Mamie's 2018 Madness (Page 7)

Hi, I’m Mamie. Let’s see…I’m 50, happily married for the past 27 years, mother of four children - the baby will be twenty this year. *gasp* I joined LT in late 2011, just after my Dad had died, and I joined the 75ers and had my very first thread in 2012. SO this is my seventh year here amongst the Mighty 75, and I have to say that this group has been a gift to me. I like that we can share our reading journeys and our life's adventures with snark and with sincerity in equal measures. Okay, maybe a bit heavier on the snark for me. I am looking forward to discovering what 2018 has in store for us. At any rate, there will be wine and laughter and hopefully shenanigans along the way.

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Books Read in February:
12. The Dying Detective by Leif GW Persson (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural (Johansson and Jarnebring series, book 8) - recommended by Charlotte
13. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/grief
14. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, dystopian/zombies - recommended by Mark
15. Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye series, book seven)
16. March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/The Civil Rights Movement
17. A World Gone Mad: The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren 1939-45 by Astrid Lindgren (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, non-fiction/diary/WWII

I am planning on walking the cat again this year. That is, I am just going to go where my reading takes me. I am not committing to any challenges except for Katie’s PopReadHarderSugarEtc.Challenges 2018

Books Read in January:
1. Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker (4 stars), library hardback, YA non-fiction/history - mentioned on Julia's thread last year in reference to the 100 year anniversary of the incident
2. March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (5 stars), library paperback, GN non-fiction/memoir/Civil Rights Movement
3. Artemis by Andy Weir (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, sci-fi
4. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams by Alan Cumming, narrated by Alan Cumming (4.5 stars), 2018 purchased audiobook, non-fiction/vignettes with selfies
5. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billy Lourd (4 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook - recommended by Mark
6. The White Album by Joan Didion (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/essays
7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (3.8 stars), 2012 or earlier acquired paperback, gothic fiction/classic
8. Ties by Domenico Starnone (4 stars), library paperback, literary fiction/relationships - recommended by Lynda
9. God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, fantasy - recommended by Roni and read for her GR of it
10. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction/illegal immigration - recommended by Katie
11. Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson (3 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Dark Iceland series, book 2)

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for a fourth year, let’s see what she gets me with this time

1. The North Water by Ian McGuire - Mark and Judy loved this one, too. And also Richard, though a weentsy tidge less.

From 2017:
1. Everyday people by Stewart O'Nan (linked short stories)
2. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
3. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (memoir)
4. The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
5. Personal History by Katherine Graham
6. Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
7. Taft by Ann Patchett
8. Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence
9. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
10. The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett
11. Snow in August by Pete Hamill - Katie mentioned how much she loved this one over on the AAC thread after Mark had posted the list for next year

From 2016:
1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan COMPLETED 8/12/16 3.8 stars
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up
6. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo COMPLETED 7/21/16 5 stars
7. Ruby by Cynthia Bond - seconded by Charlotte
8. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - she recommends the audio read by Cummings himself
9. Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
10. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - Roberta also loved this, Katie says the audio is great, purchased 5/15/16
11. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi COMPLETED 10/2/16 5 stars
13. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat - she pointed out that this was only $1.99 on Kindle and that it was one of her very favorites, purchased 7/13/16
14. Tribal: College Football and the Secret Heart of America by Diane Roberts
15. Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
16. Nutshell by Ian McEwan COMPLETED 1/2017 5 stars
17. Black River by S. M. Hulse

AND, from 2015:
1. The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey ($1.99 on Kindle), purchase on 2/18/15 COMPLETED 8/19/16 5 stars
2. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter (2.99 on Kindle), purchased on 2/23/15
3. The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly ($3.79 on Kindle), purchased on 3/31/15 COMPLETED 11/7/15 4.2 stars
4. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler ($12.77 trade paperback), purchased on 4/1/15, COMPLETED read for Mark's AAC in January 2016, 4.25 stars
5. Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker ($.99 on Kindle), purchased on 4/9/15 - second book in a series, first book Dreamland was recommended by Katie and purchased last year
6. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - used an Audible credit COMPLETED 6/16/15 4.9 stars
7. Academy Street by Mary Costello ($9.99 on Kindle), purchased on 6/12/15 COMPLETED 7/2/16 5 stars
8. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn ($5.99 on Kindle), purchased on 8/28/15
9. Sweetland by Michael Crummey ($.99 on Kindle), purchased 9/5/15 COMPLETED 11/19/15 4.5 stars
10. If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins ($7.99 on Kindle), purchased on 10/26/15

Susan’s Summer Shivers - Susan’s suggestions for some cold reading during the hot summer, which lasts about 9 months in Georgia

1. The Terror by Dan Simmons
2. The Abominable by Dan Simmons

Every year, LT is an embarrassment of riches for me. I like to keep track of who recommends what and any other pertinent info that lands a book on The List.

1. Curse of the Narrows by Laura m. MacDonald - about the Halifax explosion of 1917. Recommended by Bonnie, Meg, and Susan
2. Greenglass House by Kate Milford - recommended by Amber (she gave it an A!) READING
3. In America: Travels With John Steinbeck by Geert Mak - recommended by Anita
4. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - recommended by Barbara
5. Darktown by Thomas Mullen - Jim, and he says the second book Lightning Men is just as good
6. The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman, audio narrated by Michael Sheen - recommended by Traci
7. Number 17 by Jefferson Farjeon - Harry recommended this series on his thread
8. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - recommended by Lisa (jonesli)
9. Slow Horses by Mick Herron - recommended by Deborah and Charlotte
10. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt - recommended by Carrie
11. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley - recommended by Caro
12. For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio by W.H. Auden - recommended by Christina
13. Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins - recommended by Beth
14. The Good People by Hannah Kent - recommended by Bonnie
15. Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton - recommended by Shannon
16. How to Build an Android The True Story of Philip K Dick's Robotic Resurrection by David F. Dufty - recommended by Victoria
17. The Confession by Jo Spain - recommended by Susan (Irish noir, she says!!)
18. Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper - recommended by Richard
19. Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire - recommended by Jim (GN)
20. Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes - Jim again (the doctor is IN)
21. The Wandering Falcon by Pakistani author Jamil Ahmad - recommended by Judy - interlinked short stories
22. Exposure by Helen Dunmore - recommended by Anne
23. Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say - recommended by Richard
24. Dead Wake by Erik Larson - recommended by Karen
25. The Passage by Justin Cronin - recommended by Lori (ikernagh)

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge

1. A book made into a movie you've already seen
2. True crime
3. The next book in a series you started
4. A book involving a heist
5. Nordic noir Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson
6. A novel based on a real person
7. A book set in a country that fascinates you
8. A book with a time of day in the title - Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire
9. A book about a villain or antihero - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
10. A book about death or grief - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym
12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist
13. A book that is also a stage play or musical
14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you - March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
15. A book about feminism
16. A book about mental health
17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift
18. A book by two authors
19. A book about or involving a sport
20. A book by a local author - March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
21. A book with your favorite color in the title
22. A book with alliteration in the title - The Dying Detective by Leif GW Persson
23. A book about time travel
24. A book with a weather element in the title
25. A book set at sea
26. A book with an animal in the title The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant
27. A book set on a different planet
28. A book with song lyrics in the title
29. A book about or set on Halloween
30. A book with characters who are twins God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell
31. A book mentioned in another book
32. A book from a celebrity book club
33. A childhood classic you've never read
34. A book that's published in 2018
35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner Artemis by Andy Weir
36. A book set in the decade you were born - The White Album by Joan Didion
37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to - The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey
38. A book with an ugly cover
39. A book that involves a bookstore or library
40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges (you can easily Google these)

Advanced Reading Challenge

1. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school
2. A cyberpunk book
3. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place
4. A book tied to your ancestry
5. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title
6. An allegory
7. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you
8. A microhistory - Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker
9. A book about a problem facing society today
10. A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

January Stats:

Books read: 11
Group Read: 1
Formatted Challenge: 1
PopSugar Challenge: 8

Books that are part of a series: 3
In Translation: 2
Rereads: 0

Format
hardback: 2
paperback: 3
ebook: 3
audio: 3

Borrowed: 4 (public library)
Archive (Purchased in 2012 or earlier): 1
Purchased in 2013: 0
Purchased in 2014: 0
Purchased in 2015: 0
Purchased in 2016: 0
Purchased in 2017: 4
Purchased in 2018: 2

Authors
Living: 9
Dead: 2

Male: 7
Female: 4

American: 6
Canadian: 1
Icelandic: 1
Irish: 1
Italian: 1
Scottish: 1

New to me authors: 6

fiction: 6
non-fiction: 5

Genres/category
non-fiction/history: 1
non-fiction/memoir: 3
non-fiction/essays: 1
classic: 1
literary fiction/contemporary fiction: 2
crime fiction/police procedural: 1
sci-fi: 1
fantasy: 1

LT Recommendations Read
Mark: 1
Lynda: 1
Roni: 1
Katie: 1

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy Sunday, Mamie! Love Amber's tree topper! *made me snork my coffee*

Quick! Am I first? Drat! Second. Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. Woke up to more snow but at least I don't have to go out into it, until Tuesday. Happy Camper.

Speaking of good audio narrators, you might want to check out The Power. It has been excellent.

^I tried posting that second message on your old thread and it kept coming up duplicate post, but it never showed up. You weren't blocking me, were you? Grins...

>10 Carmenere: *grin* Happy Sunday, Lynda! You're first!

>11 karenmarie: Hello, Karen, and thanks. Just missed it - but second place is no mean feat.

>12 msf59: Thank you, Mark! Good morning and happy Sunday to you! More snow?! How much have you gotten now? So nice that you don't have to be out in it until Tuesday - when the week should always start.

The Power, huh? I will check it out.

SO weird with the posting - I have had entire posts just disappear after posting them on someone's thread. I don't know why that happens every once in a while. And no, I was not blocking you - I would NEVER block you, my friend.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

>13 Crazymamie: Thank you, Shelley!

Good gravy, there's that bloody depressing tree again.

*irked flounce*

>16 richardderus: *belly laugh* Hello, Richard. Let's cheer you up with some scrummy vittles:

Happy Sunday, Mamie, and happy new thread. Have a wonderful day.

Thank you, Beth! Hoping your day is also full of wonder. Are you and Scout feeling any better?

>1 Crazymamie: Ha!!

Happy new thread, Mamie! Have a great Sunday

Thank you, Chelle! Happy Sunday to you.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

It just feels like home in here, but I can't quite put my finger on why...

I think Scout is better. I am feeling better, but I think this cold crud is going to hang around for a while.

>22 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! Let's see...all the friendly faces? The smell of bacon? The shared laughter?

>23 BLBera: I'm glad Scout is better. Sending you healing mojo to conquer the crud.

Aaachhh! Urggh! How did that tree get up there at the top?

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

I'm just going to look at that snowy gif in >5 Crazymamie: instead.

Thank you, Joe! I am just checking everyone's vision. You passed.

I almost passed . . . out.

*snork*

Happy new one, Mamie.

Wishing all at the Pecan Paradisio a wonderful Sunday.

Thank you, Paul! Hoping your week is full of wonder since I am guessing your Sunday is over.

Good morning! VERY familiar tree up there. Happy New Thread, Mamie. It is indeed madness.

>32 ronincats: Morning, Roni! Thank you. Yep. Madness.

I hereby renew my subscription to your thread.

>34 PersephonesLibrary: You made me laugh, Kathy! I am honored to be worthy of subscription renewal.

>17 Crazymamie: Seeing that bagel made me remember the other day. I made a burger on my George Foreman grill. After I began grilling it, I discovered I was out of hamburger buns. I ended up heating a blueberry bagel because it was the only thing I had. A burger on a blueberry bagel is a little different, but it wasn't bad. I'd still prefer to be a traditionalist, but that worked in a pinch.

Just as I suspected...a whole new thread already!! I read The Power for my January bookclub and loved it. Just saying....! Happy Sunday.

>36 thornton37814: Too funny, Lori!

>37 Berly: Hello there, Kim! I am thrilled to see you here, my friend. I will have to take a closer look at The Power - I am always slightly leery of books that are everywhere in the moment.

>38 Crazymamie: Forget I mentioned The Power then it won't be everywhere and then you can not worry about reading it!

Happy new thread! Crazy as usual over here... 😀

Happy new thread!

>39 Berly: What?

>40 drneutron: Thank you, Jim! I try. *grin*

>41 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Thanks, Katie! Are you back home?

What tree? I don't see any tree in the topper. Happy new thread, Mamie. *stomps off aware that she has missed out on shenanigans*

>45 Familyhistorian: Hello, Meg! I originally posted that same tree that we gave Amber a hard time about in her toppers. Sorry you missed the shenanigans. And thank you for the thread wishes.

Happy new thread! I won't mention The Power either.

Happy new thread :)

Hi Mamie, and happy new thread! I see what you meant about The List. It's an honor to be on it! And I second Amber's recommendation of Greenglass House. There's a sequel, too. We did it for a 4th and 5th grade book club this fall and the kids thought it was challenging but amazing. Enjoy!

Oh thank GAWD that miserable depressing dead thing has been replaced by the ever-lovely Cary Grant in one of his all-time best roles!

Arsenic and Old Lace had a really interesting history of coming to the screen. As much fun, in a less ha-ha sense, as the film itself.

>24 Crazymamie: ...all the friendly faces? The smell of bacon? The shared laughter?
Yep- that'll be it!!!
Happy newest thread :)

>45 Familyhistorian: they be messin' with our heads :)

Btw, I like the dancing trees as well as the old dead ones.

>51 LovingLit: Messin' with our heads - you got that right.

Wait, you toOK THE TREE DOWN?!

What the heckin' heck, lady?!

You need to stop playing with my emotions!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Have you an opinion on Byrd's Famous Cookies, out of Savannah? A few varieties showed up near us, so we've tried the pink lemonade flavor. They seem fine, though I think I prefer lemon snaps. I'm wondering in particular how the key lime cookies might be.

Morning, Mamie! I have the day off, so I am a Happy Camper. More time for the books! I hope your Day Before Tuesday goes smoothly.

Morning. Happy new week. It's clear and cold and crisp here. I'm loving the fact I get to work from home and so didn't have to defrost the car this morning (unlike the husband - teeheehee).

>1 Crazymamie: Oh, dude, same. *watches grandmother dancing her way across the hall with the vacuum cleaner* Saaaaame.

Happy new(ish) thread - I swear, one of these days, I'll actually manage to keep up with a whole one. :)

'Morning, Mamie and happy yesterday's tomorrow to you (to continue Mark's theme of not naming the dreaded day).

I don't remember a tree, but then I was so excited to be *FIRST* that I immediately posted. It was absolutely devastating to see that I missed first by seconds. *smile*

I do love Arsenic and Old Lace. I might have to watch it again soon.

>47 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! Oh, dear - you, too? Did you like it?

>48 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

>49 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! Yep - you have arrived on The List. Glad to hear a second vote for Greenglass House - I have it out from the library, so I just need to make time to get to it.

>50 richardderus: You made me laugh, Richard! And now I need to find the history of how it came to the screen - I love stuff like that.

>51 LovingLit: Thank you, Megan! Just trying to keep you on your toes.

>52 Familyhistorian: Ha!

>53 scaifea: Oh, dear! Well, it couldn't stay there all the time. I mean, it is YOUR tree.

>54 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry! It's gray and rainy and 62F here. I am afraid I am of no help to you - I have never had Byrd's cookies.

>55 msf59: Morning, Mark! Hooray for having the day off. And thank you for those good wishes. I have a few errands to run, I need to pick up Abby from work, and I need to figure out dinner. Other than that just household chore stuff, so hopefully I can squeeze in some reading time.

Happy new thread, Mamie! I hope your day goes as well as it can, given what day it is...

>56 Helenliz: Morning, Helen, and thank you! Oops, I see now that I responded to your weather comment up in >54 harrygbutler:. I don't mind the gray and the rainy, but I would gladly change the temp to crisp and cold. And hooray for not having to leave home!! Bonus.

>57 elliepotten: *grin* Hello, Ellie! And thank you - I would love to have you commenting through an entire thread. How fun!

>58 karenmarie: I love that greeting, Karen! Perfect. Originally the topper featured the Andersonville tree of fame from Amber's thread. I am sorry you got your hopes up for first place and then had to settle for second. Perhaps next time.

We LOVE Arsenic and Old Lace here - we watch it every Halloween! So full of fabulous!

>62 susanj67: Thank you Susan! I will try with today - one just has to make the most of it and wait for Tuesday to arrive.

OK, I know there was a tree up there, with gravestones, like a bad dream - wait, am I going insane? Am I related to Cary's family?

Morning, Mamie!

I love Arsenic and Old Lace. What an unlikely premise for a comedy!

>65 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! What tree? I have no idea what you are talking about. *blinks*

Agree about Arsenic and Old Lace - it's so very fun because it is so very convoluted. Just a pure delight.

>63 Crazymamie: I'll do my best! All our pesky house guests have finally departed for good (not, like, in a dead way or anything) (as far as I know anyway), so it's just me, my book, and a lot of LT catching-up this afternoon! :)

>67 elliepotten: I know that feeling. It's nice having people to stay, but it's even nicer having your house to yourself again!

>67 elliepotten: Whoot! I shall look forward to it, Ellie!

>68 Helenliz: Agreed, Helen.

>68 Helenliz: >69 Crazymamie: I haaaate having people to stay. I'm just really bad at it. Especially when it's people I don't know, like some distant relative of my stepdad's or something. Maybe it's an Asperger's thing, or an introvert thing, or maybe I'm just a grumpy antisocial wench, I dunno. A winning combination of the three, probably. :P

The only bit I'm good at is getting everything pristine and lovely beforehand - I'm great at scrubbing skirting boards and arranging towels - and I pretty much hate that part too, haha. THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW WAS JUST TOO MANY, OKAY?!


↑ Me going downstairs to make coffee and spotting the car pulling into the drive

I'm not really an awful person, I swear... >:)

>70 elliepotten: Me, too, with the company unless it's someone I really enjoy. Ellie, don't know if you are aware, but, my oldest daughter, Rae, has Asperger's. She gets stressed out about people she doesn't have a good feel for because they are very unpredictable. Agreed that three weekends in a row is just too many - YIKES! LOVE the gif - perfect.

I am very comfortable in my own company, so I totally get where you are coming from. I am not very social - I tend to avoid people if I can. Heh.

Didn't get to LT yesterday and find you 71 posts into a new thread already! You are really a hard one to keep up with :)

>72 RebaRelishesReading: Hello, Reba! I truly appreciate your efforts on my behalf. How is that new grand baby?

>71 Crazymamie: I didn't know that! Ooooh, I was a bit worried about that post, I feel so much better now I know you'll get it and I don't just sound like a miserable chuff, haha. I can be as flippant about it as the next person - laughter is definitely the best medicine - but fact is, I got so anxious before the last lot arrived that I narrowly averted a meltdown, and then I didn't have dinner that night because everyone was in the kitchen chatting and I didn't dare go in to make anything! *sighs*

Ooooon the plus side (and there usually is one, even if I have to engineer it myself!), I cheered myself up by promising myself a little jaunt into town this week to celebrate getting through it in once piece - treating myself to a trawl round as many charity shop book and DVD shelves as I can cram in, AND buying myself something delicious from Patisserie Valerie to bring home as a reading treat. *sighs happily at the very thought* I'm thinking lemon and orange cheesecake. Or this chocolate cake thing they do with layers of strawberries and strawberry cream. :D

*clears throat* RESUME NORMAL SNARKY AND/OR WHIMSICAL CONTENT FORTHWITH.

>74 elliepotten: I totally get it, Ellie.

"Ooooon the plus side (and there usually is one, even if I have to engineer it myself!)" BIG grin! I think your plan is a most excellent one. You'll have to report back on what you picked.

Your post gave me a giggle, so thanks for that.

>75 Crazymamie: :P

Mamie, on awakening in a good mood only to discover it's not-Tuesday:

"Time Enough at Last", The Twilight Zone's cruelest, most appallingly horrifyingly terrifying episode.

Happy new thread Mamie!

>76 elliepotten: Haha! Excellent choice!

>77 richardderus: Alas, poor Henry. A worthy entry for not-Tuesday, Richard. *sob*

>78 jolerie: Thank you, Valerie!

>77 richardderus: - OMG, I remember that episode!! Worst nightmare!

>80 jessibud2: I know, right, Valerie?!

Chiming in on the love for Arsenic and Old Lace. I first saw that one back in the 1970s.

>82 thornton37814: Hello, Lori! I don't remember the first time I saw it, but probably about that same timeframe.

>77 richardderus: I have never recovered from this episode of The Twilight Zone! The most awful thing that could ever happen!

Oh, Hi Mamie! Just checking in...

Hi Mamie! Just popping in. One post per thread is almost manageable around here. LOL
I got a giggle out of the gif at >70 elliepotten:. Not that I ever do such a thing, of course. ;)
In reality, I'm a little like the squirrels in my yard. They freeze and wait, like if they don't move, we won't see them...

Hope you had a good day that can not be named, Mamie.

I keep missing the tree! I missed it on Amber's thread and now on yours.

Love Arsenic and Old Lace - what a great movie!

>77 richardderus: Richard, that's my absolute favorite episode of The Twilight Zone ever, because it is absolutely the scariest and most horrifying!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

>85 nittnut: That's my Plan C! (Plan B is diving to the floor and crawling behind the nearest piece of furniture, obviously).

As for the cake... Mum brought home a piece of the caramel, honeycomb and chocolate cake, and I honestly had to leave her alone with it because I was starting to feel uncomfortably like a third wheel. I went for the Chocolate and Strawberry Moment. I shall eat it tomorrow, as a Valentine's Day gift to myself. I bought Jaws on DVD at one of the charity shops, so maybe I'll watch that too, really ramp up the romantic mood. :D

Morning, Mamie! Hahaha, I see you've changed your topper!
Ack! Arsenic and Old Lace?! Here, I was thinking your topper was from, of all things, Topper!!!! Ugh! I'm so disappointed *sobs sobs sobs* *sniff*

'Morning, Mamie and happy Tuesday to you!

Thank goodness for Amazon Prime! I just watched >77 richardderus: Time Enough at Last, a reader's most horrifying version of hell. *shudder*

Happy Tuesday, Mamie!

>88 elliepotten: Oh yeah. *searches for fork*

That >77 richardderus: Twilight Zone episode is so good, and so sad. Poor Burgess Meredith!

>70 elliepotten: >71 Crazymamie: "Fish and visitors stink after three days." ~ Benjamin Franklin.

What's with all the gifs I've seen? Did we become Goodreads all of a sudden? (Being a curmudgeon herself - not because she doesn't like them but because her broadband REALLY SUCKS. Phone company keeps telling us we'll have fiber "real soon now" - for the last five to seven years. Argh!)

Missed the tree

>77 richardderus: Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying

>73 Crazymamie: Thanks for asking. He's doing well. I'll post a photo so come and see :)

>92 Morphidae: Days? I was catching a whiff after three MINUTES. :P

I must admit, I'm a sucker for a good GIF - years of blogging are probably to blame, I ventured onto Goodreads once and it scared me to death so it's not that. I scurried right on back to the safety of LT before I could be corrupted by their image preferences. :)

>84 Dianekeenoy: Hello, Diane! Good to see you here!

>85 nittnut: Too funny, Jenn! Whatever you can manage is fine by me. And I also love that gif.

>86 Familyhistorian: It was not too bd, Meg. A few bumps but nothing major. I am always happy to see Tuesday, though.

>87 rretzler: Robin, if you want to see the tree just go back to Amber's thread and follow the link thingy at the top back two threads, and you will see it in all of its glory.

Me, too, with the Arsenic and Old Lace movie love. And thanks for those thread wishes!

>88 elliepotten: Oh, good a strategy. Clever, Ellie! Both of the cake slices sound fabulous - you made me laugh with saying you felt like you should let your Mom have a private moment with hers. Yours is so pretty - like a work of art.

>89 Carmenere: Afternoon, Lynda - I missed morning. Abby had an eye doctor's appointment. Sorry for the Cary Grant disappointment - really, almost anything he was in was good. I like Arsenic and Old Lace more than Topper, I must confess. My favorite is perhaps Charade, but I also love all of the Hitchcock movies.

>90 karenmarie: Hello, Karen, and happy Tuesday! Good to know that Amazon Prime has that episode because now I am wanting to re-watch it.

>91 jnwelch: Hiya, Joe! Happy Tuesday! Ellie's cake does look good, doesn't it?

>92 Morphidae: Great quote, Morphy. And also MORPHY!!!!! *squee* Good to see you posting!

We have just been having fun with the gifs - they crack me up. Sorry about your broadband woes. Yuck.

>93 SuziQoregon: Sorry you missed the tree, Juli. SO funny how everyone recognizes that particular episode. Oh, the horror. Luckily, I could still read just fine without my glasses, but poor Henry...

>94 RebaRelishesReading: I'll be right over, Reba!

>95 elliepotten: Haha, Ellie! I know that feeling with certain visitors. I also love the gifs.

Hi, Mamie!

>97 Crazymamie: I'd say that Topper is more Constance Bennett's movie than Cary's. I'd be hard-pressed to name a favorite Cary Grant movie myself: it comes very close to being whichever one I'm watching at the time. :-)

>100 harrygbutler: Hello, Harry! I agree. And Cary Grant was fabulous is everything - movie magic every time.

>101 Crazymamie: And speaking of Grant, I just found out about this and posted on my thread, but thought I'd share here, too: The Philadelphia Story will be shown in theaters across the U.S. this Sunday and next Wednesday: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/tcm2018-the-philadelphia-story.

Hiya Mamie, I usually post yummy food pics here but ya know what? This time it's a yummy man pic:

Holy CARP that's some pretty pretty Pacific Islander muscle! And not to put too fine a point on it, but really? TONGA in the winter olympics?! When has that ever happened?!

Let us now be grateful for the fact that it has. Wowser.

>103 richardderus: O. M. G.

All that oiled...

I...

*wipes drool off chin and goes non-vocal*

>103 richardderus: I remain unconvinced that bare chest, grass skirt and flip-flops is terribly sensible in sub-zero temperatures...

>100 harrygbutler: >101 Crazymamie: Love all Cary Grant movies - he's one of my favorite actors, but I have to say there is nothing like that face he makes at Audrey Hepburn near the end of Charade - I crack up every time I see it. I've always wondered if that's something he did spontaneously and they left it in the movie.

>102 harrygbutler: Hello, Harry! Thanks so much for posting that here - how fun! I love The Philadelphia Story. Such a cool thing that they are showing some older movies up on the big screen from time to time. Last year they showed some of the Studio Ghibli movies in the theaters, and that is what Daniel did for Abby for her birthday and Christmas - took her to every one. Abby is a HUGE fan of Studio Ghibli, so she was delighted.



>103 richardderus: Morning, BigDaddy! I saw him march in the ceremony, and we were all sitting here with our mouths open - he must have been cold, poor dear. I was hoping that they had some um...clothing waiting for him in the seats. I mean, we wouldn't want him to catch cold, now would we?

>104 Morphidae: *hands Morphy a napkin handkerchief.

>103 richardderus: Wow. Just Wow.
>107 Crazymamie: I was also wondering if someone was waiting for him with a hot coffee and a warm blanket.

>105 Helenliz: Hello, Helen. A valid observation. I mean, at least a hat, right?!

>106 rretzler: Oh, I love that thought, Robin! I love when he takes a shower with his suit on. I read somewhere that Audrey Hepburn was who he wanted to play opposite him in Father Goose, and I so wish she could have done it - I mean, it's a lovely movie with Leslie Caron, but it would have been full of fabulous with Hepburn.

>108 ChelleBearss: I hope so, Chelle. Or perhaps some hot buttered rum, which would have been SO appropriate.

I Love "Father Goose." It's been a while since I've seen it.

'Morning, Mamie! Happy Valentine's Day to you!

>107 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! That must have been quite a treat.

There's a theater in our county seat that shows some older movies throughout the year, but we've only managed to make it to one so far, as it's about 45 minutes away, and an early start time makes it nearly impossible for us to reach it after work and still have time for a meal before the show.

>111 BLBera: We do, too, Beth. Funny and sweet.

>112 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Valentine's Day!

>113 harrygbutler: Hello, Harry! Bummer that the theater is so far away. Ours is about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. I love having it so close.

Abby was thrilled with the gift, and it will be a truly wonderful memory for her.

Because I know you love Cris Collinsworth as much as I do....

>115 katiekrug: You made me spit coffee! Too funny, Katie!

>115 katiekrug: Ha!

Morning, Mamie!

>103 richardderus: He not only looked good, he looked relaxed and happy in that frigid weather, in which everyone else was bundled up. How did he do it?

>107 Crazymamie: I'm with Abby. I'm a big Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki fan, too. Those are most of my favorites in >107 Crazymamie: (with My Neighbor Totoro #1, followed by Spirited Away). Two other good ones, IMO, are Porco Rosso and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Abby probably knows this, but there are books composed of stills of the film animations, telling each's whole story, so you can appreciate the artistry even more.

>117 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Abby's favorite is Kiki's Delivery Service, but she loves all of them except The Cat Returns. And yes, she has a very nice collection of those books. She was so excited when she discovered all those The Art of.... books, and she has them for the Star Wars movies, The Legend of Korra, and Sword Art Online.

Belated happy new thread, Mamie!
I started to worry about my eyes, didn't see a tree, but then found your explanation in >46 Crazymamie: *sigh* not my eyes ;-)

As I only arrive at msg 119, it will probably be my only post on this thread... you are moving WAY too fast!

>119 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! The threads in general are moving WAY too fast - unusual for February. I am having trouble keeping up with everyone. Thanks so much for stopping in - I love seeing you here.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mamie.

>109 Crazymamie: Another fabulous movie! I could picture Audrey Hepburn in Father Goose, but that French accent really adds to the part.

I missed in the last thread that you were watching the Battlestar reboot. i have to say I loved every bit of it - okay maybe not every bit, but I thought it was a wonderful show and while I wasn't crazy with everything that happened in it, I see the reasons for it and think it worked in the end. I really like that not only was it a great show, but it gives one a lot to think about in terms of AI, religion, and many, many other things. A very relevant show, I think, which is why I'm so excited to start watching it with my family soon.

I honestly had forgotten about Buffy - another one to add to the list!

Hi Mamie! I saw your comment over on Charlotte's thread (ha, I almost typed "Charlotte's web"...) and I just downloaded A Vindication of the Rights of Women via Audible. Your comment about Fiona Shaw's excellent narration sealed it.

Also, I just finished listening to Simon Vance's narration of The Tao of Pooh this morning and it was terrific. His voice for Pooh is so perfect.

I hope you have a Sweet Thursday on tap!

Morning, Mamie. Sweet Thursday. I loved The Power and now I am tackling Barkskins, which is quite a chunkster but off to a fine start.

Hope the week is going well.

>121 rretzler: Thank you, Robin! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the Battlestar reboot. I am excited to watch more of it, but it will have to wait until after the Olympics. Weird thing about Albany, GA - we seem to be the only people watching it here. Heh.

Yes, so get back to Buffy soon - such a fun show! And I agree with you about the French accent in Father Goose.

>122 EBT1002: Hello, Ellen! I am going to think of it as Charlotte's Web from now on! I am enjoying listening to A Vindication of the Rights of Woman - one I have always wanted to read but have never gotten around to. I am loving Fiona Shaw's narration of this very dense essay - she makes it a delight to listen to, and I am not sure I would hang in there with the print version. And it can be listened to at 1.25x speed just fine, just saying...

Thanks for the audio recommendation - I will have to check that out. I do love Simon Vance as a narrator.

Sweet Thursday, my friend!

>123 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! It is really sounding like I am going to have to give in and read The Power - did you listen to it? And I love Annie Proulx! I have read The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain, both of which were full of fabulous.

The week is going swimmingly, thanks. I hope that yours is being kind to you.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

I know, Mark is convincing me on The Power, too. Right now I'm nearing the end of an Elly Griffiths mystery, and I need to get back to that Murakami/Ozawa book on music.

Good morning, Mamie, and happy Thursday to you.

The Power is next on my 'list', although who knows what I'll actually read. I'm currently reading Plainsong for our March book club meeting. I'm enjoying it so far but not loving it.

Happy Thursday, Mamie.
I have Vindication of the rights of women on my to read shelf - on loan from the library, so I really must get round to it soon!

Can't work up a cheerful, sorry. I'll go now.

Hello Mamie!

>1 Crazymamie: Ah, Cary Grant. Ah, 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. I do love me some Cary Grant.

>109 Crazymamie: My mom loves 'Father Goose' and taught me to love it, too. Great, fun film.

>115 katiekrug: Who doesn't love Chris Collinsworth?

"Who doesn't love Chris Collinsworth?"

Um, most of America?

Really? I've always liked him, even back when he played for the Bengals. He's also a knowledgeable commentator who usually will not show bias in his coverage. Here in Seattle, we despised Buck and Aikman, who all but rooted for the Seahawk's opponents.

Buck and Aikman are also terrible. But Cris-baby was so obviously biased towards New England in the Super Bowl, it was unreal. And if I hear "Now here's a guy...." one more time, I may slit my wrists.

I won't further enumerate all his faults because poor Mamie's threads have seen A LOT of anti-Collinsworth chatter already - including from Mamie herself!

Fair enough, Katie. I did not see the SB this year.

>125 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Oh, I love those Ruth Galloway books - I am waiting and waiting on the next one to come out. *sigh*

>126 karenmarie: Happy Thursday, Karen! I will be looking for your thoughts on Plainsong - I have that one on the shelves. The Power - I guess I have to check the library for it. I might wait to see what Katie thinks of it before diving in.

>127 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen! Happy Thursday to you. Yes - read it soon so we can compare thoughts. *grin*

>134 Crazymamie: - Suzanne picked up an ARC of the next Ruth Galloway for me at ALA. I will pass it along to you when I'm finished, if you'd like.

>128 richardderus: Sorry, BigDaddy. It is a sadness. You don't have to leave, though - you don't have to have your happy on in order to be fit company here. Pull up a chair and we shall just sit a bit.

>129 brodiew2: Yep. I love almost all of the Cary Grant films - such s treat. And I have to agree with Katie about Collingsworth - he really gets on my nerves and was totally biased during the Super Bowl coverage.

>130 katiekrug: Yeppers.

>131 brodiew2:, >132 katiekrug: What she said, and you can post your thoughts here any time, Katie. I am not a fan.

>133 brodiew2: You are a good sport, Brodie. The bias during the Super Bowl was just completely over the top.

>135 katiekrug: *happy dance* Um...yes, please!! How kind of you to offer. *squee*

Reading update:

I have finished several books, but I have not had time to wrote reviews for them yet:

14. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, dystopian/zombies - recommended by Mark
15. Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye series, book seven)
16. March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/The Civil Rights Movement

...
Hoping to put some thoughts together on these soonish. In the meantime, I have started A Vindication of the Rights of Woman on audio, narrated by Fiona Shaw who is doing a fabulous job. Greenglass House is next up from the library stack - this one was recommended by Amber. And I will probably also start the next Fiona Griffiths book for me - The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths; this is book three in the series. Still working on Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner and the PKD megapack.

I will make a note to send it on when I am finished. And I will try to get it read soon(ish).

Oh, five stars for The Girl With All the Gifts! That one has been on my radar for a while.

Hey, am I too late to get in a couple of blows to ol' Chris Collinsworth? I usually mute the sound when watching a game being ruined by Michaels and Collinsworth. CC loves play reviews so he can bray on and on about the minutia of the rules and what we see.

>139 katiekrug: No hurry, Katie. I will be thrilled whenever it arrives. Thank you so much!

>140 ChelleBearss: It's so good, Chelle, and the audio is full of fabulous.

>141 weird_O: It's never too late, Bill! You are wiser than I - my routine is to yell, "Shut Up, Chris!!" repeatedly at the screen. Also, occasionally another two words may appear in between shut and up. Ahem.

>138 Crazymamie: And I forgot this one, which I am reading in print format:

Yes, Mamie, I did listen to The Power and it was a terrific audio. I am also listening to Barkskins and it also works in this format, although I kicked up the speed a notch.

>144 msf59: Mark, thanks for getting back to me. I almost always listen at 1.25x speed.

>143 Crazymamie: Ooh I want to read this one. Also, a whole pile of romance novels, but I'm going to blame Katie and Ellen for that (and not my lack of self-control when it comes to books, of course).

>146 charl08: It's so interesting, Charlotte - bizarre mix of the everyday and the war news, since Lindgren lived in Sweden. She certainly had a very good grasp of the global picture.

The library just texted me that the first book (that was translated into English) in the series of The Dying Detective has come in for me! I am so excited.

>144 msf59: >145 Crazymamie: Well, you learn something new everyday! I had no idea you could change the speed on an audio book!

Happy Friday, Mamie!

Hi, Mamie! Have a fabulous Friday!

I quite like Father Goose, too. It's pleasing how well Grant fits into a role that contrasts so much with his usual image.

>134 Crazymamie: >135 katiekrug: Glad to see other Ruth Galloway fans! Have you read any of the Magic Men series?

Good morning, Mamie! I hope your Friday is full of things you enjoy.

>150 rretzler: - Robin, I have the first in the Magic Men series on my Kindle but haven't read it yet.

Morning, Mamie!

Hi Mamie, happy Friday!

Good morning, Mamie!

>149 harrygbutler: Another film he made early, which contrasted his more popular image was 'Mr. Lucky'. Good film, but Grant has a harder criminal (?) edge.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

Cary Grant is less central and more low key in Philadelphia Story, but that's another good one. And I loved Charade. And North by Northwest. And . . .

woo whooo! Friday!! Finished work for the weekend. Hoping Friday is treating you delightfully.

>134 Crazymamie: yeah, yeah, you can stop piling the guilt on as well. The pile of library books is high enough to cause pangs of guilt on itself.

Morning, Everyone! We are enjoying a quiet weekend here at the Pecan Paradisio - Craig and Rae have gone to Florida where Craig's siblings have gathered with their mom for a visit. They left yesterday straight from the office (they have a half day in Fridays), and so I spent the entire afternoon on the screened-in porch reading. It was full of fabulous. Today I am hoping for more of the same. Birdy has been completely caught up in the curling - she is cracking us up. Abby and Daniel are both working, but they will be home later, and we are planning on baked potato bar for dinner.

The kitties had their yearly check-up at the vet yesterday, and they did great with it. The vet loved that we brought Mayhem in on a leash. She said they did not act like cats as they were cool as cucumbers for both their vaccines and for their nail trims. Mayhem weighed in at 12.2 lbs and Mischief was 9.2 lbs.

On the reading front, I dipped into Greenglass House yesterday, and it is delightful - thanks so much to Amber for bringing this one to my attention. I also started the third Fiona Griffiths - LOVE these books. Reading this one at night as it is on my Kindle. I picked up two new books from the library that came in on reserve - Between Summer's Longing and Winter's End (the first book translated into English from that series featuring The Dying Detective), and My Favorite Thing is Monsters (a GN that I requested forever ago, recommended by Mark and Joe - this baby is HUGE). The library assistant said I would probably not be able to renew it, so I need to read it in the two weeks I have it checked out for.

>148 ChelleBearss: You can, Chelle, and I almost always do. I love that feature.

>149 harrygbutler: Thank you, Harry! That's so true about Grant in the role of Father Goose. Love him as The Filthy Beast!

>150 rretzler: Robin, I have not, but I do want to give that series a try.

>151 karenmarie: Karen, your good wishes worked - my Friday was full of fabulous! Here's hoping that your Saturday is a treat!

>152 katiekrug: Hello, Katie!

>153 Carmenere: Hiya, Lynda! Friday was most excellent - hoping for a repeat today.

>154 brodiew2: Hey there, Brodie! Mr. Lucky! I have not seen that one in ages.

>155 jnwelch: Hey, Joe! I adore The Philadelphia Story - not sure I agree that he is less central in that one. And YES - all of his movies with Hitchcock were brilliant.

>156 Helenliz: Helen, Friday did treat me delightfully. I am thinking that all of the good wishes here had something to do with it.

Okay, how about this - read it whenever you get around to it, and if I can remember it at all by then we could compare thoughts. Heh.

Saturday *smooch*

Hi, Mamie.

>155 jnwelch: Maybe Cary's more central than I think of him in The Philadelphia Story. He's certainly important! I always think of Kate Hepburn first when I think of that one.

Birdy has been completely caught up in the curling I can't even imagine that one! We got a Canadian tv channel when I was growing up in Michigan, and I probably saw more curling than most folks in this country, but I sure can't get excited about it. Good for Birdy.

The good news is I think you'll find My Favorite Thing is Monsters reads fast. So good! The second one comes out later this year.

>161 richardderus: Thank you, BogDaddy! *smooch back*

>162 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Definitely Hepburn is first.

Birdy has curling fever - no joke. I would never have guessed that she could get so caught up in it, but there you have it.

I wish you could have seen my face when he plonked the GN down in front of me - SO big! I am looking forward to diving into it.

I’ve been interested in curling since I was running some experiments in a cyclotron lab north of Ontario. Little tiny town, only place to eat was a bar where they were playing the Canadian national curling championship tournament. Great fun!

>164 drneutron: Great story, Jim - Birdy definitely has the bug. Abby was wanting to change the channel the other day, and Birdy was looking at her as if she had lost her mind. SO, no then, Abby said, and slowly backed out of the room.

>107 Crazymamie: *scoffs at Mamie*



Wow. Searching for gifs sure is interesting. I Googled "gif big towel" and got an eyeful. My word.

>157 Crazymamie: I saw this the other day and it's perfect. For Birdy:



(It's my first gif on LT. I'm so proud of myself.)

Morphy! Hello there! That first comment about searching for the big towel totally cracked me up - I bet you did get an eyeful.

And too funny - Birdy LOEVD the gif. And we are both so proud for you for posting one, and touched that my thread received the honor.

Hey Mamie! I love how you walked Mayhem into the Vets on a leash! I've been contemplating that with Mittens. At 23 lbs he's about the size of a terrier and I'm feeling the handle on the carrier is beginning to give. Did you use a regular small dog leash for Mayhem?

>168 Carmenere: Hello, Lynda! We debated the best way to get them both into the vet's office because Mayhem is really big - lean and tall. Rae got a leash for him because he is so curious about outside, so she started taking him out into the yard on adventures - we didn't want to let him loose outside because Craig has created those little bird sanctuaries to attract the birds for Mercy's watching enjoyment. So, I didn't want him bothering the birds, and Rae didn't want him getting hit by a car. Anyway, the leash worked great for the vet's office - his leash is the harness kind that is made for cats. SO like this:



We started by just putting the harness part on inside the house and letting him get used to it. Then we added the leash and took him outside. Once he realized that wearing the harness meant he got to go on adventures, he was all for it. Now he just lets us put it on like it is no big deal.

>169 Crazymamie: Wow. I had no idea they made these for cats!

The curling gif took me a while to work out there... Bit slow today.

>169 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!! I always thought people would think me a bit off my rocker if I walked my cat but now that I know it's a thing I'll begin looking into it. I like your technique too but is it difficult to get Mayhem back into the house? Does Mayhem still use the litter box or always want to go outside for business purposes?

>170 charl08: Me, either, Charlotte. Daniel is our pet expert, as he is a manager at PetSmart, so he hooked us up.

I had to watch the curling gif twice before I got it, so don't feel badly.

>171 Carmenere: Sure thing, Lynda! And no - Mayhem is always ready to come it. He is perfectly content with about 30 minutes of exploring around the yard. Sometimes he walks Rae up to the front door and scratches, letting her know he is done.

He is never off the leash outside, so he has not done his business out there - he still just uses the litter box.

>123 msf59: Excellent, Mamie! That's what I was hoping to read! Mittens has been an indoor cat since we adopted him and we don't want to change his routine at this point. I'll look at Pet Smart and see what is available. Thanks again!

Glad to hear you're having a good weekend, Mamie. Mine's been fairly quiet housesitting and reading and trying (failing) to catch you on steps :)

I'm with Birdy on curling - it's so much fun to watch and only in my area for the Olympics! In college met someone from Buffalo who said they get Canadian channels and get to watch curling all the time so I find that somewhat fascinating as well. Why has this not caught on in the U.S.?

>174 Carmenere: Lynda, I hope your experience with a cat on a leash is more like Mamie's and better than mine. We tried with a long-ago indoor cat who loved to look outside. Once we put the leash on him, he flattened on his stomach and refused to go anywhere. We finally carried him outside and put him on the grass, with the same result. However, once back inside, he realized that he could go through the door to go outside and took every opportunity after that to try to escape the house. If you didn't pay attention, he was out of the house like a shot. One day we lost him for 4-5 hours before we finally found him in the backyard. We've had many other cats after that, but have not tried a leash with any more of them.

Happy new thread Mamie!

Right; all caught up now.

Happy Sunday Mamie! :)
What a great idea with the harness and leash!

Happy Sunday, Mamie!
Love the cat leash story! When I was growing up I had an elderly male neighbour that liked to walk his cat on a leash but the cat didn't really care for it. They would walk a couple steps from home and the cat would lay down in the sun and my neighbour would just stand there holding the leash. For a while. It was entertaining to us small kids :)

Hooray, for My Favorite Thing is Monsters! Glad you finally have it at hand. It is such a terrific read and like Joe, mentioned, it does read fast. I am considering owning a "keeper" copy of that one and can't wait for Vol. 2.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. I have the next 3 days off, so you know I am loving it.

>176 rretzler: Eeek! That is my fear, Robin. I'll try to get the harness on Mittens, he may not even allow that, if I get that far, I'll see what the guys think about the next step.

>179 ChelleBearss: LOL! Like you, Chelle, we also had a man who lived across the street from us who walked his cats. All the kids (me included) thought he was nuts. His cats seemed content on strolling up and down our street so maybe he was on to something. Probably depends on the cat.

I have 2 cats, both decidedly indoor cats. Very early on, I tried to get them used to a leash so I could bring them out to the back patio with me when I went to sit out there and read. One loved it, and does, to this day. In fact, after a bit of trial and error, I don't even tie the leash to anything. It's attached to her collar and that appears to be enough. She seems to think she is tied up and is happily content to sit on her own lawn chair and bask in the sunshine. She never tries to get away.

The other cat used to sit in the window and meow pathetically, as if a prisoner, deprived of her freedom. But the minute I put the collar and leash on her and bring her out, all she wants is to go back inside. So she no longer joins us outside and we are all happy.

As far as walking the cat, basically: no way. It's her lawn chair or nothing. She has no interest and guess who wins?

As for vet visits, I leave my 2 cat carriers open in the living room and sometimes, I even find one or the other of them inside, asleep. The day of vet visits, I quietly put a carrier by the front door, and when I'm ready to go, I simply pick up a cat and guide her in. One doesn't mind, the other gives me grief. But I am bigger so this time, I win.

>174 Carmenere: Lynda, you could always just let Mittens get used to the leash inside of the house - no outdoor excursions except when you go to the vet.

>175 bell7: Hello, Mary! I have been enjoying a quieter house and the freedom to just do whatever whenever without worrying over everyone"s individual schedules. And I have been in the groove with the stepping this week - let's see if I can keep it up.

I like watching the strategy of the curling matches, but unlike Birdy I am not riveted by it - perhaps if I watched it for longer. That's one thing I love about the Olympics- you get to see things you never would get to see otherwise.

>176 rretzler: YIKES, Robin. Mayhem has been very happy with just the occasional excursion. The girls are not impressed and look at us as if to say, you had better not try that with me.

>177 humouress: Thank you, Nina! And hooray for being all caught up - I feel like I try to do that each morning on the threads, and it is an impossible thing.

>178 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie!

>179 ChelleBearss: Happy Sunday, Chelle! Too funny. Rae does not try to walk Mayhem, the way you would with a dog. She just takes him outside and let's him explore - Rae is content to follow his lead.

>180 msf59: I have not started it yet, Mark - trying to finish up a few things first, but I will need to start soon since I probably only have two weeks with it. Hoping today was kind to you and that the start of your week is full of fabulous - having the first two weekdays off is a very good start!

>181 Carmenere: I think it does depend on the cat, Lynda. The girls would not do, and I think they would be freaked out. I have only seen one other cat on a leash, and it was at the coffee house where Abby works - there is a gentleman there from time to time that walks up with his cat on a leash, ties the leash up on the patio, and the cat waits patiently while the man gets his coffee. Then off they go on their adventures - just like a dog would.

>182 jessibud2: Shelley, I love your leash stories! We did put Mischief in a kennel to go to the vet, but there is no way Mayhem would fit in there, and our dog kennels are the metal kind, so not really conducive to carrying. That's why we decided to see if he would do it on the leash, and he did great with it, so hooray for that.

Okay, here is a funny - I was looking for an image of a metal dog crate to show what kind we have, and I found this one:



This is our Bella! I can't believe the image is still out there - she got paid to be a model for a Midwest iCrate box. That was like ten years ago!

>186 Crazymamie: That is such a cute picture and I can't believe it is your very own Bella! How did you get into the dog modeling business?!

>186 Crazymamie: awww, bless.

>187 Berly: KIM!!! SO good to see you here! When we first got Bella, one of our friends worked for Midwest Kennels and asked it he could use Bella for their smallest crate ads, so once she was a bit older and could sit and stay on command, they did a photo shoot. I still see her on the boxes from time to time at PetSmart.

>188 Helenliz: Thanks, Helen. She is a sweetie.

Happy Sunday, Mamie.

When we had cats back in the day (Dora and Grace), they hung out in our apartment. We thought, oh, they'd enjoy being outside, but it's a busy neighborhood, so we'd better put them on leashes. We carried them over to the nearby park and turned them loose. They were terrified! Lots of people and noises. They hugged the ground and would not move. We gave up on that one quickly. They were so happy to get back to our safe and familiar apartment.

>186 Crazymamie: Now, that's dog gone funny! Bella certainly did a great job but it makes you think about the life of images on the internet. Wouldn't it be nice to receive a check from copyright residuals ;0)

That's what I'm going to do, Mamie, have Mittens wear the harness around the house then add a leash when he goes to the vet, especially now that we have hawks nesting in a tree by our deck.

>190 jnwelch: Happy Sunday, Joe! Oh, the poor kitties! I think Mayhem would freak out in a public place like that. Mayhem just goes in the back yard and only if they are not working in the pecan grove. And our vet's office is small and they have a separate entry and waiting area for cats and dogs.

>191 Carmenere: Bella was paid handsomely - I don't remember exactly what, but I remember being surprised at the amount. Anyway they bought the right to use the image as much as they wanted for as long as they wanted.

I think that is an excellent plan with Mittens.

>192 Crazymamie: Our daughter's dog Sherlock had trouble being around other dogs (he was a rescue, and we suspect it was from his time on the city streets - he was a little guy). So her vet would schedule him to come when only cats were there. He had no clue what cats were, and didn't have any problem with them.

>186 Crazymamie: - So cute!

>194 jnwelch: - Sherlock had no clue... good one, Joe! ;-)

Hello smoochling, my Sunday check-in.

>196 jessibud2: Ha! Wish I could say that one was intended, Shelley. :-)

Hi Mamie.
Since returning to work, I find it difficult to keep up with the threads. Know that I think of you and send all good wishes.

>194 jnwelch: That is just so sweet, Joe.

>195 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

>196 jessibud2: I know, right?!

>197 richardderus: Hey there, BigDaddy! Thanks for checking in. *smooch*

>198 jnwelch: I thought you did it on purpose, too, Joe. Ha!

>199 Whisper1: Hello, Linda! I so appreciate your thoughts and wishes on my behalf. Hoping that work is being kind to you. Don't ever worry about keeping up here - this is a guilt free zone.

*edited because I can't spell

>201 Crazymamie: Next time! I should be able to fit that one in again somewhere, somehow.

>201 Crazymamie: Glad it is a guilt free zone, Mamie, cause I am not keeping up too well either!

Wishing well to all of you at the Pecan Paradisio.

>186 Crazymamie: Cute! Also, brilliant! It must be nice catching sight of her in the shops once in a while and you can go 'That's my dog!'

>186 Crazymamie: Wow! Bella's famous!

Now that I'm thinking about this leash thing, I may have to give it a try on Bandit. Getting him into the cat carrier to go to the vet for an eye problem last week was an ordeal. We once had a cat that the vets had to sedate to do an exam, but I could still get him into the carrier - after closing all the doors, quietly sneaking the carrier upstairs from the basement and then catching him with a towel and shoving him into the carrier. I tried that with Bandit but he is one strong kitten and somehow got out of the towel. After chasing him around and offering lots of treats we were able to trick him in, but I don't think that will work again. So I need to think of a Plan B.

>205 rretzler: I was reading about dogs and dog crates. One suggestion to get the dog used to the crate was to just have it open in the normal living area and put treats in, so the dog associates it with something nice and gets used to going in and out of it with no worries. I don't know if that would work for your cat?

Hi Mamie and happy Monday to you.

We have a kitty door built into the house leading from the back porch to the hall, so Inara and Kitty come and go at will. 18-year old Kitty William stays pretty close to the house because his vision is getting bad, but Inara stays on our property but roams a bit further afield. Neither one likes going to the vet but neither fights too hard getting into the carriers.

That is way cool about your Bella being a model and your still finding her pic on the Internet.

Good morning, Mamie! We've not tried harnesses and leashes on our cats. I occasionally carry Pixie out onto the back porch so she can look around and sniff the air, but that's about it. Otto hates the outdoors; he once got out via a second-floor window while we were at work and ended up drenched and huddling on the back porch, and so although he'll go up into a window to enjoy the breeze, he stays away from the doors. He's begun to resist the cat carrier, too, so I'll have to figure out a good way to get him into it next year. And although Elli might be up for a return visit outside (she was a rescued stray), she doesn't try hard to get out.

Morning, Mamie!
What a cute photo of Bella!

Happy Mmphmumbleday, Mamie! Is the clan stirring?

Morning, Y'all! This morning it was Bella's turn to go to the vet - she is getting groomed. She is a nervous Nelly about going anywhere, so she will be totally zonked when we pick her back up. The poor dear. Nothing much on the agenda today except taking Abby to work and picking Bella up. Daniel has his follow-up with the surgeon today, and I am guessing he will be cleared to do whatever. I told him he is not allowed to break anything for at least a year and a half.

Rae and Craig returned last night from Florida, and what a tale they had to tell. Get this - they thought they were going for a gathering of the the immediate family, so Craig and his three siblings. His brother's wife would be there, and Rae and one of the other grandchildren. And I was thinking that it was actually kind of nice because it might be the last time they are all together like that - Craig is the baby by a lot, and one of his sisters lives in China. Anyway, when they got there, they found out that the mom had invited twenty or so more people for the weekend. SO rude. First of all, she did not let anyone know about all those extra people - and she knew Rae was coming and that things like that freak her out. Then, she pretty much had them moving furniture around, making food, and waiting on the extra people. What a b***h.

>202 jnwelch: I believe in you, Joe. I have complete faith you can squeeze it in again somewhere.

>203 PaulCranswick: Hello there, Paul! I think it is just now starting to slow down a bit. I thank you for those good wishes - we are all well, although Rae is a bit frazzled from her weekend.

>204 humouress: It is, Nina. I always get my happy on when I see one of her boxes - Daniel is on one of their boxes, too, and I see that one from time to time.

>205 rretzler: Mercy disappears as soon as she sees the red kennel that we use for taking her to the vet - she is a nervous wreck to go out of the house. Mayhem and Mischief, on the other hand, will come up and smell it and rub against it - they are very keen to check out anything that is different from the usual. We have never had any trouble getting any of them into the kennel - Mercy you have to chase down, but once you have her, she will let you put her in without a fuss. Once she is in there, though, she has the most mournful meow you have ever heard. Breaks my heart every time. I really hate when I have to take her to the vet because it is such a scary thing for her.

You will have to let me know if you try the leash thing with Bandit.

>206 humouress: I bet that would work with some cats, Nina. Making something scary something familiar.

>207 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! I can't believe you used the "m" word. Feeling brave, huh?

Mayhem is the only one of our cats that has any interest in going outside. I would never do a cat door down here because I would be afraid of what might come into the house. Namely something that starts with an s and slithers. YIKES!

Made me smile BIG when I came across the photo of Bella.

>208 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! Aw - poor Otto! Our cats love to sit on the screened-in porch and in the bedroom windows. Mayhem is adventurous and likes to go out, but the girls have zero interest in the great outdoors. I like it that way, actually as there are so many more things to worry about with an outdoor kitty.

>209 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! Thanks.

>210 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Yup - everyone is up. Daniel went to his follow up appointment for his shoulder, Rae and Craig are at work, and Birdy, Abby and I are hanging out until Abby has to go to work.

>211 Crazymamie: No image!

Morning, Mamie. Sounds like the Florida trip was a nightmare. I hope Rae and Craig survived the debacle.

I am enjoying the day off, because of the holiday but it is raining, so I may be stuck inside with the books, for the majority of it. Oh, well...

Good luck Bella!

>215 msf59: Morning, Mark. Bummer about the image - it's an old woman and it says, "I really do have a soft spot for my mother in law. It's just been freshly dug in the garden behind the garage."

Yep - the Florida trip was a complete bust. And now it will take Rae days to recover from it, so I am not happy.

Rain and books you say - a winning combination, IMO. Enjoy, my friend.

A sincere thanks from Bella, who appreciates your good wishes.

Morning, Mamie!

>211 Crazymamie: Sorry this situation didn't go well. Ugh.

Today is 80 year anniversary of Bringing Up Baby. For some reason, I have never connected with this film, though I have loved many other Hawks, Hepburn, and Grant films. I own the film as part of a set I bought. I keep hoping that as time passes, I'll 'get it', but so far no luck.

>217 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! Craig's mom is a piece of work.

Oh, I love Bringing Up Baby. The Grant film I don't care for is Penny Serenade because it is just too sad.

>211 Crazymamie: *snort* That's a bit like the relationship I have with my MiL. Although it's not like my husband gets on with her very much better. That, however, was a mean stunt to pull with no warning.

>219 Helenliz: Hello, Helen. Yep - we totally do not get along. Craig tries, but his mother is a very harsh and judgmental person. When he visits her, usually one of the kids takes pity on him and goes along. To make matters worse, his sister visiting from China is very touchy feely, so she kept touching Rae, and Rae does not like to be touched. It was very bad the whole way round, and yes, it was a mean stunt to pull. She has not had all four of her kids together in one place for years, but still that is not good enough for her - she kept them so busy that they did not even get a chance to visit with each other.

Ugh! Mamie, I'm so sorry to hear about the Florida debacle and especially on Rae's behalf. It's a pretty terrible thing when your own family members can't respect your boundaries and needs, let alone luring the family there under false pretenses just to provide a workforce for her party. So gross.

>186 Crazymamie: OMG, how cool is that?? and how adorable is she??

>221 rosalita: Thanks for that, Julia. The whole thing was a mess from start to finish. Hopefully we can provide Rae with a nice calm week to help her recover. I was very proud that she held it together with only a minor meltdown - I guess the whole group went out to a local Thai restaurant, and Rae was panicking because she couldn't decided what to order, and then the MIL suggested that the sister visiting from China order for everyone. WHAT?! Rae had to leave the restaurant, and Craig went with her. When they got back the order had been placed and Rae was getting something with tofu, which she does not eat. Rae said she wanted chicken, but I guess chicken is "so boring" according to the aunt. Luckily, Craig said he was going to the bathroom but actually tracked down the waiter and placed an order for Rae, then returned to the table and said that the group could eat what it wanted but that he and Rae would be eating Pad Ba Me with chicken. Craig will actually eat anything, but he didn't want Rae to feel singled out.

>222 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! She is a really sweet dog with a very funny personality.

>223 Crazymamie: I would seriously not be happy if someone else ever tried to order for me at a restaurant! Bravo to Craig for sorting it out.

>225 rosalita: I know, right?! It was weird.

>225 rosalita: you and me both! He's had to make a choice for me a couple of times, usually when he's forgotten we need to pre-order and been put on the spot with a deadline. But to choose tofu? That's not a safe bet.
Craig to the rescue. >:-)

Yikes. Who does that? Without even asking what a person likes, or if there are any allergies? Especially, to order for someone you really don't know all that well (and it sure sounds like they don't know Rae all that well!). I am so sorry she had to go through this. But agreed, yay for Craig, for making it right.

{{hugs}}

Hey, how's it going with Danie's shoulder? I hope it's improving quickly for him.

>227 Helenliz: Nope. And I guess that Rae had already said she wanted chicken, but that was dismissed. And tofu - ugh.

>228 jessibud2: I completely agree, Shelley. This aunt is not around a lot as she lives in China, but she should know Rae well enough to know that she would not eat tofu. Just listening to Rae would have gotten her that far.

We try not to interfere on Rae's behalf unless she is struggling because she is 25, but it is really irritating when family members who understand that she has Aspergers push her too far or don't pay attention to the signs that she is about to have a meltdown. Family should be where you don't have to worry about those things - where everybody has your back.

Thanks for the hugs and for the kind words.

>229 jnwelch: It's all healed, Joe. He doesn't have to go back, and the doctor was very happy with today's x-ray. He did tell Daniel to take it easy with getting back into sports - no contact sports, which he doesn't do anyway because he has only one good kidney. He told him to start back slowly and work his way back up to full activity.

Insensitivity appears to be endemic among the females of that family. No wonder Craig chose you. *smooch*

>231 richardderus: His oldest sister is actually a sweetie, but she is also a mouse, so she never speaks up. A pity because she is the only sane female. And thank you. Craig did get about as far from his mother as he could with me - we are complete opposites. *smooch back*

I was just over at your place, and I left you a sammich.

Ugh. What a trip! So sorry for Rae, but Craig gets good daddy points. And I am glad to hear Daniel is healed up again. : )

>233 Berly: Thank you, Kim. At least it is over, and we can spend the week making it up to Rae, who totally cracked me up when she was describing the crazy aunt who kept hugging her. She said, For some reason she kept hugging me and touching me, and I was thinking OKAY. She is not firing on all cylinders. To which I responded, That's a metaphor!! And you used it perfectly. I'm so proud!! And she grinned at me so saucily. Metaphors and similes and idioms are very tough for her, and she has to memorize them because she is very literal.

Aaargh! I would hug Rae in sympathy, but, you know! Hooray for her for sticking it out and dealing, and for Craig for supporting her.

Why would anyone go to a Chinese restaurant and order tofu (nasty stuff) for everyone? Chicken is a much safer bet unless you are with vegetarians. What a disappointing weekend for your travelers and good on Craig for subtly taking care of Rae. But you shouldn't have to do that with family. I guess it takes all kinds.

I simply would not eat if someone ordered tofu for me.

I'm sorry to hear about the MIL debacle. I totally get it, because mine doesn't respect anyone else's needs, either, even Charlie's, so I think I understand what you're feeling right now. Big hugs for you and all kinds of sympathy for Rae - I hope she has a quiet and relaxing week and gets all kinds of gentle pampering (I'm certain she will).

>211 Crazymamie: Ugh to the max! That was so inconsiderate of your MIL to invite 20 more people than expected to the "family" get together. Rae was a real trooper and how considerate of Craig to help her through the Thai dinner fiasco!
"Family should be where you don't have to worry about those things - where everybody has your back." Yes! Well said!!

Good morning, Mamie! Sorry to hear about the family woes. Have a terrific Tuesday!

>235 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. She was a trooper, and we are very proud of how she handled herself.

>236 Familyhistorian: I have no idea, Meg. It boggles the mind. The entire weekend was just ugly like that, but at least it's over.

>237 thornton37814: That is exactly what Rae would have done, so I am glad that Craig ordered her something else.

>238 scaifea: Amber, I knew you would totally get it. My sympathies to you and to Charlie. We are making sure that Rae's week goes as smoothly as possible, and there will definitely be pampering.

>239 Carmenere: It was, Lynda, and just when I think she can't surprise me anymore, she surprises me. Heh. Thanks so much for the kind words and the support - this group is da Bomb!

>240 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! And thank you. So far Tuesday is behaving itself, so it's looking like terrific might be possible. *grin*

Good morning, Mamie.

>230 Crazymamie: Great news re Daniel! I'm sure it was driving him crazy to be laid up like that.

Wow, poor Rae. Nice job by Craig making the chicken switch. I love Rae's philosophical attitude and the metaphor.

Sorry to hear that Rae had to go through that. Ugh - what is it about MILs? Mine didn't actually like me until I had children, 10 years after Ed and I were married - I have so many stories. And my mother...don't get me started, although, in fairness, my mother is MUCH nicer to Ed than she is to me. I certainly hope that when my time comes, I will be a better MIL.

Morning, Joe! Daniel did very well with all of it - he is very good about not complaining, but yes, he was ready to GO.

Thanks for the kind words concerning Rae - she has been getting better and better with the idioms and metaphors, and she constantly surprises me. I stand in awe of how hard she works at life.

>244 rretzler: Thank you, Robin. Ugh is right. My MIL has never liked me, and it has gotten worse over the years, but as you say, it is a good teacher for how NOT to be a MIL. A mother was also a piece of work - sounds like we could trade stories.

Good morning, Mamie! Happy Tuesday!



"C.K. Dexter Haven, you have unsuspected depth."

>247 brodiew2: Afternoon, Brodie! Happy Tuesday! That entire movie is full of fabulous!

Hi Mamie! Ick to the MIL, hugs to Rae, and bravo to Craig. And here, you can have this just for being you:

Hello, Katie, and thank you. YES! I love that scene from Charade!!

Happy Tuesday, Mamie and big waves from Davos.

Hi Mamie; just delurking to add my sympathies. I don’t get on with my husband’s folks and while my parents are pretty supportive, they tend to take the view that one should be accommodative and go out of their way to get on with my husband’s folks. Fortunately my mum gets it (finally) and they don’t force me to do duty visits with them any more.

Good on Rae for volunteering to go with Craig in the first place, even though it didn’t turn out the way she was expecting.

As for tofu, they do it quite nicely in this part of the world though it certainly wouldn’t be my first choice of dish, not having grown up with it. Actually, my husband’s cousin was in town last week and made a pilgrimage to pick up mock meat for her vegetarian daughter who misses the taste of meat.

>252 humouress: Hello, Nina! Glad to see that your mum finally gets it. I pretty much just avoid her at all costs, but we live the closest to her, so Craig visits periodically just to make sure she is doing okay. His siblings live in Minnesota, Indiana, and China, so much further away. She usually has a huge list of chores for him when he drives down, so the kids take turns going with him so he doesn't do too much. It is almost always a brutal weekend. His mom is not a thankful person, and she thinks that when he visits it is a good time to clean out her refrigerator of all the leftovers by feeding them to her visitors. I keep telling him that it is okay to say no to her - someone needs to. *sigh*

I have a niece who is vegetarian, so Rae has had tofu before, and she genuinely doesn't like it - it's not a matter of not wanting to try new things. The texture of it is off-putting to her. Rae is all about texture with both food and clothing.

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful post.

Well, if she doesn’t like it, that’s altogether different. I merely don’t mind it and could live with it.

Meanwhile, this year I think even my dad remembered that I gave up eating seafood, I don’t know, maybe thirty odd years ago (good grief, am I that old?). So, progress. :0)

Sorry to see that Craig and Rae had a bum trip! I would not be impressed with someone ordering for me either!
Hopefully she gets back into her routine with you all quickly and doesn't have too many lingering affects from the stress!

Wow! Such a harrowing weekend for Craig and Rae. I have only sympathy for them.

My weekend was merely eh. No complaints at all about that. But today was pretty good. I had my periodic visit with the doc and learned my bloody numbers are sterling, my A1C better than it's been in a long time, cholesterol spot on. I got her to show me the x-rays of my ankle. Yo! Lot of hardware in there. You can see it here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/279824#6387490 and compare it with Daniel's surgical repair.

I see the surgeon in a week. Gotta ask him if they have to drill pilot holes for the screws, and also what brand and model of driver he uses. Woodworkers want to know this stuff.

>256 weird_O: that's um, nice. Wishing I hadn't looked, I go a bit green at the thought of that.

Happy Wednesday, half way to the weekend. >:-)

>256 weird_O: Delightful. You may have to consider pilings for that one on the right.

Mamie, I'm sorry to hear about Rae's difficult time. It sounds like she managed pretty well, though, in the circumstances. (I'm not a touch-y person either but met a family member last year who I'd never met before, and there was hugging and attempted arm-linking as we walked along the street, and it was soooo uncomfortable, so I sympathise). And excellent about the metaphor! I hope she's having a nice calm week to make up for it.

Hi Mamie!

Sorry about the M word. I guess I'll have to banish it here on LT. Even before I retired, when I really hated work, it was just another day and not the evil to end all evils like it seems to be here. I'm puzzled but sensitive to the Needs of the Group.

We never got slithery s things, but we did get a few neighbor kitties for a while - it's a bit off-putting to get up in the middle of the night and find a strange black cat in your bathroom or a strange gray one eating cat food. But nobody's come in for many years now except our kitties. Of course, writing that may jinx it.....

Sorry about the awful MiL weekend visit for Craig and Rae. Kudos to Craig for sorting out the Thai restaurant mess, and a gold star for Rae's handling the touching and her metaphor. It sorta sounds like par for the course, though, re insensitivity and bossiness.

I had two MiL's since Bill's parents divorced and his dad married again. They both mostly treated me well, once they realized that I wouldn't put up with much from them. I was 38 when I married so a bit stronger than I would have been had I married when I was younger. My sister, on the other hand, married at 18 and now has the woman who has treated her disrespectfully for 43 years living with them as a demanding, nosy, disrespectful, terminally ill Stage IV Parkinsons patient.

Anyway, have a lovely day, read good books, and continue to pamper Rae and Craig for their brave sojourn in FL.

Happy Middle of the Week, Mamie!

Hope it's a happy one today at the Pecan Paradisio.

Good morning, Mamie!



But the insanity is so fun! Great cast. Carson, Karloff, Lorre, and of course Grant.

>262 brodiew2: Yeppers - except that Karloff is not in the film. That's Raymond Massey that plays Jonathan Brewster - they did an excellent job of making him look like Karloff, though.

That's right! I always get fooled by that element of the film. :-P

If you guys keep up this babbling about Arsenic and Old Lace, I'd going to be forced to dredge it up some somewhere and watch it again. And really, really, I got stuff that needs to be read.

>264 brodiew2: *grin* Well, they did do an amazing job with the makeup.

>265 weird_O: Bill, you know you NEED to watch Arsenic and Old Lace again.

>254 humouress: I don't like it, either, but I could eat it in a pinch. And hooray for your dad finally remembering about the seafood. My mom used to get my sisters and my (I have five older sisters) preferences mixed up all the time and then she would insist that yes, we did like such and such - it was (insert the name of any other sister) who didn't like it.

>255 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. She is back into her routine, but every little thing is getting to her, which is just the weekend wearing off. Hopefully, by next week she will have recovered.

>256 weird_O: Thank you, Bill. And look at you impressing the doctors with your numbers!! You definitely win the hardware war - WOW! Here's a comparison:

.
Bill on the left and Daniel on the right

Now please don't think you have to compete with him on the collarbone. Hoping you report back on the answers to your questions for the doctor - they made me smile BIG.

>265 weird_O: Teddy is telling you to terry no longer!

>257 Helenliz: Helen, the after photos are SO much nicer than the before ones. Trust me. And thank you for those good wishes - Happy Wednesdaying to you, too.

>258 humouress: Haha, Nina. It's amazing they can do that, but YOWZA!

>259 susanj67: Thank you, Susan. I think she did great - she handled it better than I would have. OH! Arm-linking while walking! Yikes. The week is going okay for her, but she is SO ready for Friday. We'll make sure that this weekend is relaxing and fun for her.

>268 brodiew2: That made me laugh out loud, Brodie!!

>270 Crazymamie: I'm here to serve. :-)

>260 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Actually, I think it's just me, but I have gotten to everyone else - I just don't like them. They always feel different to me, so I try to just quickly make it through them each week.

Oh, dear about getting up in the middle of the night to find foreign critters in the home. Although kitties I could live with. You are making me think of that commercial where the lady thinks she is calling in the cat, but what comes in is a raccoon. Remember that one?

Thank you for those kind words - you are right, it is par for the course, but it is still aggravating. And twenty extra guests is A LOT.

Multiple MILs?! Oh, THE HORROR! I am never taking on another one. What you say is so true, and if I had it to do over again, I would have just fought all my battles to begin with. I held my tongue for years thinking I was being respectful - I started speaking up after Rae was born. What I didn't realize at the time was that by being respectful to her, I was disrespecting myself. Never again. Your sister has my sympathy - not good all the way around.

Hoping that your day is as good as the one you wished for me!

>261 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! So far so good with the getting on of the happy. Hoping yours is full of wonder.

>271 brodiew2: *Grin*

Count me as another fan of curling who has no idea what is going on. I actually have never paid attention to the sport but for some reason this Olympics has got me hooked!

Sorry to hear about the family issues and I can't imagine how hard that must have been for Rae. You are so right about family being the one place we should feel safe to be ourselves without fear. When we have that what a blessing. When we don't, we try to find our own tribe.

>274 jolerie: Birdy and I were completely glued to the set for the women's match Korea against the US. A really great one to watch.

Thanks for that Valerie - so true about finding our own tribe.

>274 jolerie: I began to somewhat understand curling in the Olympics where the Norwegian team first wore the decorative pants. I'm sure I'll forget all about it in 4 years. I do remember Knoxville's curling club gaining popularity after the Norwegian team's curling pants gained notoriety.

>276 thornton37814: Lori, how are you doing? You had a dental procedure, right?

>277 Crazymamie: I did. I'm not in as much pain as anticipated, but I've got a little. I'm able to manage it with Advil and have not had to break into the bottle of Lortab yet. He didn't prescribe many quantity-wise, but just enough to have them if needed.

>278 thornton37814: That's good, Lori. And nice to know you have stronger stuff on hand if needed. Hoping the healing goes quickly and smoothy for you.

It was a gorgeous day here. I went for a walk with my YGC. We were chatting and chuckling along and I, oh gasp, made a double entendre that he found punny. "Daddy! Shame on you!" he laughed and, as we were holding hands as I limped slowly across a street, an old lady coming the other way heard him and saw us holding hands. "You're a sweet young man to help your father like that," she chirped at him.

I am *so*proud* of myself for not laughing like a hyena. Even more proud of Rob for smiling big and pretty and not saying anything snarky.

I'll be giggling over that for years to come.

>280 richardderus: Oh. My. Word. You made me laugh out loud! I don't know how you both held it together - too funny.

Hi, Mamie! Just popping in. Hope the week is going well for you and you are enjoying those current reads.

>282 msf59: Hello, Mark! SO far so good with the week. I started My Favorite Thing is Monsters, and I am loving it. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.

>166 Morphidae: OMG, I love that gif of the, um, curlers....

Just now catching up on the stories of Craig and Rae's trip to Florida. As others have said, she is a trooper and Craig gets serious dad points for having her back. It sounds like a classic case of "my reality is the only valid reality" and I see that all too much on our campus (and other campuses). An up side is that the current generation of young people - I'm overgeneralizing here - do seem to have a deeper understanding of neurodiversity than any generation before them. I think they've grown up with more education and, by and large they are a generation of embracing difference.

Still and all, your comment about family supposed to be the place where you are safe and comfortable rang deeply true for me. Sadly, family is not always that safe space. Yours is, but that aunt and your MIL.... grrr.

On a different note, I grew up in Florida and I will never ---- never!! -- forget coming into the house and mom was on the phone (it was one of the newfangled ones that hung on the wall) and on the family room floor beneath the phone was a long black starts-with-S!! I shrieked, Mom shrieked (and dropped the receiver, I do believe), and we both fled the house. A nice neighbor had to come escort mister starts-with-S back outside for us....

*shivers*

>284 EBT1002: I now know I never want to live in Florida if s--- visit homes without invites (which I'd never grant).

>284 EBT1002: Ellen, thank you so much for that thoughtful post. I completely agree with your thoughts. And I am hopeful for the current generation. If each generation could have more open minds and hearts, we would be there so very quickly.

YIKES to the starts-with-S story! We have had a couple in the yard, and that still gives me shivers if I think about it. I have issues.

>285 thornton37814: Agreed. Although Georgia is the same. This is as far South as I want to go, and when Craig retires, we will be moving to the North, hopefully. Although not all the way back to Indiana.