C. (Comment, never msg).’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2014)

C. (Comment, never msg).’s comments from the Gentle SPECTRUMS group.

Let's see if you & I land on the same considerations. I thought an actor might have it harder but really mulled it over. I feel that in the trauma of injury, we are not thinking of our careers. That is interesting about facial communication, a great addition.

I mean facial recognition as our visual ID. We might have imperfections on an arm for example but to not look normal in the face is a monumental. I am convinced our jobs would not be in mind if we were injured. Me looking like myself, for myself and those who know me, would be my source of anguish. Looking awful to other people, even if I got over it, would also be a hurdle. I am happy a decent conversationist is finally reading my detailed explanations!

Photographs are important to me and many people. I think it would be worse not to have memories of us at our best and also as we mature past that. I think if Ulrich had no videos of his body at its prime, he would be sad. I wonder if patients photograph themselves before operations. I would.

I hope this brings clarity to what I concluded. You aren't in adult entertainment either. Do you see yourself less bothered by disfigurement around your head?

If I weren't against suicide and euthanasia, it would be tempting to wonder about carrying on. "Still Me" by Christopher Reeves might have discussed this, although his problem was another hard handicap rather than looking like himself. I wish I could get rid of a patch of slight skin shading. I wish I had not over cracked my knuckles. I wish I didn't have a few unobtrusive skintags. Most people would trade to have these minor imperfections. I am grateful this is all there is to it.

I am not vain but believe very strongly in keeping my own knees and hips, whereas many people are glad to have replacements. I will never get plastic surgery, unless it were to repair injury. Being natural matters to me and now that I know about energy medicine, keeping my original limbs makes natural healing possible. You can get another job. You can't always return to how you looked - personal ID wise, not vanity just so I am clear. Any of this conveying the different conclusion I came to?

I love what you wrote about Ulrich feeling better by helping Marianne and caring about someone else. His surgeon became a doctor due to arm burns. I need a reminder about why Marianna feels urgent about making so many gargoyles, or whatever they are. Does she know she is finally dying?

Yes, the clues are clear that she really did live hundreds of years. She was not mentally unwell, except lately needing to push herself without eating or sleeping. I used to think this novel was about reincarnation. We have seen it is about longevity. Does she say how it was possible? I love your confirmation that Marianne discovered she was naturally good at handwriting and transcribing and at linguistics! I have that in common with her as well as her name. :)

This is a great start for catching up. I can't wait to see which topics you add from all along this book. There are so many wonderful things to talk about. I loved the Manitoba humour, like I said.

Thank you, dear Kerri. McCartney & the others must be eager to ensure we know they are here with us and all right. I believe he would send signs and our Marigold, Spirit, Love, and Thumbelina too, not to mention dear Mom.

Wild turtles are common in the countryside, although one only sees them occasionally if at least ditch water is nearby. I think they are painted turtles and snapping turtles. They are sweet and surprisingly, disappear fast after letting you bid them "hello".

Yellowknife is safe.

What sorrow to hear that half of Kelowna was damaged. I hear the winds are shifting away from their city, thank goodness, so all the prayers and care they are receiving is working at last!

I am in anguish for Maui, USA. Fire did terrible damage there and killing. May the 1000 missing people and animals be all right and the rest of everyone's homes spared.

Keep on healing and praying for the regions of Kelowna, British Columbia and Yellowknife, North West Territories!

We are sad to learn on the news that fire got to Kelowna and destroyed some people's homes and forestland. Let us please pray for the rest of that city and homeland.

A Canadian many of us know in Yellowknife wrote this morning to say he & his family are safe. Thank goodness, prayers answered! May they return to homes that are unharmed. Please keep up the care and encouragement for Yellowknife too.

God help them all: there is fire around Kelowna, British Columbia. May her people, animals, wildlife, plant life, homes, and belongings be saved. The Oakanagan Valley is also our country's major producer of fruit.

Prayers work and our sending of healing, care, and love! Please use your heart to ease fire all over the land. Please comfort the hearts and fears of all our people, animals, trees, and plants! They need outside support at this scary time.
With love and respect, Carolyn & family.

Any friends who are interested, let's continue “The Raven Boys” ‘paranormal mystery’ series! Please: buddy-reading means writing updates every day. If we did not read one day, we can come on to answer friends’ posts anyway. There should be something to see every time we log-in, until we are finished talking. :)

I saw on the news that wildfires are in Yukon Territory. I am sorry and send love, prayers, and healing to all people, animals, plants, and land there.

Increasingly shocking, is that the city of Yellowknife is being evacuated! My gosh, may all the people, animals, their homes, and land be saved. Choosing what to bring in the meantime must be hard. Our most precious keepsakes don't go in a couple of suitcases.

When we pray, send healing energy, love, and our care.... it works! Let us do this now, for Yellowknife and everyone who needs it. Wild animals and trees too need our love, prayers, healing, and care to comfort, save, and help them during a terror.

May God go with you guys and please know you are being prayed for and cared about, with every ounce of healing we can send you! With love and respect, Carolyn & family.

I am happy to be helpful and touched you love my writing, Alexis! It would mean a lot for you to share your various reactions under my reviews. I work hard at non spoiler detail but receive very few comments, except from friends. I feel frustrated by that, logging on every morning feeling sure I must have moved someone to comment. It will reward me, if you tell me your lovely thoughts. I hope to write more than reviews!

For Donna Eden, start with her classic introduction "Energy Medicine". With Louise Penny, obviously don't jump into this volume I was at. Begin with the series début "Still Life". Are you truly interested in learning about our province, Manitoba, Alexis? Let me know if you do find a copy of Irvin Kroeker's great tourguide. I am curious about your top 5 books too. You have opened a wonderful topic at our group! Hugs, Carolyn.

Well, all the topics I wrote merit a reply at last and are good ones! :) There are all your impressions well before halfway. We want to avoid a summary of rare chunks and I hope to remember the book through you.

Looking forward to this and more imporantly, to enjoying letter conversations we can finish without a week in between. :)

I worked with a Karen, haha. I have seen by now, her character name was Veronica, Ronnie. I don't know if her last name was given but the internet says Veronica Lee.

By now, I have seen most of "Schitt's Creek" in daily reruns, this being the Levy's home country as well as that to Catherine, Annie, and everyone on the cast. Except Chris Elliott, humorously, for reasons I hope your souvenir book, "Warm Regards" tells me. How did he get on an all Canadian cast? It is the role of his life so far and he was very funny and awkward.

I was wondering what your top five favorite books have been so far this year? You have a very diverse and eclectic taste and we seem to enjoy similar genres. :)

Alexis, this is a fun topic! I feel the same way when I reread your profile write-up, that we have wonderful things in common like animal welfare and holistic healing! I watch what you read with pleasure too, my new friend! Here is some of that eclectic variety that I would deem my top 5 so far. I keep a typed list on a Word document. :)

Why don't you chime in and everyone else in our group who wants to share? Here are 5 books I easily granted 5 stars! Your friend, Carolyn.

“Energy Medicine for Women: Aligning Your Body’s Energies To Boost Your Health And Vitality” Donna Eden 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing” Matthew Perry 2022
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“How The Light Gets In” Louise Penny 2013
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“The Raven Boys” Maggie Stiefvater 2012
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

“Manitoba” Irvin Kroeker 1979
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you, Lorraine, for corraborating "Paul's" rudeness and to Shonna, Darcey, and Kerri for solidarity privately. I asked if he realized he kept brushing aside 99% of what we wrote and explained that we reply to each topic everyone contributes. It feels great to come on knowing your peers are answering you and enjoying what you say, because we are positive and generous.

If he didn't want to converse deeply and found it "critical" for us to politely ask, his offer to leave was appreciated. Venting at us was unacceptable. Never tolerate anyone's bullshit and please stand up for your peers and friends. I should not have dealt with that loudmouth alone. With a glance at membership, you would have noticed he had not gone as he claimed to.

The moderators have seen to it that he is gone. Please write, share pictures, and browse as usual. Sincerely, the moderators of Gentle Spectrums.

8-paragraph replies elaborated on nearly everything you wrote with earnest pleasure. Picking one point and ditching the rest indicated not wanting to converse at the same scope. No, finding we are incompatible doesn't bother me. I broached it politely and neutrally, with no personal remarks about you. I'll have none about me either. I'm content with where we left things in message #60 and wish you well.

I love best that we give a reply to each of what we write. We feel good about putting in the time and effort, if nothing we contribute is dismissed, or breezed through.

I realized that anyone going through trauma, fear, pain thinks of what the situation means to themselves. Did Andrew wonder if an actor would struggle more? I concluded: no. Losing a sexual organ, limb, or digit is handicapping enough. However, not looking like yourself in the face is horrifying for all. Everyone's faces is their emotional and mental IDs. The protagonist felt terrible for a little girl next to him.

I enjoy modern literature for dialogue and humour. Wry observations, funny quotes to go along with the list of Christmas food that was made ("Slime, snails, puppy dog tails")! I recall this by memory from 2019 because it made me laugh most, for local familiarity. Book titles I pass by on Goodreads often remind me of song titles and lyrics, which I launch into singing.

Most people revisit photographs and videos of when they were healthy. The reasons are as diverse as we are. I recall Ulrich feeling better about doing it. Ditching the DVD was like facing forward in his new physical state. In contrast, we relate to not wanting photos of loved-ones unrecognizably sick, nor in decease. We want to remember them as they would be, without the ailment. However, if someone is surviving, not dying; you don't cease photo records of them in the family. I only say that pornography was an interesting choice of past jobs because few have nude photos or videos. It was a source for Ulrich to see his skin and missing organ.

Did you watch the show "Mom"? Bonnie Plunkett's husband was in a wheelchair. On a videotape of him walking, he didn't mind seeing himself mobile. He hated was the womanizer he was in those days. Even dearer to our hearts: "Lucky Man". Mike's closeness with his family reached the level it did with Parkinsons Disease slowing him down. May we all achieve balance a nudge.

Some good friends had multiple close family losses, which include animals. One American friend can't bear pictures of her loved-ones at this time. I myself, NEED to look on the faces of loved-ones daily. I am reassured that I can still see the sight of them. Do you understand what I mean? A disfigured person seeing their supple face might feel tortured but I think that result is unintentional. Whether it feels good to know how they look normally, or it is closure that they don't, those are the best outcomes from a photo album or video. I would never discard records of personal history and likeness. Ulrich is a different person, which this might have helped move on. Or, equalling disfigurement to mourning, he is like my friends who feel sad rather than glad, to look upon what is visibly gone.

Marianne helped him. Few autobiography titles are more poignant than Christopher Reeves' "Still Me". I appreciate knowing how burn victims felt and recovered: spiritually, emotionally / mentally, and medically. Even a character with a concealable burn, chose medicine as a career. If I were not against euthanasia in any form, I could only imagine the temptation to thinking it might be better not to live, if disfigured from feeling human.

A subject of mine, is the importance of stories featuring how characters are FEELING, rather than what they are physically doing. It makes the difference between fine literature and cheap fiction. I am done with the many authors who feel the need to treat novels like a screenplay. They frequently say characters drink coffee, wine, or tea and continue to sip or refill them. Set the scene that someone is having a refreshment and leave it there. I have read novels in which I could clearly see that the feelings of the characters weren't conveyed at all. We can relate to anyone, of any age, if authors drive their stories with emotions. Andrew gave us more than we bargained for.

I took a day to ponder. There is no difference at the core, in the importance of facial recognition in particular and how we perceive ourselves as feeling human. No mindset on looks would make it any easier and that it isn't about attractiveness. It is about looking like yourself and noticing that others were unable to simply perceive you as a person.

I don't watch "Dancing With The Stars" but here is an example. There was a burn survivor on it years ago, whose disfigured face I could not bear to look at, in TV commercials. I am not prejudiced or vain. It just looked horrible in a way I could not stand to see. I also replied in other areas I hope you enjoy. Perhaps you relish originality too, or wonder what I meant by Manitoba humour.

This is a book to carry us along and not define goals or genres. We marvel at the humour (I recognized good old Manitoba humour) in terrible times and learn about healing burns. I am drawn most of all to complete originality. Andrew had to have put immense research into several cultures he features!

Reaching emotions and sympathy is always a must. Allow us to relate and I am following that story on almost any subject. I have noticed keenly, superficial novelists focusing on physical actions instead. We don't need a screenplay of characters repeatedly reaching for coffee or wine, or "narrowing eyes". We don't do that the way authors put it.

I certainly took awhile to relate to him. His Aunt & Uncle were irresponsible assholes whom he left. I don't recall selling children and would balk at that. Kerri commented on the contrast with a convent scribe. I initially thought a sex worker would lament losing good looks but after consideration, I say this would be a horror to most people more than they expect.

My spouse won't wear shorts because of prominent veins. What our character wouldn't give for his physical worries to be this minor! I felt strongly for him, besides losing his sexual organ and I think some fingers, when even the headgear he wore accentuated the scarred skin and didn't give him an opportunity to conceal it!

You see, how we look in physical life is not about vanity or being used to using our looks for jobs. That would suggest an actor would have more to lose than anyone else. It is about how cuts or burns around a face could look less human, because facial appearance is the main way we recognize others and ourselves. Even if our family saw through to our souls and got used to the appearance of disfiguration; the people we met shopping or anywhere we went would not. Imagine every time you met someone, wondering if they would react silently or ask you to explain what happened.

Shirin & Kerri, I have by mail the rest of "Raven Boys" series. I see there is a novella at the end called "Opal". Would you send it to me sometime, Shirin?

I am not in a rush to blow through a series we love. I am glad I have "Call Down The Hawk" afterwards, with sequels to look forward to. Therefore, the next of Maggie's work I would like to read after "Dream Thieves" is "Lament". Wondering if there is interest, this being summer book sale season. :)

Ah, wonderful descriptions, wonderful writing! This is what I remember and am glad you enjoyed at least, Shirin. Yes, Andrew also slipped in regular humour. My favourite part here is, deciding long ago that everyone would stand on Greek shoulders.

This quality and originality is why I am surprised by two stars, even if you didn't find enough battle type action for your tastes.

No, surprisingly, I don't remember many details. Only impressions of how amazed I was by the work, originality, and detail Andrew put into it and also some humour. Please do share your quotations with me, Shirin. I love how you & Kerri include those in your reviews and replies!

Isn't it odd, Shirin, how our favourite author also has a series that is so revolting, we refuse to read any of it? We have these two raven & hawk series ahead of us and I am intrigued by "Lament" too.