kath's ( mckait) 75 book challenge reads 2009 Thread #5

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kath's ( mckait) 75 book challenge reads 2009 Thread #5

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1mckait
Modifié : Août 25, 2009, 5:47 pm

My challenge thread #1

My challenge thread #2

My challenge thread #3

My challenge thread #4






#65 The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne
#66 One For The Money by Janet Evanovich
#67 The Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
#68 Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
#69 The Last Report On The Miracles At Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
#70 Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich
#71 Columbine by Dave Cullen
#72 The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin
#73 The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw
#74 Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley & The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
#75 The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes
***************************************************************

# 76 Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
#77 Schuyler's Storm by Robert Rummel-Hudson
#78 Secrets of the Unified Field: The Philadelphia Experiment, The Nazi Bell, and the Discarded Theory by Joseph P. Farrell
#79 Shake the Devil off by Ethan Brown
#80 They Myrtle Plantation by Frances Kermeen
#81 The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
#82 The Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
#83 Yes, My Darling Daughter: A Novel by Margaret Leroy
#84 The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom
#85 The Rapture by Liz Jensen
#86 Gift from My Son: Autism Redefined by Keli Lindelien
#87 The Woman Who Can't Forget by Jill Price
#88 I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn
#89 Haunted by James Herbert 91. Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
#90 The Year of Past Things by M.A. Harper
#91 Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
#92 Autism's False Prophets by Dr. Paul A. Offit
#93 Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea
#94 Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
#95 Dance for Amelia by Peter Beagle
#96 A Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
#97 The Raven by Peter Landesman
#98 Direct Red by Gabrial Weston
#99 A Gate at The Stairs by Lorrie Moore
#100 Second Sight by George D Shuman
#101 Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk
#102 The Lost City of Z by David Grann
#103 In The Woods by Tana French
#104 The Likeness by Tana French
#105 The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
#106 The Midwife's Tale
#107 Shadow Game
#108 Mind Game
#109 Night Game
#110 Double Take



2mckait
Août 10, 2009, 7:36 am

#104 The Likeness

Again, I loved reading this book. I was drawn into the story immediately.
We are asked to believe the improbable, but that is a novel after all.
French makes the unlikely seem possible, kept my attention, and gave
me a very enjoyable read. I recommend both this book and In the Woods.

3alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 7:47 am

OK, Kath, I have got you starred again! You change threads as often as I do.

4mckait
Août 10, 2009, 7:48 am

LOL Stasia, no one needs new threads as oftenas you do..
Thanks for starring me :)

5alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 7:51 am

I read In the Woods last year, but my local library does not have The Likeness in yet. I am anxiously awaiting it!

6mckait
Août 10, 2009, 7:52 am

I can't choose which I liked better. Both of these were very good books, I look forward to the new one! I would love to get it as an ARC lol

7alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 7:55 am

Great - my local library is going to be 2 Tana French books behind :(

8mckait
Août 10, 2009, 8:03 am

On her vid @ amazon, she said it is going to focus on Frank.. remember the
one who sent Cassie into her undercover op with the drug dealers? I hope Cassie appears though...

I am a bit leary about all of this because Frank was my least favorite character in both books..

9alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:07 am

Maybe he will endear himself to you in book 3. Does it have a title yet?

10mckait
Modifié : Août 10, 2009, 8:13 am

No title that I have found, and I seriously doubt he will endear himself to me. There was more of him in The Likeness than in In the Woods and he really ticked me off.

11alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:12 am

OK, so then you can just skip the book and maybe your smiley will cool off!

12mckait
Août 10, 2009, 8:14 am

skip the book??? are you mad woman!!!!

13alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:16 am

Well, then you cannot complain about Frank (or the book) when you knew what you let yourself in for!

14mckait
Août 10, 2009, 8:18 am

No promises, lol. Maybe someone new will show up?

15alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:19 am

. . . And kill Frank and then your problem will have been taken care of . . .

16mckait
Août 10, 2009, 8:20 am

eep! poor creepy Frank... maiming would be enough...

17alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:22 am

Do we get to pick the part that gets maimed?

18mckait
Août 10, 2009, 8:23 am

we can try...

19alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 8:28 am

I am sure that Tana French would love to have our creative juices flow into her newest book :)

20mckait
Août 10, 2009, 10:58 am

lets ring her :)

I had to leave to do furkid things.. buy cat food and wash the Duncan. He hates me now.. sigh. The cats will love me because I bought a whole case of their fave beef fancy feast.

later.. I will be shearing said Duncan, he will hate me more. O should have bought him a bone...

My ER book arrived today.. The Day The Falls Stood Still, so that will be my next read.

21Carmenere
Août 10, 2009, 2:55 pm

The Day The Falls Stood Still, I received it in today's mail as well. We'll have to compare notes. You will probably finish first as I am currently in the middle of The Collapsing Universe and if I put it down I will have forgotten all I have absorbed.

22cal8769
Août 10, 2009, 3:04 pm

*waves*

I'm finally getting your threads caught up. Looks like you have been reading some gooooood books!

Duncan will forgive, Furkids always do. (bribery does work)

23mckait
Août 10, 2009, 3:39 pm

Cal you are so right.. chicken on the menu for him tonight :)

I have started The Day The Falls Stood Still,and I am liking it so far.. but I've only just begun...

yes, I have had some good reads lately though ...

Carmenere.. I will look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book!

24rainpebble
Août 10, 2009, 5:07 pm

Whew Kath!~!
I was beginning to think that you and Stasia would never stop bickering. I thought I had gone back in time to when I was raising my girls. hee hee
My guess is you are rested up and having a good day.
I am so happy you are having fun. Fun is THE best thing to have!~!
hugs,
belva

25alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 5:11 pm

We were not bickering! We were having fun :)

26mckait
Août 10, 2009, 5:15 pm

X actly ~ :)

27alcottacre
Août 10, 2009, 5:23 pm

#24: I have not been to bed yet, so I am not rested up Belva. I am over the 24-hour mark of being awake :) Kath probably got some rest, though.

28rainpebble
Août 10, 2009, 5:30 pm

You two are toooo funny!~!
I have just been sitting watching the interaction and laughing!~!
Stasia---you are probably giddy from no sleep and we know that giddy is just Kath's natural condition. LOL
belva

29FicusFan
Août 10, 2009, 6:23 pm

I tracked you down. Here I thought 1 post was reasonable and there were 28 I missed.

30Whisper1
Août 10, 2009, 8:49 pm

#20 and 21
Today I also received my advanced reading copy of The Day The Falls Stood Still. I have a few library books to read so most likely won't start the ARC until next week. I'll anxiously await your comments.

31mckait
Août 11, 2009, 7:11 am

*thinking that Stasia is robot triplets who read*

thanks for finding me ficus and all.....

I didn't get much reading done. My kitty Rosie was not acting right yesterday.
I took her to the vet ( which I never do unless I am very concerned) and he wanted to send me home after just giving her subQ fluids and wait and see. I said not thank you, xrays please. Well.. she apparently ate.... something. It is stuck there.. making her feel bad. I am giving her catlax today, and hoping she eats a bit... and passes it. If not, she will have surgery tomorrow. I am a very worried kitty mom....

32FicusFan
Août 11, 2009, 7:15 am

mckait, I am so sorry to hear about Rosie's problems. Good for you to stand up and insist on proper care. I hope it comes out all right (sorry couldn't resist).

33mckait
Août 11, 2009, 7:25 am

:) I do need something to make me smile, believe me. I hope it does too!

34Whisper1
Août 11, 2009, 8:35 am

Kath
Poor thing, you have been through way too much during spring and now summer.

Hugs to you and Rosie.

35cal8769
Août 11, 2009, 8:39 am

(((Hugs))) and give a squeeze to Rosie, too. Poor baby.

36mckait
Août 11, 2009, 8:53 am

thank you... I will keep you posted .. she has only taken a few nibbles of food so far.. so not my rosebud.

37rainpebble
Modifié : Août 11, 2009, 12:30 pm

Good morning dear Kath;
I am sorry your Rosie is out of sorts. I certainly hope everything you did for her did the trick and that surgery will not be necessary.
We had a springer spaniel that forever would carry rocks around in her mouth and she swallowed one; complete blockage and surgery to follow. We do so love our family of critters, don't we?
Do let us know, please, when you have tired of catastrophes raining down upon you my dear.
Today I am down to getting the house, pet food, and fridge ready for hubby and grands for while I am gone and packing. Then we will leave early tomorrow for Portland and he and the boys will dump me off at the airport and go on to the Portland OMSI and stay overnight, come up the coast and spend a night in Long Beach at our favorite inn and use the pool and then come on home on Friday. I bet they have a blast.
I think I will have to wait about 4 or 5 hours for my flight, but I am taking a good book (Battle Cry of Freedom) and I want them to be able to have a full day there so I don't mind. It was actually my idea for them to just drop me off and go.
I am not looking forward to the weather down there, but cannot wait to see my Robbi!~! One or the other of us has been calling daily to ask: how many more wake ups til I'm there!~! LOL
It will be all good.
luv ya and will catch up with you if the town library has public internet access. Otherwise I'll catch you in 2 weeks. You, Rosie and all the other critters take care.
later babe,
belva

38alcottacre
Août 11, 2009, 3:49 pm

Kath, my best to you and Rosie!

39mckait
Août 11, 2009, 4:19 pm

my rosebud ate her dinner.. but still no litter box action.. cross fingers for me...surgery is not my first choice for resolution..

40tiffin
Août 11, 2009, 6:34 pm

Any idea what she ate?

41curlysue
Août 11, 2009, 6:44 pm

has she vomited? how about drinking?

if she's eating and not vomiting that is probably a good sign....but she could also have a partial obstruction that might require surgery ( I know you don't want that )

staying hydrated is important...it will also help move things along

keep her close tonight ( I know you will )

will be thinking about you two (((HUGS)))

42dianestm
Août 11, 2009, 7:14 pm

Kath, you must be so worried. Its hard when someone (pets included) become sick.

Hopefully Rosie will be ok without the surgery. Thinking of you both.

43kidzdoc
Août 12, 2009, 3:31 am

Sending prayers and good thoughts for Rosie & kath...

44mckait
Modifié : Août 12, 2009, 7:28 am

Tiff no, it is so amorphous, no way to tell..
even on digital x-ray..

lol curly... I know.. I used to work for this vet...
upside ,I know a lot...downside... I know a lot.
Thanks though.. I appreciate your info a lot.

diane and doc.. thank you :)

She ate well yesterday.. didnt use box .. but didn't vomit..
so? I am taking her for another xray this morning. We will see
whats happening then. If need be ~surg this afternoon... but my friend
jo will assist. Thank the goddess.. some of the techs in that place..
some of other support staff... well, no comment.

She is doing well, is hungry and ate well yesterday and hungry today ( npo at moment)
so?
:-/

I will bring her home as soon as she is awake. I do not ever leave my pets to overnight at a vets. Never. Very few vets have night staff...The only time I left a pet is when Duncan nearly died and I took him to Akron. They have a fully staffed hospital at night, so he was safe. When I worked for the vet, Jo and I walked into way too many scary mornings.. I learned a good lesson. Most vets will allow you to sign a paper to take your pet home. If they won't, if they won't work with you.. get a new vet. ( or doctor for yourself if that is the case.. if a doctor will not work with you.. fire him) I am so fortunate because I alone manage Duncans care. Vet is there If I need him, or for yearly bloodwork.. but I manage doses and so on, for a list of reasons.

Do you know that our suggested doses are often 2X those in Canada... Specifically for PercortenV but for other drugs and people and pets as well. Interesting eh?
anyway..

Thank you for the good wishes. I have an apt at 10:30 so...

eta

poor doc is probably thinking I am a nightmare of a noncompliant patient or patient mom. he is no doubt right from his point of view .. :)

45kidzdoc
Août 12, 2009, 9:19 am

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking...one of those that doesn't listen, doesn't follow instructions, and calls up at 3 am to ask a question that you had answered during the previous office visit. ;-)

Seriously, though, doctors aren't the smartest people in the world, and frequently their ears don't work very well and their minds are not focused on the patient as much as they should be. (And I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't guilty of that more times than I'd like to admit to!) So, IMO, it is never inappropriate to at least question the doctor/MLP/NP/etc. about the plan of care if it doesn't make sense to you, or you are not in agreement with it. The recent experience of a well-known 75er is exhibit A in that regard. And I wouldn't always assume that because the doctor is, in your opinion, "smarter" than you are, or "knows more about medicine" than you do, that this is truly the case. I know that I can pop up a dozen or more stories off the top of my head about misdiagnoses by other physicians that left me shaking my head in disbelief -- and I'm sure that many others on this thread could do the same.

This message was not endorsed by The American Medical Association.

46mckait
Modifié : Août 12, 2009, 12:57 pm

hehe doc.. I am not that bad! I always ask questions at the appropriate time. I am trained well, after training patients :) . I am always prepared to question a doctor.. I have seen a lot after working a variety of support postiions for 30 years.

Dr in front of a name puts me on alert, does not make my brain melt. Drs have studied things I have not.. they have education I do not, that does not make them smarter in essential ways. I know my kids/furkids/self better than they do.
Dr's always have to prove themselves to me.. not otherwise :)

oh and I am addmittedly non-compliant with things I disagree with :)

Rosie is said to be okay..xray clear
she is immune to catlax....

Hopefully whatever this was has passed? or will?

47tloeffler
Août 12, 2009, 3:44 pm

Glad that all seems well with Rosie. I've not been on to add my wishes for her recovery, but it looks like she got along okay without my help!

I agree about doctors. I've worked with them for dozens of years. They are very smart, but they are not infallible by any means. I generally trust them, but I go with my gut.

48Whisper1
Août 12, 2009, 7:59 pm

Kath
I'm so glad to know Rosie is doing better!

Chiming in on the conversation regarding doctors...I am blessed. I have two spunky, caring female doctors in my life, one is my excellent primary care doc and the other is a wonderful, supportive neurologist who helps me cope with the nastiness of an Arnold Chairi Malformation.

Recently I discovered a kind, supportive gastroenterologist who talks with me more about books than about how I am feeling after the removal of my gall bladder. And, I was doubly blessed ten years ago when I had my eyes examined by a wonderful, caring, kind eye doc who now is my husband.

49curlysue
Août 12, 2009, 8:16 pm

No Surgery???? YEAH!!!!!!

50mckait
Modifié : Août 12, 2009, 8:41 pm

I am so happy that all is seeming well with Rose... I am almost afraid to believe it though.. because whatever showed up in the first xray did not show up in the secomd.. but.. I have not seen it anywhere else either.. .. ahem.

poor doc.. he is going to run for the hills :)
I don't mean you Darryl, honest! You are clearly one of the good guys.

My son showed up in the wee hours for a few days at home.. so I will be pretty busy with him and some other things..

Today? A visit from my first ever boyfriend ( 40 years in the past) ..
very interesting afternoon...

He and Cory got along like a house afire :).. and of course there was a testosterone driven pissing contest for a while, but they did hit it off :) fun to watch!

51tiffin
Août 12, 2009, 10:40 pm

Glad Rosie is unplugged.

52tymfos
Août 12, 2009, 10:59 pm

Just stopping by to say hello, and that I'm glad Rosie is feeling better!

53Berly
Août 12, 2009, 11:40 pm

**waving hi** and so happy everything worked out for Rosie :)

54FicusFan
Août 13, 2009, 12:54 am

mckait, I am happy all is well with Rosie. In terms of something there and then not, on the x-ray. I had that with one of my cats, but it was a perfectly round ball, and they said it was a gas bubble. It was gone when they checked later.

My cat Isis, was having a terrible time breathing and her lungs sounded wet, just happened. Of course my Vet was on vacation. The sub did blood work and it looked like she had a blood disease.

They got her stabilized and she seemed OK, but I made my vet run every test in the book when he got back. They all came back negative, and the only one left was the allergy test. He didn't want to do it because he said they always came back negative and were a waste of money. I insisted. Her test came back with 23 positives. 17 were absolute and 6 were partial. So we started allergy shots, and I had to occasionally give her liquid children's Benadryl when she had an attack. What fun.

55Copperskye
Août 13, 2009, 2:14 am

Hi mckait - I just thought I'd stop by to see what you were reading and in going through the posts found myself very worried about your cat. So I was glad to get to the end to hear that she is feeling better! My own geriatric cat has had some recurring pancreatitis over the last year and I know how scary it is when they get so sick.

And Ficus, I never even thought about cats having allergies but you did a great job insisting on the tests!

56scarpettajunkie
Août 13, 2009, 7:36 am

Agree that Ficus is a good cat mom. I'm impressed. It warms the cockles of my heart. I'm a dog person myself because my husband is the one with allergies to cats....and he loves cats! He makes sure he pets his dad's two cats every time we stop over just the same.

57FicusFan
Août 13, 2009, 7:56 am

Thanks all. I am allergic to cats too, but that has never stopped me from having them. I have had 2 courses of allergy shots (2nd ones seemed to have worked better), and I wash my hands after petting. They think its actually the saliva on the hair not the hair itself that causes a reaction.

I had my allergies triggered when I was about 12, by a rabbit. I won a small bunny at a raffle at school.

When the doctor met with my parents after the tests and said they had to get rid of the cat, he was shocked when my parents said 'No'. She was part of the family

.

58mckait
Août 13, 2009, 8:05 am

It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy knowing that each of you spared a thought for my Rosietoes...thank you all. Animal people always understand, and are always such good people. I thank you all. sincerely.

Good for you ficus for standing your ground and insisting. We are the only voice these furkids have, and sometimes we need to not only use it, but raise it a bit.
I guess vets are in a precarious position of wanting to try to not dive in right away with all sorts of expensive ( ridiculously so ) tests..because to some, it is impossible to manage. They have a fine line to walk.

When I got there yesterday, my friend jo came in and burst into tears.
She had rescued a little poodle years ago...Someone hit him and brought him in and abandoned him. It was on a highway, and although we tried for two weeks we were unable to come up with an owner. She hand him patched up and took him home. Her previous dog, a lab, Coyote had just died a few months earlier.. he was a special needs dog she took home when the breeder was going to put him down as a tiny pup. Jo asked for him and was given him, She gave him a good life for 10 years. Jo is an angel in my life, and she is a major angel in the lives of the animals she cares for both at work and in her home. I could tell many stories..

I helped her find a name ( Basil) and she has had him for 12 years. The details are long and ugly, but it looks like he was bitten by a copperhead and his heart was badly affected. There were more problems, and he went from being a spunky older dog to a dying dog in 4 days. She had to let him go yesterday.
So sad :(

These furkids come second only to the other, two legged family members in our lives when it comes to giving us joy and worry and grief, eh?

On a happier note. Yesterday, I had a visit from Gary, who was my first official boyfriend. He has always been ... different. On top of that, he is a little broken and holds people at a huge distance. Thing is, he is a good, kind and gentle man.. I won't bore you with details, but long after we dated he was a friend.. my kids all loved him when they were young. He showed up once dressed at a giant pink bunny, one as spiderman.. and .. well ... more. In the mid 80's he moved south and we moved north and ....

His dad passed on Sunday, and he came to visit yesterday. It was great. He is still very .. well.. Gary, but he is also still a good man. It was a wonderful visit :)
He and Cory had a great time, too. Such fun!

59mckait
Août 13, 2009, 8:31 am

#105 The Day The Falls Stood Still was a really good read. I thought it sounded interesting.. but it was more, in a way that is difficult to describe. I gave it four stars and would recommend it. This was an LT/ER

60scarpettajunkie
Août 13, 2009, 12:11 pm

McKait, I read the book and it was also an ARC. It was almost haunting but it was not scary. It definitely was a heartbreaker. I could feel my heart go crinkle crunch when she walks the land near where the accident happened.

61Whisper1
Août 13, 2009, 12:39 pm

Kath and scarpettajunkie

thanks for the information regarding The Day The Falls Stood Still. I'll read my arc this week.

62cal8769
Août 13, 2009, 12:56 pm

That was one book that I wanted and didn't get!

*pouts*

63tymfos
Modifié : Août 13, 2009, 1:45 pm

The Day the Falls Stood Still sounds wonderful. (I enjoyed your review of it.) And I have a special fondness for stories related to Niagara Falls, as my husband proposed to me there!

64mckait
Août 13, 2009, 2:15 pm

Glad you liked the review... I just try to tell a bit and how I feel. Seriously, if you like the falls I am pretty sure you will like this book.. as scarpetta says, it is a heartbreaker.. but still..

65tymfos
Août 13, 2009, 2:45 pm

I'll be sure to keep a box of tissues handy when I read it! :)

66tloeffler
Août 13, 2009, 2:50 pm

*pouting along with cal8769*

I also wanted that book and didn't get it. It does sound very good, so I'll have to add it to my list.

67mckait
Août 13, 2009, 3:22 pm

it's a worthy add!

68richardderus
Août 13, 2009, 5:08 pm

HELLO? HELLOOO? KATH, ARE YOU HERE?! I AM! SEE?

69mckait
Août 13, 2009, 5:11 pm

70alcottacre
Août 14, 2009, 1:02 am

Just stopping by to say I am glad to see that Rosie is doing better.

71mckait
Août 14, 2009, 7:29 am

Thanks Stasia :)

72kidzdoc
Août 14, 2009, 7:46 am

It sounds to me like TLC from Rosie's mom was what she needed.

73mckait
Août 14, 2009, 7:48 am

:)

74mckait
Août 14, 2009, 7:48 am

or the prune juice? lol

75alcottacre
Août 14, 2009, 7:58 am

I prefer to think of the former rather than the latter - makes for a much better story, lol.

76kidzdoc
Août 14, 2009, 8:01 am

Both.

I loved prune juice as a kid.

77mckait
Août 14, 2009, 8:23 am

The vet was intrigued that I gave up on the catlax and used prune juice. lol

as for loving it doc.. ick! now prune cake, yes....

78tiffin
Août 14, 2009, 8:56 am

Just sitting here trying to imagine feeding prune juice to a cat. I can get as far as squeezing her cheeks open and pouring a few drops in...after that it all gets kind of messy.

79mckait
Août 14, 2009, 9:13 am

A syringe is the answer! I have to give my dog an injectable med once a month.
The genius support staff that he pays these days has in the past..
( and they still try to do it but I am on to them ) given me needle-less syringes. I will refrain from comment on their collective IQ and just say, I kept them and and they come in handy now and then.

80tiffin
Août 14, 2009, 9:15 am

*light bulb*

81FicusFan
Août 14, 2009, 10:14 am

I used the needle-less syringe to give my cat the children's Benadryl (no alcohol) for allergies. Grape flavor don't you know.

But let me tell you, you haven't lived until your try to give a cat Pepto-Bismal.

PINK.FOAM.EVERYWHERE

:)

82mckait
Août 14, 2009, 10:19 am

pepto comes in caplets now, silly :)

break one in half. coat with butter and presto! down it goes.

83FicusFan
Août 14, 2009, 10:42 am

This was back in the 70s-80s.

84mckait
Août 14, 2009, 10:45 am

oic :D

85curlysue
Août 14, 2009, 11:19 am

prune juice?

never thought of that...I'll store that away for future reference ~ guess you can use it on dogs too... right?

your so clever :P

86mckait
Août 14, 2009, 11:23 am

yep, dogs too :)

Clever? me ? awww geee *blush*

cooked/canned pumpkin works well for dogs too. and its good for them.

87richardderus
Août 14, 2009, 2:14 pm

cooked/canned pumpkin works well for dogs too Has the same effect on me, too. *yaaack*

88mckait
Août 14, 2009, 2:58 pm

*scritches rd behind the ears*

89curlysue
Août 14, 2009, 3:02 pm

natural laxatives are always the best way to go no pun intended (yes there was) LOL

90mckait
Août 14, 2009, 3:07 pm

ha! good one :)

I am now going to stay in my own thread for a while and mind my own business..
Do feel free to visit, but let yourselves in. I may be hiding in the garden.

91curlysue
Août 14, 2009, 3:24 pm

wreaking havoc elsewhere are you???

by the looks of your pic. I think you should be wearing a little more if your hiding in the garden... spiders and snakes..Oh My

92mckait
Août 14, 2009, 3:29 pm

93cal8769
Août 14, 2009, 4:02 pm

I love that!!

94tloeffler
Août 14, 2009, 4:27 pm

Awesome!

95FicusFan
Août 14, 2009, 4:53 pm

Cool pic, but {cough} Penguins - Antarctic, Polar Bear - Arctic. Obviously a photo-shop job. :)

96tloeffler
Août 14, 2009, 5:16 pm

Well, that and the cymbals...

97Cait86
Août 14, 2009, 7:19 pm

#95 - As a hard-core penguin-lover (it is one of my dreams to travel to Antarctica), penguins and polar bears together is one of my pet peeves. I hate those Coca-Cola commercials! Silly, I know, but hey...

98FicusFan
Août 14, 2009, 7:24 pm

Well I was actually making a joke about the 2 together when they shouldn't be. The joke was mentioning that and not the cymbals. Very lame. Bad Ficus.

99mckait
Août 14, 2009, 7:28 pm

terri & ficus~ rofl

100tloeffler
Août 15, 2009, 12:13 am

>98 FicusFan: Not lame at all. Hilarious actually. I figured you left the cymbals out on purpose. That was my own feeble humor attempt.
Never try to explain a joke. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't are undeserving and should be thrown out back with the dead fish.

;-)

101Berly
Août 15, 2009, 12:25 am

I don't get it.....JK!! LOL

102dk_phoenix
Août 15, 2009, 9:36 am

I think Penguin #2 looks very stylish with her handbag. I wonder what little shop she picked THAT up in...

103mckait
Août 15, 2009, 9:37 am

I believe she is a crafter and made it herself....

104alcottacre
Août 15, 2009, 9:39 am

Oh, to have such talent!

105richardderus
Août 15, 2009, 10:13 am

Penguins with handbags affront my religious disbeliefs. I am considering this a personal attack and reporting the ToS violation.

106mckait
Août 15, 2009, 11:08 am

107Berly
Août 15, 2009, 11:38 am

Actually, the cymbal penguin is incapacitating the polar bear guard, and the purse penguin is sneaking up to the teller with a note asking for all the bank money. It's a very old ruse. Classic Bonnie and Clyde.

108richardderus
Août 15, 2009, 1:27 pm

>106 mckait: my favorite GIF! I just love that one...makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. Thanks!!

>107 Berly: Berlyner, I sense a visit to the goofy garage in your near future....

109mckait
Août 15, 2009, 2:20 pm

I like it too...

Why am I so sleepy today?

110FicusFan
Août 15, 2009, 3:30 pm

> 100, then I am sorry I missed your joke.

The penguin with the handbag actually reminds me of mama Moomin from Moomin Trolls. She had the same shape (w/o the beak) and always had a handbag.

111mckait
Août 15, 2009, 4:14 pm

interesting comparison... lol

112msf59
Août 15, 2009, 4:16 pm

Kath- I agree with Richard (not the trollish imposter!), the GIF in #106 sums it up perfectly. Let's hope this dirty episode is over!

113mckait
Août 15, 2009, 4:17 pm

fingers crossed~!!

114mckait
Août 16, 2009, 8:23 am

Finally got in some reading last night...
started Shadow Game. Lots of shenanigans and hanky panky.
So far so good.

115alcottacre
Août 16, 2009, 8:40 am

#114: I think Feehan does a good job of setting up the series with the first book. I hope you enjoy it - it is mindless fun, but fun it is!

116mckait
Août 16, 2009, 8:45 am

The next two are sitting right next to me..
I was seeking mindless as a respite from my return to work...
Glad this will fill the bill.. I appreciate your thoughts.. :)

117alcottacre
Août 16, 2009, 8:47 am

Feehan is one of my guilty pleasures. I buy them all as soon as they come out - sad, but true.

118mckait
Août 16, 2009, 8:51 am

Oh then you are the one eh? I knew someone had inspired me to get these :)

119alcottacre
Août 16, 2009, 8:54 am

Guilty as charged!

120Whisper1
Août 16, 2009, 9:07 am

Happy Sunday Morning to all you creative folk. Thanks for the laughs!

121richardderus
Août 16, 2009, 5:04 pm

Remembering how much you *hated* Blackwater Lightship, mckait, I'd venture to recommend Fishing the Sloe Black River, short stories by him; I'm not quite done with it yet, but it's a fine book so far.

122mckait
Août 16, 2009, 8:57 pm

Okay then.. finished with second Ghostwalkers book..
These were okay reads but imo a little less sex and a little
more intrigue might make them more interesting to me..
( no offense Stasia!)

I really like the idea of the special enhanced psychic gifts.. but they can't seem to
bum into each other without dropping and .. well..

Its a little discomfiting to me. Still.. I will read #3.. and see who gets snagged in that one :)

123mckait
Août 16, 2009, 8:58 pm

I did like Blackwater Lightship. I liked the story, and the message more than I liked the writing, rd. sorry.. what can I say? and to be honest.. I really don't usually read short stories..

thanks for the thought though !

:)

124alcottacre
Août 17, 2009, 1:16 am

#122: No offense taken, Kath. Like I said, I just read them for fun. I agree with your points as a matter of fact. I like the first book in the series the best thus far.

125mckait
Modifié : Août 17, 2009, 6:25 am

:) Stasia, I can understand why you like them.. I read something else of hers.. but apparently didn't list it in my library... I sometimes forget..and then I guess I passed it on.

I think they will be good for the shelves in the little library I am trying to start at work. Cross fingers for me. I have permission to start a lending library sort of thing at work.. not our official library, just shelves in the lunch room with a sign out sheet. I will ask for people to bring in some books. I envision a lot of romance, because that is what I see being passed around, but we shall see.

okay... since this is my own thread.. I am going to vent..

Someone in another thread.. someone that I am not familiar with...just said something that I feel is extremely insulting. This was followed up by a bit of something about respecting opinions of others. I refrained from comment so as not to start a battle but wow! it ticked me off.

Good thing I am not going to be home, since today I have to go back to work.
so I won't be able to engage....which is after all a good thing...

126alcottacre
Août 17, 2009, 6:27 am

Good luck with the library idea, Kath!

And since it is your thread, you have every right to vent if you want to . . .

127Carmenere
Août 17, 2009, 7:57 am

#125 Please don't let it ruin your day back on the job ,Kath. Hope it only gets better from here.

128girlunderglass
Août 17, 2009, 8:06 am

125: every time that happens I tell myself that it's stupid to get angry at someone you don't even know - it's not someone you respect or care about their opinions so one shouldn't get annoyed, right? This reasoning of mine is sound - my brain says so at least- but it very rarely works, unfortunately. Hope it works better for you :)

129London_StJ
Août 17, 2009, 8:46 am

>125 mckait: It never ceases to amaze me how often people will spout off ideas they are simultaneously violating. It's never a comfortable thing to deal with. :(

>121 richardderus: I think I'm popping in mid-conversation, but your comment caught my eye... Colum McCann came to Washington College and spoke to my Living Writers course when I was an undergraduate. He's a lovely man to listen to, and is very personable on an individual basis. For the course we read Fishing the Sloe Black River and This Side of Brightness. Personally, I wasn't a big fan of the short stories either, but I loved This Side of Brightness, and always meant to try another one of his novels.

130richardderus
Août 17, 2009, 12:22 pm

>125 mckait: Kath, I categorically deny that I ever said those things, and besides I was quoted out of context, not to mention what are you doing listening in on my conversations about you, besides which...

*rereads post 125*

Oh! Someone you're NOT familiar with! Errrmmm...I see the Pirates are doing well! Been to a game lately?

*slinks off mckait's thread*

131cal8769
Août 17, 2009, 1:23 pm

I saw it after the fact, Kath, and was insulted for you. That person was a winner, huh? (HAHA) I hope he/she stays away from this group.

132mckait
Août 17, 2009, 5:14 pm

well, it didn't ruin my day, no doubt because I felt the good energy from you folks. First day back at work is never fun. Survived it though.. guess I will make it through tomorrow too :P

*pats rd on head* wanders off to catch up while thinking about how much I loathe baseball.

133thomasandmary
Août 17, 2009, 5:41 pm

I hope you weren't upset by what I said. I was just teasing Berly and Linda about playing sports. I'll play sports with anybody, especially baseball. Oops.

134mckait
Août 17, 2009, 5:44 pm



135Berly
Août 17, 2009, 9:09 pm

Kath, just think...one down and 283 (or something like that) more to go!! Hugs.

136tymfos
Modifié : Août 18, 2009, 1:00 am

Hi! Just stopping by to say hello . . .

(Waving) :)

Hang in there!

137mckait
Août 18, 2009, 6:16 am

Sports. They are why I have a nice big tv in my bedroom.
And a ( too bright) reading light.

gak.

138thomasandmary
Août 18, 2009, 6:34 am

LOL That's blasphemy coming from a Pittsburgher!!!

139richardderus
Août 18, 2009, 8:38 am

Interesting...sportsophobia = blasphemy in a Pittsburgher, vegetarianism = blasphemy in a Hamburger...?

140thomasandmary
Août 18, 2009, 3:36 pm

Hah, that's rich...I mean funny!

141mckait
Août 18, 2009, 4:55 pm

true, it is nearly unheard of. Game weeks are a sea of black and gold in nearly every public building, including the school where I work.

:)

still...

meh!

142Whisper1
Août 18, 2009, 5:02 pm

Good luck with a new academic year. The students return to Lehigh next week. My but the summer went by rather rapidly.

I'm getting too old for this job. When I first started I told myself that I was in an odd spot...too young to be their mother and too old to be their buddy/friend.

When I eldest daughter was a student here in 1990, I realized I was getting older. Now, I'm feeling way too old.

143mckait
Août 18, 2009, 5:07 pm

Our students come back next week too. I hate it when they start them on a monday. I wish they would do 3 of our inservice days one week, then two kid days, and then next week two inservice days and three kid days. I think it would serve out population better ... but no one asked me oddly enough. :)

144thomasandmary
Modifié : Août 18, 2009, 5:10 pm

>141 mckait: Hah, love that black and gold. The cocktail waitresses' dresses at the new casino in town are black and gold! Here we go stillers, here we go! (and no that is not a misspelling, that's Pittsburghese)

145mckait
Août 18, 2009, 5:11 pm

Are you Pittsburghers? Do you live near dahntahn?

146thomasandmary
Modifié : Août 18, 2009, 5:27 pm

Lifelong Pittsburgher. Grew up on Roberto Clemente, can't understand your loathing baseball! (Oh, and of course the Steelers) Attended Pitt. Lived in Oakland, Shadyside, Wilkinsburg, and Dormont before moving an hour south to our farm. How 'bout you? And I don't say it like that, at least I don't think I do. I know everyone makes fun of us for it, but I can't really hear the difference!

147mckait
Modifié : Août 18, 2009, 5:33 pm

I have lived north of Pittsburgh in Beaver County for all but three years so far.
For three years we lived a bit north of Boston. I grew up in a house with my mom and sister only. We never watched sports. My sons were busy with other things.. and only one played soccer for a short season as a 7 yr old.

All three sons and my daughter and husband are sports fan(atics) .. just not me ...
I hide out ..

:)

eta I and may children all escaped Pittsburghese, thank the goddess!

I do remember Roberto and something about a pickle..

148tymfos
Août 18, 2009, 5:32 pm

> 144, 145

I haven't mastered Pittsburghese, but I went to college in Philadelphia, and they have their unique speech patterns, too. Back in the 1980's, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, Clark DeLeon, did an impromptu series -- complete with reder input, some from other columnists --on how people "tawk" in Philly.

I pasted it on the inside cover of my textbook for singing in foreign languages . . . gave my voice teacher a good laugh.

That was back when I was rootin' for da Iggles . . .

:)

149mckait
Août 18, 2009, 5:49 pm

I have heard that aig instead of egg is an issue for some.. :)

150richardderus
Août 18, 2009, 6:15 pm

AIG?!? Of *course* they're an issue, they lost *me personally* several manys of thousands of dollars "managing" my retirement account, the bas...I mean bums! Who wouldn't turn slightly purple and loud at the mention of AIG?!

151mckait
Août 18, 2009, 6:19 pm

passes rdear some tissues....

152FicusFan
Août 18, 2009, 6:37 pm

Well with all the sports teams, I have to say Go Pats !

Brady is back and in good form.

Big New England Patriots fan here :)

153thomasandmary
Août 18, 2009, 6:49 pm

FicusFan,
I will be nice and bite my tongue! moving on...

mckait- you have to stop this...now I'm trying to sound out the difference between AIG and egg! ahhhhh. I can't hear the difference which means I must be one of those people who talk funny. leaving the site muttering... egg..AIG...egg...AIG

154mckait
Août 18, 2009, 7:24 pm

When my daughter was in college... one of her professors pegged where she was from, with egg. ( he was a linguist or something) it is the difference between a long A sound with G and a short e sound.. I have been very careful ever since.. lol

155TadAD
Modifié : Août 18, 2009, 7:39 pm

>154 mckait:: I had a philology prof do the same thing. He was even able to guess correctly regions where I had lived at various points in my life by pronunciation of words you learn as a young child versus words you learn later. I was very impressed.

In addition to aig, I remember my grandmother's "leave him go outside" which is characteristic Pittsburgh and the surrounds. She and my daughter used to make mutual fun of each other's "yinz" and "yous" (NJ).

ETA: I miss her chipped ham sandwiches.

156mckait
Août 18, 2009, 8:13 pm

chipped ham and potato chips, you mean?

157thomasandmary
Août 18, 2009, 10:02 pm

mckait,
guess who's birthday it is today....Roberto's...he would be 75. I listened to the Pirates game tonight and the commentators talked endlessly about him. I know you probably could care less, not being a sports fan, but I enjoyed the serendipity of it.

158richardderus
Août 18, 2009, 10:51 pm

I ask this with a sense that I will not like the answer...but I must know...how does one chip a ham? Exactly what state of overcooked dryness is needed to actually *chip* a cut of meat from a pig's fatty ass?

*waits in corner for responses, airsick bag at the ready*

159mckait
Août 19, 2009, 6:40 am

It happens to be a pittsburgh delicacy :)
I suppose that you have never eaten deli ham?
It is a type of deli ham that is shaved rather than sliced.
Typically served on white bread with mayo :) To be honest, I
don't like it .. but still.

T&M Serendipitous for sure!

160mckait
Août 19, 2009, 6:57 am

musing:

I have been following jacquelyn mitchard on twitter. I think she may be mentally ill. I enjoy reading her books, but? Or maybe she drinks?

She has apparently lost all of her money in a ponzi scheme..which is terrible, of course... so she has reason to be stressed. Her tweets are just a little...
hard to describe.

I have a few books I have to add to this list.. maybe I will follow Stasia's example and just do it once a week?

161alcottacre
Août 19, 2009, 7:49 am

Your thread, Kath, post them as often as you want! I am just lazy, lol.

162tymfos
Août 19, 2009, 8:24 am

I always post almost as soon as I close the cover on the last page, if possible -- but, then, I'm so far behind all you amazingly prolific readers, I figure I need to hurry if I'm ever going to get to 75. :)

Happy reading!

163tloeffler
Août 19, 2009, 7:03 pm

I have to chime in (late, as usual) on the "aig" & "egg" conversation. I am Midwestern, born & bred, and of course the only proper pronunciation is "egg." But my son's name is Craig, and he has a cousin named Greg. One day when he was about 10, he came to me and asked why people always called him "Cregg." I said, well, that's your name. No, he said, My name is CRAIG (pronounced as you would pronounce "aig"). Since then I have had to be very careful when talking to my son (now 25) and pronounce his name with a long A sound.

164mckait
Août 19, 2009, 8:03 pm

LOL... I too have a son named Craig.. oddly, his uncle never quite got that, and always called him Greg. My son, however never mentioned any issues :)

165richardderus
Août 19, 2009, 9:08 pm

Woogums snooglie pie, I posted this over in That Hideous Forum in repsonse to you, but I don't know if you're ever going back, so here it is:

"But mckait...how is a button preventing me, and only me, from seeing posts by a source that I've found objectionable that once too often, changing the rules?

And, last fall, had such a feature as I'm suggesting been in place, a few people who no longer hang out in a thread where both you and I are active would probably still be there, because they wouldn't have to see my posts. Remember what led to "The Gathering Place" being started?

As another of our threadies said of me in "The Gathering Place," you can be a little hard to take sometimes...but she still engages with me. She could choose to block my posts, it's true, and I would blame her not at all. But wouldn't that be more *my* loss than hers, and wouldn't that make me more likely to be bland and blah to avoid being blocked?

No. Not a chance. And so, I prove my own point by saying...block me if you can't take a joke."

166Berly
Août 19, 2009, 9:18 pm

Block you!? Horrors! I just starred your new thread.

Hi Kath!

xoxo to both, because you brighten my day.

167mckait
Août 20, 2009, 6:50 am

rdear, I responded to you over there.. so won't repeat. I explained that I shouldn't have said change the rules, I should have said change the code...
blah blah.

I left a group I enjoyed because of one woman. She seemed to think she knew all there was to know about everything, and had appointed herself to police the rest of us. It seemed to me particularly me. I have been using this with myself to try to figure out if I would have blocked her... not seen her posts.. or if I would have left as I did.

I honestly can't say. The fact that so many apologized to her for their own thoughts, opinions and comments ( non offensive mind you) just pissed me off. It was as if her self appointed deity status were being supported. So I am just not sure.

I do remember how this thread was born.. I thought at the time.. "oh fer gawds sake!!!!" and frankly thought that person should learn to live with the group as it had always been, not sign up and change things. I survived, we all did so whatever. I think that wandering off topic provides some of the best interaction in a the groups/threads etc. We always get back on track when someone comes in and posts to the OP without reading anything else :)
What harm? I guess I just like things to be simple and I don't like change much.

Now I have to go and make myself presentable. Parents and new kids are visiting this morning. I don't want to scare any of them....

168alcottacre
Août 20, 2009, 7:11 am

I hope you have a wonderful day, Kath!

169mckait
Août 20, 2009, 7:17 am

thanks Stasia :)

170mckait
Août 20, 2009, 7:18 am

*waves* to Berly.. thanks for starring :) see y'all later!

171tymfos
Modifié : Août 20, 2009, 8:15 am

#167 "I think that wandering off topic provides some of the best interaction in a the groups/threads etc."

Amen! I agree wholeheartedly. It definitely provides the best laughs! (e.g.: who would create an actual thread for psychic hedgehogs . . . well, maybe some of us, but only after "discovering" him in our wanderings . . . and yes, I know that was another thread . . .)

:)

172alcottacre
Août 20, 2009, 9:12 am

#171: That's one of the reasons I enjoy my thread so much. It just merrily goes along on the tangent of the moment most of the time :)

173curlysue
Août 20, 2009, 10:50 am

passing by.... *waving*

174richardderus
Août 20, 2009, 12:00 pm

>167 mckait: mckait, I wonder if your leaving that group wasn't inevitable. "Ignore" is a function I'd use against someone I found obnoxious, but if others in the group were kowtowing to obnoxiousness, I think I'd skedaddle.

And now that Tim, against his better judgment, has created and implemented the feature, I can't think of *one single person* I want to block. Not a one. Somebody needs to piss me off, quick!!

175tloeffler
Août 20, 2009, 2:30 pm

I have to agree with the wandering off-topic posts--I'm all for 'em. If I'm not interested in the subject, I'll just merrily skip over the dull parts. Not that there are ever any dull parts here, Kath. In fact, all these conversations are getting me worked up: who? where? what happened? inquiring (read: nosy) minds always want to know! Especially when someone has irritated a friend. I need to know who gets the pins in the voodoo doll tonight!

176tymfos
Modifié : Août 20, 2009, 3:28 pm

#175 I'll second that. Kate, you've put up with my outbursts in the past, so it must have been pretty bad, I think, to have riled you. (Since you said it was someone unfamiliar, I'm assuming wasn't me.)

177mckait
Août 20, 2009, 5:30 pm

no... No one in this group has ever riled me. Well richard can be a bit fractious at times, but aside from that...

See I am a huge fan of lively discussion. I have a lot of beliefs and opinions that others disagree with. Others have opinions and belies I do not agree with. What is more fun that discussing them and getting loud at times and laughing and getting frustrated that the other person is so blasted stupid? LOL

But at the end of the day, we are all friends and we all have opinions and that is exactly the way it is supposed to be. If your politics do not agree with mine.. that doesn't mean I don't like you.. it means I don't like .. say .. Glenn Beck. I wish I could say that is the way it usually is in life, but I can't. Look at how the blasted country has been behaving for the last 16-17 years or so... ye gods! you would never know that we are all descended from men and women seeking freedom of religion ( including freedom from religion ) and speech and wanting liberty and.. well you know what I mean..

please feel free to wander here too.. and rand and vent and just hang out and drink kool-aide, just not grape.

178richardderus
Août 20, 2009, 6:36 pm

FRACTIOUS?!?

Well! The...what...fractious! The nerve...who does she...fractious!

*stomps off to use the new "Block this member" feature*

179mckait
Août 20, 2009, 6:44 pm

see?

180mckait
Août 20, 2009, 6:45 pm

fractious

181tymfos
Modifié : Août 20, 2009, 7:28 pm

> 180 Here, kitty kity . . .

:)

182msf59
Août 20, 2009, 8:16 pm

wandering in to say hi ! BTW, The Spotted Cow was very good!

183thomasandmary
Août 20, 2009, 8:48 pm

>175 tloeffler: Finally! Someone else is as curious as me!!! I have been trying to play detective for 3 days now. First I looked at the groups that Richard was in and tried to decide which group might have the guilty thread, but no luck. Then Richard posted something about That Hideous Thread so I looked for that as a group...next I looked at mckait's groups and I think I found the right group but haven't found the right thread yet. I am so obsessed with this mystery now that I just checked tloeffler's site to see if maybe mckait quietly answered her question on her site. No luck! This is really cutting into my reading time. I haven't read anything but posts for three days now. I always wanted to be a detective but knew I would get shot on the first day of work. I'm obviously not a very good detective since something more exciting than reading finally happened on this site and I haven't been able to find it. Would appreciate anymore clues that someone might be able to pass along. :-)

184richardderus
Août 20, 2009, 9:20 pm

I'll fractious her fix her little red wagon oh yes I will just see if I don't

Oh! Hi! thomasandmary...That Hideous Thread contains the answer. Now you just have to figure out a place that BOTH mckait and I have posted, but the thread is in a forum that neither of us belongs to.

*mysterious organ music*

185mckait
Août 20, 2009, 9:30 pm

http://www.librarything.com/topic/70584

http://www.librarything.com/topic/70736

http://www.librarything.com/topic/71014

http://www.librarything.com/topic/71082

here are the threads, but if I were you , I would skip them as there is vile stuff there..the last thread being a discussion re: keeping this from happening again.
so...

186mckait
Modifié : Août 20, 2009, 9:34 pm



Thanks rd, and polish it up when you're done, okay?

187thomasandmary
Août 20, 2009, 9:35 pm

richardear, that's how I pronounce your name btw, thank you for the clues. I got goosebumps at the mysterious organ music. I'm off to see if I can find the culprit. Thanks for helping mckait, I'll cheat in a little while if I fail to achieve the mission Richard gave me. dun dun dundun dun dun (Mission Impossible theme song)

188mckait
Août 20, 2009, 9:35 pm

189richardderus
Août 20, 2009, 9:36 pm

>186 mckait: ROFLMAO

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I venerate Our Hostess. Never at a loss for a topper of a line. Never!

190mckait
Août 20, 2009, 9:40 pm

191mckait
Août 20, 2009, 9:59 pm

192thomasandmary
Août 20, 2009, 10:06 pm

Richardderus, I'm back for more help. Does this thread relate to That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis, or is it referring to Lewis. Am I on the right track or am I just spitting into the wind. Thanks in advance.

193alcottacre
Août 20, 2009, 10:16 pm

I am so glad that someone else is curious - and also to find out it was not me that Kath is mad at!

194thomasandmary
Août 20, 2009, 10:32 pm

alright, I stink at being a detective...I let the dog pee the floor while I have been consumed with looking, I haven't washed clothes in three days, and my husband wishes I wouldn't bring the computer to bed with us. I need to get a life, therefore I am now going to CHEAT!

195alcottacre
Août 20, 2009, 11:24 pm

Well, when you find out what it was, be sure and let me know, too!

196thomasandmary
Août 20, 2009, 11:49 pm

Oh, I was so close. I had checked that third thread, but not having seen the first two I didn't connect it with the offending thread. Enjoyed playing with everyone tonight, but truthfully all the time I've invested in this wasn't worth it. The person that was deleted was a pathetic troll and I've seen those for years on some sports sites that I visit. Oh well, I kept telling myself curiousity kills the cat and in this case it killed my time!

197tymfos
Août 20, 2009, 11:56 pm

What happened on those threads reminds me why I tend to be reluctant to give too much personal information when I post and in online profiles. (I've added some more info to my LT profile recently, but still choose to remain more or less anonymous, with my exact location rather vague.) While I am fond of and trust our regular posters here, you never know who may eventually show up and what their issues and motives may be.

198richardderus
Août 21, 2009, 12:16 am

>196 thomasandmary:...go to the fourth thread in mckait's post #185. View messages 147 and 169. Follow the breadcrumbs....

199tloeffler
Août 21, 2009, 12:33 am

Oh my goodness. This was quite an ordeal, wasn't it? No wonder you were tense, Kath.
What is it in people that makes them do such bizarre things? I always have a tough time trying to figure out what the payoff is. It doesn't make people like you better. It doesn't make you look good. It CAN'T make you feel good.
Maybe I've just led a coddled life...

200mckait
Août 21, 2009, 6:14 am

Now I am the one puzzled... why those threads rd? Morphy suggesting I go back to the Green Dragon, and me saying maybe?

201Whisper1
Août 21, 2009, 8:23 am

Happy Friday Morning to all.

202FicusFan
Août 21, 2009, 8:42 am

Hi all,

Was off site yesterday, and see there was a change on blocking. Yeah ! Of course its a secret, but still a good change I think. I do have about 2 people I want to block. Have done 1, The other we exchanged 'interesting library ties' so I guess I will not do it.

203jadebird
Août 21, 2009, 8:47 am

Good Morning from California.

204cameling
Août 21, 2009, 11:42 am

*giggles and waves* ... one of the things I love about your threads, mckait, is the many great animations i find on them. They surely do cheer up my day ... that's of course, not to say that your threads aren't incredibly interesting and well thought out as well and i learn so much from them .... (sucking up so you don't stop posting cute animations). ;-)

i have to say i was curious enough to peek at the hideous threads and left just as quickly .. ok, i know what started it now and i'm done.

I just re-read Anansi Boys and I am once again dying for an opportunity to meet Neil Gaiman. This and Good Omens are 2 of my favorite Gaiman books. I see from your list that you've read Anansi Boys, which is what prompted me to comment on it here. Have you read Good Omens yet?

205richardderus
Août 21, 2009, 11:46 am

>200 mckait: pssst...red herring! Like all good mysteries!

206FicusFan
Août 21, 2009, 11:57 am

> 204 Cameling,

I am not mckait but I have seen Neil Gaiman in person.

He is very funny, well spoken, and interesting. He was the GOH at Boskone one year.

That said, I don't care for his writing, but do enjoy listening to him talk.

207cal8769
Août 21, 2009, 12:17 pm

If you like Neil Gaiman's voice, check out this site, http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx . Gaiman is reading The Graveyard Book for his fans during October.

208loosha
Août 21, 2009, 12:45 pm

Thanks for the link. I'm picking up The Graveyard Book today at the library for weekend reading. I'll check out Good Omens, too, Cameling.

*Hi, Kath*

209thomasandmary
Août 21, 2009, 1:44 pm

>205 richardderus: oh richardderus that was so mean! I know never to ask you for help again. I am shocked at your level of meanness, just shocked....I'm going to go recover now.

210cameling
Août 21, 2009, 1:50 pm

ooh, lucky FicusFan to have met Neil Gaiman ... I've been to a few author sessions at bookstores when they're on their tour and sometimes been disappointed by authors whose voices have enthralled me through their books, but who are somehow a little flat in person. Odd that, I think. And on other occasions (thankfully more rather than less) they are as scintillating in person as their voices are in their stories.

One such author that hits the top of my list is Mark Salzman. He is as articulate, funny, intelligent and insightful in person as he is in his books. He's definitely one of my favorite authors and I love re-reading Iron and Silk and The Soloist.

211FicusFan
Août 21, 2009, 1:57 pm

Well Cameling, I have seen Neil Gaiman, but not actually met him. He wouldn't know me from Adam. But I probably could have 'met' him to say hello and get a picture or an autograph at the con (he was very approachable), but it wasn't on my list of things to do. As I said, his writing doesn't work for me. I didn't even go to his autograph session.

I have however met George R.R. Martin - and teased him about the poor performance of the Jets, (I had on my Patriots shirt - he commented first) and the same with Glenn Cook and the Rams. Not that I am sure either would remember me.

212cameling
Août 21, 2009, 2:28 pm

Ok Ficus, if you were trying to make me turn as green as an artichoke, you've certainly succeeded. You've met Glenn Cook?!! The Chronicles of The Black Company series was the 2nd series of fantasy books I read after I started down that path with David Eddings Belgariad series, and have never looked back since.

What are these conferences you go to and when are they held, and can just a little plebian like me attend these to rub shoulders with such literary luminaries or at least gasp from afar?

213FicusFan
Août 21, 2009, 3:11 pm

Glenn Cook is usually always in the Dealer's room, as well as on the program. He sells books (not just his).

They are in Massachusetts. They are all SFF cons. There are 3 biggies:

Arisia (Boston, January)
http://www.librarything.com/venue/44989/Arisia-2010

Boskone (Boston, February)
http://www.librarything.com/venue/44991/Boskone-47-%40-Westin-Waterfront-Boston%...

Readercon (Burlington, July)
http://www.librarything.com/venue/44990/Readercon-21

The web site links are on the local pages. Yes anyone can go. Boskone and Readercon are more book oriented. Arisia also has costumes and more gaming.

Lots of authors to see and meet, fun panels and parties and books for sale :)

214mckait
Août 21, 2009, 4:15 pm

I am not really a Gaiman fan either.. despite my sons' best efforts.
cameling, no chance of me not posting the little graphics. When I first started here at LT someone who shall go un-named... but who posted in the hideious thread... asked me to stop using them as she found them distracting. I sad not on your life... just don't look at em.
Out of curiosity, when Tim allowed blocking, I looked and sure enough.. lol
She blocked me. I can't see her profile messages.

I am amused.

215FicusFan
Août 21, 2009, 4:30 pm

I think it might be the same one I blocked.

Also just wanted to apologize for hi-jacking your thread. Sorry, I get carried away.

216mckait
Août 21, 2009, 4:32 pm

Like Stasia, I feel that wandering off topic just makes things all the more fun.
So post away at any time. I do it myself. often enough ... lol

217Berly
Août 21, 2009, 8:32 pm

*sigh of relief* all that blocking, unblocking stuff. Just hope we can continue to have fun now! Off-topic wandering is often admired, at least by me. :P

218mckait
Août 22, 2009, 7:46 am

wandering provides some of the best fun.. in threads and in RL

219cal8769
Août 22, 2009, 7:47 am

Agreed!

220mckait
Modifié : Août 22, 2009, 11:24 am

I am feeling very pleased with myself!
All shopping done, 2 meatloafs ( loaves??) in the oven.
( I hate meatloaf)

laundry nearly done, beds changed...

Now I can read with no fretting..

eta

I have been officially notified of my 18 cent raise... yay?

221curlysue
Août 22, 2009, 11:27 am

your ahead of me on the house work kath.. thats my plan for today clean then read :)

congrats on the raise i know you deserve it

hugs kara

222FicusFan
Août 22, 2009, 11:54 am

I had no plans to clean. But I got home last night and had a note from the landlord's maintenance that there was a leak under my apartment and they wanted to come in.

Of course there is no leak in the apartment - the pipes under the floor or in the walls below might be leaking, but there is no access from my apartment, unless they are going to tear the floor up. Very tiny room, can't close the door all the way because of the clawfoot tub.

So of course I had to clean the bathroom and the kitchen, and pick up elsewhere.. Which I did. Then I took a shower, and there was no hot water. Brrrr. Cooling in the heat, but a bit of warmth would have been nice.

And I called the office, and there was no one there ! So now I may have to hang around on Monday while they do whatever they need to in here. And no hot water all weekend. !

223FicusFan
Août 22, 2009, 11:57 am

Ok. When I posted. It said I had blocked the member. So I have to click on the show link to see my own post.

Then I couldn't post under the blocked message and had to use another link.

Oh, Well, new feature, a few kinks.

224cameling
Août 22, 2009, 12:23 pm

Thanks Ficus, for the links to the book confs. I'll be sure to check them out next year ... arrghh...i just have 6 months to wait for the first one.

So mckait, why are you making meatloaves when you detest them? I'm trying to get some reading in before i have to start cooking for a surprise birthday party being held at my house this evening. The weather is not cooperating ... it rains and shines sporadically ... so I've ditched the idea of eating out on the deck and have had to revamp the menu this morning before I went grocery shopping.

225tloeffler
Août 22, 2009, 12:59 pm

I got a haircut this morning. That's all. The rest has been lolling around. CrAIG came home last night, so we'll probably drive out to visit my oldest son and then it will be time for dancing. Guess no housework is getting done today...oh wait. Very little housework ever gets done here.
And no meatloaf for us this weekend--C's a vegetarian.
Congratulations on the raise, Kath! Any plans on how you're going to spend it?

226mckait
Août 22, 2009, 1:00 pm

Dan likes them. I am going to feed him and then freeze slices. He works 2-10
I work 8-4. He will not cook for himself or pack his own lunches or.. anything. If I do not leave food he simply doesn't eat. It makes me totally nutz.

227mckait
Août 22, 2009, 1:01 pm

that big raise? nah..
I might buy a book.

228cameling
Août 22, 2009, 1:12 pm

huh....doesn't eat? *mind goes blank .... arm goes numb*... sorry, I just can't wrap my head around someone being able to not eat.

I tend to make large batches of tomato sauce, meatloaf, soup and roast chicken for Edd just before I leave on week long or 2 week long business trips ... not because he won't eat if nothing's there, but so he avoids breaking the bank by eating out for every meal.

229mckait
Août 22, 2009, 1:19 pm

If I don't prepare the plate ready to nuke.. forget it.
He won't eat it.
In 40 yrs ( almost) he has never said I'm hungry..
The most he will do is eat chips.. or.. sometimes go out and get subway or something.. usually not unless I tell him, I hate it ..
makes me nuts.
If I don't pack his lunch he goes without...

I know.. crazy

230tloeffler
Août 22, 2009, 1:30 pm

My favorite family meal has always been what we call EMFH. Every Man For Himself.

Like cameling, I can't wrap my brain around the concept of "won't eat." Even on EMFH nights, everyone eats.

231mckait
Août 22, 2009, 1:59 pm

My kids can manage that... Dan... nope.. or really won't.

232claudef321
Août 22, 2009, 2:07 pm

I had to buy this book
"The Lament for John MacWalter Walsh. With Notes on the History of the Family of Walsh from 1170 to 1690 - by Walsh, J. C.
New York, NY , 1925"
which cost me a few more than I wuld have paid for it but I liked the idea that it came with a free cd, I don't know about you guys but a searchable CD-ROM helps a lot when you are doing research.

ancestralbooks.com is having this free Searchable cd promotion going on and it was not a bad experience.

They have quite a few family history books over 20,000.

233mckait
Août 22, 2009, 2:11 pm

ahem

234richardderus
Août 22, 2009, 2:50 pm

>233 mckait: well #232 sure looks like spam to me...no books, joined today, and a website to promote. Have you reported it yet, or shall I?

235Berly
Août 22, 2009, 3:02 pm

R-- I nominate you! They should listen to you right away this time. ;)

236richardderus
Août 22, 2009, 3:06 pm

Done. That irks me so much!

237scarpettajunkie
Août 22, 2009, 3:07 pm

Richard are you sure. They mention a book they just had to have. Maybe #232 is really doing research. What about the benefit of doubt? It seems like a gray area to me. What if I mention Amazon.com or Bookins.com. Am I going to get reported?

238richardderus
Août 22, 2009, 3:15 pm

>237 scarpettajunkie: No, of course not! But you didn't join today, your library doesn't contain zero books, and you didn't post a complete non-sequitur in the middle of a conversation that contains a commercial appeal. That all suggests spam. If it's not, then the user needs a little hint that there are social norms she/it/he has violated, and might get one from these posts. If enough others see this type of post, and report it, then it's a spammer caught.

239Berly
Modifié : Août 22, 2009, 3:18 pm

#237 But it doesn't flow with the rest of the conversation and as a first-time person in a thread, seems a little pushy. Doesn't mean they'll get thrown out, but maybe watched. And Claude, if you are just joining in for fun, then tell us more about you!

240scarpettajunkie
Août 22, 2009, 3:21 pm

I guess I'm on the Spam wagon with you guys. I just wanted to make sure that if I get excited about Bookins or Amazon and push their sites I'm not going to get a big flag or a nasty black out.

241Berly
Août 22, 2009, 3:23 pm

I promise not to flag you, S!

242scarpettajunkie
Août 22, 2009, 3:25 pm

OOOOHH! I'm S! I so like the sound of that....why couldn't I come up with that? Thanks.

243Berly
Août 22, 2009, 3:33 pm

S is nice and short; you could also be Junkie (maybe not...), or SJ or Pet. The choice is yours!

Now I have to go check out your page to see how much Scarpetta you have read...

244scarpettajunkie
Août 22, 2009, 3:36 pm

All the Kay Scarpetta titles I think I've read. I want to own them all, but sadly, lent a few out and I don't think they ever came home again. The police precinct (sp?) books by Patricia Cornwell I never read as that is not where my passion is to be found. I'm all about Scarpetta.

245Berly
Août 22, 2009, 4:25 pm

I was going to give you grief for using the name when you only have two Patricia Cornwells in your library, but I see that you list only what you own. I think I have read all of them (minus one or two), including the latest. What did you think of it? It's called Scarpetta.

246mckait
Août 22, 2009, 5:32 pm

106. The Midwife's Tale
I enjoy stories of Midwives.. past life something or other???
This was a pretty good one, not nearly as good as Birth House, but pretty good.

107. Shadow Game

108. Mind Game

109. Night Game

A series of course... The Ghostwalker series. They were fun, but way to
much sex and too little of the good stuff. Great concept, but the sex really got in the way, in my opinion.

110. Double Take

I thought I had read Coulter before, but maybe not. This was an enjoyable mystery/thriller type of book. I liked it.. Two women who looked very much alike. One vanished without a trace. All the way on the other side of the country a psychic medium is murdered. What is the connection?

Enjoyable escapism all...

:)

247scarpettajunkie
Août 22, 2009, 6:35 pm

I only posted books I read in the last two years so that people could get an idea what I my interests are now. That was also all I could handle posting. Hence only two Scarpettas. I thought Scarpetta was heartbreaking in places but in the end the slate is all wiped clean for a new adventure. It literally felt like my eyeballs were glued to the pages they were reading so fast. I love how excited I get when I read these books. I also feel like my mind stretched and that I have stored info in the recesses of my mind for future reference.

248mckait
Août 22, 2009, 6:55 pm

I have read a Scarpetta or two myself..

249Berly
Août 22, 2009, 7:47 pm

Hi Kath! Thanks for giving me the space to be so vocal today! LOL. SO back to you...I read Double Take and also thought it was a great light read. I think I will avoid your Ghostwalker series, though. Thanks for saving me the trouble.

250mckait
Modifié : Août 23, 2009, 7:42 am

Quite welcome :) It will go on the reading shelf at work for someone who might like it better...

I have another Catherine Coulter to read, and am keeping up with the escape read theme. I have two new ARCs coming from vine, and hope to read this and another by the time they arrive.

I have a couple to add to my library too. I have been lazy.

251alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 7:26 am

I have the newest Coulter to read - Knockout - I just picked it up at the library this week, so it will be a bit before I get to it.

Summer is for laziness!

252mckait
Août 23, 2009, 7:44 am

Stasia, one of my vine books is :

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women
By: Harriet Reisen

Category: Book , Biography And Autobiography

A vivid, energetic account of the life of Louisa May Alcott, the first complete biography of the beloved author whose work has delighted millions of readers

Louisa May Alcott portrays a writer as worthy of interest in her own right as her most famous character, Jo March, and addresses all aspects of Alcott’s life: the effect of her father’s self-indulgent utopian schemes; her family’s chronic economic difficulties and frequent uprootings; her experience as a nurse in the Civil War; the loss of her health and frequent recourse to opiates.........
https://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/product?ie=UTF8&asin=0805082999
I had to have it!!

253alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 7:50 am

I will have to find it! I read a couple on her (and her father) last year including Eden's Outcasts, which was excellent, and American Bloomsbury, which I would also recommend.

254mckait
Août 23, 2009, 7:52 am

Thank you! I will follow up on those :)

255alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 7:57 am

I hope you can find them!

When are you getting your Alcott book? I will be anxiously awaiting your review!

256mckait
Août 23, 2009, 8:02 am

It should arrive on thursday or so... I will read it immediately so I can review it.
I look forward to it. I also got a novel... I always read the non-fiction first.

257alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 8:12 am

OK, so I can expect the review Friday :)

258mckait
Août 23, 2009, 8:15 am

LOL maybe saturday :)

259alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 8:17 am

Sorry, cannot wait that long. Just explain to the people at work that Stasia is waiting for the review and you really must just read!

260mckait
Août 23, 2009, 8:18 am

Oh! great idea.. will do :)

261alcottacre
Août 23, 2009, 8:20 am

LOL!

262cameling
Août 23, 2009, 10:10 am

mckait : I've read The Woman Behind Little Women and it made me dust off my old Little Women and Little Men to read again. I'm so glad that they kept the old schoolhouse and the house she grew up in, in Concord, MA. If you get a chance, come over for a visit and take the tour around the house ... it really adds to the experience of 'knowing' her when you walk around their house and see her room, the desk she used to write on and the study where her father used to receive Emerson and Thoreau.

263mckait
Août 23, 2009, 3:08 pm

You know.. I once lived in Swampscott Ma. I didn't do much traveling around the stare, my kids were young and we were only there for 3 years :)
Someday maybe ... I gave my Little Women etc to my daughter....
I have read them many times. I look forward to this book about Louisa .

264tymfos
Modifié : Août 23, 2009, 4:00 pm

Kate, I spent a year in the Boston area, and a friend took me to see the Alcott home in Concord, and also to the cemetery where the family burial plot is. It was a very moving experience.

I, too, anxiously await your review!

265cameling
Août 23, 2009, 4:03 pm

after posting on your thread here, I went for a bike ride and found myself riding past the Alcott home ... gave it a little wave on your behalf, stopped in at the old schoolhouse, climbed up the steps and whispered a hello through the screen.

266mckait
Août 23, 2009, 6:40 pm

aww Caroline.. that is the nicest thing! Thank you!

267Whisper1
Août 23, 2009, 6:43 pm

Caroline
How I envy you, I love the Concord, Lexington, Boston area!

268Berly
Août 23, 2009, 7:16 pm

I love the Boston area, too! And I've lived in Wellesley, Sudbury, Weymouth, Brighton and Amherst, too! And I don't think I ever say the Alcott home. That's a tragedy.

269mckait
Août 25, 2009, 6:32 am

Well.. I was practically weeping with fatigue after work yesterday..
and we had two students out.

All of the three year olds were of course terrified, so they cried loud and long.. which caused them to be exhausted, so they cried more. This did not sit well with the kids with autism. so..

The little ones are adorable... but omg. so tired!so scared.
Even holding and rocking ( we are not allowed a rocker or to hold them)
them on a creaky office chair.. they would almost fall asleep then drag themselves out of it. I just think they were scared and of course outraged :P
one new little one never stopped moving for one second..
and she climbed all over me all day. groan.

I do believe I am getting too ld for this :}

Off now to do it all again.

270kidzdoc
Août 25, 2009, 6:39 am

I hope that you have a better day today, kath. Those kids are blessed to have someone as dedicated and caring as you.

271msf59
Août 25, 2009, 6:46 am

Morning Kath- I'm also wishing you a much better day! I'm off to work myself, looks to be another beautiful day here, in the midwest!

272richardderus
Août 25, 2009, 7:46 am

Lookin' like time for thread six, me hearty...

Remember...you *can't* kill Marcia, because they *always* find the body. On the other hand, it might be worth it. But only if you are guaranteed to go to a "Club Fed"-style prison, with Internet access. What a vacation! Piddly little joblets and time to read!

273alcottacre
Août 25, 2009, 8:21 am


274Whisper1
Août 25, 2009, 8:50 am

How wonderful that the children have someone like you!

What a kind, sensitive person you are!

275tymfos
Août 25, 2009, 11:07 am

I hope you have a better day today. I really value what you do for those kids. My son has autism, and caring people much like you in his schools have made so much the difference in how he has done!

276mckait
Modifié : Août 25, 2009, 5:16 pm

No, seriously... I do have the better end of the deal when it comes to the kids.
The administration is insane as is the control freak teacher but.. .. we try to work around her :P

Oh and they did give me permission to start my lending library.. I will dig in tomorrow :)

yay!

tymfos...parenting is the hardest job ever.. except for parenting a child with special needs.. blessings on you...

We only have two boys with autism this year.. both very cool kids..
On child has DS and Leigh.. Angelmans.. all sorts of things. I honestly just see them as kids. Less crying today.. One little girl still outraged that her mom sent her back again. :P She'll get over it. We have a great class this year :)

eta

too right richard, they do always find the body lol
I will behave..or at least try not to start any fights.
She refused to write a not telling the mom who made a family scrapbook how great it was. I was not allowed to do it either.
Mom went to a lot of trouble pasting in pictures and even added the dog.
It is beautiful! Her child loves it. It made me cry when i saw it. This woman has a passel of adopted kids, at least two with special needs.. talk about an angel on earth!

278melissa45
Jan 11, 2010, 8:50 am

yeah!