13-16 in The Twits
-The first half of chapter 22 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

>54 scaifea: sounds like a fun and eventful day!

>56 mellymel171328: Morning, Melissa! Yes, let's hope so!

Morning Amber! 68 today? What? No, worries...we come crashing back to reality this weekend.

>58 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yeah, that's just too warm for mid-November. Yeesh. I did notice that in our forecast, next Wednesday is the first chance of snow we've had. Perfect timing, as Charlie and I will be driving to Indiana that day...

>57 scaifea: I had a strange day yesterday. I was up 20 hours but we managed to borrow against some life insurance loans (hate to do it :() BUT! We got our christmas shopping done! It wasn't much but it'll do :)

>60 mellymel171328: Melissa: We're cutting back this year on Christmas gifts, too. Good to hear that you've managed yours already - we haven't even started yet!

Morning, Amber!

>61 scaifea: I wish things weren't so expensive.

Morning, Amber!

Oh my, Goblet of Fire. Really good, and really chilling at the end.

>62 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

>63 mellymel171328: Melissa: Amen, sister. I also fight myself between wanting to buy ALL THE COOL THINGS for Charlie and wanting to teach him to appreciate what we have and to enjoy simplicity in life and value each other more than Things. So I waver between wanting to buy lots for him and wanting to buy no more than, say, five, presents (and not big ones at that). I read somewhere recently about a 4 Present Challenge for parents: this Christmas only buy your kids: 1) Something they want, 2) Something they need, 3) Something to wear and 4) Something to read. I like the concept but have issues with the categories. I have a No Clothing policy on presents, unless he actually asks for clothing. I mean, really, what kid wants clothes for Christmas?! And I've stated my stance of books as presents for Charlie elsewhere; in short, books are staples and not just treats for special occasions. Charlie knows that if there's a book out there that he wants and I have money enough to buy it, he can have it. So we don't wait for Christmas or birthdays to buy those.

>64 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I'm *so* enjoying reading this one aloud to Charlie, and it will be interesting to see what he makes of the ending. We're likely taking a break from HP after this one, unless Charlie really wants to give the next one a go; we've had the talk about them and how it's wholly up to him if he wants to go on at this point or if he wants to stop for a bit. If we start the next one, he knows that he can speak up at any time to say, "Whoa, this is a little too much right now" and we'll stop then.
ETA: I honestly hope we take a break after Goblet; I need to build up emotional stamina to get through the ending of the *next* one without breaking right down and sobbing. I may never reach that mental space, though...

How lucky we in the developed world are, that we get to make those choices as to how much we buy our loved ones, and whether we are spoiling them or not!

You could easily adapt the categories in order to fulfill both your own decisions about Christmas, but fit in with the idea that 4 presents is generally enough. For example, one of the categories could be an item of food that Charlie isn't usually allowed because it's too unhealthy and you can't bear to see him eat it, but he can have it as a gift. Like a tub of particularly indulgent ice cream (though rather impractical for unwrapping purposes) or the like. Or anything that you might think is wasteful but that he'd love, whether to eat or play with for an afternoon or longer.

Another category could be an experience he'd like - a trip to an unhealthy restaurant, a bounce house, a fun park, or even a drive in the car that is an adventure to a place you've never been before. Or a day you set aside entirely for him, where he gets to make all the decisions - what gets eaten for the meals, what he wears, where you go, what you do etc.

A third could be an educational toy that he hadn't necessarily asked for, and doesn't have the bells and whistles that get pushed down kids throats at Christmas, but that you would like him to learn something from. A science experiment set, meccano, something he has to build and experiment with, and then the fourth being something he simply wants.

I guess I'm saying I like the idea of 4 presents, and there are ways to adapt it to fit your lifestyle. My parents always did one 'big' present for the year, and then all little ones came from Father Christmas in a stocking in the morning. So I'd get sweets, a comic, a new book, fun little toys costing 50p or £1 each that would easily get lost or broken, and the excitement was delving in and seeing what Santa brought. Then I'd have a single big present from my parents in the afternoon- a rocking horse, a sand pit, a bike, that kind of thing. So I never ended up bragging about the things Father Christmas brought me, when a lot of my friends might not have had expensive items, but I got the excitement factor all the same.

Happy new thread Amber. What makes me happy? Traveling to new places.

>66 lunacat: Thanks for your thoughts on the gifts.

>67 luvamystery65: Roberta: Oooh, good one! Where would you most like to go next?

>54 scaifea: How'd it go with the new book supplier?

>70 Morphidae: Morphy: We made sales comparable to Scholastic (we sold enough to buy each teacher $100 worth of books, which is pretty great) and the book selection was more compatible with the ages at that school. However, the books are a bit more expensive and I worry that this doesn't serve the school well, since we have a good deal of low-income families. I'm not sure what will happen with the book fair at that school next year; I'm stepping down as the person-in-charge of it. I love it, but I'm tired.

>69 scaifea: I'm really torn between a tour of Eastern Europe or going the UK.

>71 scaifea: I bet. It's a ton of work, I imagine.

>72 luvamystery65: - Come to the UK with me (and maybe The Wayne) next summer!

>72 luvamystery65: Roberta: Oooh, whoa, those both sound pretty amazing!

>73 Morphidae: Morphy: It is. A TON. And I love to do it, really, but I'm running out of energy, and I have other obligations that are getting the shaft right now. Plus, I can't find volunteers to help me hardly.

>74 katiekrug: Katie: Oh, wow, that trip just got way cooler!

>72 luvamystery65: Bagsy for UK as I may well be there much of the time from Q1 2017 and that would be one more meet-up I would have to look forward to.

Have a great weekend, Amber. xx

>76 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul - happy Friday!

On the agenda for today:
Breakfast with a couple of mom-friends, then grocery shopping, bills, organizing the week's photos and cleaning.

On the reading front:
I finished Daughter of the Mountain last night - more on that later.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "E. L. Konigsburg (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1968 Newbery Medal and The View from Saturday, 1997 Newbery Medal) found that going from being a chemist to being a writer was easier than going from being a smoker to being a nonsmoker."
I love every one of her books I've read so far. She's fabulous. I need to get back round to more of her work soon.

What We Read Last Night:
-Chapter 1 of Dog Man
-Harry by the Sea
-Frog and Toad All Year

Morning, Amber! Happy Friday! Do not worry- your seasonal weather is on it's way.

>80 msf59: Mark: I know, right?! Excited, I am, as long as it doesn't snow next Wednesday, when Charlie and I need to be traveling...

169. Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin (Newbery Honor Book, 191 pages) - 8/10 = B
A young Tibetan girl wants a dog more than anything, but once she gets one, it is stolen from her to be sold far off in Calcutta. The book tells the story of her journey, alone, along the Great Trade Route to rescue her pet. A nice little story, but not one that especially pulled me in.

Morning, Amber! I hear you with the book fair woes - I did that for several years, too, and it is fun and fabulous, but like you say a TON of work. Time for someone else to step in and give you a break.

>83 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Yes, I love it but I need to be able to do other stuff, too. I'm torn, though, because I do love it so much and I dread to see it go downhill (it's so difficult to find volunteers that it may just not happen any longer).

Morning, Mamie!

We and our kids all loved Mixed-Up Files, too. I haven't read any others by her - what should be next?

>78 scaifea: Mmm, breakfast out always feels extra decadent. What did you have?

>85 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! The View From Saturday is excellent, as is Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth.

>86 MickyFine: Micky: I always have such a difficult time deciding on what to get when I go out for breakfast - I always want ALL THE THINGS. I settled on pancakes, sausages and coffee today, and it was wonderful, as was the company.

>87 scaifea: Thanks!

>88 jnwelch: Any time, Joe! I love bossing people around when it comes to books! Ha!

Hello Amber, so glad the book fair went well my dear and I do share your mis-givings about what the slightly increased book costs might do to the school. You have done a fantastic job doing the book sales but if you are struggling to get volunteers to help out you are right in stepping down as you can only do so much. Maybe this move is what is needed to galvanise support or it will be lost and they will come to regret not assisting.

You are a busy lady and as you say some things are slipping and you need to get back to them, this is the problem with volunteering that some see it being done well but don't think that help is needed. I found this with a couple of groups and just had to step away, I felt as if my time was being abused and I was missing out on things that I enjoyed but couldn't give them the time I should have.

Hope you are having a good Friday my dear and send love and hugs to you all.

>90 johnsimpson: Thanks for the words of support, John - I really appreciate it right now, because I'm feeling guilty for thinking about stepping down...

Charlie brought this home from school today. So good to know that Tomm and I squeaked by just ahead of video games...

>92 scaifea: That is adorable.

>93 MickyFine: Micky: I know, right!? So hilarious. And adorable.

>92 scaifea: "I'm glad you give me what we need." So sweet, but the we is perfect.

>92 scaifea: Amber, that's adorable! You'd better keep an eye on those new video game releases, though, just in case you get relegated :-)

Oh how sweet is that?!

>92 scaifea: Aww, adorable Charlie!

>95 luvamystery65: Roberta: Perfect is right. If I could have mail-ordered a son, I couldn't have done any better.

>96 susanj67: Susan: Ha! I know, right? So funny.

>97 lauralkeet: Laura: He's a sweetheart, for certain.

>98 FAMeulstee: Anita: Absolutely adorable.

On the agenda for today:
Cleaning, laundry, maybe some baking, hopefully some reading. It's blustering and cloudy outside; a perfect November stay-at-home Saturday.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of Lord of the Flies, which is fabulous so far. This is another one that astonished me because I somehow made it through my schooling without it ever being assigned.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Jack Schaefer's book Old Ramon was a 1961 Newbery Honor Book, but Schaefer is best known for writing the western Shane."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Chapters 17-20 in The Twits
-The second half of chapter 22 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning, Amber! I love Charlie's letter - so sweet!

>102 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! And, thanks! I think we'll keep him around.

>103 scaifea: Good morning! Santa Thing started!

Morning Amber! Well, here is that winter weather you were yearning for...

I sure didn't miss it. Bundled up tight.

>92 scaifea: Yay, Charlie! What a sweet kid.

Happy Saturday, Amber!

It will be interesting to hear your take on Lord of the Fli s, Amber, coming to it as an adult. It's firmly lodged in my teenage memory.

>104 mellymel171328: Morning, Melissa!

>105 msf59: Morning, Mark! Well, it's cold and blustery, but Charlie's upset that there's no snow here...

>106 jnwelch: Happy Saturday, Joe! That sweet kid is now vacuuming the living room for me. Voluntarily. I mean, honestly.

>107 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura! I'm pretty excited finally to be reading it, and so far I'm loving it.

>108 scaifea: How are you?

>110 mellymel171328: Melissa: I'm doing pretty well. A bit of a headache this morning, but otherwise just fine. The house is now clean, laundry is in the machine and I'm getting ready to settle down for a bit of reading before lunch and then maybe some baking this afternoon.

I love you more than video games. LOL. Such a boy.

>112 Morphidae: Morphy: I admit that I feel pretty honored at the ranking.

>92 scaifea: Oh, Charlie...the ammunition you have just given your parents against your teenage self.

>100 scaifea: Lord of the Flies is on my list of worst books ever. I hope you're going to tell me what you find so wonderful about it.

>114 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Ha!
Huh. Didn't like it, eh? Well, I'm pretty interested now to hear what you didn't like about it...

>111 scaifea: I thought my kids were going to grandma this weekend so I didn't focus on supper so now I am rushing to get something together. What did you read today?

>116 mellymel171328: Melissa: Tomm offered to cook tonight (chicken breasts on the grill), so I'm off duty.
I've been reading Lord of the Flies off and on today - how about you?

>117 scaifea: I am cooking some beef tips and going to eat them with rice. Haven't read anything today but for some reason I am overly tired today. :)

>118 mellymel171328: Melissa: Oooh, beef tips and rice?! I'll be right over...

>119 scaifea: I won't lie it is one of my favorite dishes :) so of course I will share!

>120 mellymel171328: Melissa: Ha! That's very generous! Seriously, though, that sounds so good; I'm definitely putting it on the menu soon...

>115 scaifea: It's been a long time, but as I recall I just hated it, and Pearl-ruled it waaaay before the 50 page mark.

>122 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Very interesting. On at page 55 and still loving it. The writing's good and the story is tense and intriguing. I already like it better than Animal Farm, which I read for the first time a couple of summers ago and enjoyed. Books that some people love and some people absolutely hate are exciting, no? *grins*

On the agenda for today:
We're treating ourselves to lunch in Dubuque today (Charlie's pick: Olive Garden), then Charlie has an art project he wants us all to do this afternoon. I may also do a bit more baking (we made our traditional sugar cookie cut-outs in with the turkey cookie cutter yesterday, but I didn't get round to the Chocolate Marshmallow Tarts, and I'd also like to make up a batch of scones for the week's breakfasts). African Peanut Stew for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I read more of Lord of the Flies and started The Dispossessed, which seems pretty interesting so far.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Katherine Paterson quoted Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's song 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' in her acceptance speech for Bridge to Terabithia (1978 Newbery Medal)."

What We Read Yesterday:
-How the Meteorite Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A-
-The Other Side of the Lake by Tom Paxton (Charlie's homework read, 24 pages) - 8/10 = B
-Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper
-Chapter 1 of Dog Man (Charlie's reading this one to us)
-Chapters 21 and 22 in The Twits
-The first third of chapter 23 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Happy Sunday! Meeting Joe & Co. for lunch and brews later on. Looking forward to it.

Morning, Amber!

>92 scaifea:, Brought a tear to my eye, what a lovely message from a smashing little boy.

>126 msf59: Morning, Mark! Ooof, that sounds amazing!

>127 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

>128 johnsimpson: John: He's a sweet little guy, for certain.

>129 scaifea: Good morning!

>130 mellymel171328: Morning, Melissa!

I forgot to mention that I finished up the Cheever collection yesterday, too.

170. Collected Stories and Other Writings by John Cheever (Pulitzer, 1040 pages) - 8/10 = B
I've never been a fan of short story collections; it's always been difficult for me to get through them, for some reason. I admit that I struggled with this one, too, even though the writing is absolutely excellent and the stories crisp and definitely engaging. It just always feels like a chore: once you get settled into one story, suddenly it ends and you have to start the process all over again. And again. And again. And then these particular stories are just too grim for me. They're gorgeous, but bleak.

>132 scaifea: I have the same trouble with short stories, Amber.

>132 scaifea: Yeah, I think that's the thing for me with short stories too - just as I've found my footing, it's time to move on to something completely different. I think the fact that the stories in the Munro collection I just read were longer than what I usually think of as a short story is part of why I liked them better than I expected to.

Although I will say "gorgeous, but bleak" appeals to me.

I Like short stories...but I try never to read more than one at a sitting, for the reasons you all note. They usually weren't meant to be read back to back, even though they are ultimately gathered in collections. Originally, most of them stood alone in periodicals. It helps to keep that in mind, I think.

>131 scaifea: how are you?

>132 scaifea: I'm not good with bleak, so will give these a miss. I did like the stories in Lucia Berlin's collection - for me it does depend on the author. I'm another one that tends to break them up as well. I'd recommend those by Petina Gappah and Adichie's collection That thing around your neck as recent highlights though.

Love Charlie's thanks note. Very cute.

>133 FAMeulstee: Anita: I'm glad I'm not the only one, then!

>134 ursula: Ursula: If you like gorgeous and bleak, you should give Cheever a go.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: I get that, and thanks for the reminder. It's difficult for me to think of collection as just that, though; it's bound together as one book and to my little brain that means it should be read all together. So, really, it's my mindset that's the problem and most certainly not these stories, which are very good.

>136 mellymel171328: Charlotte: I used to be much better with bleak, but the older I get, the more I need happy and not grim in my reading (and watching).

Hi Amber, hope you had a good lunch out and have you done some baking. Karen has been baking gingerbread biscuits and they are so nice. Hope you, Tom and Charlie have had a really good weekend dear friend, sending love and hugs to you all.

>139 johnsimpson: John: We had a wonderful lunch, but now I'm too full and sleepy for baking. I saw photos of Karen's gingerbread on FB and ooof, they look amazing.

I am the same way with short stories and tend to avoid books which are short story collections. I am the same way with fiction written in episodes which is the reason I stalled about a third of the way through on Rutherford's London.

>138 scaifea: I get that. I have noticed that I need a lot more feel good comedy lately. Especially after the very terrible start of the year I had. Heck, I won't sugar coat it I don't remember most of the beginning of this year.

>141 Familyhistorian: Meg: I generally avoid short story collections, too, unless (as in this case) they come up on one of my lists.

>142 mellymel171328: Melissa: Ooof, I'm sorry that you've had such a rough year; you're in good company, though. 2016 has been a bear to a lot of folks, I think.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: Really good reminder for reading short stories. Collections of essays, too.

Amber, thanks for contributing over on my thread. I appreciate your thoughtful and honest comments.

Have a great week!

>143 scaifea: I am happy to say that it is ending way better then I thought it would. :)

>144 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Thanks for hosting such a thoughtful and considerate discussion. I'm so grateful that I stumbled onto this site and this particular group a few years ago - no where else on the interwebs, I think, is such a phenomenon possible, but it's happening here in several different threads. Big hugs, friend.

>145 mellymel171328: Melissa: I'm happy that it's true for you. It's still looking pretty rough from where I'm sitting...

>146 scaifea: I hope it gets better. If you need someone to talk to I am always a message away.

>146 scaifea: "...no where else on the interwebs, I think, is such a phenomenon possible, but it's happening here in several different threads." I agree. Another confirmation that thoughtful people who read are, well, my favorites. :-)

>147 mellymel171328: Aw, thanks, Melissa, that's very sweet.

>148 EBT1002: Ellen: I agree!

>3 scaifea: So many things make me happy. My family, Fall leaves, pumpkin pie, a good book, a day with nothing to do...

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

I don't much like short story collections either but I loved Bloodchild by Octavia Butler.

>150 nittnut: Hi, Jenn! I love those things, too (although a day with nothing to do can sometimes make my twitchy...).

>151 Morphidae: Morphy: I think I've read a Butler before, but I can't remember which it was.

On the agenda for today:
I have my 6-month appointment with the dentist this morning for a routine cleaning and then my Monday afternoon volunteering. Charlie has an appointment to get a haircut after school, too. Otherwise I'll work one some odds and ends around the house.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished with Lord of the Flies and it's excellent. Hoping to finish it today.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Elizabeth George Speare (The Witch of Blackbird Pond, 1959 Newbery Medal and The Bronze Bow, 1962 Newbery Medal) wrote stories as a child but didn't begin writing seriously until her children were in junior high school."
I loved both of these medal winners tons. If you haven't read either, I definitely recommend them!

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read chapter 2 of Dog Man aloud to us
-Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving
-Chapters 23-25 in The Twits
-The middle third of chapter 23 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Had a great meet up with Joe and his family. You would think our throats would be sore after all that yakking.

Getting ready for your trip?

>155 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm so jealous of your meet-up! One of these days, friend...
And yep, I'll start prepping for the trip today. We'll leave right after school on Wednesday.

I will also be at the dentist this morning. Here's to shiny clean teeth and no cavities!

>157 katiekrug: Katie: Woot! Here's hoping!

Hi, Amber!

I have that trouble with short story collections, too. Start, stop, start, stop . . . I like getting caught up in a novel or narrative nonfiction. There are exceptions of course, including, for me, Murakami's short story collections.

Have you tried the Montalbano mysteries? I'm a fan, and the newest one is another fun outing.

>159 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I have a few exceptions to the short story business, too, including my boy Gaiman, of course. I love Murakami but haven't read any of his short stories - I suspect he'd fall into the exception category for me, too.
I haven't yet tried the Montalbano series, but it's definitely on my list, thanks to you and others here!

Dentist visit done; as usual, I'll have to go back in a couple of weeks. I have weak enamel and just weak teeth in general, so even though they tell me that I do a good job keeping them clean, I still get cavities frequently. And now I'm getting old enough that I'm starting to need old fillings redone. Awesome. They're super-nice about it, though, and told me today not to get too discouraged and to keep up the good work. So there's that, I guess.

In other, better news, I've done a bit of online Christmas shopping today: one of the few things Charlie has asked for this year (he's not easy to buy for, since he rarely asks for stuff - such a strange kid in some ways (good ways, though!)) is shoes with strings. It just happened to work out that the two pairs of school shoes we bought for him are velcro-enclosed, and now that he has finally (!!) mastered tying his shoes (this summer - what a millstone milestone!), he really wants a pair with actual shoestrings. So, I went to converse.com (aka nike.com - when did that happen?!) and purchased a custom-made pair that I think he'll love. Just the sort of thing for Santa to leave for him: Green on the sides, blue with white stars on the tongue, yellow strings and yellow stitching, with a purple racing stripe on the heel and purple stripes on the rubber souls (on the sides). Totally Charlie's style. And my mom is going to buy him a whole assortment of different colored strings. V. cool, no?

>161 scaifea: Funny coincidence: you and Katie both went to the dentist today.
Now I want some fancy/fun sneakers.

>161 scaifea: That sounds like an awesome gift, Amber. Gold star for excellent mom-ing. ;)

Love the sound of those sneakers!

>161 scaifea: I'll never forget the year my aunt bought my daughter a pair of hot pink Converse high tops---something I never would have thought of. Might have been her favorite present that year.

>152 scaifea: It might have been Kindred.

>152 scaifea: Agreed, therefore, only A Day, not lots of days, with nothing to do. Meaning, I can do what I want to do, like read, or sew, or bake. Because there is never really a day with Nothing to do. ;)

Love the sneakers with strings idea. So cute.

>162 lauralkeet: Laura: Yep, she mentioned as much up there at >157 katiekrug:. *grins*

>163 MickyFine: Micky: I very nearly ordered myself a matching pair - they look pretty awesome, I have to admit...

>164 katiekrug: Katie: I know, right?! How did your appointment go?

>165 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Very cool. I still have my first pair of black high top chucks, which I had in high school.

>166 Morphidae: Morphy: Nope. I honestly don't remember (and maybe I haven't read any of her stuff at all), but I know it wasn't that one.

>167 nittnut: Jenn: I pretty much have constant I'm-Not-Doing-Enough guilt. Fun times.

>168 scaifea: oh whoops, clearly I skimmed right past >157 katiekrug:!

>168 scaifea: - It was awful and tragic. Feel better?

;-)

>170 lauralkeet: - Really, Laura, really?!?!

>171 katiekrug: oh I know, I feel just awful about it. :)

Heh. Liar.

>170 lauralkeet: - >173 katiekrug: *snork!!*

>171 katiekrug: Katie: Helpful. Definitely helpful.

On the agenda for today:
I'll stay at school for a bit when I take Charlie in to get some PTO stuff done, then home to do laundry and some odds and ends and possibly some writing. Charlie has his monthly book club at the library tonight.

On the reading front:
I finished Lord of the Flies - more on that later.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Paul Fleischman's enjoyment of creating music with others played a large role in his writing process for Joyful Noise (1989 Newbery Medal."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read a bit more of Dog Man aloud to us
-We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
-The Very Stuffed Turkey
-The last bit of chapter 23 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
And we finished:

171. The Twits by Roald Dahl (Charlie's bedtime read, 76 pages) - 9/10 = A

Morning Amber! You will like the Gaiman collection once you get to it. I still have to read Stardust and his last story collection.

All the way back at >92 scaifea:. So well said, Charlie!!
Looking forward to your comments on LotF. I read it last year and dying to know what you think!

>177 msf59: Morning, Mark! Stardust is excellent! I have Trigger Warning waiting for me right next to The View from the Cheap Seats...

>178 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! I'll try to get round to my mini-review later today. Spoiler alert: I LOVED it!

Good morning, Amber!

You probably won't be surprised - I hated Lord of the Flies. Powerful, though. I'm glad you loved it.

Another vote for Stardust here - excellent, as you say.

Hi Amber! How are you today?

>180 jnwelch: Joe: I *am* surprised! What didn't you like about it?

>181 mellymel171328: Morning, Melissa!

>182 scaifea: You know how books can take you away into new worlds? LotF took me away into a world I didn't want to be in. No knock on the skill with which it was written; it just gives me the creeps, even now.

>182 scaifea: Joe: Yes! I get that. And that's part of what I loved about it - the immediacy of the writing. I'm honestly a bit surprised at myself for liking it so much; usually dark stuff isn't my thing anymore.

172. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1001 Children's Books, 208 pages) - 9/10 = A
A group of British schoolboys are stranded after their plane crashes on an island in the middle of the ocean. No adults survive the crash, and the boys start to form an organized social group, headed by Ralph, who tries to get them to see the importance of being rescued. It all breaks down, horribly, though, into a savage and deadly state.
Hoo, was this one intense! Clearly (at least to me) one of the parents to the modern and rampant YA dystopia novels, this one does it so, so well. The writing is excellent and pulls you right into the terror of the situation. I also loved the mystery surrounding the crash and the vagueness of what's going on in the outside, adult world. Lots of little unsolved bits here and there. How I managed never reading this before now, I don't know, but I'm so glad that I finally did.

I tried listening to LotF earlier this year, but it was read by Golding, and he was just *not* a good reader. I have a print copy, so I will try again. I also never read it in school...

>186 katiekrug: Katie: I asked Tomm this morning, and *he* didn't read it in school, either. Am I just imagining that it was a go-to text in high school?

Maybe. I didn't read Catcher in the Rye in high school, either. That's another one I think of as a "go-to" high school book.

I lucked out - can't think of a single book I read in high school that I hated. I liked some more than others, but don't think I hated any. We had an amazing English department.

>182 scaifea: I ... regret watching book tube... My wishlist grew! How are you today?

>188 katiekrug: Katie: I just read Catcher in the Rye for the first time this summer. I enjoyed it, but I know I wouldn't have in school. I remember not really enjoying Dickens in high school, but I love him now. I imagine it must be pretty difficult to pick a good curriculum for high school literature classes; you want them to read the seminal stuff, but in general that's the stuff that they're not ready to appreciate fully just yet. Same with high school Latin courses - you want to expose them to the greats, like Cicero, but they're so not at a level that can help them come close to understanding what makes his language so gorgeous.

>189 mellymel171328: Melissa: I've never watched book tube. I think I likely ought to stay away from it...

>191 scaifea: Good idea!

I refuse to read Catcher in the Rye. Out of pure contrariness, I think.

I read Great Expectations freshman year and liked it well enough. The highlight was my best friend and I brainstorming about starting a condom company called Great Expectations. Oh to be 15 again! :-P

>192 mellymel171328: Melissa: *grins*

>193 katiekrug: Katie: I can understand that kind of stubbornness. I've got some of that brand, myself.
And I LOVE the name of your condom company! *snork!!*

Lord of the Flies was a go-to high school book for us, and I read Catcher in the Rye on my own back then. I wasn't all that impressed with the latter back then - so much hype, it was hard for it to measure up.

P.S. Ha! I love Katie's "Great Expectations" condom company, too.

>195 jnwelch: Joe: I wonder if that's why I enjoyed Catcher in the Rye as much as I did - I didn't have many expectations beyond knowing it was a school text...

>196 scaifea: I can believe it. I might re-read it some day for that reason.

I know lots of other kids in my high school read Lord of the Flies and Catcher in the Rye in high school but because I was in the IB program our set texts were quite different.

>197 jnwelch: Joe: I think you'd like it these days. No pressure or anything...

>198 MickyFine: Micky: I honestly don't much remember what we read in high school English. I do remember reading The Pearl and absolutely loathing it. Again, I think because I was too immature for it - I bet I'd love it if I re-read it.

Charlie wanted to play chess yesterday. As it turns out, he's the one who takes FOREVER to make a move, whereas I tend to just move things willy-nilly without much fore-thinking. He won, needless to say.

>200 scaifea: LOVE! Such a great photo!

I have read Lord of the Flies several times, and I like it. In fact, I just got the new Penguin Deluxe classics edition of it for my shelves. And I read it for the first time in school, so I was surprised that you and Katie were not assigned it. I always think it is so interesting seeing what others were asked to read in school. And contrary to your experience, I LOVED Dickens in high school, but I don't care for him much now, Except for A Christmas Carol, which I read every year in December - one of my absolute favorites.

>201 Crazymamie: Thanks! He's so photogenic, honestly.

And WAIT, WHAT?! HOLD THE PHONE!! A Penguin Deluxe edition?! Oh, that is SO going on my wishlist...

Wow, That's a great pic! Have you thought about getting him a coach and lessons?

What a great photo of Grand Master Charlie, love and hugs.

Lord of the Flies was assigned reading for me, sophomore year. I liked it a lot at the time - "dark" was definitely my preferred type of story. To be honest, not much has changed on that front!

Lord of the Flies got 5/10 stars. Didn't like it, didn't hate it. Just meh. Catcher in the Rye did better with 7/10 stars. I know I read both in high school but didn't remember them much. I loathed Great Expectations in sixth grade and it put me off reading classics for thirty years. But I think it was more because of the teacher and her micro-analysis of each chapter since when I read it a couple years ago it wasn't all that terrible (6/10 stars.)

>206 Morphidae: - I can't imagine having to read Great Expectations in 6th grade! That's just crazy.

>203 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! Hm, I hadn't thought of lessons for him. If it's something that he continues to be interested in, that's a possibility. He did just beat me, again, and handily. Not that that's saying a lot - I'm wretched at chess.

>204 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>205 ursula: Morphy: See?! That's why I don't think these things should be taught at young - it breeds hatred for 'the classics,' and that's doing such a disservice to kids. The right kind of teacher can sometimes pull it off, but generally it doesn't work very well, I think. But then again, for some of these kids, it may be their only chance at being introduced to such amazing works. It's a pickle.

>206 Morphidae: Katie: Now that I've been thinking about it, I read Great Expectations in 7th grade, not in high school. Yeah, crazy.

That's crazy, too! It was hard enough in 9th grade...

>209 katiekrug: Katie: Reading it is one of my most vivid memories from junior high: It was about this time of year and my mom and I went Christmas shopping after school. Mom needed to go into one last shop and I stayed in the car reading Great Expectations by the light of the parking lot lamps. Weird that I remember that so clearly...

I love memories like that...

This was Gifted English for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Every week we'd have ten micro-analysis essay questions on the chapter(s) we read that week. And not just one or two sentences. It had to be a paragraph or two minimum. It was horrendous.

>211 katiekrug: Katie: I know, right?!

>212 Morphidae: Morphy: Oh, gross.

>199 scaifea: I read The Pearl in junior high and also loathed it. But I've discovered that even as an adult I'm not a Steinbeck fan - his writing is beautiful but it's all just so damn depressing.

Summer reading for AP English was my first introduction to Oscar Wilde, and I've never recovered I'll always be grateful. Unfortunately, it was the only hit that year, in a curriculum full of texts that were completely unrelated to the exam.

School reading in general is just hard - I think it's literally impossible to put 30 people in a room and have them all enjoy the same material.

>214 MickyFine: Micky: I agree that his stuff is depressing and normally I don't go for that sort of thing, but you're also right that his writing is gorgeous. I'll likely keep reading him for that reason.

>215 London_StJ: Oh, you lucky thing. I didn't meet Wilde until much later and I love him to bits, of course.
Agreed that making everyone in the classroom happy is impossible, but at least getting them not to hate something is possibly attainable? Ha!

>216 scaifea: I think teaching style may have something to do with that. I learned better from invested and enthusiastic teachers, and always tried to be such a one in my own classroom.

>217 London_StJ: At least in classical studies, that sort of thing is self-perpetuating: high school Latin students, who are given Cicero too early by teachers who don't really like him either, and therefore (the students) hate him too, then go on to become high school Latin teachers who are determined to continue hating Cicero but have to teach him as part of the curriculum and so pass that irrational dislike on to a new batch of students...
It sounds nuts, but I've seen it in action. Ridiculous.

Love the Charlie as Chess Master picture!

>219 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!

On the agenda for today:
Packing, work on our Christmas Gifts List (who's getting what, plus I need to make up a list of supplies I need for the things I'm making) and our Scaife Family Christmas Movie List. Charlie and I are leaving for Indiana straight from school this afternoon and we'll be back on Saturday afternoon.

On the reading front:
I read a bit in The Dispossessed, which is okay so far, a few pages in the Sherlock Holmes collection, which is excellent of course, and a couple of chapters in War and Peace, which is also excellent.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Zilpha Keatley Snyder wanted The Egypt Game (1968 Newbery Honor Book) to be a fantasy, but she said the story was 'too headstrong' to be one."
Oh, and it's a good one, too, folks.

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read another bit of Dog Man to us
-Bear Says Thanks
-Bear Wants More
-The first half of chapter 24 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! It is raining here at the moment, so I hope it clears up for your ride, this afternoon. Fingers crossed. Do you listen to an audiobook in the car?

>223 msf59: Fingers crossed, indeed! It's raining here, too, right now.
And yep, I do listen to audiobooks on the long drive! I've got 4 lined up this time, although of course I'll never get through that many:
-The Seventh Son
-Dealing with Dragons
-Like Water for Chocolate
-Sabriel

>221 scaifea: Safe travels!

Most language teachers (Dutch and English) in highschool were terrible. I loved reading when I was young, but after highschool exams it took years before I could enjoy reading again. And after that the anti-depressants prevented me from reading. Can't tell you how good it feels now I am really reading again! :-)

>225 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!
It's frustrating that so many people feel the same way you do about reading; they love it when they're little, but then high school courses change that. I'm so happy that you've found your way back to reading happiness!

Good morning.

>200 scaifea: "He won, needless to say." I KNEW his opponent was in trouble when I saw that photo on FB!

If I recall correctly (and it's been a loooooong time) both Lord of the Flies and Catcher in the Rye were on our "outside reading list" in junior high or high school. Which I think means they were titles whoever set the curriculum thought the less academic among us were more likely to enjoy, and might actually read. I'm sure we didn't study either of them as a class. It isn't the darkness of them that makes me dislike both of those novels---it's the obnoxious nature of young boys. I really don't care to spend time looking at things from that perspective. And, unlike most everyone else here, I thought LotF was very poorly written, as far as I got. I seem to remember a totally incomprehensible sentence with a non sequitur that made me give up. If I had a copy here, I'd see if I could find a quote, but I don't.

Safe travels, Amber! Tomm's not going to Indiana with you? I am having a bit of a sulk at being apart from The Wayne on my favorite holiday...

Have a great holiday with your folks!

Taking a short break from packing to check in on my friends (gosh, but I really don't like packing):

>227 mellymel171328: Morning, Melissa!

>228 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Yeah, he beat me again last night. Yeesh.
And thanks for your thoughts on Lord of the Flies. I get why you don't want to spend time with those sorts of boys, but I'm interested your reaction to the writing. I wonder if it was a bit of dialogue? It took me a bit to get used to the boys talking to one another at the beginning, but I also admit that I enjoyed being put off balance right from the start and not knowing exactly what was going on, which included some of the early dialogue.

>229 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! For the past few years our Thanksgiving weekend has played out this way: Charlie and I leave straight from school and head to Indiana. We stay there through Saturday morning, having the holiday with my family, then get home Saturday afternoon and have Thanksgiving with Tomm on Sunday, and also put up our Christmas decorations Sunday afternoon while having Elf playing in the background (and then we watch Elf again that night). Works a charm, because Tomm then gets some quiet alone time at home to work on house projects or get caught up on work (and I'm pretty sure there's a hefty amount of Assassin's Creed playing that goes on, too) and then we get a lovely nearly-full weekend with him, too. He and my family get along great, but he craves Tomm Time and doesn't get it very often. My parents get that and respect his need for time on his own and don't mind that he doesn't come, which is also pretty awesome.

I have to say, I like that Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. Leaves a fair chunk of time between then and Christmas. That being said, have a great Thanksgiving visit with your parents, Amber!

>228 laytonwoman3rd: I think it probably was the dialog...I just didn't catch on and didn't care enough to persevere. Knowing generally what the story was about, I may have been pre-disposed not to enjoy it. And while I can be happy with that slightly off balance "what's going on here?" feeling, this one just didn't catch my fancy. I think I'll leave it that way.

>230 scaifea: - Sounds perfect! I crave Katie Time and Wayne needs his own time, too, so I get that. And good on your parents for not being all fussed and offended :)

>231 MickyFine: Micky: That does sound nice, but I also like that here Thanksgiving pretty much kicks off the Christmas season. Feels cozy, somehow. And thanks!

>232 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Totally understand. I seriously doubt that your life is lacking in any way from not having read this one all the way through.

>233 katiekrug: Katie: Well, his parents more than make up for the awesomeness of mine. They're constantly angry and offended at us for some reason or another. At this point it doesn't help that I'm so far beyond caring enough to try to keep things smooth with them (10 years is way more than enough of trying) and have ran out of rats' rear-ends to give. I really REALLY want to get one of those "Hindsight Is 2020" Bernie t-shirts to wear when we're at their place after Christmas (they voted for the orange one and think socialism is The Worst Thing and think I'm a close second), but Tomm is trying to put his foot down about it...

I don't envy you those in-laws! My MIL maintain a civil relationship. We basically have nothing in common, and I think she thinks I'm a bit high maintenance (if I were high maintenance, there would be no way in hell I'd stay at her over-run-by-cats house every Christmas!). But she's basically very hands-off and live and let live, so there isn't tension. Just mild discomfort on both our parts :-P

>200 scaifea: Wonderful!

>217 London_StJ: Totally with you on that!

>218 scaifea: *snerk* I think that must be true.

>234 scaifea: Not sure I could be forced to attend a dinner with anyone who thinks that way. And what? Are they rich? If not, how do they think they're going to manage to retire without Medicare and Social Security? Unless they are among the fortunate few who have pensions?

Thank goodness you and Charlie will be celebrating the holiday at your folks' place!

I'm meaning to reread Lord of the Flies. I read it as a teenager (not in school) but wasn't impressed, but then it wasn't the sort of book I usually read at that time. But last year I absolutely loved Golding's The Spire - it's gone on my best books of all time list - so I do want to get around to his other work. Personally from what I remember I think Lord of the Flies might be a book that people are introduced to much too young! Just because it's got teenagers in it doesn't necessarily mean that's the best age to read it.

>237 SandDune: I agree that it should be directed high schoolers rather than elementary readers. But I wonder about the intensity level of some elementary level books these days.

>235 katiekrug: Katie: You're lucky, I guess...? *snork!*

>236 Storeetllr: Aw thanks, Mary!
And yes, the vicious Latin Teacher circle is most definitely true; in my faculty days I used to be a mentor for local high school Latin teachers, and let me tell you, it's real. Gah.
And, well, I'm not supposed to talk about it, but yeah, they're loaded. And they have pensions. And they spare no thoughts or concern for others, essentially.
And YES, thank goodness we'll be in Indiana and not In-Law Land this weekend! I have a few more weeks to try to figure out how to remain in the same room with those people. Honestly, though, I've already decided that if they start spouting their bigotry and other such garbage while we're there, I'm leaving the room and taking Charlie with me - I don't want him hearing that stuff.

>237 SandDune: >238 brodiew2: Rhian & Brodie: That's it right there - not all great works are at a level that high school kids are ready for, to appreciate fully. If only literature classes (or, really, ALL classes) could be guided studies, because there are a few kids who could maybe benefit from such works, although a great deal of them I think require more life experience than a teenager can bring to the table before they can be appreciated in any useful way.

Hi Amber, have a good trip to Indiana my dear.

>240 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Okay, folks, I'll be leaving soon to pick up Charlie from school and head out for Indiana. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and a fabulous weekend!

Have a great Thanksgiving my dear, we are off on a date day to Manchester tomorrow to look around the Christmas market which is spread around the city.

Safe travels, Amber, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks, John and Mamie!

Charlie and I are safely arrived in Indiana - have a great Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Amber! Enjoy the day with your folks & Charlie!

I read and liked the first Sabriel but have not read the others. I turned a friend/co-worker onto them and he really likes them.

Happy Thanksgiving to the Scaifea clan!

Have a lovely family day, Amber. And don't eat TOO much of Mom's wonderful cooking. You'll want some leftovers tomorrow!

I am thankful for your presence in the group Amber dear.

Happy thanksgiving

>187 scaifea: Lord of the Flies was a must read high school book for me - hated it. I love Catcher in the Rye which I read when I was in high school but which wasn't a book that I read for school (maybe that is why I enjoyed it, I didn't have to analyze it.) One of the other books that was a must read for high school was Great Expectations and I would never read it again because I also had to read it for University. I didn't enjoy it either time and haven't been tempted to pick up Dickens since.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend both at your folks and at home.

>23 scaifea: wow, you are lucky to have such a great teacher for Charlie. We had fantastic teachers for W last year and his first year. This year, it has been atrocious. I feel sorry for them, but really- if you can't do it, should you be even trying? They have moved 6 kids out into other classes,and each time another naughty kids steps up to fill in the gap. There are no consequences for bad behaviour, and W actually said to me once "I feel like the only thing I am learning at school is to NOT laugh at the naughty kids". :(
We have held out this year, making three official complaints (with not one official response!!), and I put forward a strongly worded letter for an experienced and kind teacher for him for next year. I **#*^#% well hope he gets one!

Eta: two responses were vebal, and the third was not acknowledged, which in itself rings alarm bells.

Hiya, Amber!

Hope you're having a great holiday weekend, my friend.

We're back home now, exhausted but happy and ready to celebrate Thanksgiving all over again with Tomm tomorrow (well, officially starting this evening, when we'll be having a Charlie Brown Feast (Woot!) while watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special).

>245 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I didn't manage to get round to Sabriel this weekend, but I did listen to Seventh Son and it was excellent.

>246 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>247 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>248 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda, but too late - I ate too much on Thursday and then again on Friday with the leftovers. *happy sigh*

249 - 252: Thanks, Kim, Roni, Paul & Melissa!

>253 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. I think Dickens is one of the love-him-or-hate-him types. I'm happy to be in the love category, but understand those whose tastes don't line up with his stuff.

>254 LovingLit: Megan: Charlie had a not-so-fabulous teacher last year and it doesn't seem to have done him much harm, so here's hoping (and suspecting) that yours will make it out okay, too. That doesn't make it any less frustrating, though, I know! I lodged a couple of complaints last year, but since I had already become pretty good friends with the principal, I think that helped matters along and we saw pretty much instant results. I heard later from my librarian friend that he tore into the staff afterwards about one particular instance and let it be known pretty clearly that it wasn't to happen again, to any child or parent. I didn't really mean to use any influence (I was just a parent concerned about a situation that I thought was handled really badly), but apparently my close relationship with the staff, due to all of my volunteering, made a difference.

>255 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Same to you!

I finished a couple of books while in and traveling to and from Indiana:

173. Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
I loved the Ender series when I read them in college, so I went into this one thinking that it would likely be good stuff - and it definitely is. Very much good enough that I plan on continuing with the series.

174. Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton (series I'm reading with my mom, 306 pages) - 9/10 = A-
I love this cozy series; it's not high literature, but its relaxing and comforting and fun.

It sounds like you are making Thanksgiving last, Amber. Enjoy your second go round.

Welcome home, Amber!

>258 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! This is honestly mine and Tomm's favorite weekend of the year. We're all so looking forward to tomorrow - Thanksgiving feast and then decorating for Christmas!

>259 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>257 scaifea: I enjoyed the Maggie Sefton books I read. I probably need to see which one is next in the series for me and get back to it.

>261 thornton37814: Lori: They're pretty fun, aren't they?

On the agenda for today:
Having Thanksgiving lunch here at home with just the three of us, taking down the Thanksgiving decorations, putting up the Christmas decorations while Elf plays in the background, then hanging out with my guys and watching Elf again tonight. I also need to put together a quick grocery list for tomorrow, so we'll have something to eat until Friday's usual shopping trip. And I think I need to cobble together a new thread at some point, too. That last bit may or may not happen today.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of Tree of Freedom yesterday afternoon, which isn't half bad, really.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "While writing her first book, Elizabeth Enright (Thimble Summer, 1939 Newbery Medal) learned she liked writing more than illustrating, and from then on she didn't illustrate anyone else's books"

What We Read Yesterday:
-How This Book Was Made
-Chapter 1 of James and the Giant Peach
-The middle part of chapter 24 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

And Charlie finished reading this one aloud to us last night:
175. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey (Charlie's read-aloud book, graphic novel) - 8/10 = B+

Morning, Amber! Elf is Daniel's favorite Christmas movie. Have fun today - sounds like a fabulous time at Scaif Manor.

>265 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! This is honestly one of our favorite days of the year!

Morning Amber! Happy Sunday!

>267 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark!

>257 scaifea: I really like Card's work too. The Seventh Son series is one of my favorites but I found I couldn't read anymore of his work when I found out how much of a homophobic jerk he was.

>269 Morphidae: Morphy: No, I'm not fond of him as a person, either, but dang it, the boy can write.

Hi Amber! Hope your weekend is going well!

>271 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

On the agenda for today:
I'll stay at school this morning to get some PTO stuff done - the Read-a-Thon I'm organizing for the public library starts soon, so I need to collate, staple, count out and distribute the flyers and reading logs and pledge sheets to the teachers, so that they can send them home with the students. Once I'm done with that at Charlie's school (I have a couple of moms meeting me there to help), I'll head over to the other elementary (Charlie's old school) to distribute more of them to those classrooms, then head to the shops for groceries for the week. Then it's home for some online Christmas shopping and then possibly some time in the sewing room before heading to the library to pick up a couple of holds and then back to school to pick up Charlie. Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner tonight!

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Like Water for Chocolate, which is very good so far, and read a bit more of Tree of Freedom, which is a solid if not extra-exciting read.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Karen Hesse once mistakenly watered one of her husband's plants with vinegar. The plant died. Similarly, in Hesse's Out of the Dust (1998 Newbery Medal), the mother grabs the wrong pail and pouts kerosene on a fire."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Christmas Is...
-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
-Chloe and the Lion
-Hello Peter - Bonjour, Remy by Ann Morris (Charlie's homework book, 24 pages) - 8/10 = B
-Chapter 2 in James and the Giant Peach
-The last part of chapter 24 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Hooray for leftovers!!

>275 msf59: Morning, Mark! I know, right?! Love 'em.

>273 scaifea: I think the fact is stretching it a bit with 'similarly'...

Love the sound of the readathon. I'm sure there are some very grateful parents.

Morning, Amber!

>277 charl08: Charlotte: Ha! I was thinking the same thing about that Newbery tidbit...
And I'm having a blast with the read-a-thon. I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but the students will be raising money for the new public library building. I love the idea of fundraising for the community instead of just for PTO, and a read-a-thon seemed like the perfect fundraiser for the library, eh?

>278 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

Good morning, Amber.

>269 Morphidae: Our son had the same problem. He loved Orson Scott Card's books, and then found out what a homophobic jerk he is. Too bad.

Hi Amber--Happy Monday! Hope you enjoy the turkey leftovers and how did the decorating go? I still have to take down my Thanksgiving hoopla.

>280 jnwelch: Joe: Yeah, it stinks. I'm only reading this series by checking it out of the library, so at least I'm not buying them...? Feels like I'm fudging on my morals a bit there, but, yeah.

>281 Berly: Hi, Kim! The decorating is always a hoot, but it's a little exhausting, too. It's all done now, though, and the house feels cozy and festive, and I love that so much.

Hey folks, so I've been talking about this read-a-thon I'm organizing for the PTO and the local public library, yeah? So I was thinking that maybe I should mention - casually and with no pressure whatsoever, of course - that if you'd like to sponsor a pledge for Charlie, let me know. He'll be keeping track of his reading from Sunday, December 4th through Friday, December 16th; sponsors can pledge an amount per minute, with or without a cap (fair warning: a cap may be a smart bet, because our reader is A READER and those minutes are gonna pile up), or may give a flat donation of any amount. All funds raised will go to the Platteville (WI) Public Library, to buy furnishings and technology for their brand-new building, which will be opening this spring. So, let me know if you're interested in sponsoring Charlie.

I hesitated to post this here, because I don't want to be soliciting, but I think this is maybe okay. Plus, I know that some of us have been talking about looking for ways to make this place a better one in which to live after recent events, and supporting kiddos who are raising money for a public library by reading seems like a pretty good option.

>283 scaifea: I will sponsor him! Tell me how, logistics-wise.

>284 lycomayflower: Thanks, Laura! I'll PM you...

Same here - PM me details.

Thanks, Jim!

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, time in the sewing room (I've got Christmas presents to get crackin' about), writing, and hopefully getting a new thread started here. Charlie has he annual appointment with his optometrist this afternoon, so I'll pick him up from school a bit early for that. Spaghetti for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of Like Water for Chocolate, which I'm really enjoying so far, and read a few more pages in Tree of Freedom, which is good but maybe not fabulous.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time (1963 Newbery Medal) is credited with being a major turning point in juvenile science fiction, while at the same time it is condemned for being similar to George Orwell's 1984."
Really? Huh. Maybe I need to re-read it, but I don't remember it being like 1984...

What We Read Yesterday:
-Rudolph's Bag of Toys
-Jingle Bells
-The first half of chapter 25 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

And now that our Scaife Family Christmas Movie List has been put into place, I'll try to remember to report what we've watched each night. So, Sunday night we watched Elf, and last night it was A Christmas Story, both of which we will watch again before Christmas...

So, shopping for Charlie for Christmas has always been both fun and a challenge, because the kid rarely asks for anything specific. This year, however, he has told us certain things that he's hoping he will get: a suitcase with rollers and shoes with strings (see above discussion about the custom Chuck Taylors). Seriously, sometimes I wonder if this kid is 8 or 80.

Well, last night he added to the list by randomly stating that he hopes Santa brings him - and I quote - "a novel by Charles Dickens." !!! So, guess who has already searched The Amazon for the perfect edition of A Christmas Carol this morning? Gosh, but this kid is a hoot.

Morning Amber! It still looks wet out there. I thought it was supposed to clear up. WTH?

Enjoy the day, my friend.

>291 msf59: Mark: I'm sorry it's still rainy for you. Cheer up - snow's on the way! Ha!

LOL. Actually it is supposed to be pretty nice today. I am still drying out from yesterday.

>293 msf59: Mark: Here's hoping, eh?

Good morning, Amber!

Please pm me the Charlie sponsorship details.

>295 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! And thanks!

Good morning, Amber. If you could pm me the info, I would love to also sponsor Charlie.

>297 Dianekeenoy: Thanks so much, Diane!! I'll PM you...

The new thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/242201