Ireadthereforeiam 2017: Chapter 5

NZ art, with two native fantails/piwakawaka by Kate Beatty.

Chapter 5 of my 2017 threads: in which I will complete a Masters thesis proposal, winter over in suburbia, survive a suburban winter with two busy boys who would really rather be outside, get to work on time at least nine times out of ten, and- read some books! Eta: image needs to be bigger.

BOOKS COMPLETED 2017

January
1. Amongst Women by John McGahern 184p
2. A Beautiful Young Wife by Tommy Wieringa 123p (Tally 307p)
3. To Die in California by Newton Thornburg 288p (tally 595p) (published 1973)
4. Five Go Parenting by Bruno Vincent (an Enid Blyton spoof) 104p (tally 699p)
5. The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton 314p (tally 1014p)
6. The Vegetarian by Han Kang 183p (tally 1,197p)
7. The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church, 333p (tally 1,530p)
8. The Smell of Apples by Mark Behr 200p (tally 1,730p)
9. James K. Baxter Poems By James K. Baxter 103p (tally 1,833p)

February
10. Psychogeography by Will Self NF 255p (tally 2,088p)
11. Jernigan by David Gates 339p (tally 2,427p)
12. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit NF, Essays 130p (tally 2,557p)
13. A Boy's Own Story By Edmund White 249p (tally 2,806p)
14. The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman 363p (tally 3,169p)
Discursive Psychology by Derek Edwards NF Introduction and chapter 1, 35p (tally 1,204p)

March
15. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin Short Stories 399p (tally 1,603p)
16. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan 194p (tally 1,797p)

April
17. Explain Pain by David Butler and Dr. Lorimer Moseley, illustrated by Sunyata NF 133p (tally 1,930p)
18. The Yellow Wall Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Short Story 17p (tally 1,947)
19. Hell's Bottom, Colorado by Laura Pritchett 143p (tally 2,090)
20. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf NF 112p (tally 2,202p)
21. A Body Undone by Christina Crosby 204p (tally 2,406)

May
22. Ravelstein by Saul Bellow 235p (tally 2,641)
23. Grandad's Wheelies by Jack Lasenby (read aloud to W) 141p (tally 2,782)
24. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 388p (tally 3,170p)
25. We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie NF 52p. (tally 3,222p)

June
26. A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women by Suri Hustvedt NF 504p (tally 3,726p)
27. Jazz by Toni Morrison 297p (tally 4,023)
28. Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner YA 349p (tally, 4,372p)
29. The River Between Us by Richard Peck YA 164p (tally 4,536p)
30. Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter 114p (tally 4,650p)

BOOKS COMPLETED 2017 (part II)

July
31. Finches of Mars, by Brian Aldiss (Sci-fi) 203p (tally 4,853p)
32. Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri 159p (tally 5,012p)
33. A Year Without Mom by Dasha Tolstikova YA 167p (tally 5,179p)
34. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 275p

August
35. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech YA

BOOKS PURCHASED/ACQUIRED
1. The Smell of Apples by Mark Behr $6 (2nd hand)
2. Last Orders by Graham Swift $7.25 (new)
3. there is one more, I can't remember it! (what is the world coming to!!??)
4. Old Devils by Kingsley Amis &16.25 (new, an impulse book depo buy)
5. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (gift from neighbour)
6. Ravelstein by Saul Bellow (gift from mum)
7. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (gift from Chatterbox/Suz)
8. Hell's Bottom, Colorado by Laura Pritchett (gift from Nittnut/Jenn)
9. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf $11 (new)
10. The First Touch of Light by Ruth Pettis .50c
11. Le Bal by Irene Nemirovsky .50c (Aka The Ball)
12. If This is a Man, The Truce by Primo Levi .50c
13. A Body Undone by Christina Crosby $32.98 (new)
14. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie $13 (new)
15. Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance (gift from mum)
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson $2
17. The Buried Giant by Kazoo Ishiguro $22 (new)

FILMS SEEN
1. Paterson
2. Sing
3. Hidden Figures
4. Boss Baby
5. Smurfs
6. Philomena
7. The Shack
8. Adult life Skills
9. Despicable Me 3
10. 20th Century Women (International Film Festival)
11. Stalker (1979- International Film Festival)

Currently reading:


Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter (a Mark BB), London Overground by Iain Sinclair

Last two books read:


Book 28
Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner (YA) 349p

This story is about young Egan Tucker, who pretty much grew up in the native forests of New Zealand's Northland region. His mother took him there as a youngster to escape the brutality of a violent marriage, and they contentedly made their lives in the bush. Egan's mother teaches him to live by a code- she has about 35 important points that her son learns by rote and that dictate his future interactions with people 'on the outside'. Egan gets to test his social skills when he runs into a hunter in the bush, and although he cannot betray his secret isolated life, he enjoyed conversing with a new person. Egan gets to test a lot more of that in the latter stages of the book when he is thrust into city life.
This book has a some older themes and even though I would love to read it to W, I think it can wait for him to be a bit older. It is a great short novel though, and kept me guessing and surprised me. I am glad I read this one!!



BOOK 29
The River Between Us by Richard Peck (YA)

This interim book (tiding me over until I got to the library to collect my latest of Marks BBs) was a great portrait of an American Civil War family. Told from 1916, from an adult who looked back over the lives of his forebears. It takes in the tale of a short period near the start of the war when a family takes in two young women who arrive on the river boat from New Orleans. The strangers are escaping the war, and have style and grace which intrigues the children of the household. They also have secrets, making for exciting reading.

Happy new thread, Megan. xx

>7 PaulCranswick: and here you are first poster on my thread!! Welcome Paul- and to celebrate your arrival I shall put another log on the fire. T'will be another frost in the morning, so I'll be filling my hot water bottle tonight too (the lovely other is a band practice so I go to bed alone this evening).

Beautiful birds up there at the top! Thanks for sharing them with us, Megan.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Megan!

I smiled at the important things Lenny had to share in the middle of the night with you on your previous thread. All so precious.

Happy new thread, Megan!

Happy New Thread, Megan!

I've got Jazz on my tbr shelf, and Grief is the Thing With Feathers, too. I want to get to them!

Happy new thread, Megan and a happy new week!

Happy new thread! Sorry to see your winter is a touch chilly right now! I don't miss that!

Happy new thread, Megan. Your to do list makes me want to sit down and take a breather.
Or as my phone automatically suggests, sit down and read. Modern technology is scary...

*sigh* I seem to be able to get here only at the beginnings of threads when the number of posts is not so daunting. That's not really what I want. I want to follow the adventures of Wilbur and Lenny closely, not to mention rejoicing in your reading and academic skills.
Meanwhile, I've turned a complete 180°: I wish I were getting ready for winter rather than summer.........or maybe not.
Happy New Thread, anyway Megan!

Happy New Thread, Megan. Love the fantail topper! Perfect. I hope you are enjoying The Grief is the Thing. I loved that one.

Hope you are feeling better.

>9 rosalita: This piece won the art show last year, the one that I went to this year.

>10 drneutron: Thanks Dr N

>11 karenmarie: I think he might have been asleep slightly, but it was very cute to hear him say that "yesterday was the best day ever".

>12 lkernagh: Thanks Lori!

>13 jnwelch: What!? A queue of books? You! (lol)

>14 cameling: very good- Tuesday has been good to me so far. I managed to get the kids to various places after school decided to finish early two days in a row. Humph. Managed to work my usual hours in spite of it so. A win for me.

>15 ChelleBearss: The fire is lovely, I must say. I am sitting by it right now, it is 5:30 and nearly dark, dinner is bubbling away (sausage and bean casserole and rice) and I am about to read my supervisor's application for funding for a project that I really want to help her out with. *exciting*

>16 charl08: My to do list is over this whole thread though, and that might be at least a month!

>17 LizzieD: Here are some Lenny antics for you then, from the last thread. Lenny and me bunked over together at a friends farm, and he woke up many times to tell me certain things, like "hi mum", "yesterday was the best day ever" and "my ear hurts". Very cute, but a very broken sleep! He also said- "is it morning yet" quite a few times :)

>18 msf59: relatively better, yes. But alas, I haven't had a beer in about ten days! I would love to have one but don't want to compromise my immune system more than it already is. Plus, I need to do a day at university tomorrow and I need a clear head.
Must. Clear. The. Head.

Clear head: carefully remove head from said body, lift lid, remove unecesarry junk, replace lid & return to body ..... 👍

>21 roundballnz: or// apply medicinal dark beer orally.
My lovely other made me. Just one though.
;)

Hi Megan, happy new thread my dear. Hope all is well with you and the family dear friend, you mentioned frost and to be honest the weather here is more like early September than the height of summer, might have to put the Electric fire on if it keeps like this, ha ha. Sending love and hugs.

BOOK 30
Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter (114p)

A lovely portrait of a father's journey in grief. Evocative rather than literal. And the crow! (The one with the feathers, of the title) He is an interesting and charmingly portrayed character who is devious in his care for those left behind. It is written sort of in verse, sort of in patches, and is a sort of novella and is according to the jacket, part polyphonic fable. I think it works!!

>23 johnsimpson: hey JS, thanks for stopping by. Just heading off into the day, I am taking refuge in my room while the kids sort out their squabbling themselves....I could be here a while!!

>25 LovingLit:, Nothing worse than kids squabbling, pick up a book while you wait my dear.

Happy new thread, stay warm and good choice to hide in your room during the squabble!!

Happy new thread, Megan, your threadtopper brightened my day :-)

>24 LovingLit: Grief is the Thing with feathers caught my attention, might be a good read for me now, I will look for it at the library tomorrow.

>22 LovingLit: rumour has it that works as well ......

Grief is the Thing with Feathers didn't quite work for me, not sure why, it shd .... may try it again someday .....

>26 johnsimpson: I like the *idea* of that, although it isn't that relaxing in real life ;)

>27 Berly: Got the fire roaring again this evening, doing some proofreading and half watching The Voice (Australia) with W.

>28 FAMeulstee: Its lovely, isn't it!? I linger on it when I come too.

>29 roundballnz: It did seem to!! I am sure I woke up better- which could have been as a result of the beer sending me off into a deep sleep almost immediately after I drank it.
Grief is the Thing with Feathers was odd, but I let it wash over me and ended up enjoying it.

Nice review of Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Megan. I've just downloaded an electronic sample of it, and I'll probably read it this summer.

Hi Megan. Happy New Thread! I love the art at the top. Stunning image and colors.

I'm glad you enjoyed Grief is the Thing With Feathers. I read it and I don't believe I got as much out of it as some. It might warrant a reread at a more leisurely pace.

I hope you are doing well!

>17 LizzieD: The heat and humidity notwithstanding, I am not ready for it to be winter again yet. I've just had two in a row, thank you. ;)

Happy new thread Megan!

>30 LovingLit: It sounds like a lovely, cozy evening. We are having a record lazy day. It's 2:40-ish and I just got dressed. We had a mega action packed day yesterday, so we are doing nothing at all today. It's pretty nice. :)

I like that you are letting the kids sort out their own squabbles while you get a bit of good reading in. They're learning negotiation skills early. Hope they managed to get to a win-win decision :-)

>31 kidzdoc: I was impressed with its novel approach. Which, when I realised it was a novel approach, meant I could ease off the literal and soak up the atmosphere.

>32 EBT1002: leisurely pace sounds good- read it quickly, but carefully, and got a lot from it.

>33 nittnut: I love a lazy day- so long as the kids are chilled out (relatively). If they are antsy, it just means stir crazy , cooped up fighting all day!

>34 cameling: well, it was a win-win in that neither of them required emergency medical attention! So, I'll take that :)

Hi Megan!

Just a quick hello, and a smile regarding the squabbling kids. I'm sure the three of us drove our mother nuts, but with rare exceptions she let us work it out ourselves too.

Hi, Megan.

I just finished Grief is the Thing with Feathers meself. I agree - as unusual as it is, it works. Hats off to Max Porter.

I'm of two minds as to whether to recommend it to my wife. I'd read Ted Hughes' Crow before reading this (and thought it was great). So the Crow character and many of the references for me connected with that. She hasn't read the Hughes book. But maybe that isn't necessary?

>37 jnwelch: I have read both too, Joe, and Crow before the Max Porter. As you know I am something of a Ted Hughes fanatic but I am unable too to say categorically how much difference reading his poetry made to my appreciation of the later book.

Have a lovely (warm) Sunday, Megan.

>36 karenmarie: I read a book called Townie: A Memoir (justifiably warbled about by Mark), and in that the author describes the sibling to sibling violence he experienced as a youth. My fear is that kiddie squabbling will reach the epic levels described in that book!!! On that note- I wish I had never read We Need to Talk About Kevin....

>37 jnwelch: I don't think the book needs the Ted Hughes entre. I haven't read him (but might now!!). In saying that, I knew enough about the symbolism of the crow to get good stuff out of Max Porter's book, and most people with half an eye open to the world would, I'd say. So go ahead and recommend it to MBH!

>38 PaulCranswick: I read a book years ago (before I was officially a fanatical reader) about crows, and I have been mildly fascinated ever since. Actually, maybe it was about ravens....but I loved how the author anthropomorphized the thing, and it has made me look twice at that bird since then!
My Sunday was warm ish- as in warm for mid-winter, but still needed the fire!

Hi Megan!

I gave We Need to Talk About Kevin 4.5 stars, but realize that had I read it when my daughter was young, I might never have finished it.

>50 sirfurboy: I utterly loved We Need to Talk About Kevin!! But it was very intense. Have you seen the film with Tilda Swinton? It was a brilliant take on the novel.

Currently reading:

Finches of Mars, which a reviewer called "an unreadable disaster". Hmmm. That doesn't bode well for one of my first forays into science fiction.
I was looking for Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexiervich, not realising that it was a non-fiction book, and stumbled across this lovely cover by Brian Aldis. (good shelving Upper Riccarton librarians!) It looked good, it started OK, but by page 60 I'm like- really?- why is that paragraph even there. It doesn't contribute anything to the story, or maybe it'll come up later.....By page 70 I'm all- REALLY?- this reads very oddly, and nothing seems to relate to much else in the story. Maybe it'll all come tougher in the end? Which is when I read half f a few reviews, and came up with the "an unreadable disaster" comment. Sheesh. But- I will read to the end, because it might all come together! (It might.)
ETA: bolding issues

>42 LovingLit: I have not read that one, and on the basis of the above, don't think I will try it. However there are some excellent SciFi stories out there so I hope you don't give up on the genre based on this one.

About time for a job one; job two; (and soon to be job three); study, and parenting update!

Job one: qualitative analyst.
Been there part time since March- finally able now to get on with projects using my own initiative (and memory about where I am up to with my stuff). Been doing proofreading and making additions to proposals left right and centre, and there has been a turn around in the number that are coming back as actual research jobs now so that is good. (e.g., I wont get fired for lack of work.) We secured a big project, and I was able to recommend a friend who is an expert in the field to work with us on it (yay! She is happy to have been recommended, yay! boss is happy that I had someone to recommend, and, yay! now I get to work with a friend on the project.)

Job two: content writer.
The person I needed to liaise with to get the documents mocked up went on leave, so the project was on hold. My hours ran out, and then some more funding for the project was found. So I am back on for a few more weeks. I really want to complete the suite of resources that I have researched and written- at least to the point that the 13 I have done are done. There is talk of finding funding to have another 7 researched and written from scratch, which I will consider if and when asked....

Almost job three: teaching assistant for undergrad class (= essay marker)
In two weeks I will have 28 essays to mark, and then 28 more again 7 weeks after that. Why did I agree to this!!??#?#$ Oh, that's right, I didn't. There was a miscommunication early in the year when I was waiting being asked to do it so I could politely decline. When I wasn't asked, I assumed someone else had been, but spotted my name attached to the course, so contacted the lecturer(s). They thought we'd discussed it last year (when I wasn't yet fully decided on even committing to being a student myself!). Me 'pulling out' was an option, but I felt obliged by that point. *sigh*

Study
What is that again??! ;)
My proposal is near completion, and now I find out that I have been too thorough. All good for the long term, as will hopefully be able to cut and paste directly into sections of the thesis. But, I needn't have been so thorough, as it has slowed progress, and I need to get the proposal in so I can get the ethics approval in so that I can start interviews before the end of August (which is when easy access to my interview participants dries up). It's a chain reaction, or a house of cards.....or something.
I can only blame myself for looking at the proposal exemplars provided, and assuming that I need to complete one to those standards. (*hint* I blame the exemplars for being too thorough)

Parenting
I have been sick with a next-level cold for 2 weeks tomorrow (and for nearly 2 weeks prior to that with what I call a preliminary cold). Lenny was off school today with a cold/cough/fever, necessitating in the lovely other starting work at the crack of dawn (pre-dawn actually) so that he could finish early and I could work late (in job one). However, he (Len) is in good spirits and it seems cannot be slowed down. His quiet day today must have helped, he was pretty snoozy. W has a mysterious rash (not dangerous looking, and not expanding or worsening since its appearance last night after bath). They are both good boys going off to school now, since my morning jobs lists and the specific placement of clocks to aid their personal timekeeping. SO pleased that little plan is working, as I was getting flustered trying to do their everything and my everything before school/work!

Lovely Other sitch
Still happily unmarried. Have booked a date out to sample a tray of different beers and share a cheeseboard. YAY- can't wait for that particular Sunday afternoon treat. His band played last weekend, which I missed as would have rather seen him this weekend at the better venue- but now this weekends gig was cancelled. Poo. I haven't seen his band play in over two years! *patience*

Oh, and school holidays are coming up, so I am about to get frazzled. :)
ETA: for over-zealous underlining

>43 sirfurboy: hey there! I have ben wanting to read some sci-fi for a long time. I like space films, so the jump to literature mustn't be that hard, I assumed. I haven't found a great one yet- any recommendations? Not too many, I am easily overwhelmed ;)
I see you are Welsh! Just like my name :). I loved Wales when I visited over 15 years ago.

>45 LovingLit: I was afraid you might ask for suggestions... and as you guess, that list could be long :)

The problem is that I don't really know well enough, yet, what books you like, although LT tells me that we share Chocky in our libraries (which is itself Sci-Fi). On that basis, I think John Wyndham's The Chrysalids would be a good one. If you want Space SciFi, an excellent but short work is Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy. If you want to jump right in to something up to date and generating interest, then there is Ancillary Justice which is brilliant, but bear with it - it may take a while to work out what is going on. Lastly, I very much liked Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and the sequels up to about the fourth...after which it became a cash cow, and is best ignored!

I could offer many more... but I won't! Maybe take a look at the synopsis and reviews of those and see if any look like something you would enjoy.

>46 sirfurboy: Thank you! For your concise recommendations list :) I have a few dystopian books in my WL that might be Sci Fi (I will check and edit this post to be sure), and I wonder if any of them I even own....The Chrysalids appeals. I would like to read War of the Worlds at some point too. (I used to love freaking myself out as a kid listening to the serialised radio set of that).

ETA: nothing jumped out from my books list, but I do have Neuromancer on my shelf, which i was confusing for Sci-fi. ETA again: I see Neuromancer is tagged Sci fi, so maybe I didn't mistake it! See, that is the problem, I just want to read a well-written book about futuristic space stuff. Is that too much to ask? ;)

Holy moly, lady, you are BUSY. Yoicks! You seem completely capable in the handling-it department, though. Go, you! I'm glad that the munchkins are feeling better - I hope your cold clears up soon!

>48 scaifea: its all about compartmentalisation. ;)
Every activity has its slot, and very few of them take place after school, so I get to do *ack* house-work too.

>47 LovingLit: Yes Neuromancer is Sci Fi (but of the sub genre "cyberpunk"). One of the problems with SF is deciding what is and isn't SF.

If you are looking for space opera or other Sci Fi set in space then a couple of my recommendations fit the bill, but you could add works by Jack Vance, Asimov, Heinlein, and Arthur C Clark among others... could be here for a while, but I won't recommend any more actual books to give others a chance (or give your TBR a chance of avoiding rapid explosion ;) )

It's a good thing you're a really organized person ... that's a lot of hats you're having to wear and balls to juggle all at the same time. Kudos to you .. and sorry to hear you're still battling the cold. Hopefully it's on the tail end.

Any chance you have a video of the Lovely Other playing at one of his gigs to share? ;-)

>37 jnwelch: and >38 PaulCranswick: and >39 LovingLit:
Maybe if I had read Ted Hughes before I read Grief is the Thing With Feathers, I would have gotten more out of it. I'm not saying that would be necessary but it might help me. I have wanted to read Hughes anyway.....

>44 LovingLit: Great update, Megan. You have a lot going on but I love your attitude.

I hope the beer-and-cheese-tray get-together goes well. ;-)

>50 sirfurboy: yes! classification seems to be the key. As I was doing the dishes just now,I wast thinking about all my must-haves for a sci fi read.
- good story (and coherent)
- human (not necessarily literally) characters that draw me in
- good/evocative/clever writing style
- some big issues/questions (i.e. society/psychology)
- a futuristic or other world aspect
Makes me think I should write one myself!!! (LOL- not)

>51 cameling: haha, I think there is a short video somewhere, but it might frighten people away!
I am sure its the tail end my my cold(s), no more 'medicinal' dark beer or champagne might be the key ;)

>52 EBT1002: That reminds me, I want to source Ted Hughes too! It was $13+ on Book Depo, so I thought the library might be a good option.
I do have a lot going on, but this particular period - as in, just prior to the school holidays- might just be when I am feeling it pile up. All the more reason to book in the beer-and-cheese-tray get-together ASAP!

The Martian, Station Eleven and Fahrenheit 451 are all good ones and in your collections somewhere.

>44 LovingLit: Don't take this the wrong way, Megan, because I absolutely LOVE reading your updates, but lordy I am exhausted now! I feel like such a slug in my own life; I must use you for inspiration to get off my duff and do something worthwhile.

Not parenting or Lovely-Othering, though. Those ships have sailed. :-)

>54 ronincats: oh yea! You have reminded me that Station Eleven was on my radar a while back- I think i was waiting for a library copy to become available

>55 rosalita: I love it that you love reading my updates! It actually makes me feel better that people think I am busy and productive, as I often feel that I am neglecting boring home duties like decluttering, cleaning, tidying etc. Those things just have to wait, as those ever-important daily tasks (like feeding the kids) take precedence!
Im sure lovely-othering is an option! Who doesn't want a BF? (best friend/boyfriend/blue fish)

Blue fish? Is this some new slang I have missed?
Another one who ys reading the updates. Always impressed by the multi-tasking.

Hi Megan!

Feeding the kids before decluttering, cleaning and tidying is good. I, too, am impressed with the multi-tasking. I'm retired, though, and while I have my Lovely Other here, my daughter lives 3 hours away and we don't see her frequently due to her work schedule. I may have lost the ability to multi-task.

Blue fish. Ha.

Even reading before decluttering, cleaning and tidying is good!
That is what I often do ;-)

>56 LovingLit: Well, I had a blue budgie once, does that count? Ha!

>57 charl08: blue fish was simply another 'b' 'f' word ;)

>58 karenmarie: Multi-tasking is over rated anyway :) Sometimes I have been home for 30 minutes or more before I realise I am still wearing my jacket and my handbag!

>59 FAMeulstee: Unfortunately (for my house) I find it easy to do almost anything other than clean! For reading, I have to clear a space by the fire, or go and read in bed. As, if I can see mess, I feel bad and can't enjoy reading.

>60 rosalita: Sur! A bb is fine. So.... that was in the past, but the real question is, do you see a bb in your future. And I don't mean book bullet ;)

>44 LovingLit: OY!! You are so busy! How do you keep track of everything?
I feel overwhelmed when I have more than two things on one day! You must be super woman

I always love checking in on your thread, Megan. Boy, are your busy! I don't blaming for heading to your room with a book while your boys squabble. Grab any peace and quiet time when you can, I say. ;-)

Sounds like you are winning at everything. I hope your night out was good. :)

I have ignored the cleaning stuff and read books in a bingey way for the last few days. It's been rather nice. Some of the consequences include not noticing that Miss M had not brought in the patio chairs after cleaning them. Rather, left them out on the lawn next to the bird feeder. I am sure you can imagine. But it's all good.

>62 ChelleBearss: I keep track of everything by making sure every task has its time. I don't try to work in the presence of the kids, and I don't try and do uni work at work work etc. That way, so long as I schedule enough sessions for everything, everything will get done.
Also, I am so not superwoman- I have 2 kids at school, so have 6 hours a day of freedom! I would never have tackled os much with young ones ;)

>63 lkernagh: Peace? I can't even hear myself think after today's 6th birthday part for Lenny :)
He had 11 friends over to a party we organised. They basically ran around like 6 year-old boys for the whole time. And now Lenny is down at the clubrooms receiving his certificate for player of the day at rugby league- one tired and chuffed boy!

>64 nittnut: ignoring cleaning is a win win in my book :)

12 six year olds? My hat off to you, lady...

My house is beautifully quiet, I've watered stuff and filled the bird feeder and I think that might be it for my productivity today.

He had 11 friends over to a party we organised. They basically ran around like 6 year-old boys for the whole time.

Yikes. I hope that the organizers of the event were provided with sufficient adult beverages before, during and after the human tsunami.

Happy Birthday to Lenny! You know what's better than ignoring cleaning? Making you kids do it. *grin* That's pretty much my agenda today. I don't know how useful my husband will be since he got up at 4 am to watch the All Blacks. Sigh.

Happy birthday, Lenny.... and I'm sure the parents of the 11 boys thank you also for delivering equally tired happy kids back to them so they should all be out for the count earlier than usual.

But how is the birthday boy's mama faring now the party is over? Have you all collapsed in a heap, contented smiles on your face without a need to count sheep tonight?

Happy birthday to Lenny, hope you are having a good weekend my dear and it sounds like it has been a busy one so far, sending love and hugs.

Very belated happy new thread. It looks like you're very busy and still posting. I was absent for too long due to RL. So I'm impressed what you're able to manage.

Hi, Megan, Hope you had a nice weekend, my friend and got a little reading time in.

>66 charl08: lol - there were a lot of kids! Lenny had 8 must-haves on his list, and I let him bump that up to 9. Then there was one sibling and 2 cousins. All in all a happy bunch.

>67 kidzdoc: The party was held at the local Plunket rooms. Plunket are an organisation that looks after the health of babies, their mothers (and fathers) and young children. They have rooms dotted throughout cities and towns, and our local one you can hire for a small fee. It has a play room and small kitchen, but more importantly for Lenny's party, a fenced grass area and playground. So I didn't have to worry about any of the kids doing a runner. Stress free party!
After the human tsumami, my niece and nephew came back to our place for the night. And because of all of Lenny's party loot, they played all afternoon.

>68 nittnut: What a dedicated ex-NZ resident your husband is! Pity for him the All Blacks didn't show him the appropriate result in the end. I watched the first half, and then went to bed to read :)

>69 cameling: The parents were pleased to be able to drop-and-run. One dad said as he was dropping his son off, "...can I just dump him?" LOL- I said, sure- that is why we picked a fenced off place to hire for the party!

>70 johnsimpson: T'was busy JS, and fun too. Yesterday afternoon me and the lovely other had our date. So chilled out and relaxing, a whole afternoon and evening together.

>71 Ameise1: Hi B, it's all hanging together so far :) I finally finished my writing project for the university careers department. After 3 extensions (as more funding was sourced to get the thing completed), I now have 13 completed career destination documents for the university to use to support students. When the link is up on their website, Ill put it here so everyone can see what I have been doing.

>72 msf59: hey Mark, I was just about to tell everyone about Sunday afternoon date night!

My sister took all the kids off my hands, including hers who had stayed at my place the night before, and me and the lovely other took the bus into the city and straight to The Institution for a beer tasting tray and cheese board. I was beyond excited at the prospect of this, and it delivered. 5 delicious beers (finishing with a 9.2% dark dark porter), conversation, and a window seat overlooking the tram lines and cute little New Regent Street. We then wandered around town at our leisure, because we could, and ended up at the Dux Delux brewery/restaurant where we had a pint each. Another wander about town to a supermarket where we spent ages picking ourselves a craft beer each to take home. And then a DVD (Quantum of Solace- not great) and a light dinner (with craft beer) there.
All that and we *still* got to bed early enough to get to work this morning by 730am!!! A huge success and smiles all around. I love date night.

Megan--That sounds like a lovely date night, and one well earned after all you've been doing! Great job woman/mom/wife/student/three-job person!!

I love this kind of stuff: language, spatial variation, graphic representation....
Of course in NZ we say rubbish bin :)


(from the Sociological Cinema's Facebook page)

>75 Berly: date night rules! Technically it was date afternoon/evening/overnight and morning though. So- even better :)
Lenny asked if we did "smoochy stuff"!!! What a character he is.

Hi, Megan! Date night sounds fabulous!!

Date night is a great idea, Megan. We used to do the same thing when the kids were young, and stay in a downtown Chicago hotel. Some here call it "Grown up time". Glad yours was such a huge success.

"Soda" vs "pop" is another regional one here. In Illinois a coke is soda, and on the other side of the lake in Michigan it's pop.

>79 jnwelch: Chicago might be a "soda" town, but soft drinks are most emphatically "pop" in the part of western Illinois where we moved when I was in third grade, Joe. It confounded me, coming from "soda" world in the Northeast. I still say "soda" even though I now live in Iowa, another "pop" enclave. Soda forever!

>80 rosalita: I didn't know that, Julia! I grew up with "pop" in Michigan, so it took me a while to get used to "soda".

>81 jnwelch: That's great — we went opposite ways in our respective wayward youths! (Well, mine was somewhat wayward; I shouldn't assume about yours.) :-)

>78 scaifea: It was long overdue, as usual. I swear, I think we both have PTSD from our kids sometimes.

>79 jnwelch: >80 rosalita: >81 jnwelch: >82 rosalita:

:)
Does this map accurately represent your discussion!? How cool!!
We have some regional variations here in NZ as well, but nowhere near as much as it happens in the US or the UK.

Yep, I'm in the blue big that's just north of the dark red blob in the middle of the country, and Joe is up and to the right at the bottom of that isolated upper red bit.

>84 rosalita: I don't know what Alaska is calling fizzy drink...some sort of soda variation, I suppose.
We call it fizzy drink :) (or lemonade, coke, or whatever it is).

I moved from soda in the east, to pop in the midwest and am now back to soda on the west coast!!

>86 Berly: well, clearly you need to move to the South East, so you can call it coke! Or to NZ where you can call it fizzy ;)
My Dutch friends when I was growing up used to call cordial (made by watering down a syrup)- lemonade. And I would always get a bit excited thinking we would be having actual lemonade, as in fizzy drink. But it was just boring old cordial. What a rip off.

>87 LovingLit: See, now you've opened a whole new can of worms (so to speak): Lemonade isn't fizzy around here. Just lemon juice, sugar, and water. But now I'm thinking it would be pretty tasty as a fizzy drink!

>83 LovingLit: Interesting! Fits with my upbringing (middle of Indiana, where we called all sodas 'coke').

Raised in Maryland, so on the border of coke/soda, but raised by Louisianians, so cocola is correct. 😀

>89 scaifea: All sodas coke? Yikes. That's even more confusing than my dad's term "cooldrink" (even when they're not). Would you add a qualifier? Orange coke?

>88 rosalita: so what do you can Sprite, 7Up etc.? (Don't tell me, you call them Sprite and 7Up!!??)
My fave local fizzy is called Sparkling Duet- an orange/lemon effervescent delight.

>89 scaifea: All sodas coke. How does the Coca Cola company feel about this? Probably great!

>90 drneutron: Cocola, hilarious. A mash up of coca and cola.
My entire knowledge of Maryland is as follows: my old yoga teacher hails from there. :) I will have to hold up a can of fizzy to her and ask her what she calls it!

>91 charl08: I agree Charlotte :) I know there is cherry coke, and grape fanta. What about lemonade coke, or cooldrink coke?? Ha! Language- always a hilarious topic of conversation.

In other news, I just learned a new word. Obstreperous. Which pertains with extreme exactness to both my children.
:)

>92 LovingLit: Yep, if I was ordering in a restaurant I'd go with the brand name. If I was just sitting around talking out my ear like usual, I'd say "I need a soda" which can be generic for any cold fizzy drink.

Edited to add: Oh, there's also Sierra Mist, which is the Pepsi version of Sprite. :-)

>83 LovingLit: I used to say 'pop' for a generic fizzy drink when I was a child in South Wales, and so did Mr SandDune in Yorkshire, but I haven't heard it used in that sense for years. Now if I'm talking generically I would say 'fizzy drink' or (more likely) 'soft drink' or refer to the brand name. Never soda though.

>74 LovingLit: Sounds like date night was a great success! I can't remember the last time that Nate and I had a date night! Perhaps in a few years lol

Hi, Megan! Glad "date night" went so well and it involved beer too. Perfect.

>76 LovingLit: >83 LovingLit: I love these. We always called soda, "Pop" when we were growing up.

>94 rosalita: Sierra Mist!!! It sounds so ridiculous to the uninitiated.....Mountain Dew has to be the most ridiculous of all soda/pop/fizzy/cocola names :)

>95 SandDune: My friend of British origin says pop, but usually to be funny (I thought). When I say soda I am always talking about baking soda (bicarbonate of soda).

>96 ChelleBearss: Yes, a few years for you I reckon! It literally took us 3 years before having a single night away from our first 'baby'. When my sister in law found that out she was shocked, clearly she was too used to helpful relatives!

>97 msf59: It was an ideal date, Mark. We nearly went to the arthouse DVD rental shop to wander around and look at films too, but had a few (dozen) to watch at home already. And frankly, I rather enjoyed looking at all the beer at the supermarket. There are so many cool labels!

An out-of-place cactus. We have had a storm-a-geddon, weather-bomb, Southerly-squall....you name it, it's been called it. Basically a cold spell. The kids were out (bearing in mind it is the school holidays) building snow men, racing about going snow crazy...it did get worse than this, there was actual snow. But I like this pic. :)


In other news, I submitted my Masters proposal today. YAY! Am having a celebratory beer as we speak. So pleased that it was well received by my supervisors (just quietly, I am convinced that they are simply pleased with the fact that I do what I say I will, when I say I will, and that I can speak English competently in the doing of it).
Either way, v. stoked to have that 7,000 word project out of the way.

>91 charl08: Yup. You'd order a "coke" and you'd either get a Coke or the server would ask, "What kind?" Weird, eh? Seemed perfectly normal at the time. Not sure it's still happening, though.

>93 LovingLit: *snork!*

>100 scaifea: IKR. *snork* indeed. My academic supervisor explained a situation today in which he found himself in a series of chaotic events, and I was like "*REALLY? I too aspire to a life of calm and chill- just like you, but what I have is 'what you describe' + 108,285, i.e., utter chaos, all the time*" (just saying).
Boys. Srsly.

We grew up in California, with Idaho/Utah farm parents and we called fizzy drinks Pop. But it also could have been the old Shasta jingle to blame there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_XEOrAl1J8

Obstreperous is an excellent word. So very useful. Lol

Hooray for turning in your proposal!! And Englishing competently to boot. *grin*

>102 nittnut: and now for ethics approval, which is apparently quite an arduous process....Which I must get underway asap to get talking to parents before the end of the league season. Cest la vie!
Off to check link....

Eta: Shasta!!! The classic 80s drink!?

This black line shows the road that we need to ravel on tomorrow, to get from home (bottom right of mp) to our holiday house in Moana (top left of the map). Only, the black line indicates that that portion of the road is CLOSED.
Oh.
The status of the road will be revised tomorrow at 10am, and if its open we'll go. If it is still closed we will have to take the 6 hour detour.

Oh my! Child birthday parties, date nights, masters proposals, word discussions. Lots of fun over here.

I grew up saying pop. I moved to NC, USA, and now say soda. Husband's mother called all fizzy drinks Cocola (co'-co'-la). After 26 years here I now am good at y'all. And being from California, of course, without even opening up Jenn's Shasta link, I know that "It hasta be Shasta!" They had so many different flavors, for 10 cents a can, and they remind me of our summer camping vacations.

I sure hope your road gets re-opened.

Oh no! Hope you didn't have to take that massive detour! 6 hours extra is bound to suck with kids!

>105 karenmarie: it is all on alright! This morning I was at my university desk at 630am to get my ethics application completed in time to go on holiday. I need to get it approved asap so that I can start my research before the end of the rugby league season....so I whipped up an 11 page document answering all their questions (well- I hope).
That Shasta ad was so funny!!!

>106 ChelleBearss: We may end up leaving before we even find out if the road is open, as I am finished my early bird uni cram session (see post to Karen, above), and we may as well get going. The detour is longer, but waaaay less mountainous, so will be a better drive in rainy conditions, with snow around too. Also, it goes by a cute town that we love called Reefton, which has a pool that the kids love.

Off we go! See y'all later ;)

happy travels!

Megan--So the road was being obstreperous!! LOL Good luck on your travels have a great time and congrats on turning the proposal and ethics answers...on time...in English! ; )

LOL, love the Soda-Pop discussion! When I was growing up a treat was to go with our dad to the Pop Shoppe (the store's actual name) where you pick up a plastic crate and then walk down aisles loading the crate with 250ml bottles of flavoured "pop". You got to take the crate home, bring it back with the empties and repeat. They sold their own brand of drinks - no Pepsi, Coca-cola, Schweppes or anything like that. My favorite flavours were lemon-lime and black bing cherry.

... as you can probably guess, I call all carbonated non-alcoholic drinks "pop", unless I am ordering from a menu. ;-)

Wishing you safe travels!

>108 nittnut: >109 Berly: >110 lkernagh:
The road was even more obstreperous than we could have imagined! (eta: photos from the internet, not mine!)

Option one: Road Closed, snow.


Option two: got 90 minutes into journey and ...road closed, tanker fire.


There are only three routes across the South Island's central mountain range, all three were closed the day before we travelled, 2 of the 3 were open the morning we were to leave- the only one closed was the one with the most direct route to the destination- the 'black line' road pictured in >104 LovingLit:.
We ended up taking highway #7, and were an hour into the journey when we see a huge road sign saying "Highway 7, Lewis Pass, CLOSED".

Whaaaat!!? It can't be snow, we thought, the southerly has already asked through! So I called my friend who advised me that a tanker had burst into flame (a chemical inferno, was the term used) and closed the road in both directions indefinitely...so. Do we turn back on go the 'black line' road, which is now open, but with mandatory chains? Or do we take our chances on the chemical inferno road re-opening some time today?

Long story short, the drive took 10 hours in total, the usual 90 minutes to Hanmer Springs Hot Pools where we sough refuge to await for news of the road re-opening. Then the 3.5 hour journey to our holiday house in Moana took 7 hours. Yikes- but- we are here.

Well, thank goodness you arrived at your destination, but what a trial to get there!

Oh dear, what a trip. I hope you can relax now and the journey back will be better. Happy weekend, Megan.

I bet you're glad that trip is over, Megan! Yikes, what a nightmare.

I hope you enjoy your holiday.

That was a long drive, Megan, glad to read you finally arrived in Moana.
How long are you staying there?

>111 LovingLit: Wow, that's quite a trip! Glad you have arrived safe and sound now!

>112 lkernagh: It was a trial, but it was quite funny seeing Lenny do a mild freak out....catastrophising etc will calls like "we're never going to get there!" and

>113 Ameise1: relax indeed. The journey back should be a lot simpler :)

>114 karenmarie: It was so lovely to arrive here in the end, the family we were coming with had put the heaters on in our rooms, made us pizza, and opened us up a beer.

>115 FAMeulstee: we are staying 4 nights in total. Two more nights left....the rain has set in today but yesterday we went on a long walk (2.5 hours) and the kids went off fishing with the other family we are here with

>116 ChelleBearss: thanks Chelle! Its a great house, with a roaring log burner which has been in full use the whole time we have been here. It was 0 degrees C yesterday morning. :)

Little Lenny caught his first ever trout on his 6th birthday!!! (he caught two blue cod before, which are his only other fish catches).
He was extremely happy about it too, saying things like "I LOVE THIS DAY" and, " I love how it's so slimy" and, "this is the best day ever". We hot smoked it and ate it all up :)

Currently reading:


Rugby's Great Split, by Tony Collins. A fascinating look at class and culture and their influence on the development of rugby league. For university. And Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri. Since I saw him reading his poem about the London Grenfell Tower fire, I decided I needed to get along and read one of his books. This was the one I picked.

Sorry to hear about your nightmarish trip, Megan. I'm glad that you arrived safely.

Well done, Lenny!

>118 LovingLit: - Wow, what beauty of a fish! Your son looks very chuffed about his catch and well he should be.

Those photos of the tanker are pretty intense. Seems like you should get to add an additional day to your holiday, just for the trouble. :)
Congratulations to Lenny on the big fish!

Megan--Man, what a trip you had!! Glad you made it and the fishing was good. Continue to have fun. : )

What a great trout. Well done, Lenny. Glad to hrar that you have a fabulous time. Enjoy it.

Nice trout!

Congrats Lenny!

>118 LovingLit: He looks so proud!
Perfect timing to catch his first trout on his birthday!

>118 LovingLit: Gorgeous!

>111 LovingLit: Sorry, to hear about all the travelling woes, Megan. I hope the rest of the holiday is drama-free.

>118 LovingLit: Go Lenny! Go Lenny! Nice trout.

Hi Megan!

Such a boy thing to say, I love how it's so slimy. Makes me smile just to think about him saying it. I hope your holiday is continuing to be tons of fun.

I love this image, it is our kids and our friends' kids checking out the view from the walk we did above Lake Moana a few days ago.

Only got back today, I am so tired I am going to knock off now, and will be coming back with personal responses tomorrow :)

>131 LovingLit: Aw, LOVE that.

>131 LovingLit: Beautiful picture, Megan, both the view and the kids :-)

>131 LovingLit: That is a lovely photo, Megan. I could see it as the cover photo for a novel. :-)

Rest up.

>120 kidzdoc: as trips go, Darryl, ours was long but pleasant. One thing I am sure of, is that I am never going on a road trip without my thermos again! I normally always take one, but the morning of that trip i had gone into university (beavering away at 630am) to get my ethics application done, and the rush once I got home was immense. So my thermos was not packed- boy I could have used a cuppa at many points that day!

>121 lkernagh: One very chuffed child indeed. He caught a second trout too- the only one to catch anything!!!

>122 nittnut: the tanker was intense, we drove past its carcass and it looked exactly like the image on the right, only with less smouldering smoke.

>123 Berly: The lake was lovely and calm, so was lovely to go out on. The family we went with has an aluminium boat thingie with an outboard motor, so we were able to get to spots not normally accessible my foot/car. Lenny even had a 'drive' (i.e., half the tiller) and thought himself very grown up :)

>124 Ameise1: it was a great time all up- the place we stayed was perfect. A log fire upstairs and the two bedrooms downstairs that we slept in were cosy with the heaters and quiet from the rest of the house.

>125 drneutron: Nice-tasting too! Rubbed in brown sugar and salt, set for an hour and then hot smoked.

>126 ChelleBearss: He was pretty stoked alight. And I was pleased to hear that big brother was supportive of his catch too, at least, he was of the first one!!!

>127 FAMeulstee: His 6th birthday was a great day for him. He (we) did a 2.5 hour walk up a hill to that lookout post in the image above. And then went fishing, and had cake.

>128 sirfurboy: quietly chuffed. I have a photo of him arriving home to tell me of the news.....he is doing that classic "arms out each side of him to show how big the fish was" pose. Pity the photo is out of focus, as it was funny.

>129 msf59: I dont think Lenny thought much of fishing til now, the first time he tried it he caught two at once by just dropping the line in the water with 8 hooks on it and a sinker. This time he was trawling, so was able to monitor the line for bites, reel it in etc. He even tried casting, but that was deemed too dangerous, on account of his 'technique'. ;)

>130 karenmarie: "I love how it's so slimy" IS such a boy thing to say :) He likes to touch meat as I am cooking it, and often asks to have a turn (like it's play dough!). I let him, but of course, washing hands before and after is necessary. (being a boy, you never know where his hands have been!!)

>132 scaifea: it's quaint, isn't it? It was a boggy track, and the kids loved (absolutely loved) having to avoid the mud and finding ways around the boggy messes.

>133 FAMeulstee: the view was more dramatic farther around, actually! That grassy area cutting the lake is actually a peninsula bit, so slightly to the left you get full lake and mountains behind. Still, I wont complain!

>134 EBT1002: I could see it as the cover photo for a novel.
Spoken like a true LTer!!! He he. My friends Samsung phone takes an alright picture. She emailed me some last night, I will put them on fb.

>134 EBT1002: I thought put it on the wall, but a novel works too... Really lovely image.

Glad you had a good trip despite the road issues.

>131 LovingLit: great picture!! Looks like you guys had a good trip

>131 LovingLit: I LOVE this image! It says so much.

Good luck getting back into the work groove.

>138 charl08: Aw, that would be good on the wall! And a book cover :)

>139 ChelleBearss: yeah, it was great. And today aI took the kids to Dr Graham the Blow up science guy! A science show/demonstration during which stuff gets blown up. COOL!

>140 msf59: The kids were pretty enthusiastic. Hilariously, at one stage they all (as in, *all* of them) came running back towards us on the track scream-laughing. The thing was, they had seen a wild goat running off into the bush. It kind of freaked them out. Ha ha! Little Lenny walked a little closer to mum and dad after that.

>137 LovingLit: If not very out of focus, you could put a caption over the top and pretend the picture is deliberately soft focus to draw attention to the text... maybe :)

Suggested caption "And the one that dad couldn't catch was this big."

>142 sirfurboy: he he, good one ;)
There are so many cool things technology can do these days. Remember when all that used to require photoshop, or similar!!?

Hi, Megan.

I love the photo of the kids up there.

His 6th birthday was a great day for him. He (we) did a 2.5 hour walk up a hill to that lookout post in the image above. And then went fishing, and had cake. Oh, I bet he was a happy guy. What a birthday.

>143 LovingLit: Sadly, however, I don't think there is any technology that can bring fuzzy photos back into focus. :(

>141 LovingLit: Who doesn't like a good old explosion! I bet the kids loved that. Hope they don't get any ideas of trying it at home! :-P

Belated Happy Birthday to Lenny! That fish is amazing as is the scenery shot of Moana Lake. It looks like it was worth all the trouble to get there. I love the way you are handling all the many hats you wear, Megan. Make sure you get some "ME" time in everyday. Haha, put the ME in MEgan!

The snow at Arthur's Pass looks so refreshing. It is very hot here in 'trash can, soda, you guys' Southern Missouri!

>144 jnwelch: and I forgot to mention there was lego!

>145 sirfurboy: There definitely should be :)

>146 ChelleBearss: The science guy was very clear that none of this (apart from the vinegar and baking soda) would be tried at home, even by the adults! The home-made marshmallow canon, however, I am thinking about. It certainly puts the vacuum cleaner to good use!!!

>147 Donna828: Thanks Donna :)
There is another Southerly weather system travelling up the country now, meaning: rain rain rain. We have there fire going (last day of winter school holidays) and the boys have friends over. Soon I will ply them with food, and that should keep things running smoothly.

BOOK 32
Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri

This little book was grabbed on a whim (as I am wont to do). I had seen the author doing the rounds on Facebook with a poem he had written about the Grenfell Tower fire in London. He was castigating the system that led to these peoples' lives and home being destroyed for want of the proper care being taken for their safety. So I thought, I really must read some Okri, grabbed one from my shelf, and off I went.

I am not really a genre-hopper, so only had him on my shelf as he won the Booker Prize in 1991 for The Famished Road. His work is fairly fantastical, he writes in a magical realism style, and although there is plenty of poetic lyricism, there is little in the way of concrete plot (as I know it!). I read on though, as it is a short book and a pleasant journey.

The book follows someone on a quest to find visibility in a life where they feel they aren't. It is a mystical, spiritual journey that he is taken on- sometimes with the help of a spirit guide- and he encounters many metaphorical and literal road blocks. But ultimately he finds what he was looking for, and all of this occurs in unexpected ways, ways that defy reason and logic. For its lyricism I give it 5 stars, for its plot, 0- so, balanced out equals 2.5. Aren't I mean.

Currently reading


Rugby's Great Split, by Tony Collins and Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich. I have taken
London Overground by Iain Sinclair back to the library, as I just couldn't get in to it!! Turns out my psychogeography reading bender didn't go that far....

>149 LovingLit: Not mean, you just know what works for you!

>148 LovingLit: Marshmallow canon, eh? Sounds interesting!

Happy weekend, Megan.

Hi Megan, hope you are having a good weekend my dear and send love and hugs.

BOOK 33
A Year Without Mom by Dasha Tolstikova, YA, 167p (tally 5,179p)

A lovely cover, no? It's what drew me in. I initially thought of it for W, but then started reading it and decided it was for me instead.
This illustrated book- and it is as much about the illustrations as it is about the words- is about Dacha's time spent in Russia while her mother studies overseas for a year. She is let with her grandparents, and misses her mother but dutifully soldiers on through the trials of friendships, school, infatuations with boys and her relationship with her surrogate parents. It is a sweet portrayal of adolescence and post-Soviet Russia. And as one reviewer states on the book page, it isn't really a graphic novel. :)

>151 charl08: yeah! That is true :)

>152 ChelleBearss: The kids (and adults) loved that one. The scientist used his powers for good: he used a home made tubing system which he attached to a normal vacuum cleaner, transforming it into t marshmallow canon, which he used to fire marshmallows at will into the audience. What is not to like!??!

>153 Ameise1: thanks B, pretty flowers :)

>155 johnsimpson: Thanks JS, you too. I am looking forward to Monday as the kids are back at school and I am back at university.

>157 LovingLit: Well, just sending some summer to your winter destination. ;-)

What a nightmare of a trip up to Moana, Megan, but sounds (and looks) like the time there was simply lovely. That is a GREAT trout! And congrats on getting your masters proposeal completed--that has to be a big relief. Yes, I know the ethics approval can be a hassle still, but hopefully since it appears to simply be interviewing people, approval will be immediately forthcoming.

>158 Ameise1: thanks! That plus the fire I just lit....I am toasty warm :)

>159 ronincats: Apparently the ethics committee (maybe all ethics committees) is notoriously picky. No one has got an application through with no questions/alterations needed! I guess that is their job though, to ensure the processes are robust. But it must restrict the types of research being done, as the fear of getting it past ethics would surely come into play.
But, you are right, mine is relatively simple.

Hi Megan--What an awesome trip (despite the lack of thermos)! Hoping it feels good to be back at Uni tomorrow.

>161 Berly: oooooh, aaaah, it was great to be back at university :)
I read my (research related) book, logged some other reading, emailed my supervisor a related research paper that she was pleased to have her attention brought to, I had a free coffee at the cafe (my frequent flier card was full, so I was eligible), I quit early to meet a friend for another coffee!!! What's not to like?

I've been enjoying the photos of your "Winter getaway" on Facebook, Megan. It's still bizarre for me to think of July as "winter", since it's been so hot and steamy here in Atlanta!

I haven't read The Famished Road yet, although I've owned a copy of it for years.

I'm sorry to hear that London Overground didn't work out for you. I hope that my relative familiarity with that line (which I often take if I hang out with Bianca and Claire in South London) will help me to appreciate it. I struggled with his earlier book Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire, which I couldn't finish, so hopefully I'll get on better with this book.

Looks like you had a lovely vacation, Megan. Love the photos.. thanks for sharing. Can't believe Lenny is so big now! And he looks so thrilled with his trout.

Back to Uni .. already?!

>163 kidzdoc: Hey Darryl- I am annoyed at not taking to Iain Sinclair. I had myself prematurely pegged as a fan. I reckon I would do better with him on a long holiday, for example, when I would be able to relax for hours on end with his work. It is a meandering style, and needs concentration (for little 'up-front' reward in terms of story). I will try him again I am sure.

>164 cameling: Lenny is a proper big kid now, huh!? 6 years old.
And I was back to uni, as in...the kids winter school holidays have ended, so my 2 week hiatus is over. I was never really on a break from university at all.
In other university news, my research proposal was accepted by forma letter (!!?), and I am good to go! (ethics approval pending)

>149 LovingLit: Methinks I'll skip that one. But I do have The Famished Road on my list for completion of my (truly lifetime) challenge to read all Booker winners.... I have badly neglected that challenge this year so I need to get back to it!

>166 EBT1002: I have badly neglected that challenge for about three years now!
It must have been about four years ago that I feverishly tried to read the shortlist. And since then I have taken my foot off the accelerator when it comes to Booker winners. Shame, as it has been my goal to read 'em all for ten years or more.

Well, the 2017 long list has just been announced. Time to get cracking! :-D

>131 LovingLit: - What a fabulous picture!

....and I see mention of getting your masters proposal completed? WOOT!!!

>168 EBT1002: gah! I can't handle that kind of pressure!! *flees from room* ;)

>169 lkernagh: Yes, proposal accepted. I am just awaiting ethics approval, which is fine, as I have 37 essays to mark at present, and that is all I need on my plate just now. You see, I am experiencing my third cold of the winter. Each one has been worse than the one before, which is disappointing. At least I got some decent sleep last night though, one of my nostrils was clear, so I was able to breathe through that! (yay for small victories!!)

Megan--Sorry about the cold...again. But congrats on the the proposal acceptance!! Whoohoo!!

Congrats on the proposal acceptance, Megan. Well done.

>171 Berly: I know! It sure is a doozy. And I have things on three nights this week- two of which are evening customer surveying work. I might have to call in sick tomorrow as have not improved much today in spite of taking it easy.

>172 Ameise1: thanks! I must print off my proposal to file with my other essays etc. For posterity.

BOOK 34
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 275p

I have never read this author- and have barely read a crime novel of any description. So when I caught a glimpse of the trailer for the film version of this, I thought to myself....I must read this book! I recruited my friend and my sister and we decided to all read it and then see the film when it is released in November.

Yes, it is a fairly superficial novel, the characters are stereotypes and the plot unfolds in a simple way. But it's a great fairytale! You are carried along, and the quaint style, and oddly apparent dislike of British people appeal. And- the ending actually surprises, for which I give the book great credit, as I thought I had the murderer pegged from very early on :)

Glad you got some pleasure from the Christie, Megan. The stories are such a staple of British TV they're hard to avoid here.

Hope you feel better soon.

>175 charl08: It was a nice interlude from Secondhand Time, which though fantastic, is heavy. I can't wait to get to bed early tonight and get reading it.

>174 LovingLit: Oh, yay for my favorite (so far) Christie book! I recently re-read it, too, because the movie looks SO GOOD!

Hi Megan!

>174 LovingLit: I've read almost every Agatha Christie over the course of the last 40 years or so and Murder on the Orient Express is a favorite. I've re-read it several times over the years, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie in the fall.

I'm sorry you've got your third cold of the winter. I hope you get over it quickly!

>177 scaifea: I feel like i need to read some Ngaio Marsh now too- seeing as she is a local, and the theatre at my (first) university was named after her. I believe I can visit her house by appointment too, now this is sounding like a book club outing!!

>178 karenmarie: I bet she has dozens! I love some of the newly issued retro covers, they will be pulling in a new generation of readers for sure.
As I just texted my boss while calling in sick, I am entering the rock-solid phlegm stage (too much info!!??). Pretty heinous. But also a really really nice day to say in by the fire and read/rest. I hardly ever do that, but thanks to little work/study pressure, I have that luxury.

Hope you get better soon, but enjoy the reading!

>180 drneutron: that I am! If you can use the word 'enjoy' when you are reading about hardship, violence, abandonment, torture, cruelty and starvation..... (Narratives from the Soviet era, called Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich).

I cant remember which thread we were talking about school/office supplies- I know a lot of us around here are enamoured with them- but I found these greeting cards on super special at a bookshop, and have loved them ever since. I give them sparingly. :)

>182 LovingLit: Ha! Love those!! (Amber's thread is all about the school supplies.)

>183 Berly: Of course!! Yes, I remember now. The retro trapper wrapper, or something, wasn't it? ;)

That's Trapper Keeper, missy! :-)

I'm sorry you've been hit with the crud, Megan, but good for you taking a day off to deal with it. Sometimes that's all you can do, and it gets you back on your feet faster than if you try to force yourself through it. Be well!

"Retro trapper wrapper" *SNORK!!*

Ha! I had a trapper keeper in Jr. High. Is my Jr. High stuff retro now? Oh my oh my.

Sorry you're sick AGAIN! Bad luck. I give you permission to take 2 days off. ;)

>185 rosalita: It's like you have a 6th sense....:)
Because of all of my 'hats', a day off can throw one of my occupations off course, but this time...I am between tasks with uni (all of a sudden I am glad that the ethics committee takes weeks to deliberate about applications), I am ahead on my marking, and for the research analyst job I am booked in to do 4 evening slots over the next 2 weeks, so can afford to can a daytime slot.
Phew.

>186 scaifea: I just went ahead and threw in some key words there. It seems to have worked ;)

>187 nittnut: Yes, your Jr. High stuff is retro. As is mine, if we had Jr. High here. I guess the equivalent for us is intermediate school- or in my case when I was 11 and 12, it was still just primary school, but I the oldest class (mwa ha haaaa).
My 12 year old faves were my Eurythmics scrapbook, my Eurythmics (cassette) tapes, and my pretend library (I had cards in the back of my parents books, and used to stamp them in and out with one of those cool date stamps). Also, climbing trees was heaps of fun. I liked it when it was windy as the tree would sway a little bit. Clearly I was more adventurous then- yesterday I was too scared to try a backwards flik flack on the trampoline! I was *just* about to do it and then my brain told me- NO. This is NOT a good idea.

BOOK 35
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech YA

My new favourite thing = books written in verse.
This little book is light on words but heavy on impact. I love how the suggestion of so much is produced so economically.
A boy at school is fearful of his attraction to poetry. His teacher keeps teaching it and keeps getting the kids to try writing some. Slowly he feels his definition of poetry solidify, and his confidence grows, and he gets to the point where he can proudly put his name to a poem he has written. All this along with a sub-plot involving his dog. So good!

Also, for those who are interested, here is the link to the set of careers resources I researched and wrote over the summer (for most of you this was your winter- let's just go with recently!).
They look so pretty all dolled up by the marketing team!

>189 LovingLit: I am glad you liked Love that dog, Megan.

>190 LovingLit: That is A LOT of career paths!! And they do look very nice. Enticing even! Great job. : )

>174 LovingLit: I had a good time with Murder on the Orient Express too, when I listened to it last year, for the BAC. Another big film version is coming out.

>189 LovingLit: I just picked up Love That Dog from the library. It has sure caught fire here on the 75!

Are you sick? WTH?

>191 FAMeulstee: It was a very sweet little novel- I am going to pass it on to W to read, who, at nearly 9, might either love it or refuse to read it....

>192 Berly: The 13 documents are around 13 subjects the university offers, and the many and varied paths open to graduates from them. They are hoping to add at least another 5 to the suite! I am not sure I will commit to writing them though, I have my masters to think about...

>193 msf59: Listening to it would have been a treat, no doubt. I am really looking forward to the film. So you say there have been other versions? I might just have to watch them too! (like I did with The Great Gatsby- read the book thrice, watch all three versions of the film!!)

Yay- I got my research plans approved by the Human Ethics Committee. Hooray!!
(uh oh, now I *actually* have to do this!!!)
This weekend I will be accosting parents of young rugby league players on the sidelines and asking them if I can talk to them about their kids sport. Sheesh, I hope I get at least one.

>195 LovingLit: Woot!!

Congratulations, Megan!

Congratulations, Megan! Let the wild rumpus begin!

Congratulations, Megan, yes you can!

That's great, Megan. Congratulations! Looking forward to the rugby tales.

Woo hoo! Congrats on getting the clearance from the ethics committee, Megan, first time through! Hope you are feeling better.

Congratulations Megan.

Thanks everyone!
It was a fairly painless process- my supervisor reckoned it was one of the quickest turnarounds they have seen and attribute this to my total and complete over-doing it in the thoroughness department. :) (You can never be too clear with your intentions is what I say!!)

So now I just need to finish off my essay marking (three to go!!!!) and then I will print off some consent forms and Research Information Sheets and hit the sidelines canvassing for likely participants!!! (tomorrow, in the cold and frosty morning...)

Congrats, Megan .. and sorry about your 3rd cold! hopefully you're starting to feel better?

I love Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot but for I can't stand her Miss Marple. Go figure. Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile are 2 of her books I particular enjoyed in the Poirot series which were also quite nicely adapted for movies starring Peter Ustinov.

Congratulations!! And I bet you will easily arm-twist a few parents into cooperating. : ) Cheers to overkill on the thoroughness.

>195 LovingLit: Adding my congratulations, Megan. The group is obviously proud of you. xx

Have a lovely weekend.

>204 cameling: Now my dad is reading Murder on the Orient Express, my sister next. I see a family discussion coming on!

>205 Berly: Overkilling thoroughness isn't too bad a personality flaw ;)
And today I booked in three appointments for interviews, and have two probables as well!!! Yay! It wasn't as hard or bad as I thought.

>206 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! Have done league duty, and secured some interviews for next week for my research, and now I get the afternoon off to go to an International Film Festival movie! I am seeing the bleak Russian film from 1979 called, The Stalker. I am hoping I wont come out of it too depressed....

>195 LovingLit: Congratulations!! I have no doubt you will find eager participants. :)

>207 LovingLit: The last Russian film I remember seeing was probably in 1992. It was bleak, it was about war, and part way through the film a tank was chasing some awol soldiers and then suddenly, the entire thing flipped upside down and an upside down tank was chasing upside down soldiers. Oops!

Hi Megan, hope you and the family are having a really good weekend my dear, sending love and hugs dear friend.

You're making me want to re-read Murder on the Orient Express .. I have a long trip coming up .. time for me to start planning reads to take with me. Perhaps I'll add this to the list.

Good luck for the film and your interviews - sounds like a great start.

Lots of good news here, Megan -- congratulations!

Love the cactus in the snow -- Greece & Cyprus were super hot, but Colorado has been pleasantly cool since we've been back.

Happy weekend, though where you are it's probably over already:(

Woah what a weekend! Phooesh (that means sheesh, I'm pooped).

Friday night I worked til 10pm (the second of four evening surveying sessions for my research analyst role), then Saturday morning an early game for Lenny and only the one family car, so we were all down at the league grounds from 850am until nearly midday. This entailed taking enough snacks to keep the troops fed while they waited about. I took the opportunity to approach some parents.

Person 1: ......Nah.
Persons 2 - 6: Yeah, OK. Sure.
Meaning, I have 3 interviews scheduled, and 2 to call up and make a time with!! How cool is that!!?

(although, again...it does mean that I *really*, *actually* have to do this now!)

Then....that afternoon I sent to see a film festival film- a Russian behemoth called Stalker, made in 1979. A companion watch for my current read: Secondhand Time about the end of the Soviet era. Well, the film really deserves a post all to itself. The image below accurately depicts the mood of the film. Grim, bleak, but in parts very beautiful. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to walk to my sisters house after (did I mention before that she has moved and now lives in the same city as me!? So convenient now), and borrow her car to get home.


Then...Sunday (today) drove car back to my sister's, and then took her kids and mine out for the afternoon with my dad. We had heaps of fun, particularly when dad accidentally kicked my nephew's rugby ball into the Avon River (which runs through the city centre). We spent a good 15 minutes following it down, trying to push it to one side or the other...eventually dad got his legs wet to retrieve it. And what was the first thing my nephew said?: "let's throw it in again!!!" (lol)

>131 LovingLit: Nice shot ..... also se you are being tempted to the dark side i.e. dipping your toes into SF - nice !

>216 roundballnz: I find that from time to time it is good to read outside your comfort zone, it can come up trumps!
I quite like (old) sci fi films, so figured Id give it a shot on paper. I have yet to really get into much though. Maybe Neuromancer next....

Hi Megan!

So nice for your sister to be in the same town as you. I love the story about the ball in the Avon, too!

>215 LovingLit: Is that photo from the film you saw? It looks bleak....

Your time with the rugby ball and the river sounds like fun. :-)

>218 karenmarie: She was 50 minutes drive away, and now a paltry 15-20 (ish). The kids have seen al lot more of each of other already, so its really cool. The keep asking for more and more play times together, which is great .

>219 EBT1002: The image is a still from the film- the one they used to advertise it in the programme too, so I can't say I didn't expect it.

>174 LovingLit: That's always an enjoyable read, isn't it?
>195 LovingLit: Congratulations.
>215 LovingLit: Love the rugby ball story.
Wishing you a great week ahead.

River adventures and your sister lives close by! Fun, fun, fun!

>221 Ameise1: Well- the week has gotten off to a bleh start.
I had three (count 'em: THREE) interviews lined up for my research this week, and all of them have flaked. One for a good reason, two have just not answered my texts/calls to confirm. Humph. Actually, mega humph.

But I have learned that I need to get an address as well as a phone number when I am soliciting for appointments. Otherwise it looks like I am going to get a lot of no-shows.

>222 Berly: My sister is threatening to join the 75 group- and it was actually her who put me on to this website, so on *so many levels* I am encouraging her to get amongst us :) I assured her it is the nicest place on the internet. Watch this space for a link to her eventual thread :):):)

Oh, and >223 walis1: what is it with the spam lately!!?? Is everyone else also getting some?

>224 LovingLit: My sympathy for your flaky interviewees, Megan. When I was a journalist I dreaded being assigned the "man on the street" interview stories. People will say almost anything to get you to go away, fully intending to blow you off later! Sheesh.

And hooray for MeganSis joining us here! I picture a great deal of shenanigans ensuing. :-)

Hope the interviewees turn up. Is there anyway you can capture them at a place they might already have to go (eg at the pitchside?) rather than them having to make an extra appt?

I find the new spam a bit creepy. Am reporting it as quick as I can, promise.

>225 rosalita: all the more reason to get an address at the time of first discussion!! Or maybe agree to meet at the library, say, so that if they don't show I can still get some stuff done. Like check out books :)

>226 charl08: I scored myself a known-to-me parent to interview this morning, just to get the ball rolling. I was hoping to save all the known-to-me parents for emergencies, or for the tail end when I was in need of an easy booking. And it turned out to be a very fruitful interview! I highlighted my questions in the transcript and at a glance my part was minuscule compared to the interviewee's talk. A good outcome!

>224 LovingLit: Well, if she is half as fun as you, then your sis will be a great addition to LT!! Hope you get her to join. : )

Good luck with the interviews.

Pooh on spammers. >: (

>227 LovingLit: The first one over and done with sounds like an important milestone. I hate the sound of my own voice on tape: if there was a programme that would edit out my voice before I had to listen to it, that would be fab!

>228 Berly: currently she is resting. 11 days out from a double operation on her feet. Remember a few years back and I had both my feet operated on? She has the same foot issue (bunions), and has finally had her surgery. So, she can't walk. Now that she is paring back the post-surgery morphine, she might be able to concentrate long enough to log on! I will remind her :)

>229 charl08: I don't care about my voice on tape, so long as it is just me hearing it! My voice is quite gravelly, so I am a tad self-conscious about it in front of others. Particularly since I have spent 50% of this winter with a cold!!

>230 LovingLit: Oh bummer. I remember you going through that surgery. Best wishes to your sis as she recovers. That worked pretty well for you didn't it?

When she is stuck on the couch with her feet up, LT is a great idea, especially if she is off the morphine. ; )

Hi Megan!

Sorry about the flaky interviewees too.

You're very lucky to have your sister so close.

>230 LovingLit: That's a good thing! I'm waiting for the day when I can plug the tape (ha! the digital device, I guess...) into the computer and it will transcibe it all for me.

Wishing you a non-tiring and non-stressful weekend. xx

>231 Berly: Now I am reminded to get her started on LT- she wants a lesson ;)

>232 karenmarie: Re: flaky interviewees. When it rains it pours...today my 1 turned into 2 which turned into 3 interviewees, all at once!! Im glad the audio recorder was able to pick up the guy farthest away, as it would have been a loss to miss out on what he had to say. All in all a good start.

>233 charl08: A lot of people I have talked to have said - oh, isn't there a programme for that! I'm thinking if there was, and it was reliable and easy, everyone would be doing it!

>234 PaulCranswick: Why thank you Paul. It was all that, I from memory - it was all of a day ago now, and is actually feeling like a distant memory!
My lovely other's band played and I got to go for the first time in 3 years or so. They were great- loud, but great.

Reading-wise, it's a desert around here.
I haven't read my book for three- no! four! days running now :(
Evening work, then night out, then tired, then....tonight!

>224 LovingLit: Sorry to hear about the interviews. What a shame.
I hope your sis recovers quickly.

Sorry people are flaking out on you. Not cool. But very cool that the interview you did was excellent.
I hope you get some reading time soon. :)

>236 LovingLit: Hope you manage to snatch a few minutes for a read...

Popping in to say Hi! Glad you managed to get some interviews. The books will wait patiently for you. : )

>237 Ameise1: The interviews have come right! I have done 4 now, one with 3 people, so am all good. The numbers are up as have put my feelers out with both teams my kids are in (there are very few degrees of separation around here, so lots of people will know someone in the clubs I am after).

>238 nittnut: It looks like the first three flakes were an unlucky glut! The rest have panned out fine, with one one person rescheduling (which of course is totally cool- its when they don't reschedule that leaves me hanging!).
I have been getting better at interviewing too- the first ones I was almost reluctant to say too much, and now I am getting that I have to probe certain responses to get the good stuff.

>239 charl08: I snatched a few minutes today between transcribing interviews (man, that is a boring process!!!). I am just loving Secondhand Time and am even thinking of recommending it to my supervisor, who is an avid reader. It has some amazing insights into they types of happiness available/possible under socialism, and happiness that is to be found under a capitalist system.
The gulag and war horror stories within make for not so good reading...

>240 Berly: My book will wait impatiently for me! It is due!!! And I have already had the word from the librarian about taking adult NF books out on my kids' cards....*busted*. "We don't usually like to see childs' cards used for....." ;)
So I had to renew it on my own card, which of course comes with a fine if its late. I'm nearly done though, and its riveting.

>174 LovingLit: Glad to see you enjoyed that one and didn't guess the killer! Always great to get to the end and be surprised!!
I didn't realize that novel was part of a series and a very large series! I've always wanted to read her so perhaps I'll give that series a try!

Hi, Megan. Just checking in. Sorry, for my prolonged absence. Our Commander in Chief has derailed my attention. Hope you and the family are doing well.

Hooray for Secondhand Time. It deserves all the attention.

>241 LovingLit: Now that's funny! Busted for using your kids library card to check out your books.

>241 LovingLit:, >244 Berly: *snerk*

>242 ChelleBearss: now my dad has read it too, and my friend, and my sister is about to start!

>243 msf59: Your commander in chief is one loose unit- I despair about the fate of your people, and the world with him at the helm. I can't even begin to imagine what makes him tick.

>244 Berly: totes busted. He he. Worst thing is, the librarian that busted me is a *friend* of my lovely others!!! I would have thought he could have let the comment go...really.

>245 drneutron: Unbelievable huh! That someone would try to sneak out a non-fiction book about Soviets out on a child's card *shock horror*.

Hi Megan, hope you have had a good week my dear and wish you and the family a great weekend dear friend, sending love and hugs.

>248 FAMeulstee: Doesn't matter how you get Secondhand Time from the library, Megan, I think it is important it is read. Even if it is sneaked it out on a childs library card ;-)

>247 johnsimpson: Thanks JS!

>248 FAMeulstee: I didn't *sneak* it out! I promise! I really just find it easier to get my books out on the kids card, as their card is always out to get their books and DVDs out and I just tag mine on the end of theirs. It's all self check out, so its easier than putting their card away, getting mine out, logging into the machine again under my card. etc etc.
(ove explaining is a sire sign of guilt, I know, so I will stop now :))

Oh, and I am nearly done with Secondhand Time, I may put this in a review, but what strikes me about the book is how much I am learning about peoples experience of happiness, and how it is not the material goods they have that gives them this, but the relationships they have. (With family, friends, society, the state, on so many levels.)
It is incredible that the Soviets were promised so much from the fall of communism, and that capitalism was supposed to deliver it all. I can't tell yet whether it was the broken promises that so deflated the spirits of so many, or if it was simply the lack of jobs/food/means of survival.

Aslo, recent book acquisitions include:

15. Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance (gift from mum, she got it for $1 second hand)
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson $2
17. The Buried Giant by Kazoo Ishiguro $22 (new today!)

Look at that, only 17 books acquired this year! I am getting good that this limiting-books-thing.

Wow, Megan, I was proud of myself with only 24 books aquired this year, you are doing much better!

Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets sounds really interesting, Megan. Good on you for only acquiring 27 books this year! I am trying to limit my book purchases too. I'm not sure how many I've acquired this year. I'll have to go check my stats here on LT .

I love the story of you getting busted for using your kids' library card. LOL ... Although, I think it's rather silly though, because clearly if you show you are the parent, would it really matter?

I too am trying to curtail book acquisitions and borrowing more from the library. So far this year, I've been really angelic IMO .. I think I may only have acquired 12 books for myself thus far. Buying books for other people do not count.

>252 FAMeulstee: I went overboard - for me that is, in no way were my past hauls Cranswickian in nature!- a few years back, and then realised that I cannot in any remote chance read all that I buy. Because of BBs you see. So decided to hold back on the book acquisitions.

>253 vancouverdeb: It is a crazy ride- I got to from the library and decided I wasn't going to read it. But then....I just had a wee look....and, I was hooked. :)

>254 cameling: right on! Book buying for others is a duty, and should always be applauded :)
I think the reasoning behind not using your kids card is that they don't get fined for late books, but we adults do :) (mwa ha ha)