The Gathering Place Expands

Someone suggested starting a new thread. Anytime a thread gets over 200 messages it begins to get unwieldy, especially if there are images.

So here it is ... enjoy.

New start- nice

Glad for a new one. I liked the tree but I still have one outside my window to look at. It won't take long for this to get long to - we like to talk!

I was going to post a picture of the same tree that sadly is now bald thanks to the strong winds we had last night .... but it was just too depressing when I saw it up there, so I deleted it.

Thanks lindsad!

cameling - I know what you mean. Fall is nice to start but once all the pretty colors are gone, it's just depressing *sigh* All the trees in my yard are bare now too.

I still have lots of pretty leaves to look at - all over my garden!

- TT

My back yard has a leaf blanket, but my tree is still red. I think Mother Nature used superglue on this tree.

I now have a giant pile of leaves at the corner of my yard ... waiting for my husband to come home and mulch the lot for our compost.

I had the fire going last night and it was such a treat reading by the fire again. But I fell asleep and woke up freezing this morning as the fire had gone out.

If anyone here remembers, I had mentioned a sort of book chain letter thing I received from a friend a month and a half back. Well, I received 3 books so far so to me, it's been a worthwhile experiment since i've only been out of pocket for 1 book that I mailed and stamps for the 6 letters.

I now have a blanket of snow over the blanket of leaves that I haven't gotten to rake yet and there are a lot still on the trees. Also, some of the leaves did come down with the storm, but, unfortunately, they brought the limbs with them. My driveway and side yard have a lot of big branches littering them. Some may have to be cut up before we can get rid of them. Our borough will collect them if we put them to the curb, but that usually ends when they start to vacuum up the leaves that we can put at the curb also. I guess the limbs will end up behind the garage until spring.

I miss big bonfires. I remember when I was a kid, we'd bring our broken branches to a field and have a great bonfire. Everyone would sit around, drink warm cider, toast marshmallows and just have a great time watching the flames.

cameling,, that sounds wonderful!

When i was with my gram she was liable to build a fire and cook something almost anywhere. Apples, corn, potatoes, hot dogs.. and we would sleep out next to a fire, under a tree....

I loved it.

#11 OMG! Snow already? Every year someone reminds me why I love living in San Diego County.

I love the snow, although I'd like not to get 5 months of winter this time. But I love going out in the morning to brisk air and feeling the snow crunch under my feet. Can't ski or go snowshoeing without snow. Everything is so pretty under snow (well, except slush by the side of the street after cars have gone by) and there's nothing like a White Christmas and a snowy New Year's Eve.

Yes, we got about an inch where I live (in NEPA) but some outlying areas got as much as 17 inches!!

It's a heavy wet kind of snow. They are predicting upper 50s for Friday, though, so no snowsuits will be needed under costumes.

Alright there is too much winter talk in here. I've just got through the wettest, dreariest, winter I've ever had (it doesn't snow in Auckland, NZ) along with the flu and other assorted colds. Now we are in spring heading rapidly towards summer. We've had daffodils, we've had blossoms, we've had baby birds (the cat killed one or two), labour weekend has been. There was even one night when it was warm enough to require a window open to keep it cool enough to sleep. I'm soooo happy it's getting warmer. :p

# 17 Kiwiflowa, I'm jealous of your nice spring. We are having weird weather. It's supposed to be spring here in Sydney too, but one day it's 15 and we need the heater on, the next it's 35 and we have the aircon on. I'm really missing spring.

>bookgirl271, your spring sounds alot like Massachussetts weather on any given day of the year!

I hope you get a good summer though because I'm scheduled to be in Sydney and Melbourne in January for some meetings, and I'd like to have a few hours when I can sit outside and soak up the sun and thaw out my wintered bones

My kids were very excited about the snowflakes coming down this morning. Me, not so much!

Winter has come. The same weather here, south of Oslo, Norway, with 2-3 inces of wet snow this morning. It's absolutely chaos on the roads, because the snow started in the middle of the morningrush. And it is not aloud to have studded wintertyre before 1. of november, and it is not aloud to drive with summertyre when it's snowing.
Beautiful, but way too early here with snow.

Iaas, that is such a gorgeous pic! But I'm with kiwiflowa - it's time for some warm weather after the long, ice cold months we've had in Cape Town. It seems like spring has taken forever to get to us, this year, but it's finally here ... I think! :)

Hi everyone...quick dip in to explain my absence...daughter-wedding prep and leaving-house prep and BlueScreenOfDeath issue with laptop equals no time for LT or, in fact, much else.

Scroodles of hugs all around.

>21 IaaS: : Iaas, ooh... that's getting me in the mood for Christmas. But i have to get through Thanksgiving first. Has anyone in the US noticed that there are no Thanksgiving songs? What could you possibly jingle about eating turkey?

richard .... glad to know you're alive and well .... even if somewhat stressed from wedding/leaving house prep and probably about completely bald from tearing your hair out with laptop issues. Safe travels dearie ... At least you'll be home for a spell.

After attending a kindergarten "Barnes and Noble Night" performance last year, I can definitely tell you that there ARE Thanksgiving songs, although I do not see our family creating a tradition of holding hands and singing them around the oven every year.

>25 AMQS: AMQS, oh dear. My grandkids are scheduled to give me a preview of their Thanksgiving hoopla while I am there for their mom's wedding. Sounded grim to begin with, but now sounds positively gruesome. *sigh*

#26 Richard, well, you may think it's darling because they're your grandkids, and if not, the performance should at least be brief. Be prepared for some turkey dancing (waggling wings and bums), and perhaps the uplifting underdog favorite where the turkey outwits the farmer, who then has to order pizza or something like that. Courage!

The photo looks like my backyard here in Pennsylvania. But they are calling for 60s next week so soon this will all be a bad memory - for now!

Glad to see you back richard--we've missed you!

I did actually find a site that has some Thanksgiving songs ... for anyone out there interested, here's the link.

http://www.songsforteaching.com/thanksgivingsongs/

some are really funny.

Cameling: I think we are in for a hot summer, so you will probably be nicely thawed. Will you get time to look around when you are here?

Well, we dodged the snow here (NH), and it has been a relatively warm fall so far (we're doomed now, of course).

The other night on Monday Night Football, they were playing in Tennessee and they said it was in the 40s, and in NH at the same time it was in the 60s :).

I hope we get a warmish winter.

Me, too. I hate shoveling and having to wear layers and I was born in western New York near Lake Ontario. You'd think I'd be used to it now. But then I didn't care much for southern summers either. You can always add something to keep warm in the north at wintertime, but you can only go so far with removing clothing in the south in the summer!

>31 bookgirl271:: bookgirl271, I might stay in Sydney over the weekend so that I can spend a day at Manly and go visit my favourite pizza restaurant at the corner across from the ferry point. I know I'm going to try and plan my trip so that I'm in Melbourne during the Australian Open. Would love to be able to catch a few matches while I'm there.

Halloween is over and we had very few trick or treaters. In fact we were only one of two who even gave out candy this year. Maybe next year I'll join the majority and not do it.

And, I guess, I'll have to eat some of the leftovers and I am supposed to watch my carbs.

koalamom, you can eat them in front of a mirror.

Robert

I enjoy winter for one reason.......if I have a hot flash, I can run outside and cool off. :o)

I celebrated Halloween in style. I went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and then went and saw the musical Phantom of the Opera (my first time) I looooved it! I finished up the night reading Angels and Demons.

With Halloween on a Friday, and with 75 degree weather in Denver, we had more trick-or-treaters than ever. So glad I bought more candy.

>34 cameling: cameling: sounds good, hope you have a great time. I've not made it to the Australian Open yet, there were rumours that Melbourne might be losing it.

We had a pretty quiet Halloween here. It might have been because it was really hot, then at about 5.30 a cold change came. So I've got some treats to eat.

38 - sounds like my kind of way to do Halloween - I've seen Phantom twice (both in NY) and both times it was exciting and new.

I loved Angels and Demons and all of Dan Brown's stuff. I got into reading him because of that "famous" book of his and just couldn't get enough.

I have what is supposed to be his new book Solomon Key on hold (me and 33 others before me and ? after) but it seems to have disappeared from the publishing roles (as did the "Cat Who.." book that was supposed to have come out in 2007, 2008, ...(?) That was was even removed from my hold account at the library! Ah well, I thought that series was done for anyway.

>34 cameling: cameling, ooh, I hope you're able to see the Australian Open! I'm jealous...I've only ever been to the US Open, but one of my few travel goals is to someday see all 4 tennis majors.

I will keep my fingers crosset for your election today. I will altso sit up in the night to watch the result. Happy election to all of you and I will hope for the best for Europe.

#43......IaaS, thank you, friend.

I got up this morning and voted for the first time in many years. I finally felt strongly enough about a candidate I believe will be able to lead this country and bring about the changes so desperately needed, so I decided I needed to make my voice heard. This will be a historic day for our country. I am so grateful to have this opportunity, in this very important election. May the best man win, and may God Bless America.

Happy election day, all! I am in Austin for the week, culminating in my daughter's wedding this Saturday.

IaaS, I am so pleased that other countries have citizens in them so interested in our elections! I can understand that, being the big power that we are, it behooves leaders to pay attention to what we're likely to do...but regular citizens...! You are an impressive world citizen, ma'am.

I think the press/radio and TV in Norway is very much in to your election. That is what they have talked about the whole day. Two different TV-channels will send about it, all through the night.
I hope it will be a record for how many people who will vote. I heard a record will be around and over 65 %. It's good when most people stand up for themselves.

And to Richard. Have a very happy wedding for your daughter, hope she has met her soulmate.

Well New Zealand's general election is on Saturday and in a poll it was found that 14% of Kiwi's were more interested in the American election that the NZ election. The same percentage were 'just as interested' in the American election as they were in NZ's....

If you guys knew the politicians we had to choose from you would understand why... booooring... No John McCains or Barak Obama's here.

I did not know about your election, this is no news up here, sorry.

I have just seen the finalee in Amaricas "Do You Think You Can Dance". And wooow- fantastic dancers, and Joshua won it all. A powerful brilliant dancer. Congratulations to America with that kind of youth. I'm so glad they show us this program (and that we have got a Scandinavian version too).
Any of you bookworms seen it ?

I have just seen the finalee in Americas "Do you think you can dance". Wooow, absolutely fantastic dancers. And the winner, Joshua, a powerful, brilliant young dancer. You must be so proud of those youth. Congratulations, I'm so glad we could see the program here.

I love "So You Think You Can Dance". There are so many talented dancers just waiting for their chance. And what can I say about the choreographers? WOW. I love Joshua. He is a strong talented young man.

# 48 kiwiflowa, I didn't even know NZ was having an election on the weekend, all we are hearing about is the US elections. Today, 4 of the 5 free to air channels had coverage of it. You would think NZ politics would be important to us.

A question (or two) for the Americans: does it really take 1/2 an hour to cast your vote? And who do you vote for? I don't mean which person, but do you choose between McCain and Obama, or is it between the two parties, or is it for a local representative?

it can take 1/2 hour. I waited in line for an hour and a half this morning. In the general election like this one, you choose Obama or McCain (or one of the others). Then all the votes in your state are tallied, and the candidate who gets the most votes in your state gets all that state's electoral votes. Unless you live in Nebraska.

ETA: it looks like it'll be President Obama!!

I have too congratulate you with this historical election. From my point of view the right man won.

I'm so glad for my brothers grandchildrens sake, who is half Kenyan. When it is possible in America, it should be here too.

It took me 5 minutes once I got to the booth. I waited half an hour...
and agree that the right man one.

*throws blue confetti*

It took me less than that since we do have a time limit (I think) for how long we can spend in the booth. There was absolutely no line, either, which surprised me.

Tonight the Empire State Building's going to be lit up in blue (yay!) -- it was listed as TBD by the election results last night when I checked why it was lit up one side red and the next side blue.

I was so inspired and moved by our new president's speech last night....what a historical moment for our country! And what an intelligent and charismatic leader he will be. A natural born leader, for sure. I'm so glad we finally have someone we can be proud of in the oval office! I look forward to good things from this remarkable man. God Bless America!

i was a bit anxious last evening when i started listening to the Election Results..did not take long for me to realize my anxiety was unnecessary..What a Sweep! The Big Broom, anybody!...and God Bless Us, Everyone!

Die Hard Democrat, ME
JUDE

We celebrated Your new president today and went to a Café and bought baguets, cake and coffe. And I bought me "silver"shoes to remember this day. Norwegians are so happy for you, you should hear people.

Thank God it's over...and the results are good.

I wanted President Clinton, myself, but President Obama has my support and congratulations, like so many others around the nation.

IaaS, that is a perfect way to celebrate!

Yes congratulations! It's inspiring and so exciting. I watched the election results live last night and whooped when they announced that Mr. Obama was president elect.

>60 IaaS:
Most Americans are happy with the result, too, if the popular-vote totals from when I went to bed still hold up.

>61 richardderus:
I totally agree with you.

>63 kiwiflowa:
People were yelling and started setting off firecrackers in Brooklyn when the announcement was made.

#53 ~ Another reason why it sometimes takes 1/2 an hour to vote is because we always have so many other things we're voting for besides President -- Senators and Congressmen, Govenors, Mayors, other local officials, and many, many Propositions to decide on. My California ballot was 8-10 pages, and the supplement that has the background and explained all the Propositions was 45-50 pages (like a magazine). I always read all the materials about two weeks before and fill out my mini-ballot before going to the polling place so that it only takes me about 10 minutes. If you haven't done that it can take a great deal longer to decide how you're voting.

Thank you to all LT world citizens for the well wishes. We're very excited. I personally am thrilled to be living in a newly blue state!

>66 whymaggiemay:: whymaggiemay
that is a lot of voting!

and to all US citizens congratulations on the newly elected president to be!
I was happely surprised this morning ;-)

Me too Richard. In fact I did a Clinton write in.

I spent about ten minutes at the polling place. Most of that time was spent helping a man with a very thick foreign accent communicate with the attendants. (I almost didn't when I heard him say McCain, but I figured I should be fair.)

I am so very relieved. I think the most moving thing I saw last night was the video of Jesse Jackson in tears. Wow. This morning I found this letter from Alice Walker to Obama (http://www.theroot.com/id/45469) and I thought you all would like it.

I didn't stay up for the Obama speech. I saw McCain's though. It was very good, and very classy, and it held true to who he was before he sold his soul during this race.

If he had campaigned as well as he gave his concession speech, he might have actually won.

I went to work early yesterday so that I could leave early to vote. The best laid plans... On the way home from work, my car broke down and by the time I finally made it home, it was too late to vote. *sigh*

#70 - thanks for the link. I loved it. Alice Walker is such a wonderful, thoughtful writer.

#72 - fred, I'm so sorry that happened. What a disappointment.

It only took me as long as it takes to eat a cookie which they were giving out to people who came in an voted. My man won and I am very happy with the results. And for the other ones I voted for as well.

I didn't stay up but a friend on my other blog has a link set up so I can go an hear Obama's speech later. Isn't science wonderful!

Thanks everyone for your answers, your system seems very different to ours.

And congratulations on a new president!

#71.......I agree, McCain's concession speech was definitely classy.....he's an admirable man and has been through so much in his lifetime. Do you feel that if he had picked someone else as a running mate, he might have had a better chance? I feel that his age was also a factor in losing the race.

#70 - Alice Walker said it all, I have tears in my eyes. And what she said about Israels behavoiur and Cuba is so to the point from a human rights point of view.
Mccain's speech showed a man with integrity and I liked the way he stopped his followers to show their disapointment, but I am happy he lost because of his politics. More of what have help make this global economical crisis could be a catastophe.

I too hoped for Clinton in the beginning because I didn't know anything about Obama. He has grown way over her, he seems so positive and his background give him an understanding the World needs.
And if any of you think Obama is a sosialist, he is not. In our mulipartysystem he would be far to the right among the Conservative parties.

#76,

I think if he had stayed true to his 'independent maverick' status he might very well have won.

Way back in the beginning he started courting the religious right, when for years he had bashed them for their intolerance. I think that started the slide, because it scared Independents away.

He didn't understand that the Republicans wanted his win to be due to their base, and not a coalition of moderate Republicans, Independents and Democrates who either hated Clinton (if she was the nominee) or didn't trust Obama's lack of experience. So he listened to them and adopted their Rove strategy. They wanted him to be beholden to the party, and he either didn't see it, or thought it was worth the price to get the presidency.

I think if he had been true to himself he wouldn't have chosen Palin, and wouldn't have gone so negative and nasty. Some of his ads and the Republican committee's were talking about Obama/Democrats as if they were traitors. Not good, but especially bad from a man who was once thought to be so straight, and who understood patriotism takes many forms.

A woman VP was a stroke of genius, but they picked one who had no business being at the national level because she was so unprepared. I think the Republicans did it on purpose. It was Bush in a skirt. Someone who seemed appealing, and was totally empty (in terms of complex politics and world issues), so the neo-cons could fill her up with their views and ideas. She would have no thoughts, facts, or experience to dispute them. If McCain had won, she would have become their puppet, and they would have still been in some form of power. Her views on religion, guns, and abortion also brought out those Republicans who couldn't support McCain, but scared away moderate Republicans and dis-satisfied Democrats. Again it would have made McCain beholden to the far right if he had won.

Then I think he didn't campaign or fund raise effectively, and he made many stupid gaffes, and reversed himself on his own policies. Don't know if that was him, or his handlers.

He could have been an experienced, moderate alternative to Obama, which I think would have appealed to many. But he wanted to be President so badly he let himself be played by the far right. They don't actually care about him and they think their views are the only moral and valid ones. It allows them to think well of themselves, when really all they want is unhampered access/use of power.

I actually found something that could take me away from LT: the election. I live next to what was thought to be a hotly-contested state (Pennsylvania) and took some time to work there for my candidate (okay, Obama). Took my twelve year old along one day. All in all, it was a truly great experience. Now, must find my books. What was I reading?

Since Ficus brings up Rove: Anyone else notice that, once Rove is away from the election process, there were no voting irregularities to speak of?

Am I paranoid, or is that very telling? Like very, very telling?

Our electoral college system, in this case, gives the same result as the much-desired popular vote system. Still something I oppose, because the hoi polloi are prey to demagoguery (look at the wide-margin passes of gay marriage bans, in spite of a moderate's win of the presidency) and that bodes ill for progressives.

IaaS, in the American politics I grew up with, Obama would be a left-of-center Republican. The American national political conversation has moved so far to the right that I don't even recognize the parties any more.

Scary reflection: Nixon would, in today's landscape, be a liberal Democrat. (Wage and price freeze, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, withdrawal from Vietnam, opening relations with China....)

>80 richardderus:
And there's the oft-quoted stuff about Theodore Roosevelt (another Republican) and things like national parks.

>80 richardderus:: richard dear
It is not only American politics moving to the right.
Even here all parties have moved to the right, comparing to the time I was young and started to become interested in politics...

#78 > FicusFan, All I can say is, "amen."

#80 > Richard, I agree with you about the Electoral College. I personally believe the desire to do away with it to be short-sighted, not only for the reasons you offer, but because a straight popular vote presidential election would effectively disenfranchise all those who live in less populace states. I believe it is important for people in those states to retain their voices. Who would campaign in Montana or Wyoming if the election was strictly via popular vote? And sitting presidents would have less motivation to govern with their needs in mind. I do understand that people feel the electoral college gives people in those places an outsized say in things relative to their numbers. My personal belief is that it's better they have an out-sized voice than no voice, because their concerns are crucial to the overall health, economic, cultural and mental, of the country.

On another issue, I want to say that while I personally believe the election of John McCain would have been a calamity for the country and the world, I wholly honor all of my neighbors (and by that I mean all Americans) who felt that McCain was the better man for the job and therefore voted for him. Who knows? Perhaps he would have confounded us all and served as president as he served in his earlier days in Congress.

Finally, although I am overwhelmed as most Obama supporters are by his election and by what it says about America, as a Californian I cannot be wholly joyous in these post-election days, as my fellow Californians went to the polls and voted for marriage discrimination. As a very happily married straight male who wishes the same sort of opportunity for all my friends, I'm more than a little bummed by this vote.

#83 you wrote as a Californian I cannot be wholly joyous in these post-election days, as my fellow Californians went to the polls and voted for marriage discrimination

I agree, such a terrible disappointment. One of my gay friends thinks it was the heavily hispanic vote (which is carried by the Catholic church). She may be right, but that doesn't make it any the less horrible. At least she and her partner got married when they could.

Before the campaigning, I had always thought that if McCain ever ran for president, that he would have my vote. Although I consider myself a Democrat, I always had admired him for the way he survived the prison camp....that, to me, spoke volumes about the man's character, will, and sheer guts in the face of terrible circumstances. But as Ficus inferred, he changed so much and allowed himself to be changed so much, that by the time he chose Ms. Palin as his running mate, I could not in good conscience vote for him. I also could not tolerate another 4 years of the same-old, same-old. I think his choice of Palin cemented it for me.....of all people to choose. As you said earlier, Ficus, "a puppet". Can you imagine having Palin as a president if something happened to McCain!? OMG! Scary.

I do feel utterly jubiliant with the Obama win. I worry, however, about his safety. I've been monitoring the chatter on Myspace and there are alot of very angry people out there... to the point of extremism....people who I thought were tolerant and unaffected by race or color, who are absolutely in a rage over this election, and are making just awful statements about Obama, worse now than before the election. I hope the secret service is prepared for this daunting task of keeping our new president elect alive, so he can be given the chance to try to fix this country.

It's really getting cold outside.......our mild weather has gone, it was in the 70s early last week....it's 40 now. Brrrrrrrrr!

Time to dig out the coats and gloves.

Porchy, I am worried too... but I have to believe he will be okay, and that his family will as well.

I feel a sense of peace and hope and all sorts of good things since he won the election.

It got cold here too, overnight.. brr! and most of the leaves fell from the trees...

Its still almost 70 here (NH), my outside thermometer says 68, and there is no sun.

hah! wait til tomorrow ficus :P

Tomorrow is here in SE Ohio...supposed to be in the 30s tonight...only to 45 tomorrow...i've got a fire going in my Buck Stove.it's Fall, again

;-p

We were in eastern NY, just south of Albany yesterday and we didn't need any kind of jacket. Today, I was sorry I didn't wear a warmer hat when we went for a walk. I am afraid winter is coming.

Here the snow has almost gone, its 6,6 C --43,9 F.
Fall with rain and fog. I wish I could travel to the south.

Today was 85 and tonight is suppose to be down to 50. Looking at high 80's for tomorrow no rain for the week. Typical Fall day in Texas. I like not having to have two sets of clothing, just need layers.

Firing up the woodburner this evening here in NE Indiana. supposed to get down into the 30's
tonight. Nasty cold rain today. BRRRR !

mckait....I do feel that sense of hope and peace too....it's so wonderful. I'm still excited about the whole thing.

By the way, I owe you an email....will try to respond later this week.

I wore my down jacket and gloves today when we went out....ugg....windy, spitting rainy slush all over....gray skies. YUCK!

To our New Zealand friends - see you got a new leader, too.

is it a good leader? I am ashamed to say I know nothing about that election...

# 89: mckait
hah! wait til tomorrow ficus :P

Well its tomorrow, and it is cooler. Only 60 so far. But after the rain this morning the sun is out and I expect it will be warmer later on. :)

In brief (and I'm sorry if this bores anyone but I like politics):

New Zealand has swung to the centre-right and voted in the National Party, their leader and our new Prime Minister is John Key. This is after 9 years of the centre-left Labour Party government and Helen Clark as PM.

New Zealand has a proportional parliamentary system which we call MMP (mixed member proportional) which has been in place since 1996 before that it was first-past-the-post. This means that National has to create a coalition with the far-right party Act and centrist party United Future to form a government. This will happen, they are now going through the formalities and negotiating positions in Cabinet etc.

This election it seemed like people just wanted a change. People began to see the Labour government as a 'nanny-state' and some people had begun to call the PM 'Aunty Helen'. Of course the economic crises plays into it. A lot of the news reports in the media are speculating that Key will get a h*ll of a shock when he finds out what state the treasury is actually in.

As to whether John Key will be a good leader I don't know. He has only been an MP for 6 years! He is the richest PM NZ has ever had but then his story has been one from rags to riches. He grew up in a state-house and is now a millionaire. Regardless of what the new government does I also hope that the new government is stable and that there is no leadership challenges or coalition break downs which plagued the National led government in the 1990's. In a nutshell I like John Key but I don't like the rest of the 'old' top dogs in that party.

It looks like the whole world wants change. Let's hope the new leaders can get something done and make those very needed changes.

:-{ ficus... that 'cause I put out my foot and tripped the cold front so you could have an extra warm day!

* tiptoes out of thread*

kiwi.. holding thumbs that things work out well with your new leader... and koala is right change seems to be in the air

* now, really does tiptoe out of thread*

Thank you McKait :)

Hopefully we will get more than one extra day !

Is anyone besides me in a "book funk"?? I just gave up on a book about midway through....I just could not get into it at all. I'm going to start a memoir tonight, and I'm hoping that this will hit the spot.

I think the weather might have something to do with it....it is gloomy, gray, damp and cold outside. I'm not much in the mood for anything actually. I'm hoping the Funk will dissipate with this different book I've chosen.

porch - makes sense, weather, season change, post-election letdown - I know a lot of people with the blahs right now. How about reading something humorous?

I'm going to start a memoir tonight - writing one or reading one?? lol

aw porchy, sorry. Book funks are awful.

Teelgee how are you liking retirement? And why on earth are you up so late!
How do you do it?

Haven't had a book funk recently but I know where you are coming from. With the last one, I had put the book into my Friends' sale box and also added the other two from the trilogy no less. My son, who had read the three, said he had liked it and that it gave a nice background to the series it was part of (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), so I picked the books back out of the box and gave them another try - well I restarted the one I had tried and I eventually finished the whole trilogy! And my son was right. So don't despair, if you go back at another time it may hit you as your new fave!

I just added my 1200th book to my library! I know I have read all these books; I just don't remember what some were about! Maybe I'll get back to them after I have read all the ones in my TBR list and those on hold at the library and those on my various bookshelves and those still to come that I know I will want to read, etc, etc, etc... (To quote the King of Siam)

>106 porchsitter55:,
I'm just finally making my way out of one that lasted for a few weeks. It took falling back on my favorite historical fiction time period (Tudor England) and a character with whom I wasn't too familiar (Elizabeth of York) to get me out of it. I'm reading another historical fiction book now and am hoping by the end of this one, I'll be done.

#107.....teelgee.....lol! Yes I am going to write a memoir.....called "The Woman Who Bought Too Many Books Without Enough Shelves To Put Them On".......ha!

I currently have 4 antique cupboards with a total of 17 shelves full of books. Oh dear.

And I just heard that bookcloseouts.com is having free shipping through December 31 (one shipment to a customer). Oh dear me.

*Puts "The Woman Who Bought Too Many Books..." on my wishlist*

Oh. That's not a real book? Just reflex, I guess.

ROTFLMAO!

oh, porchy!!!!i am actually thinking of buying a book on Building Bookshelves!!!!i kid you not..the last bookcase i got secondhand is nearly Full!!....let's see, the book is called BOOKCASES: Outstanding Projects from America's Best Craftsmen by Niall Barrett....face it, i always plan BIG, and the book is lovely..hey, i'm not joking here guys...books are taking over my house..like mould spores only more interesting

oh well, it's raining here today...rain/snow tomorrow and the rest of the week...i see homemade Chicken Soup in my future

;-p

I think I'd have to find a book on how to build a new room!

>117 koalamom:

yes, i thought of that, but bookcases are cheaper, no? and i still have some room upstairs if i consolidate and push stuff together...oh lord, these books are taking over...should i start charging rent??? LOL

We have tried to cull and do succeed once in a while but there is always that next Friends' booksale or the discount table at Borders/Barnes and Noble or birthdays or reviews - it never ends ....

#113........ROFL!

Hubby brought home 5 more books. Oh god. God help us. eeeeeeee!

I just set up my 999 thread. This should really tell me just how across the board I am reading or get me crossing more borders in the process.

Now if I could just get all those Heinlein's entered into my library, I could get that box out of my den and into a bookshelf which I cleaned out several days ago just for that purpose. Just wish I had the time - I'm either too busy or too tired to sit and do it!!!!

Gosh .. I've been away for 2 weeks and am drowning in mail .. mostly junk but occasionally, a nice postcard from a friend who's on a backpacking trip around Australia, some odd magazines I know I haven't subscribed to, and a few books.

It's good to be back in my own bed though.

Welcome back! I've missed your "voice" here.

I'm leaving this week for a two week visit to Chicago. I'll take my laptop but don't know how much time I'll have to use it--grandchildren do tend to want to be entertained.

Hi Cameling!! Welcome back!

> 123: MusicMom41- Have a great trip to Chicago! What town are you visiting? I live in Downers Grove, southwest of the city. Winter is starting to kick in here!
Chilly today! By the way, I'm loving March, shaping up to be one of the best books I've read this year and that speaks volumes!

#123: MusicMom41 - I'm Not sure about Chicago area but NW Indiana is supposed to get 6-8" of snow by tomorrow.
I live NC Indiana we have about 3'' . It is supposed to snow all week. Hope you have a safe trip.

#125 & 126

Now you are scaring me! We leave here tomorrow but don't actually fly out of San Francisco until Wednesday. I hope they don't have a storm before we get there.

My son and his family live in Buffalo Grove and my son teaches in Winnetka (which I am undoubtedly spelling incorrectly!). We are staying until Saturday the 29th so we will have a nice long visit and if weather permits get to do a few fun things Chicago has to offer--like museums and art galleries.

#123: Eek! I'm supposed to drive to Iowa for Thanksgiving to visit friends. I'll be on I-90 all the way from Boston to Chicago. I was hoping major snow storms would hold off until December.

I moved from Texas to Massachusetts twelve years ago. Driving in the snow still makes me anxious. Of course that could have something to do with me wrapping my car around a utility pole a couple of years after moving here. It took me five years to stop having panic attacks whenever it started to snow!

Your cars "over there", what kind of winter tyre you use ? Drives on 4 wheels ? I don't like to drive in snow and ice myself, but I prefer our 4-wheels-drive car then.

>127 MusicMom41:,
All of the snow is supposed to be in Northwest Indiana, we just had a dusting here last night (and your son lives probably within 10 miles from me at the most). Nothing else is currently forecasted in the next 10 days but some rainy snowy-ness on Saturday and a few snow showers Tuesday.

Have had snow showers on and off all day today.

Finished my latest Early Reviewer and added it and its review - The Archangel Project.

Snow showers here in SE Ohio, this morning..then Sunshine!!!for a few hours. now it's clouding over and looks like it wants to spit more snow....i got two books today, though...so i am contented...not rolling around Happy...but not Deep Blue either...oh well.

;-p

The ski areas outside of Scranton have their snowguns working. A couple of them hope to have skiing this weekend!

I plan on staying home and watching the local Santa Parade on TV.

All this talk of snow is making me envious. It never snows in Sacramento. Or when it does, it melts as soon as it hits the ground. We aren't even getting any rain yet, and I wish desperately that we would.

>133 koalamom: What is a snowgun?

A snowgun is a big machine that they use to make snow. They don't need to have the "real" thing, just below freezing temps and liquid (not sure of the specifics) and they can make snow. They just aim and shoot it all over the slopes - of course, they have a lot of these "guns" all over the slopes and they can also then groom the slopes after a day's skiing.

My area of PA doesn't get as much as some places so this way they can still ski even in those winters where we only get a few inches for the entire season. What Mother Nature provides is a big bonus

Koalamom, I live near the Blue Knob Ski Resort. I didn't think to check and see if they were making snow yet. HHMMM I'll have to get on their website. http://www.blueknob.com/index.html

Wow, they have runs opened!

WOW! I never heard of such a thing. Sounds like fun. Wish we had below freezing temps here. In 2007 we got snow on Easter Sunday and it lasted almost 6 hours. About average for Central Texas.

I'm going to be a total spoil sport and ask what they use to make the snow. Is it just frozen water? or are there some weird chemicals involved? just curious.

It's just water and compressed air. Nature does the rest.

My husband says it's not as fun to ski as real snow but it's better than not skiing at all!

That's what I heard, but as I mentioned above, here in Northeast PA, we've had winters with 7 inches of snow for the entire 6 months. Of course, we have had winters with 147 inches - and that isn't a record.

We've also had warm winters so the snowguns wouldn't be much help there.

I had a relatively scary experience skiing a couple of years ago ... a tree jumped out at me when I turned a corner too quickly. I managed to miss crashing into it, but not before I slid into the path of another skier who was much bigger than me and dislocated my shoulder. He was fine, if a little winded!

I'm discovering the joys of cross-country skiing now ... much safer I think. Although not as exhilarating as downhill, I actually enjoy it because now I don't have to wait for a chair lift to bring me back to the top, and depending on the trails I go on, I can actually ski for a couple of hours and build up a really good sweat and appetite ... and if I happen to bump into anyone, it's just a gentle fall with no risk of an injury. yeah.. i'm a chicken now.

I'm also thinking of taking up snowshoe hiking this winter. I met someone who's a member of a hiking group and she said they do a few snowshoe hikes when there's good snow. She made it sound really interesting.

Skiing. Bah. Sliding on barrel-staves downhill too damn fast to control.

Oh! Hi, everyone! I am back home, computer repaired by new son-in-law, Internet access issues ironed out, and rarin' to find out what the heck I've missed. MusicMom off to entertain grandkids, cameling back from Gawd-knows-where, porchy in an existential crisis, mckait MIA, fredbacon revealed as a Texan manque, goodness! Don't go to sleep or the world will change out of all knowledge! Wait, I sense a book idea....

My daughter's wedding was beautiful, a ceremony held under a huge, 250-year-old live oak tree on a perfect 70-degree afternoon, she looked wonderful in a candlelight satin strapless dress and glam hair and make-up straight from the 1940s. *sigh* My girl is happy at last.

Me, not so much. Mr. Man has officially called it off. Distance is a factor, his anger at being abandoned plays into it, his fear of even visiting New York...turns out he's scared that he'll learn The Divine Miss and I are Involved and that would, according to him, be too much to handle. Foolish lad.

Not that anyone asked, of course, but this is the gossip thread after all. So this will be a Thanks-less giving for me. I expect to be a complete Grinch until January at the earliest.

The drive to and from Texas was lovely. The Divine Miss, always entertaining, extended herself to be a delightful traveling companion and music programmer (neither of us can endure commercial radio and we didn't want to spring for Sirius or XM); the scenery along I-81 and I-40 was a glorious reminder of how gorgeously colorful Fall can be; now if only I hadn't been required to do those 11-hour drives....

I read The Mists of Avalon and The day of the Triffids for LT group reads. I also read The Picture of Dorian Gray for my RL book circle. I will file reports as soon as I can.

Welcome back thanks for the update and the warning, "I expect to be a complete Grinch...". ;)

Welcome back Richard. Glad to hear your computer problems have been solved. Sorry to hear about Mr. Man.

Hang in there, eventually it must get better. I keep telling myself that, because the company I work for is circling the drain.

Richard welcome back. I was just thinking where have you been? So glad your daughter's wedding was beautiful and so sorry to hear about Mr. Man. Hopefully things will look up for you soon.

Glad to have you back Richard! I missed the particular spice you add to these threads !

no she didn't

welcome back msf59

Gee, thanks guys! It's nice to know I was missed. Mr. Man's announcement makes it official, but I can't say I am greatly surprised. Long-distance reelationships with no possibility of the party of the second part moving, and the party of the first part immovable, well...you'd have to have a lot fewer miles than I have not to see the writing on the wall.

>145 LA12Hernandez: LA12, my sainted aunt has ordered a letter-press facsimile of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas for me. Thornwillow Press is producing super-deluxe boxed copies. It is my very, very favorite sentimental Christmas story!

>146 FicusFan: Ficus, oh NO! I sure hope you're wrong about the company circling the drain! Unemployment at this time in our nation's history just rots. I'll send a good-fortune whammy your way.

>147 momom248: Hi momom! I was so pleased that the wedding was so beautiful. I lived in Austin for 30 years and never went to the place where she had it...called Pioneer Farm, so no wonder I never went. My grandparents had a farm. I figured I'd done my time, so never got curious about it. I missed out! What a beautiful creekside spot they have.

>148 msf59: msf, been gone a while yourself, there, manzilla. I hadn't seen you around the Thing much before all hell broke loose. What is the what? Something new reading-wise? I expect you were just too engrossed in your Mazo de la Roche books to spend time around these parts. ;-0

>152 richardderus:: richard- Actually, I've been around quite a bit, I just don't post much on this thread. I've been reading the pirate book for the group read, it's been excellent, just finished March by Geraldine Brooks, incredible and started Lush Life by Richard Price. LT has become a great 2nd home! Was is Mazo de la Roche?

*waves* I'm still here... missed ya madly r-dear

glad you are back snug at home with us.

richardderus

Greetings from Chicago--so glad to have you back. I was beginning to think you had deserted us! Are you sure you want to be The Grinch? As I remember he turned out to be quite lovable! My grandsons love him! (they are 6 and not quite 3!)

The wedding sounded beautiful--so glad your daughter is happy. Now we need to get you happy, too!

>154 mckait: mckait, woo hoo hunny bunny! Pennsylvania, from my high-speed drives through it, scares me. It was foggy and night-time when we zipped east on y'all's poorly maintained Turnpike from Harrisburg to Philly (cousins live there, stayed with them, took 11 hours to drive there from Knoxville, Tenn. *oof*) in a pretty nasty fog. The west-bound lanes had a horrific pile-up while we were zooming along...fires, bits of car flown over the divider wall, immense traffic jam, ewww. Scariest of all was the $7 we had to pay for the privilege of jouncing along the dratted thing for two-plus hours! Okay, charge me a toll, but maintain the road in exchange! *hrrmmmfff*

>153 msf59: msf, I guess since I read A Pirate of Exquisite Mind I could at least lurk in the forum. I would have seen you there. I am in a Thing-rut, I guess, since the two forums I visit are this one and the Sci Fi forum. I get so many new entries for the wish list that I tend to get overwhelmed and run away after that.

Mazo de la Roche was a very successful popular writer from before we were born. Her novels in the Jalna series have sold big numbers over the years. The huge majority of her readership is either female or gay, seldom both, according to my personal though fairly sizable sample of readers I've known. Even though I'm making a joke by imputing your reading of her books, I would suggest them to any lover of a well-told tale. The novels (all 16 of them) are stand-alones as far as enjoyment of them is concerned. I read Whiteoak Heritage as a stripling and liked it a lot. The Building of Jalna starts the series with the building of the eponymous family seat; it's set in Canada, so the Indian name makes one scratch the head a little, until the adventures related in this volume are read.

*whew* That'll teach me to make bad jokes at another's expense.

ETA: >155 MusicMom41: MusicMom, oh I love this age! My oldest grandson is seven...a serious young thing, who hates to be teased because he feels like it's making fun...much education to do there. Have a delightful time there, and don't freeze.

YAY....richard!!! I'm so glad to see you back with us! I've really been missing you.

The wedding sounded lovely. Congrats to bride and groom....and father of the bride. :o)

Aww.....sorry to hear about Mr. Man. It sounds like you are handling it well. Long distance relationships are very hard, if not impossible, especially the older we get. Not that I'm calling you OLD.

Life is full of changes, isn't it?? It's best to just roll with them, I guess.

Anyway........so glad to have you back amongst us.....it hasn't been the same without you.

richard

re grandsons--maybe it's the age? Our 6yo hates to be teased but the 3yo loves it--of course maybe it's also the temperament. :-)

The older one just came home from his piano lesson so now we will hear some new Christmas songs this weekend. He's already got the first one down--he was assigned three to go with the two he played for us when we arrived.. I'm a piano teacher, so I'm delighted with his progress. I hope before we leave he will let me play the duets with him!

Can you tell I'm having fun?! :-D

Nice to see you , Richard. I'm sorry to hear about your break-up. Hang in there.

so sorry, my dear ...Pa is famous for terrible roads. I am not sure what the do with the road budget, or if we even have one. I live so close to the sw corner of the stae, that I am always soon outta here~ as I have given up driving north or NE until further notice.

I sure wish that you had been able to drive by my place with the sainted one.. I would have soothed you with mulled wine and scones..

Although it might have taken a lot of wine since there would have been 3 cats gazing lovingly at you~

:P

mckait.......lol

>157 porchsitter55: porchy, thanks! It's lovely to be missed...though it's better not to be, as Oscar Wilde would have me say. I am delighted to be among friends again. As to calling me OLD, well dear...if you do, it's fine with me because I was raised never to argue with my ELDERS.

*nyah*

>158 MusicMom41: MusicMom, I think there is always some inherent personality thing when a person doesn't like something. I also think you're right that at a certain age, the kid's dignity needs respecting and teasing seems to them to detract from it. I hope against hope that he's not as humorless as his biological father. Oh please gods not that.

Glad you're enjoying! Keep that duet-playing up!

>159 AMQS: AMQS, thanks for the commisseration. I think Mr. Man will decide differently once he's out of his current complicated situation (drunk driving conviction, stint in rehab, ree-starting his sobriety from scratch). If I'm still available, I'll be glad to have a long talk about what we can do together. I am not planning on that happening, though, so I soldier onwards. *blech* I don't like being single much.

>160 mckait: mckait, three cats and you think WINE would do the trick?! Three pounds of CRACK wouldn't make me happy with three Satanic Minions glowering at me from all corners of a room, laden with the flakes of their toxic spit!

But this spring, since I am planning a visit to some friends in Pittstown, I might divert to the obscure glories of Beaver County for a visit. OUTside.

>152 richardderus:
I have How the Grinch Stole Christmas from Random House and use to read it to my sons. I also have the cartoon version and the live action movie on dvd. I just love the fact that Christmas doesn't come from a store.

I agree, LA12, that one of the major take-aways of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the fact that stuff ain't enough.

I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but the officiant at my daughter's wedding read Oh, the Places You'll Go! as their service. Could I get any prouder of this child?

AWSOME! My son is getting married next month, I'm going to recommend that. At my nieces wedding their vows were in the Green Eggs and Ham style. "Would You Love her all your Life? Would you take her as your Wife? Would you love her in the cold? Would you love her when your old?...it was great.

So nice your back Richard. I've missed your voice.

Nice to have you back, Richard. Though this also means you're back in my part of the world, which is COLD. Hope you're adapting to the weather and not missing those balmy Austin winters, too much.

Belated WELCOME BACK Richard...i am fighting a cold here , haven'y been posting much Anywhere, but have been buying books like crazy...glad The Wedding went well...the 40s look is sublime, no? as for Mr Man...DWI convictions are not conducive to much, except more DWI convictions..personal covictions are birds of another feather....Mazo de la Roche???? read most of her work in one fell swoop when i was an impressioable girl...wonder what i would think of them now...Big HUMMMM? there...if Pennsylvania has terrible roads, check out the ones here in Monroe County, OHIO....bad as bad, and i don't mean good...glad you are back Richard...and for now i am gone

I felt proud yesterday - I finally managed to enter that box of Heinlein's into my LT library and put them on a shelf. There were 35 and they were dusty (I am allergic to dust) and old - mostly 50s. It boosted my library quite a bit!

>166 IaaS: IaaS, thank you very much! To be missed from Norway...now that speaks well of me. ;-)

>167 theaelizabet: theaelizabet, I loooooooove the winters here!! Long Island doesn't get the extremes that y'all get farther inland, oddly enough including hurricanes...historically they track up along the mountains more often than blow across the sand-bar I live on. Plus I just love snow. There's a guy who comes and shovels and rakes and mows, so I don't have to strain myself. *aaahhh*

>168 jdthloue: hey there Jude! Book-buying is the only rational response to not feeling well. Book storage is the issue that commands attention. I am praying for quantum bookshelves. They should go sit in another dimension while I don't want a book on them, and then be summonable back to this dimension when I need one. Think the boffins at MIT are working on this problem? If not, why not? What more worthy use of their immense brain-power?

The roads in Ohio probably won't see much of me...I don't like the Safety Nazis who run your state police. Tickets for going 60mph(about 95kph, IaaS)? Bah.

I watched the Hitchcock film Lifeboat last night. It was wonderful. I adore Tallulah Bankhead, and it makes the story even more wonderful to realize how much her co-stars hated her guts. John Hodiak was a handsome devil, and so was Hume Cronyn. The fake English accent that Cronyn affected was awful, and I wonder why Hitchcock accepted it...he was the real article after all. You know the cameos Hitchcock always does in his films...this one's the most creative and fun of them all!

Why bring this up in a book forum? I knew that John Steinbeck, a hero of mine, had written a novella that this movie was based on, but I didn't know that Hitchcock had COMMISSIONED the novella! I can't find any references to the novella ever beeing published, though I admit my search was cursory. Anyone know anything?

Welcome back, richard.... missed you so much! From your postings here, I'm glad to see you're making up for lost time when you were in Texas for your daughter's wedding and your 'puter problems way back. Guess WHPL is going to miss having you around as much now that you've got your new son-in-law to fix your 'puter. It's handy having someone techie in the family.

Sorry to hear about Mr Man. Long distance relationships are difficult to maintain at best and most tend to fall by the wayside. When I was stationed in Hong Kong for a couple of years and my husband had to stay stateside for most of the year, visiting me only a couple of times a year for a month each, we racked up giant phone bills and even that wasn't enough to stop little cracks in our relationship as we both now had different social networks, although i at least knew most of the people making up his.

I know you will come out of this Grinchy funk, and we'll just have to help get you back to happy again.
Btw, i loved the Grinch .. he did turn out to be a lovable creature at the end.

96.5606400000519 k/h to be exact. It happens here too. My youngest son lost his driving-license for halv a year when he speeded to 44.7 mph in a zone where it was only 31.1 mph. He don't do that anymore.

>171 cameling: cameling, thanks for the kind thoughts, though I can't claim this was unexpected. Once his hard-won sobriety was breached, I figured it was a matter of time before he had to change focus. I am sad, of course, but I want Mr. Man to be a happy and healthy man. If that means taking the stress of a long-distance love off himself, then that's what it means.

WHPL is so beautiful! Have been there to see Mme. D yet? I think I'll go there to work even now the 'puter is fixed just because working in a library conducive to constructive and focused research, instead of rambles around the Internet like my home research degenerates into.

>172 IaaS: IaaS, precision is not my forte, I confess...and the speed limit I breached was 55mph/90kph. I can see the reaction to your son's speeding being different as well because it's likely he was in a town or city, where I was on a stretch of Interstate highway...four lanes in each direction, separated by a huge median strip that had a wall in the middle of it. I think it was the New York license plate that made them want to ticket me. Rotten behavior.

>173 richardderus:: richardderus, I usually spend T'giving with my in-laws and they are a very sweet if somewhat ditzy family with a penchant toward indecisiveness. This year, they're taking this to the highest level and as yet have not been able to come to a consensus on where to spend the holiday season. So, you may have me in the neighborhood at the end of the week, or you may not.

You have to convince Mme D that WHPL needs a coffee corner.

You might be here for Thanksgiving?!? When you get here, I will feel personally insulted if my phones don't ring! I shall email the relevant numbers. You and the husband are of course invited for drinks and conversation, quite probably dinner as well depending on your plans, and willingness to eat meat. Vegetarian cooking is beyond my scope, I fear.

Mme D shall be lobbied accordingly. That silly YA corner could make them money if they turned it into a coffee corner! Who needs kids in a library anyway?

(The above was a joke, please don't comment on it seriously anyone.)

Hey Richard, a belated "welcome back." Long distance relationships are definitely tough.

If you get to feeling down, remember that things could always be worse. You could be reading Pope Joan again.

All the best to you, and congrats on the great wedding.

Hi jk! Thanks for the welcome, and there is no power on this planet, no sum of money great enough, no religious figure scary enough to make me so much as sully my fingers with touching the cover of that ghastly, worm-ridden, pox-carrying horror of a book with a title that shall remain untyped by me.

Lord, Richard (or Lord Richard, as you prefer) it's only a book *snort snort*....and PJ...wellllll
;-p

>75 bookgirl271: They have turned a corner of my public library into a coffee shop! lol accessible from within the library and from outside.

Unfortunately they kept the YA section (j/k about the unfortunate part).

I saw a teenage girl in the YA section last time I was there fully 'nested' on one of the beanbags and mostly through reading a book. I wondered how long she had been there? I thought it was great!

>178 jdthloue: jude, it's NOT just a book, it's a scourge from God just like, in fact as awful as, cats.

ps: liking the "Lord Richard" thing...feel free to start a trend....

>179 kiwiflowa: kiwiflowa, I was completely ecstatic when I realized the public library's YA section was always crowded! I love it that young persons are turning into readers despite the major competition in terms of story-telling options.

Actually for Christmas this year, I've decided that everyone's getting books for presents. They're easy to wrap for those who are wrap-challenged such as I, easy to stack and cart around, and if you get the right one for the right person, absorb them for hours so they don't bother you and you can lose yourself in the pages of your own book.

I went books-only for gifts years ago. I'm pretty sure I'm known as the boring book lady when my kids go to birthday parties, but kids need books!! They need them much more than the crappy, noise-making, princess-themed "stuff" that is 98% of what they get at those parties. I love that my own kids eagerly look for titles they love to give to their friends when shopping for those birthday parties.

"that ghastly, worm-ridden, pox-carrying horror of a book with a title that shall remain untyped by me."

"jude, it's NOT just a book, it's a scourge from God just like, in fact as awful as, cats."

you have such a way with words, Lord richardear. You are of course wrong about cats, but still..

haha... are we going to have people posting all those cat pics again? ;-) Poor richard .. you might want to close your eyes and grit your teeth for a few postings.

>182 AMQS:: AMQS, the best presents I get at Christmas are Barnes & Noble gift cards. One year my in-laws were stumped with what to get me and asked my husband .. he suggested the gift card and when they saw how excited I was when I received it, it's become my standard gift from them every year and I am always extremely pleased and can't wait to get to the bookstore the day after to use it.

I don't think I care if they think I'm the boring book lady ... I agree with you ... kids need books to read. They get enough toys from other people. I'd just like the kids I know to start exercising their brain a little and be able to speak in complete sentences

richard--I thoroughly enjoyed Pope Joan--really I did and so did my book club. What I didn't enjoy recently and put down was A Dirty Job. It was as you say --meh!

Speaking of gift cards (sorry that I'm jumping into your conversation..but couldn't resist...) that seems to be the only thing that I get for presents..(or books..)

I love the fact that people know me so well..and..quite embarassed that I'm so easy to see through...

One of the tutors gave me a $100 Barnes and Noble gift card..for high school graduation gift...

My siblings give me Barnes & Noble gift card for my birthday / Christmas as well...

My friends..or my relatives (specifically my uncle)...buy me a book...(^^;)
The gift that I got this year from one of my friends is Kite Runner

ps. On a side note..I got a $25 gift card to a local used book shop from a library that I volunteered for some time..(300+ hours..)
Nice people..those librarians...^^

LordRichard (i started this, right??)...wot be with cats? i have one OLD ca.t..17 years...all she would do would drool..ME, you would have to worry "bout..i speak..i spit..i ask you questions...what Paradise be that, you???

be looking at A Dirty Job...life be Sucky now anywho...

jdt

Cats. Ewww. They make me sneeze and itch. They "love" me, according to their deluded slaves/servants (who are kept around only because the cats can't be bothered to develop opposable thumbs) and want to spread their toxic spit on me, and sit in my lap and make that awful cement-mixer sound that some deluded souls think is charming and restful but is actually a narcotizing precursor to a blood-drenched attack with all twenty of their horrible, hooked, barbed-wire sharp claws.

Need we discuss this self-evident truth further?

AMQS and cameling, a books-only policy is the best way to fly bar none in gift-giving season. Gift cards come in one size...the right one. As applebook1 attests, there are no bad denominations! I have gone even further down this road than y'all have, giving only Amazon gift cards because I can print them out on fancy-looking paper and put them inside the frames I pick up at garage sales for 25 cents and make the fonts look all Olde Englishe or deco or whatever suits the beloved I bestow the giftie on. The Amazon advantage is they have so many product lines that I don't have to worry about the non-readers. There are two people I give gifts to who don't use computers, so they get real stuff, but for the rest...well, a half-hour online and two hours deciding what to make the printouts look like and then print them, another hour putting the damn things in frames, and I am done.

momom...I make no representations to possessing The Revealed Truth about anything! I thought That Worm-Ridden Book was ghastly and I resent every heartbeat I spent on it, but anyone who enjoyed it is welcome to disagree with my assessment. LEGIONS of people continue buying, reading, and watching Lord of the Rings despite my disdain for its style-less, blowsy, mishmosh of mythoses. They aren't wrong, nor am I, we're simply acting on a different set of stimulus responses.

That's a danger of daring to criticize things honestly,I've found: The perception by those who disagree with one's criticism that one is asserting a better opinion than their own, and one wants them to hop to and change their minds. NO! NOT THE WAY IT IS! Differing opinions make for better appreciations of the work in question by BOTH parties. There is NO revealed truth in criticism, only an informed opinion. There are more informed opinions than others, but that doesn't privilege the better informed opinion over the less informed one, it simply is a fact of existence that these discrepancies exist.

And not that you, momom, were accusing me of being didactic or wrong or whatever, but I find myself huffed at quite a lot when I give opinions with idiotic statements like, "well, maybe that's YOUR opinion" and the like; it shows the party of the second part feels insecure in their own opinion to respond like that. Since I hear that a lot, I ruminate on differences of opinion more than a lot of people seem to do. Hence my statement of principle in response to a simple comment. I hope you won't see it as an attack! :-0

I like my doggy.

I do not, however, like the wet, freezing, gross weather that has invaded New jersey. Perfect weather for staying inside, drinking hot tea, eating popcorn, and reading a good book.

Unfortunately, I have to go submit resumes at the local shops for weekend work. SO MUCH MORE FUN.

I love cats.

I have one myself.

She woke me and my bf up this morning at 5 wanting to be fed. We ignored her. She then wandered around the room finding the one plastic bag to walk over and crackle. Finding my contact lense case and my ring on my bedside table to knock off. My BF's phone and sunglasses on his bedside table to knock off. And finally settled down to bat at the chain that raises the blind over the window

We ignored her, wide awake, but ignored her, she has to learn that she doesn't get fed at sunrise but at 6.

We are of course her owners...

*snort* She has to learn?! HAHAHA

#189 richard

You are a person after my own heart. I love to discuss differing opinions--sometimes even passionately!--but I don't require anyone to change his mind and I don't expect them to require that I do (although I have been know occasionally to be convinced by someone's cogent argument--:-D ). What I hope is that a difference of opinion does not cause a loss of esteem--or even worse, of friendship! I have found in my life a few rare people that can "argue" passionately and still remain close friends. Unfortunately, that is becoming much rarer these days and it is a shame--it makes conversation either much more dull, or else it means that I need to know when to keep my mouth shut!

One thing I like about LT--there seem to be quite a few people that can discuss books and disagree without rancor--which makes these threads so interesting!

Hi-ellevee- I'm sure I'll would like your doggy too, but even if the weather sucks doggies looooves to go out for a trip. And come home with mud all over, or icecurls in their bellies. I miss my dogs. Its so much easier to curl up on the sofa with a good book and some chocolate when its freezing outside.

And richard, it was you who brought up the catissue this time. Sorry you are allergic, but the cats know your gentle soul and salutes you. The trick against their claws is to take a pillow between you and them.


more animals

Cats are OK, I guess, but now that my wife and I finally have our own house, with a bit of land around it, in beautiful Boonville, CA, as opposed to our no-pets-lease apartment in San Francisco, we are getting, this Saturday, a dog. We are doing a shelter rescue of a handsome yellow lab with some other assorted breeds tossed into the gene pool. Just under a year old, he is.

#189> Richard, I am with you on the opinion thing. Online, though, I've found that when you (and by "you" I don't mean "you," but "everyone") simply state an opinion, especially a strong one, some folks will get the idea you are saying you are right, not "this is my opinion." I also frequent a site where things can get much more contentious than they ever do around here. So I've gotten into the habit, on that site, of liberally tossing "in my opinion"s and "in my view"s in here and there. Just to insert a modicum of humilty. Even if it's phony.

Around here, though, since people are pretty civil in general, I'm not sure it's necessary.

#195 rocketjk

"Even if it's phony."

Love it! I needed a good laugh! :-D

If you really want to be humble use IMHO--In My Humble Opinion--especially when you KNOW you are right!

You know, jk and MusicMom, y'all're right...the whole "IMHO" dodge is transparently phony, and it's a damn good thing we all know that. But still, don't you find yourselves thinking that the burden of qualification OUGHT to be on the side of the offense-taker? If I think someone is just flat wrong about something I care enough about to have an opinion on, I just clam up and go away more often than not. What's it to me what some goofball thinks of (say) politics or religion, if I happen to disagree with said goofball?

Only time that doesn't work well, I think, is when you're married or "married" (as in in-laws or the partner's revolting friends who can't be got rid of because they know where the bodies are buried) to the goofball. Argument, in the rhetorical sense that jk and MusicMom use it, is a dying form of communication. This is a source of deep sadness to me, because it means that I learn so much less than I would if it were not true. I have an anarchist/vegan friend with a blog that I read sporadically, specifically so that I can argue with him about certain things. We both come away from that with great loathing for each other, and often after heated exchanges, we will not speak for weeks.

But we always come back. Because we're among the few people who can respect and even love those who disagree with our fundamental identity building blocks. It helps to know, I guess, that the other person is exactly that: Other. No sense getting all ruffled over what others say. My mother taught me an African proverb when I was young: "It's not what you call me, it's what I answer to." In matters of opinion, that saying is the best rule I can imagine following.

And jk: After the holidays, The Divine Miss and I are getting a dog! Do you have pictures of your new pal?

IaaS, that is a funny picture. I have an answer to the kitty, though: "Not while I'm here." I have one word to say to all the cats of the planet, and I quote the Dalleks of "Doctor Who" fame here: "EXTERMINATE!"

Richard, on the cat issue, I concur wholeheartedly, with no humility or apology.

Still friends with all of you--but will scroll past any furballs.

Beware, or my cats will beem you up :-)

I like a rousing good discussion, too. I do not think everyone need agree with me, but I agree that it is hard to make this clear in text.

As to cats who want fed at 5 am. I have three, sigh. They outnumber me. Morgan licks my eyelids. Or she looks for things to tear and shred. Rosie jumps up and down on me and she can make herself weight a hundred pounds. Emmie is a sweetie, she just walks around on my head.

I typically get up, feed them, and make coffee.

lol@cal "snort"

and yay yay yay to adopting a young lab mix ... you made my day!

I love to hear about dogs and cats getting good homes....

:)

One thing i have found...in this whole " expressing one's opinion" business...sometimes when i give rein to my opinion on something...and said opinion goes against that of the Popular....the person to whom i am opining...will attack me Personally..rather than my Opinion...and that really ticks me off...a good Slag fest is one thing...but i hate to be torn down personally..while the other Numbskull gets to come across as smug and righteous....with nary a clue as to what i might have said...i stay home a lot..by myself...and post online where i type opinions v e r y c a r e f u l l y.....sometimes....

dogs are okay...for other people...my old cat wakes me up by smacking me with her front paws (she was declawed front paws when i got her) and drooling...yum yum...it's morning...what's a little cat spit between friends (i see Richard a-cringin") LOL

;-p

richard,

I love the varying opinions of the LT members-it makes things interesting and exciting and in no way did I take your criticism as an attack. By the way I didn't like Lord of the Rings either. So we agree on that one. And its ok if you don't like Pope Joan--to each his own I say. I truly enjoy everyone's opinions here--that is why I love Library Thing so much.

So having said that--have a wonderful Thanksgiving to you richard and to all on LT!! Am visiting parents for the next couple days so may not get to log in to this site until the weekend.

And richard I forgot to ask what kind of dog will you be getting? My hubby is highly allergic to cats/dogs, you name it so we have no pets (boo hoo).

Check out this video: cat

Hahahahahahahaaahhaaaahahahah umphaa
Hilarious

That's hilarious and so, so true!

Maybe someone should start a thread for catlovers and cat people who read books with cats as the protagonists? I know several such series, but have also read them all up to and maybe including the latest one.

I don't think there will be a new "Cat Who..." book, but then that series was not as good in recent years as when she Lillian Jackson Braun started it.

At any rate, the Gathering Place needs a new thread soon as well.

No Cat tread for me, a little jokes is ok, but cat-books, mjnoo

oh porchy, that was just tooo precious and funny!

To all who celebrate this wonderful and often gut-busting holiday ... Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who "Gather" here!

Best and Bounteous Wishes to all Book Addicts what abide here...don't overdo the food (bellyaches will follow) but find time to read, if only a little
jude
;-p

Happy Thanksgiving to you too koalamom & jdthloue and to everyone on LT!! Safe travels for all who are going out of town!!

#201 jdthloue

"the person to whom i am opining...will attack me Personally..rather than my Opinion."

This is what I was talking about--we are more than the sum of one opinion--or even the sum of many opinions!--and we need to recover the art of discussing--or even arguing--opposing opinions without attacking the person or losing esteem for the person. What a dull would this would be if we all agreed about everything. But what an ugly world we are creating--look at the recent US election campaigns!--when we become polarized by our differing opinions and then try to discredit people with whom we don't agree.

Off the soap box now!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Happy Turkey Day Everyone !!

Enjoy the bounty of the harvest ~ here's one day we can pig out with no guilt!!! Have a great day my friends!

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Four days off from work, food, football, friends, and books, life is good !

>MusicMom41...hello and thanks for the Heads-Up

where i live i am considered WEIRD because i have so many books in my house, and i actually read them

what pisses me off is when someone attacks me personally for my opinion (which they do not understand) it's easy to attack, right? harder to understand...one of the reasons i like This Group..we all Read!!!folks here where i live don't read...okay, i am weird...i read..i am not BORN AGAIN..i am not SAVED...so, by the lights here i am..lost? no, i am a heretic and proud of it...oh lord i ramble

thank god or whomever for this group...may we reign long and serious

sorry for the rant...jude
;-p

i guess what i was trying to say is...people will attack you, personally, for your opinions, if they do not understand your opinions..a Personal Attack is always an easy, cheap shot..right?

I did a bad thing.

I went to bookcloseouts.com and ordered TWENTY TWO books. But....they are having a special sale....an additional 50% off most fiction books AND if you spend over $35 you get free shipping!!

But my hubby and I had JUST agreed that we were going to really start watching our spending in this horrid economy, no more frivolous tossing money around, using the credit card for anything other than absolutely necessary purchases. Of course, books would fall under "necessary" IF we didn't already have about 146 gazillion books waiting to be read!!!!! AGGGH! I am so ashamed.

And I can't wait to get my books! HEEEEE!

I, too, did a bad thing.

Twenty-six books. Sixty-eight dollars and ninety-nine cents. I think of the poor delivery man carrying that giant box up the steps to my door.

My ordering was interrupted by T'giving dinner and a house full of guests. I left my partially filled cart (at the time below the free shipping threshold) and worried that someone would buy a book out from under me! I finished up late Thursday night, all books available and now on their way!

At least my "bad" times are only twice a year at mt Friends' booksale, but it takes me until the next sale to read what I bought at the last one - if I am lucky and my two suppliers don't bring me more or all the holds at the library don't come in - at the same time (I always read holds first) and then there's that whole building full of books (the library). I don't know- who could ever say there's nothing to read??????????????????????

o-?

Well hey, at least I'm not the only one. LOL

Who can resist a huge sale like that??? Not me!

But seriously, this has to be the last big, delicious boxful of books for a long time. My craving for more and more is really bordering on OCD. LOL

Do they make a pill yet for compulsively buying too many books?

porchy...I have a full cart, but managed not to click "continue" yet.. lol
tonight maybe.. I need to delve farther into the alphabet...

Don't fret above--I plan on doing a very bad thing next week at Borders and the library book sale. Hopefully keeping damage to a minimum!!

I'm looking forward to visiting a friend tomorrow ... not just because she's good company, but because she's just gotten 2 new dogs from her brother who passed on, and they apparently eat books. So I get first dibs on the books I'd like from her library. She's moving on to e-books now.

Today was my birthday. My daughter gave me Dewey which I fell in love with as an Early Reviewer title but didn't get. My son gave me Dragonheart, which for some reason, my County Library System didn't order, but being a Pern fan, I wanted to read. I also got a nice red robe my my significant other! Got to see "Ain't Misbehaving" too.

Happy Birthday, Koalamom. Sounds like you got some goodies to help make it a special day.

I hope you post a review of Dewey ... I'm interested in reading this .. but will wait for it to come out in paperback.

Yes, I and 46 others who were lucky to get the book before I did have posted reviews, so go to the Dewey "place" and read up on him.

#200> mckait (and everyone else) . . .

Here is the yellow lab/Carolina dog mix that came home from the Ukiah, CA, shelter with my wife and me on Saturday and now has a new home, and 2 acres to romp around on, in Boonville, CA.





He is around 8 or 9 months old. His name? (Y'all will like this)

Yossarian

He is beautiful!

He's a beauty! Didn't know about Carolina dogs, so thanks for the link. My black Lab is 11 months. They have the most wonderful temperaments. And yes, love the name!

What a handsome guy!

Robert

what a beautiful dog rocketjk!! Like the name too!

How handsome! I am sooooo jealous.

He's absolutely adorable!

YAY!!! I love happy pet stories. He's a beautiful animal. Blessings to you for bringing him home. Sounds like he is going to have a blast at the new place!!

Quick dip into the LT pool to say howdy...eventful weekend, guests who were welcome and didn't stay long enough *cough*cameling*cough* guests who didn't know when to go home, crises in far-flung family lands, and I have a few minutes before I go to bed to finish The Picture of Dorian Gray for my RL book circle.

Such an odd book. Thoroughly wicked in its ninteenth century construction: Gleefully transgressive of the social norms. Since the social norms have changed both so much and so little, it's weirdly dissonant to read this book in the 21st century.

He is a beautiful dog, how lucky he is to find you. So did you think you found him ? I think he sendt his wibes for you .......Lucky you.

Did something I don't usually do myself - I bought a book for me! I also bought a few for Christmas presents, too.

I got Dashing Through the Snow. I like Christmas stories and keep most of them.

What a beautiful dog!!!

You are all so lucky! I wish you much happiness and good future memories...
I am so happy that you posted pics :)

jk, what a pooch! I am envious.

Hi mckait! Owe you an email...no book circle for me, gout attack meant no sleep and my pain meds make me too stupid to navigate NYC.

richard.....I have chronic tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.....I understand foot pain, believe me. It's a miracle that we can still read, and comprehend what we read, when on our "happy" pills. However, I think my brain gets even more jostled when the pain is at it's worst....so I guess the pills are a good thing when we need 'em.

Hope you feel better soon.

porchy, ewwwwwww plantar fasciitis! Foot pain isn't so much the issue any more since I've had three surgeries to remove dissolved bone shards and very, very large gouty tophus deposits. It's in my hands that it's the worst now. Very unfun. But yay narcotic prescriptions! Without them, I would function only a little bit and only once in a while. So eeven though it makes me stupid, I am grateful to the pain management pill industry for its product.

The Gathering Place expands some more over here!