Maggie1944 December, 2013

I guess it is time to start a new thread. Here's my list of books for 2013, so far.

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong

*smirk*

Good morning! The sound of surf? I am envious. What are you waiting for - Get a book and go sit on the beach. Maybe even nap.

Benita, it is pouring rain, and just barely dawn. I've been reading. My vacation companion is still sleeping as we were woken repeatedly all night by huge thunder and lightening. All in good time.

Reading will be high on my priority list. So is shopping, art galleries, walking through Allerton and McBryde Gardens, visiting the Kilauea Light House, doing the Friday night art walk in Hamaepe, visiting Talk Story Bookstore, and more (I need to give my companion some time for her choices, too, right?)

The surf is endless and so calming……..

Sounds like you have a delightful day planned, even with the rain.

If it makes you feel better, it's raining a bit here--it's supposed to turn into quite a storm, then temps drop to 0 mid-week.

Warm Hawaiian rain sounds good to me!

Sounds like a great vacation Karen, even with the rain and thunder. Hope you do get some dry days as well.

Hi Karen- I am sure you will have a wonderful time on your Hawaiian vacation. It sounds like you will get in plenty of R & R.
Congrats on the new thread! Hugs!

Wishing for you a vacation full of fabulous! And snagging a seat on your new thread.

OH oh oh oh!!!!

I just found a photographers tour site here on Kaua'i

They do the driving, and give camera advice too

I'll have to try that sometime this trip!

Shouldn't there be a Hawaiian photo topping this new thread, Karen? Anyway, congrats on the new thread! Starting it on vacation time must feel good.

Have a great time. Hope you get a chance to do that photographers tour.

I am reading The Hawaiian Archipelago by Isabella L. Bird, who visited the Hawaiian Islands in 1871 when it was an independent kingdom. Charming.

I did sign up for the photographers tour and will do it on Wednesday. There probably should be a picture on the top of this thread. Will have to work on that.

sounds like you're having a high old time, Karen. most excellent. i can't believe you're in Hawai'i and not a mention of checking out the surf at Waimea or, better yet, the Banzai Pipeline. heavenly betsies.

enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Surf is not my cuppa. Sounds of it are wonderful! And I love it. But I love the birds, the flowers, the fruit, the warmth, and the fact that I am not home needing to deal with stuff.

Papaya was purchased today.

Not being at home dealing with stuff sounds most excellent, as does the rest, including papaya. There's a lot to be said for gray and chilly, but not much of it is good. Have fun!

I also bought a cool pair of Hawaiiana pants. Straight legged, roll up to pedal pusher length, soft cotton, with a draw string type waist. The pants are blue-green with original art designs on them. Reminds me of my hippy days of wearing the simplest, and most artistic, outrageous clothes! We do love the Hawaiian spirit.

Check it out at www.martasboat.com

Not the most professional, delightful website, but you can get an idea of what my pants look like. And Marta and her husband are a typical delightful story. Artist husband with outrageous artistic talent and ideas, and a little bit more down to earth wife, who runs the boutique, just off the beach.

Sounds idyllic! And tomorrow is your photo safari, lucky lady.

That is, barring the tectonic apocalypse. *stirs violently*

yes, Richard, I have the belief that tomorrow will be perfect here in paradise despite certain global disturbances being noted ELSEWHERE.

(-;

Clearly, one advantage of being on vacation is having more time to attempt to keep up with LT threads…..

the dawn is breaking and the palm trees are swaying in a gentle breeze.

Like these?

No, mine have long thin leaf like shapes, with some artistic dribs and drabs. Not geometric. But those are the correct shape. Very comfy.

Aha!

Yes, these are much closer to what I am wearing. Mine, of course, are totally unique and special. I found a camisole to wear with them, and feel quite decked out in "resort wear" without being too stuffy.

I just came in from shooting a whole slew of shots of surf, and beach rocks, and palm trees. Am reading a new book on photography and am feeling the need to do a lot of practice. I am very rusty. Art Wolf is a photographer local to Seattle and I've admired his work for years. His book is The Art of the Photograph: Essential Habits for Stronger Compositions and was just released today. I was so happy to have a Kindle and to be able to get it immediately. I expect it may inspire some good work.

I have completely lost track of how to post pictures, my photographs or things found on the web, to my threads. You can see one I shot yesterday that I like on my profile.

Off to shoot some more today.

This is your Hawaii thread. Cool.

Karen, I can't go to Booktopia! in Asheville. It ends literally on the day we'll likely be flying to Scotland, or maybe the day before we fly to Scotland. Oh well. Perhaps they'll bring it back to our region of the country again in 2015.

Oh, those cliffs. So beautiful.

Today we are taking it easy, and then this evening we'll go on an Art Walk Evening in Hanapepe. I'll be looking for the iconic Kaua'i chickens as I've decided my house will be spiffed up with those chicken decorations.

>27 maggie1944:

An Art Walk Evening in Hanapepe? Woo, that sounds good, Karen. Have a great time.

yes! very lovely!

I finished The End of Your Life Book Club just now and I think I liked it ok. I shed a tear for the lady's death, but I confess I found her son to be a bit of a wuss. It is wonderful that he admired, and was proud of his mother, but I wondered when he was going to "get a life". They are of a slice of American life which is often held up as a model, and in my experience, very, very few of us have the good fortune, or chance, or upbringing, and good manners to live that kind of life.

I did highlight a summary of her advice, I liked it. Stuff like - make you bed every day, it doesn't matter if you don't feel like it, just make you bed - (paraphrased) and - be kind - I aspire to be a classy lady like she was but I don't think I'll make in in this life time. But I will continue to try to make my bed every day, and to be nice to people. Can't promise I'll write thank you notes for all my Christmas presents, though.

We discovered a small book store in Kapa'a and I bought used copies of A Member of the Wedding and Pearl S. Buck's Three Daughters of Madam Liang. I just wanted to leave a little more of my money here. I think Kauai was hit hard by the recession and people are only beginning to recover here.

OK, I'm tired and I need to do the dishes before I go to sleep.

Karen - I can see you are settling into Hawaii just fine and dandy. xx

Hi Karen- I have been following your Hawaii vacation and I am green with envy. Sounds like a wonderful time. Like I mentioned to you before, we hope to make our very first trip next September for our 25th.

BTW- I just booked my flight to Portland for the end of next month. Hook-up time?

Yay! End of January will be a perfect time for me to meet up with you in Portland! Whoo hoo!

Heh. LOVE that rationalization for book-shopping, Karen44. Mine is now that Smile makes my Amazon purchases donations to the Trees That Feed Foundation!

Thank you, Richard. I am rather proud, in a perverse way, of my ability to rationalize almost any behavior I wish to indulge. Buying books is an often visited action!

My finishing The End of Your Life Book Club gives me 28 books this year. I think I'll do at least another two before New Year's just to make it a round number.

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

OK, in a misguided attempt to add to my numbers I tried reading the short, and attractive looking, all that i need, or live like a dog with its head stuck out the car window by Teresa Fritschi. I pearl ruled it at page 75 pit pf 230. I don't like books about 50 year old women who within a very few weeks of beginning to swim can use the advice of coaches to swim as fast as high school male athletes. Color me stubborn or whatever but I am not, nor will I ever be in this life time, athletic. I fell down all the time when I was a kid so I stopped running at about age 8. I don't want to be told that pigging out on designer chocolate is a sublime experience. I am finished with her book, and I'm going hunting in the Kindle for something else to read. So there.

Karen, have you gone to the bookstore in Hanapepe? I think that's where it it. They say they are the western-most bookstore in the US and they are quite friendly. Used and new books.

I was there the last time I was in Kaua'i but have not been able to make it this trip. My companion is a wee handicapped with recovery from a series of devastatingly bad seizures a few years ago. She deals with some physical limitations, and some mental/emotional ones, too; so we are very happily attached to our condo with its slider doors opening to a short walk to an ocean view, lovely green grass, and the nearby pool. I read, play with my camera, and sit happily knowing there is nothing I "have to do". She has been doing some art, and taking naps, and enjoying the views. Today we will go to the Botanical gardens and that will delight her, I am sure. It is a good trip, just less active than times before. I will be back, and Talk Story Books will be on my list of places I love to go along with the Gardens, and the Art Walk. I do love Kaua'i.

I'll be back on the 13th and then there's Christmas to do. I have bought a half dozen Christmas presents so I feel OK that I'll have time to do the rest.

Happy Monday, Ellen. When do things quiet down at the UW?

^ We're starting finals today. Well, the students are starting finals. The week should slow down a bit for my staff (since I don't see clients any longer, this affects me less directly), but this is a week when we could see some crises, too. I'm on a search committee for a really important position within the division of Student Life and that will be busy this week. I hope we find someone fabulous. So - this is often a weird week, but the end is in sight. Of course, I still work full time during the breaks, not being a faculty member, but I'll come in a bit late now and then. Hopefully, I can get back out there in my running shoes as the past month has been a wash in that regard!

Enjoy your days on Kaua'i. When do you fly home?

Flying out of Kaua'i on Thursday morning, arriving Sea-Tac late Thursday evening. Friday will be "pick up the dogs" day, figuring out whether I live in a 95% empty house or shall I begin my camping out at my daughter's place. The latter carries with it some challenges as we are both strong, sometimes stubborn, personalities with an overlay of health challenges, and four dogs. Can you say: oh, dear? I am sure we'll do fine, but I know it will take a large measure of good will, and effort on both our parts.

The closing on the house deal is scheduled for Monday, 12/16. I am looking forward to putting that project behind me.

I went to the Allerton Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden today and picked up two books after. Jewels of Hawai'i: Photographs by Louise Tanguay and Robert Allerton: The Private Man and the Public Gifts by Martha Burgin and Maureen Holtz. Very cool books. I need to go put them in my inventory and teach LT there LoC #.

Had a great day.

Sounds awesome!

All our gardens are white right now, Karen. You must be doing something right.

I am reading a few pages each day, too. View From Castle Rock is providing a contrast to the experience here in Kaua'i; The Art of the Photograph:Essential Habits for Stronger Compositions is providing inspiration; The Hawaiian Archipelago is giving me a historical view of Hawaii which is priceless. and I'm looking at books to help me learn how to use Apple Aperture. Of course we also have Hawaiian flowers, Hawaiian Birds, and Hawaiian Trees and Shrubs to carry around and look into every day, too.

I am finding my new eyes do not work as well as I want them to, by the end of the day they're not focused on reading and my eyelids keep slipping down. Don't know why that is......

Could it be all the fun you're having is draining your batteries? No? Not possible, eh...well, anyway, at least you're warm and contented and entertained on this vacation, instead of engulfed in the flames of a volcanic rift, battered by hurricanes, and doomed to a fiery death.

damned cheap spellbook didn't work

*smooch*

It just doesn't pay to skimp when buying important books, Richard. I know you know that.

And yes, I do feel warm and content right now sitting in the very early morning with my coffee listening to the surf, and enjoying a gentle breeze. I have only two more mornings like this to enjoy....

Another fine book ended: The Hawaiian Archipelago by Isabella L. Bird. A remarkable account of visiting the Hawaiian islands in about 1872 which includes descriptions, and appreciations, of the geography, flora and fauna, volcanoes, oceans, people, food, religion, government, and climate. She loved the people she met, ate food with new to the islands Europeans and Americans, and long time inhabitants. She rode horses as well as the "cowboys" on the islands, explored the volcanoes up close and in my opinion entirely too dangerously. She does represent many of the attitudes of the European and American "settlers" however she also was willing to explore the real lives of the people who lived there before these settlers arrived. She slept in the rough with sheep herders, mountain climbers, and cattle ranchers. A remarkable woman and an interesting book even if I did skip some of the more mundane accounting of taxes, and government, and educational institutions. She did write very movingly of the lepers colony on Molokai.

I definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading of unusual adventures, as well as those who love the Hawaiian islands.

So, here again the books I've finished in 2013:

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
29. The Hawaiian Archipelao by Isabella L. Bird

Look at you, back on Kaua'i again - how wonderful!

I'm happy to see Six Months in the Sandwich Islands has found another fan! I still find it amazing that she traveled the way she did when she did.

If you find yourself looking for another book about Hawaiian history, Lost Kingdom was a very good read.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Hi, Joanne, thank you for stopping by. Yes, I agree Isabella Bird was one remarkable woman. I loved her willingness to just get on a horse and go do whatever exploration was available to her. No fussiness in this lady, and the adventures she experienced. I know I would not have gone up to those volcanoes, and in fact, I won't. Like the ocean beaches much more.

Thanks for the recommendation on Lost Kingdom. I take a look at it.

OK, #30 is Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein. An award winning first novel in a series about a seriously honest cop did please. I am not usually a crime/cops and robbers/ murder mystery kind of a reader although if someone strongly suggests there's a good book, a good story to be had, I'll give it a shot. I don't even remember who or when some fine LT buddy or buddies told me Tilt-a-Whirl was an excellent good book to read but whomever, and whenever, it was a great tip.

An amusing but realistic, and a bit dark, murder mystery does provide colorful, and even multi-dimensional characters in a few short well crafted sentences. The murder is pretty grim but the criminals are even more grim. A satisfying twist at the end gives a good denouement but even better the entire novel is salted and peppered with great humor. Hmmmm a dark, gritty murder mystery which made me laugh a good deal.

OK. Recommended.

Hi Karen- Glad you had a great vacation. Yes, I am very jealous. Have a safe return home. Miss seeing you around. Glad you liked Tilt a Whirl. I agree it was a lot of fun.

Safe travels, Karen. I WL'd Tilt-a-Whirl. Good review!

Happy Leaving Paradise Day! And a good reading experience to send you off even! I was surprised how much I liked Tilt-A-Whirl.

I don't have Tilt-A-Whirl but I have the second and third books in that series. They sound like they are lots of fun. The author was interviewed on NPR a few months back when they did a series on mysteries set in specific places that really don't have a high murder rate at all. The Jersey Shore is relatively low crime with few murders and yet these books are a big hit. that story intrigued me and then Richard and Mark bragged on them, so when I found those two titles fairly cheaply I purchased them.

Karen, I bet the dogs were happy to see you today!!
Welcome back to Seattle and good luck on Monday!

Loved your description of your "routine" in Hawaii in these posts. Good luck Karen that everything goes smoothly on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend. xx

Smooth-flowing Monday *whammy*

Mark, It was you! You were at least one of the people who suggested Tilt-a-Whirl, right? It was good fun. Have you continued in that series? How you holding up in front of all this weather disagreeableness? It really, really, really, hated Chicago winters. Have I said that before? Probably. Too damn cold, and then all together too often SNOW! Yuk. It is raining here. In the 40s maybe the 50s; 30s at night sometimes, or in the mountains. I hope you keep warm, and well, and keep recommending good books!

Joe, Thank you, and yes, the trip home was uneventful, except, of course, for some crying babies on the airplane. Poor Gale, she had a crying baby at the condo, too, which kept her from sleeping all night long. Me? I either sleep through it, or read a book, and don't notice it. I was able to read 150 pages of The Bloodletter's Daughter, a medieval minor princes and kings story, with early science vs. medieval wizardry, and some women's liberation stuff thrown in for good measure. I am enjoying it.

Richard, hi, dear man. Did you follow up Tilt-a-Whirl with any more by that author, in that series? I am curious if he keeps it up. His main character's PTSD makes him a bit tough to like him, as I found him to be too much like a robot doing police procedures. Can't he get some treatment and become a wee bit more human?

Benita, So, do you think you'll read the rest of the series? Hows the run up for the holidays working for you? I just saw on TV that some guys, liking Snow Globes, decided to make Rain Globes. (Only in Seattle!!) I want one for Christmas, I think.

Ellen, Yes, you should have seen Greta Garbo's tail. It was wiggling back and forth so fast it was a whirrrrrrrrr. Benny, on the other hand, was so dirty. He'd been allowed out and about all day for the days while I was gone. 5 acres. Sadly, the weather must have been hard on him. I had asked the people to give him a bath before I picked him up, but they "missed that"! For over $400 for his stay, I take offense at their forgetting. Won't be going back there. He is exhausted. Which probably is what it should be. He is sleeping it off, as I type.

Paul, nice to see you, sir! Glad I could entertain. I hope your on going book collecting is going well although I confess I join those who are wondering when will you be opening your own good store? Also, anticipating your visit to the west coast of the USA.

Richard, Friday was fine, Monday should go well, and Tuesday! Tuesday is the day for money.

Woke up two hours later than is normal for me, and jumped into the car, grabbed my Starbucks, and went to get Greta Garbo, then to downtown Seattle (yes, I drive in downtown Seattle) (and so much has changed, but the names of the Streets are still the same, thank goodness) to sign my property deal. I now know how many pieces of eight I'll be seeing on my bank statement come next Tuesday! Not Monday, after all, it will be Tuesday. Then, after all the paper stuff, I jumped back in the car and drove to the Dog Ranch where I picked up Benny, after his bath) (see comments above). Home by noon. Pretty damn good.

Ok, I'm getting pooped. I think I'll take the Kindle and go upstairs to bed, right after I take the Benny out for a healthy walk. In the cold rain. Sigh.

Oh dear. Poor Benny! I hope he was able to rest up the last couple of nights!

Hoping your week goes well.....

Thanks. Benny slept a good deal for about a day and a half. But I'm taking him back to the vets to day as he has a cough and sneezing. Dang. Hoping it is just a little "cold".

House is done, done, and done. I closed the door with all the keys locked inside except for the one in the real estate box on the front door. One dump run, which my niece's husband will do, and we are complete! Whew.

Now to adjust to living with the daughter. Challenge. Ta da!

Thanks for your good hopes.

I spent the entire weekend baking for Christmas cookie swap and then for friends and neighbors. I was busy so didn't get to my Librarything account all weekend so didn't realize you had returned from your Hawaiian interlude. I hope it was a nice relaxing break for you. I just purchased Tilt-A-Whirl for my Nook today. It was 99 cents. I think the first three in that series were on sale, including a short story. A colleague put me onto the special because she was ordering them, due to hearing me talk about them at work. She called me to find out what was the first book in the series. Since I didn't have it I ordered it this morning. Now I just have to have time to read over the Christmas break.

Sounds like he got kennel cough. Unless you've been getting him bordetella vaccinations?

Good to have you back, Karen! Glad you had some enjoyable diversionary reading for that flight - it's a pretty long one, right? Like 5 and 1/2 hours?

What good timing - you're back in plenty of time to now enjoy the holidays.

It may be another couple of days before I'm really BACK. Lasted two days living with my foster daughter. I won't bore you with details but the Kennel Cough in Benny was a the last straw, she has an elderly small dog with an enlarged heart, and she was totally afraid it would pass over to her dog. So, I moved out to an extended stay facility nearby. I'm more comfortable but man! I have a lot of junk I keep hauling around. I need to practice more simplicity. The place is really nice, maybe about the size of the retirement place I'd like to get. Good practice.

Yes, Benny picked up Kennel Cough despite his having been vaccinated. Am told the vaccines only have about 75% effectiveness. Boo! I am sure he'll be fine. Taking antibiotics and is a bit better already on his own.

I'm tired, so I'll move along.

(((((Benny)))))

and

(((((Karen)))))

and, oh, what the heck,

(((((Greta))))) too.

thx, Ellen. Today may be more relaxed, finally.

Morning Karen- Hope you are finally settling back in. Yes, we've had to deal with a lot of winter, this early on, but I am trudging along. Miss your visits!

It has been crazy! If you already know of the details skip the following:

So far I have had a stress filled December: Not a bad bit of stress was the lovely trip to Hawaii with a good friend. She has had some big, big health challenges in the last 5 years and is recovering nicely, although with some residual brain damage. As a result this was a big trip for her and we had a little bit of a bumpy road at first when she felt resentful that I was "helping" her too much. After we sorted through that we had a great time.

Then, home to the House Sale. All went well with lots of work by me and my niece, and her husband. We succeeded in emptying my house which was a huge effort since I am incorrigible in cluttering. Nonetheless, it is done, and yesterday I shut the door for the last time.

Then, the challenge of trying to stay with my foster daughter. Even though we've known each other for many years we still completely misunderstand each other. She tries to "help" me and comes across as insulting with my response being not so helpful, I get mad at her for treating me like a preschool kid. Then, my younger dog picked up Kennel Cough from the Kennel where he stayed while I was in Hawaii, and she totally freaked out that I was ruining her life, trying to kill her dog, and that I was a bitch. I decided enough, and moved out into an extended stay hotel (yes, it will cost me 1/2 of the "profit" money I made on the house deal). It is lovely here, and I think I can prepare for Christmas in one short week in this stress free environment~

As you can imagine, I am looking forward to a new year!

Karen, sorry to hear that you've been having such a tough time. Hope Benny is feeling better soon - I didn't realise that the kennel cough vaccine was so ineffective.

Geeeeez this passage needs to smooth out! So sorry to hear it.

My review of Mad Mouse, the second in the series.

Well, the good news is that there is minimal drama planned for the next few days. I've just spent a couple of hours doing nearly nothing! Good idea.

Thanks for the good wishes. And I'm going to go read your review, right now, Richard.

Oh, Benny is taking it easy, asleep in the middle of the Hotel's big Queen sized bed.

Did you check online for deals? Sometimes you can get extended stays for half or less of what you get if you call or show up at the desk.

No, I did not check because this place is right down the hill from Hollyhills and all the Board of Directors work I need to do there. And it is right off the freeway, so I can get to Schelie's in 25 minutes rather than 45. It is a lot but I don't have a mortgage payment for Jan. and Feb. so I can just pretend I still have a mortgage for a month or two and then celebrate! I know I could probably do better but this place gives dinner three evenings a week, and dinner time snacks on the other days. That should save me some money. Today I had meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a small green salad. Very cool. And I really like the space.... near a wonderful walking path for the dogs. Wet lands, ducks, and a special kind of wintery beauty.

Did you buy a Mega Millions ticket? I did. Some one has to win it. Why not me?

I loved paying off my Home Equity loan today! Whooo hooo! no more interest payments to the credit union.

I mean to check online for deals at the place you are staying!

oh, I see. Well, maybe I'll find some time soon for that. I have the last load of stuff from Katie's in my car, and a Board meeting tonight.

*sigh* California and Georgia residents won the $648MM jackpot last night, but there were 20 million-dollar winners around the country! Two here in NY, neither of them me. *sigh*

More mega millions sighing here. I had already picked out the books I was going to buy. Your temporary abode sounds really good, Karen. You make me want to walk that walking path.

Richard, I sigh in harmony with you.

Joe, it is lovely, and makes me willing to give the dogs a good long walk. Nice.

I now have officially nested here, having consolidated all which is not in storage with me here. The small space is smaller. Ha ha ha

OK. Today will be spent putting things in drawers and then preparing for the Board meeting, vote on the Budget, and a Appreciation "party" for the Old Board. Lots of laughing expected at the latter event.

Tomorrow there is absolutely NOTHING on my schedule, I rejoin the leisurely retired!

In happy relief at your Annus Horribilis being over and a very great success, and hopes for an even better 2014, my dear Karen44:



Celebrate the return of the light with feasts, merriment, and gratitude for all the wonders of this wide green earth.

RMD

Thank you, dear RMD, I appreciate you and your greetings! And return them with gratitude for a life, and good friends, and fascinating books. More of the same for 2014.

#77: I could make do with just a million dollars. Sigh.

Karen, I hope you have a wonderful last 11 days of 2013 and that the new year is easy and lovely for you. How is Benny doing? Getting better, I hope....?

We're going to get a tree tomorrow (Saturday). Haven't yet decided whether we'll go cut our own (but not in the forest) or buy one off a lot.

#79: I would love to have a day with NOTHING on my schedule. *sigh* One of these days!

Happy Christmas, Karen :)

Thursday, my DO NOTHING DAY, was fine. Friday it snowed and I was with the kids most of the day, then in the afternoon went in for an infusion of my RA meds. Sadly, I broke a rib or two while trying to get clothes out of a very large, very deep, brand new clothes washer at my niece's house. I heard the crackle and the snap, kind of like the noise chicken makes when you are breaking a whole chicken into parts before you cook it. Sigh. One more thing. I am a bit sore this morning. Not too bad, but will be moving very gently all day.

I am grateful it was not worse and that I still have touch with the joy of the holiday season. I hope the passing of the winter solstice, and the gradual lengthening of the day light hours, will support a happy attitude of gratitude.

Coffee is a great help, too.

ETA: Benny is definitely doing better. I think I only heard him cough once yesterday. We have about 3 more days of meds for him. I am sure his youth, and happy nature, will help him recover. Happily, I have not heard anything vaguely like coughing from Greta Garbo. I believe we are surviving well.

Y'all are surviving well indeed, despite coughing and crackling ribs and snow in a place where snow isn't the norm. The ever-lighter days herald the inevitable return of summer *sob* but for now they're pretty pleasant.

Thanks, Richard. I am doing well despite all the minor set backs and sillinesses.

Glad you and the fur people are doing Ok through it all!

Do you have osteoporosis in addition to the RA? I know Mom battles both. The osteo came to light several years ago when she cracked a bone after a small trip.

Sorry about them ribs, Karen. I broke a couple and know there's not a whole lot you can do except let time heal them.

Hope you're having a good weekend despite that and the RA, Karen, and that you're enjoying being back. We'll have the coffee ready at the cafe whenever you're ready for a break.

Yes, dealing with both the osteoporosis and the RA, and recognizing that I did not take good care of my physical self when younger: too much drinking (alcohol, and coffee), too much smoking (tobacco only), too many late nights, bad diet habits, too much stress!, and not enough exercising. It has caught up with me, and I deal with it.

Generally, the doggies and I are doing well. I am loving the hotel where we are staying and the great walking paths nearby. It has been chilly, but I still am happy to take them for walks. Benny's coughs are fading away and I'm sure he'll be fine soon.

I think I'll spend some time reading right now!

Sorry about your ribs. I know that hurts! Hope you feel better soon.

Karen- Wow! Sorry to hear about your injury. What a bummer. And I was going to take you hiking next month. Sad face.
I hope you mend without to much trouble. Very gentle hug.

Thanks, guys. Yes, it hurts, but a little sit down in the local YMCA hot tub helped a bunch. Dinner invitation at friends tonight. It is nice to be back in my old neighborhood. I like the stores here, better. I like many friends here, too. I am closer to my RL book group meeting place. All sorts of reasons to be happy. Of course, then there is the many minute commute to the postal service worker's home. He has to go in EARLY Monday... I wonder why that is? Ha ha ha. So I have to go in early, too. I threatened to fall back to sleep when I get to their house as I'm sure all the kids will be sleeping in.... no school, you know.

Ha ha ha

Maybe I'll get a little reading done while the darlings are on the computer or watching TV or playing video games?

The ribs will heal, and in the meantime, I'm just being gentle. No wrestling with kids this week.

Sorry to hear about the ribs. I have been driving back to Kansas and found myself unexpectedly spending a night in a hotel due to snow. I guess it is going to be a white Christmas for the eastern third of Kansas! I'll be home tomorrow, but driving today was not fun. Even a recorded edition of Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman didn't help. In fact I couldn't concentrate on it due to the driving conditions. Bummer, because I usually enjoy my time in my car listening to books.

Sorry about the inconvenience of the snow and bad weather. I know that driving in "conditions" does take all the concentration and, for me, even the radio is too much distraction. Friday was like that for me, a little bit. The freeway was slushy and threatened to be slippery but 40 MPH driving for all of us seemed to keep everyone on the road and my usual 30 minute drive only took 60 minutes. Ah, winter!

I am getting ready to leave the warm room and go start the car. I looked up local coffee shops and will make my way there for a nice Big cup of Joe and then start out. By this time the snowplows should have gotten the roads somewhat cleared and by the time I get that coffee I should be able to be on my way.

From the newspaper this morning it seems that the weather people were a little surprised at the volume of snow. Instead the snow dumped a good dose of the stuff on the part of the state right along and north of Interstate 70. Exactly where I was traveling. I would have been driving into more snow so it is a good thing I stopped. It has proved to be an adventure in winter travels.

When the sun comes out later today it is going to be very bright.

I just bought The Good Earth and Falling to Earth for my little Kindle. I'm loving it as I navigate through house sale, temporary homelessness, and the holidays. Yay for the Kindle and its convenience!

So, here again the books I've finished in 2013:

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
29. The Hawaiian Archipelao by Isabella L. Bird
30. Tilt-A-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
31. The Bloodletter's Daughter (A Novel of Old Bohemia) by Linda Lafferty

OK, #30 is Tilt-a-Whirl, an award winning first novel in a series about a seriously honest cop did please me. I am not usually a crime/cops and robbers/ murder mystery kind of a reader although if someone strongly suggests there's a good book, a good story to be had, I'll give it a shot. I don't even remember who or when some fine LT buddy or buddies told me Tilt-a-Whirl was an excellent good book to read but whomever, and whenever, it was a great tip.

An amusing but realistic, and a bit dark, murder mystery does provide colorful, and even multi-dimensional characters in a few short well crafted sentences. The murder is pretty grim but the criminals are even more grim. A satisfying twist at the end gives a good denouement but even better the entire novel is salted and peppered with great humor. Hmmmm a dark, gritty murder mystery which made me laugh a good deal.

OK. Recommended.

Ah! And #31 is The Bloodletter's Daughter (A Novel of Old Bohemia) which was a surprising treat! I don't know quite where I found this book, perhaps Amazon suggested it to me for my Kindle, and I loved the picture on the cover. It accounts a true "scandalous butchery" of the bath maid Marketa Pichlerova by Bohemia's Rudolf II's son Don Julius in 1608. Don Julius was crazy, perhaps a genetic result of royal inbreeding, perhaps with schizophrenia. According to Lafferty's fictional account he was alternately "in love" with Marketa and enraged that she was a whore; he also feared witchcraft. Lafferty did extensive research into the state of science, religion (Catholic priests and nuns as well as Protestants), medicine, and folk ways, including women herbal healers who were called witches. There were times while I was reading the book that I felt irritated by her casting Marketa as a girl who wanted to learn science, and who wanted to be a doctor. The author strained my credulity quite a bit but in the end she came up with a very clever trick ending which resulted in a happy ever-after ending which was satisfying. I am pretty sure the real person was murdered but that would make a very sad, and probably unsatisfactory, novel. I liked the book and recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, and maybe those who like a little romance patina on it.

One of the other reviewers called out appalling writing by the author and I don't think I would go that far; however, I will say there were times in the middle of the book when I was saying to myself, do I really want to finish this very hard to believe story. So, I guess it probably is true that the author did make some mistakes but in the end I liked it.

Karen stopping by to wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Happy Christmas Karen

May you have a book filled Christmas.

Hi Maggie,

Rhian, Thank you for your kind wishes. And back to you, doubled or tripled, whatever the universe will bear.

calm, thank you for the lovely picture. I will transport myself right there for some good reading time today!

and wilkiec, thank you for the (what I assume to be) good wishes. Back to you, too.

Happy New Year of good reading for us all!

Hi, Karen. I'm sorry to hear about your ribs; hope things are improving.



Wishing you the best for the festive season and for a wonderful 2014!

Karen, I'm so glad that Benny is doing better!

Merry Christmas to you!

I love the cat on the tree! That is a Siamese, I think, and having had many Siamese cats in my life, I know that would totally be what that cat would be saying. Or "I am the Queen of the World".

Yes, Benny had his last dose of med this morning, and I have not heard a cough out of him for a day or two. I think he is cured! Also, Katie's dog has shown no symptoms but she is sure she needs to wait another week to 10 days before we declare her old girl dog safe.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

OK, I need to take Greta out for another walk!

Through the vagaries of life via, operating on your eyes, selling your home and then swanning off to Hawaii for sun, sand and surf, you have remained constantly full of humour and positivity. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to follow your thread in 2013 and I look forward to much more of the same in 2014.
Have a wonderful Christmas, Karen. xx

Paul, you are a gentleman and a scholar, and it is a privilege to count you friend. Happiest of a new year, and excellent reading, sharing, and laughing together in 2014 is my wish for you and yours.

Hope your ribs are healing quickly, Karen. Merry Christmas!

Thank you, Roni. The doctor found three cracked, or broken, ribs. Ouch. She said to be careful for at least a month, and that water exercising is a good idea. Luckily, my new home is very close to a pool! And a hot tub. It will go by quickly. Thanks for your good wishes and happy new year, to you and yours!

So, here again the books I've finished in 2013:

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
29. The Hawaiian Archipelao by Isabella L. Bird
30. Tilt-A-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
31. The Bloodletter's Daughter (A Novel of Old Bohemia) by Linda Lafferty
32. Nicky's Tale - The Adventure of a Lost Mini Schnauzer

A little bit of a "cheat"... a very short book, downloaded from the I Love Schnauzers FB page. A nice book to read to kids about getting lost, and finding a new home. It is a book, and I'm counting it!

I hope you have a nice relaxing day planned, my friend. I miss your visits but you might be busy. Looking forward to the Meet-up, later next month. what a great way to start the year.

Yay! yes, I'm looking forward to it also. Yes, been busy, but it is letting up a little bit. Hope your holidays were everything that you wished them to be!

Merry Christmas, Karen! and Happy New Year!

More big stuff ahead of you in this next year... sounds wonderful. Hope your ribs feel better soon and that your unique Christmas dinner comes off well.

I figured it was an Italian theme so I made some skewers with antipasti type stuff stuck on them. Yummy.

It is all good. Happy holidays to all of my visitors and thank you for stopping by. It means a great deal to me.

Karen, I am so sorry about your ouchy ribs. Hope the healing is moving right along. Old age sucks, right? I can say that because I am right behind you in years…and aches and pains. I look forward to meeting you in Boulder in May. Until then, I will put a star on your new thread and follow your adventures in reading and life in 2014.

Ouchie ribs indeed. Hope they don't interfere with your rest and relaxation too much!

Have yourself a merry little book-filled Christmas!

Ribs only bite me once or twice a day. If I lean over to the right to pick something up I squeeze those ribs and they talk back. If I turn over during the night, the ribs complain. But otherwise, no big deal. Reading is easy to do with broken ribs. Ha ha ha

I'm working on The Good Earth and it does remind me to be grateful for all that I have today. Happy New Year, everyone.

Merry Christmas, Karen! Hope that it was filled with fabulous. Also hoping that those ribs heal quickly - ouch! This has been a very busy year for you - amazing how much you accomplished and still were able to read. Looking forward to following your delightful thread again in 2014!

Thank you every one for happy wishes. I am planning a Do Nothing But Read Saturday and Sunday, interrupted by a trip to the Bookstore! Oh, joy. Oh, joy!

>119 maggie1944:: Yum!

Whizzing through at top speed trailing smooches

Your do nothing but read and go to the bookstore day sounds wonderful, Karen. I've started Tilt-a-Whirl, and so far so good.

Glad to see you are planning a relaxing day for yourself. I have been having a great time with the family. My Dad turned 80 and we had a card shower for him. He now has about 135 cards from people and has had a great time reading them.

Yesterday we baked kolaches in the afternoon and then got everybody together to cut cabbage for making sauerkraut. We had a great time and I did not get home until 1:00 a.m. So much fun to get home for this winter solstice break.

Thanks for encouragement. Relaxing day was busier than planned and yet relaxing. I did a grocery store run this morning as I'm going back to the Spark People to track doing the The Dash Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) which was recommended to me by my Doc. Then, stopped by Barnes and Noble and bought two children's books to round off my reading for the year. Then, drove to Seattle to visit with a good, long time friend at a house he is putting on the market. It was a buy when we were young and it was fun to see him, and the house. Then home to make my first DASH recipe... time consuming as it is in a kitchen not fully equipped. Fed the dogs. Going to take them for a walk. And then, home to read the rest of the day away! Whoo hooo!

So, here again the books I've finished in 2013:

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
29. The Hawaiian Archipelao by Isabella L. Bird
30. Tilt-A-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
31. The Bloodletter's Daughter (A Novel of Old Bohemia) by Linda Lafferty
32. Nicky's Tale - The Adventure of a Lost Mini Schnauzer
33. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
34. Mossy by Jan Brett
35. {Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow, Kenny Lipton and paintings by Eric Puybaret
36.

The Good Earth is a classic book especially since when it was published so few knew anything at all of Chinese culture, or geography, or economy. She draws a wide brush across all sorts of interesting issues - family, male and female characteristics and customs, agriculture, war, locust, children, old age, primitive houses, and not so primitive, urban and country, and so forth. At times I was detached from the characters and the book dragged. At other times, I was enjoying the characters and the book, too.

Mossy is one of Jan Brett's beautifully illustrated story books for children. There is a turtle who has a garden growing on her back, and for a brief while she is in a museum. Read it and find out what happens.

Puff the Magic Dragon is an illustration of the wonderful Peter, Paul, and Mary song. Honalee where Puff lives is based on a Kaua'i beach, Hanalei where a nearby hill looks a bit like a dragon, and there is in fact a dragon sized cave. The book illustrates the story, and describes how the song came to be. Also, it has a CD with Puff and a couple of other nice folk songs.

Now! I need book #36 so I can say I read an average of 3 books a month. I miscalculated. I must go a hunting....

How are you feeling today? I imagine that broken ribs equate to lots of soreness and pain.

Please tell me which books you bought at Barnes and Noble. The local B&N has a wonderful children's section, combined with racks of YA.

Please take good care and be kind to yourself. So sorry that your foster daughter is so high strung. I have two daughters, ten years apart. The older one and I lock horns. We know we love each other, but at times it is a very bumpy ride. On the other hand, my 31 year old adopted child and I get along quite well. If we mis-communicate and feeling get hurt, one of us calls and we usually admit we don't like arguing.

Relationships are difficult eh?

I wish you a pain free evening.

Oh, Linda, we cross posted. See above for the books I bought at B&N today. I might have to go back tomorrow.

Yes, relationships are hard and I'm not very good at them. When the "fighting" starts I just want to walk away.

The ribs are sore, but not so sore as they were. I also did some silly sitting on my bum on Christmas day and I think I bruised my tail bone. Silly me. So it is sore, too.

But all in all, I am very fine. My health is quite good for 69 and I think all the hard living I did as a young woman has yet to bite me hard. I am pretty sure I'll live to be 100 or better. Just think... I have to see those great nephews, and the great niece grow up into wonderful adults.

I wish you also a pain free time right now!

HELP! I've lost track of Mark's thread. Will someone please help me find it? Please, pretty please?

Mark's thread - http://www.librarything.com/topic/161965 and if you are looking for 2014 Mark put a link in his last post.

Hope those ribs are behaving and that you manage to complete your 2013 book target.

Ribs are doing better. Bruised tail bone is less bothersome today, especially if I limit my sitting to soft places.

I am so sorry to have figured out that my moving into my new place will conflict with the Portland Meet Up. I will not be able to go. Dang. Darn. Crackers. JeeWhiz! or is it GeeWhiz!

I Did It. I averaged reading 3 books each month, which for me is quite remarkable.

So, here again the books I've finished in 2013:

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13
3. Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13472337/summary/93697111
4. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan, published 2013, Harper Collins Publisher, Katherine Tegen Books
Here's the book's page: http://www.librarything.com/work/13456843/summary/93570131
I have no idea where The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry came from. How can The Truth of Me lead there?
5. Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, and,
6. Anna Karènina by Leo Tolstoy
7. Dead Money by Steve O'Brien *wrong touchstone! ER book!
8. Cairns: Messengers in Stone by David B. Williams. Finished reading on 3/21/13
9. Buying the Farm: Peace and War on a Sixties Commune by Tom Fels, finished on 3/25/13
10. My Beloved World by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, finished on 3/29/13.
11. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope: A Novel by Rhonda Riley, finished early in May
12. The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving: A Novel by Jonathan Evison, finished on 5/12.
13. On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman, finished on 6/1.
14. Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox, finished on 5/1/13.
15. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
16. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
17. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
18. Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu
19. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
20. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
22. The Goodreads Killer by Dave Franklin
23. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
24. A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
25. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
27. Buddy: How Far Will a Boy Go for the Dog He Loves? by M. H. Herlong
28. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
29. The Hawaiian Archipelao by Isabella L. Bird
30. Tilt-A-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
31. The Bloodletter's Daughter (A Novel of Old Bohemia) by Linda Lafferty
32. Nicky's Tale - The Adventure of a Lost Mini Schnauzer
33. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
34. Mossy by Jan Brett
35. {Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow, Kenny Lipton and paintings by Eric Puybaret
36. The Dark Crystal Creation Myths by Brian Holguin and Brian Froud and others.

Ah...well. I picked this book because I love Brian Froud's art, only to discover on getting it home that he was only the creator of the characters, others did the writing, and others still did most or all of the illustrations. Odd. There definitely is some potential in the book for some good fantasy stuff, but it really seemed like the product of a class of sophomores in art school, with no one really insisting a story be told, from beginning through a middle and having an end. Some in the middle of this book seemed not connected to the beginning or the end. Odd.

I feel cheated. But it did provide me the short book I needed to finish before midnight 12/31/13. So I guess I got the value I was seeking.

Congrats on hitting 36! Sorry that the last wasn't as satisfying as it could have been.

I am headed back for Alabama and stopped at a coffee shop so decided to do a little catching up. I won't make it to my intended destination tonight so just as well catch up on LT. I have had plenty of snow this Christmas brea and am still driving through a winter wonderland of scenery.

This was not the most restful of vacations. My father was ill most of the time and that made my mother anxious. My Dad will get better and think he is making much ado about an illness that, while serious is not life threatening. I think he is just unaccustomed to being incapacitated and uncomfortable. That makes him cranky.

I totally understand both your Dad's being cranky, and your Mom's being anxious. Being older carries with it the all too frequent thought, "I wonder if this will be the beginning of the inevitable decline?" I am sorry it spoiled your vacation somewhat although I know they were glad to have you around, and I know you are glad you could be there.

So, now it is to hie to the home and hang out reading! This weekend may be a Do Not Much Else But Read for me!