Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
What are U doing today?
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What are U doing today? (Ongoing thread)
We had some friends over for a cook out last night with their 2, almost 3 year old granddaughter. That kid was a handful, but pretty well mannered & tough. She played well with the dogs & goats, even though they were bigger than she was. She was in no way intimidated by them. She kept eating the Captain Crunch I gave her to lure the goats in if they didn't get to it fast enough until she & Buttercup were fighting over one piece. That delighted her. Her mother is a race horse trainer, so I guess it's no surprise she gets on well with animals. It was kind of fun, but I was glad to give her back. The joys of being a grandparent mostly rely on that last, I think. ;-)
As a grandmother of nineteen you are right about the last part. My husband says he is a twenty minute grandfather. NOT. He even plays himself out with a four year old great granddaughter.
Cassie, the little girl that visited last night, was enthralled by the teeter totter that the dogs use in agility & announced that she wanted one. Grandpa agreed she needed one & said he wished he had the tools to build one. I called him this morning & told him there was one waiting for her. It's smaller than the dog's teeter totter, only an 8' long seesaw board, but it has pony heads with 3/4" dowels stuck through them for holding on to. The ponies face inward so little monsters that fall against them hit the arching neck. It only took a couple of hours to build - I've done various sizes of it before for my kids & some others - so they got it home before lunch & nap time. Everyone was thrilled. I got a big hug & a huge smile from Cassie. Payment enough, I'd say.
;-)
I think you deserve a "grandfather" medal for that one. Cheers for a very nice deed, well done.
How did everyone fare in Irene. Being in KY, we felt nothing. Mom said she had 4.5" rain Sunday morning at 6am & still had power. Brandon called around lunch time & said they'd been without power since about 5am. While both are in north central MD, Brandon lives 30 minutes north of Mom & is on a different power company grid, Delmarva, rather than BGE. The former apparently was entirely down due to extensive damage further east.Erin was here with us in KY, but James is in RI. Haven't heard from him at all. I have heard from other friends in New England & it sounds like it wasn't all that big of a deal. Certainly not up to all the hype & attention the media gave to it.
I'm getting really tired of popularized news. There wasn't a lick of information available on TV about anything except Irene. What happened elsewhere? I had to go to the web where I could dodge all the Irene stories.
I saw a brief note from Jackie on FB that they have no power, so I guess she & Joy are conserving any battery power they have. She didn't mention any horrors, so I hope it is just an inconvenience. At least it isn't cold out.
We, of course, had no problem this far away from the coast but my granddughterand herfamily; husband and two boys; age fourteen adn eight live in CT right across from the beach. Water went over the seawall and was deep; some decks washed out to sea and some houses rocked on foundation and asphalt broken up but no water in their house. The boys were out having fun wading up to the oldest one's waist. He carried the younger one on his shoulders and both had huge smiles. Oh to be young.nina
Yeah. We used to love to swim in the creek when it flooded. Pretty dangerous, I guess, but we had a blast riding trees down & picking through the flotsam. My son & his girlfriend live in RI & lost their power. Still don't have it. They did get a skunk, which Scrat killed & is now in quarantine for 45 days because his girlfriend called animal control. Dumb. She's up on her shots & he washed her down good.
The hurricane is over and we're back to normal here. We lost power for 27 hours but used our automatic generator to keep things going. However we lost our cable TV and Internet during that time. My sister was visiting; so I dug out a couple of old videotapes called "That's Entertainment". We enjoyed seeing clips from all the old musicals and talking about our memories of them and of the performers who are now mostly all dead.I'm still without my laptop and am using Eddie's. Since I'm not comfortable on his laptop, I'm keeping usage of it to a minimum. Besides, by the time he finishes using it, I'm usually too tired to take my turn.
Our son says he's almost finished setting up my new laptop. He works on it when he gets time. He's transferring all the stuff on my old hard drive to the new laptop. Needless to say, I'll be happy when I have my own again!!!
Welcome back, Joy. Glad you have no more problems. My granddaugter sent pics of her neighborhood in CT. She lives in Milford near New Haven. All the homes across the street from her were flooded. They front the beach. She sent pics of her two boys wading in above the waist water in front of her house with water coming over the sea wall but no water got into her house. She has been without power since Sunday. But, she says it's like camping but in a nicer place.
Thank you, Nina.Sounds like Milford, CT, is still suffering the results of Irene.
The organist at my sister's church near Albany, NY, was swept away in a flash flood from the creek in her backyard. We've been looking for the details online but can't find them. My sister says that the woman went out in her yard to see what was happening. Everyone has been shocked by the news of her death. It's a reminder that we should stay away from the water during a hurricane!
Fortunately for us, the wind was from the north. So our boat was OK at the dock. It's the south wind that we have to worry about here on the lake. It blows right into our association docks.
That is very sad. I have finished the book,"The Invisible Bridge," and what I took away from it was that an ordinary life can be changed forever by forces you never expect. I thought it was a marvelous book. we are a reading group and we can learn from from reading and from that poor woman's experience. Never take a day for granted; or the day after.nina
Nina, thanks for the recommendation. Below are links to the book and the author:The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
(Historical Fiction, first published 2010)
I'll keep it in mind.
Off to work and looking forward to a 3-day weekend in spite of the rain. May be a good weekend to go to the Saratoga flats. I'll also have time to learn more about downloading books to my new Kindle. Everyone have a safe Labor Day weekend.
Enjoy your Kindle, Linda. I look forward to hearing more about it. Hope you win some money in Saratoga!Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone. We're just staying home and relaxing. We're addicted to peace and quiet. I'm really into my current read, The Good Mother. So I'm looking forward to reading more of it.
I did read The Good MOther some years ago and all I remember is that I liked it. Good writing, I do remember that.
Nina wrote: "I did read The Good MOther some years ago and all I remember is that I liked it. Good writing, I do remember that."Nina, I'm at the part where Anna's husband, Brian, is trying to get full custody of their daughter, Molly. It's very compelling.
I might have to read it again. I don't mind reading good books again. Joy, if you enjoy Johann Strauss's music, I urge you to watch, "The Strauss Family." The music alone is worth your time and the story is fascinating.
I took some pictures of our poor dogs trying to make it through the day today. You have to feel sorry for them, don't you?https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...
Nina wrote: "I might have to read it again. I don't mind reading good books again. Joy, if you enjoy Johann Strauss's music, I urge you to watch, "The Strauss Family." The music alone is worth your time and the..."Nina, yes, I enjoyed the Strauss Family DVD. I've already watched Disc 1. I intend to watch Disc 2 soon:
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The-S...
"Discover the tempestuous history behind one of Europe's most talented musical families in this miniseries that traces the life, love and work of famed composer Johann Strauss Sr. and his son -- who eventually became even more renowned. The elder Strauss gained fame for popularizing the waltz, but a love scandal at the peak of his career turned his son, Johann Strauss Jr., into a bitter rival who eventually became known as the Waltz King."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069639/
"A seven-part mini-series produced in England about Vienna's Strauss family in the 19th-century. Members of the London Symphony Orchestra provided the music."
PS-Nina, I had mentioned the Strauss Family DVD at the movie thread on August 20. See my post, Message #648, at:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
Jim wrote: "I took some pictures of our poor dogs trying to make it through the day today. You have to feel sorry for them, don't you?https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s... "
Jim, I don't feel sorry for them. They're a bunch of lazy bums, just like my Romeo! They sleep all day and have nothing to do but make trouble.
PS-I just reminded myself of a funny piece from a long time ago. I searched just now and found it online. It's at:
http://ladolcevitathesweetlifewiththr...
It goes like this:
================================================
[Read the following story of The Three Bears with a heavy Italian accent and see if you understand what you're saying. I'll get you started with the first couple of lines: Once upon a time was three bears; mamma bear, pappa bear, and baby bear. Live in country near forest. Nice house, no mortgage. One day pappa, mamma, and baby go beach, hurry and forget to lock the door.
Now you try...(BTW, the last word in the story is city hall)]
-------------------------------------------
"Di Tri Berrese" ("The Three Bears")
Uans appona taim uas tri berrese; mamma berre, pappa berre, e beibi berre. Live inna contri nire foresta. Naise aus, no mugheggia. Uanna dei pappa, mamma, e beibi go bice, orie e furghetta locche di dorra.
Bai enne bai commese Goldilocchese. Sci garra nattingha tu du batte meiche troble. Sci puscia olle fudde daon di maute; no live cromme. Den sci gos appesterrese enne slipse in olle beddse. Bai enne bai commese omme di tri berrese, olle sannebronne enne send inne scius. Dei garra no fudde; dei garra no beddse. En uara dei goine du tu Goldilocchese? Tro erre aute inne strit? Colle pulissemenn?
Deis uas Italien berrese, enne dei slippe onne florre. Goldilocchese stei derre tri deise: dei esch erre tu meiche di beddse, sci runne omme craine tu erre mamma. Uatssiuse? Uara iu goine du? Go compleine sittiole?
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So funny!!!
Nina wrote: "No one can accuse you of pet abuse."I felt like abusing Lily last night. We opened the windows because it was supposed to get cooler. It did. 2 days ago we were in the upper 90's. This morning it was 46. It's still only up to 55 now.
Anyway, I guess Lily got cold. She always sleeps on top of the covers & just lays on me or cuddles closer if she gets chilly - until last night. I got up to go to the bathroom & she stole my spot. The best I could do was shove her over & she slept under the covers after that.
;-)
Linda wrote: "Off to work and looking forward to a 3-day weekend in spite of the rain. May be a good weekend to go to the Saratoga flats. I'll also have time to learn more about downloading books to my new Kindl..."On leaving home for the weekend we noticed the car was missing its EZPass. Previous weekend we used on our truck. Somehow it never made it back to the car. We have been rehashing our moves and pointing a finger at the other (me to husband and husband to me). Didn't find it before we left (purchased a new one), no charges on the "old" EZPass, and still cannot find the EZPass. Searched high and low and inbetween.
Wonder where it will turn up.
Disappearances like this can make you feel crazy.
I don't know what an eZPass is. Is my age showing?
I just received pictures of my great grandson with Tim Kaine, ex govenor of VA and now running for Senate. Good of both but my great grandson is the cutest.
Nina, an EZ Pass is an electronic card you put in your car so you can go through tolls without stopping to pay actual cash. The transit authority just charges you electronically.
Good idea. We don't have many toll roads by us; but they are a nuisance on trips.
Hi everyone. It's been raining here for several days. Pretty gloomy. Haven't been able to get use of Eddie's computer as much as I've wanted. When it's free, I'm too tired. Linda: I hope you find your EZ pass. My sister lost her cell phone and didn't find it until several days later when it turned up in the pocket of a sweater she seldom uses. By then they had cancelled the phone and ordered another.
Jim: Those cold temperatures make me shiver. I don't blame Lily one bit! You'll just have to learn to SHARE!
Nina: You are such a proud grandma! Aren't we all!
Speaking of ADD kid problems. I once read an article that said how many kids who grow up doing farm chores have ADD?
That's weird, Nina. Never heard that before.
This article went on to say they should try taking kids with ADD and Hdd out of the city and take them to a farm and have them run around a bit and then do some chores and really tire them out. Maybe it would work. Don't know if it ever was really tried.
Nina, that's an interesting theory. I suppose that if you tire ANYONE out, they'd tend to be less hyperactive. However, I think that the problem of ADD has a lot to do with cognitive issues, not only hyperactivity.
I think the ADD & HD is mostly bunk. They should give the kids recess!!! They've pretty much done away with that, which is the dumbest thing I can imagine. Kids have a lot of physical energy they need to burn off. They just go nuts trying to sit still all day & so the teachers want to drug them into submission. Maybe this is why they think farm kids have ADD. Kids who grow up on a farm are probably in better shape & more used to physical activity than city kids. That seemed to be the case with mine.
No, the farm kids don't have ADD according to the article because they are so busy and tired from working. That is what I read, not my theory. It tends to make sense. When I grew up I never heard of ADD and somehow kids grew up without medication for that type of disorder. But, we were always busy and recess was long; twice a day besides noon.
Oh, I misunderstood what you were saying. Yes, we're on the same page.
Anyone notice the difference outside - at least in the greater Albany area in NYS? No rain since Friday morning and SUNSHINE. Halleluja. Vitamin D. Sunshine. Give the ground a chance to dry up a bit.
We finally had sunshine today. I don't think we got 1.5" of rain all week, but every day was wet. It was just blah, even though we needed the rain. Glad we didn't get what those of you in the NE got, though.
Yes, it's so good to see the sunshine again! For one thing, it keeps my flowers blooming!Today I'm watching the "Nine-Eleven" TV coverage of the 10th Anniversary of the attack on the WTC in NYC on 9/11/01. I like the placement of the two reflecting pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers. The pools go down deep; water cascades down the sides. Very dramatic... somehow very meaningful. All sorts of metaphors are possible with this image. I'm trying to think of some but nothing is coming to mind. Perhaps we'll hear or see some clever observations along this line.
I googled just now and found the following webpage with the following headline:
"Empty space dominates design of Ground Zero memorial"
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitts...
Yes, the deep pools can be a symbol of the empty spaces left in people's lives by the deaths of their loved ones on Nine-One-One. Good metaphor.
Hurray! My new laptop arrived today. It's a Dell Vostro. It says Model 3550, installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB. It has "Windows 7 Professional". Our son set up the new laptop so that it has the same stuff on it as my old laptop. So I'm fairly comfortable with it. I use Thunderbird as my mail program.Whew, now I won't be bothering Eddie to use his laptop! I'll bet he's happier than I am!
Congratulations, Joy! Glad you can be back online with your own hardware.
Thanks, Werner. It's amazing how much adjusting it takes to use someone else's computer. Stressful!
Happy days, Joy. I hate changing PC's. It always takes me a couple of weeks to get the new one in shape. Until then, the days are filled with constant irritation.
Welcome back "home." I hate using another's computer. I can't seem to get my fingers to fit.
Thanks, Jim and Nina. Yes, "constant irritation" about sums it up. The programs are getting more complicated all the time. Not only that, but each computer treats certain things differently.For example, Eddie's got Vista. I think my old computer had XP. This new one has Windows 7. On my old computer and this new one, the links in my WordPad docs have always been hyperlinked. On Ed's computer, the links in my WordPad documents didn't hyperlink. I can't understand why there is that difference.
Thanks, Nina. Louis Pasteur said: "Luck favors the prepared mind." When it comes to computers, I'm not very prepared.
I got insurance through State Farm on my daughter's laptop in case it got stolen for $36/year. Turns out it's also good if she spills a coke on it. Yay! They say they'll pay up to $800 to replace it. It's 9 months old & I only paid $700 for it new.My wife wrote me an email:
I was in the bathroom when I heard Lily run up onto the back deck. There was a loud thud and she started yelping in pain. She ran into the house and I ran out of the bathroom to see what happened. She crouched on the floor whimpering. I saw no blood or anything that look broken so I just talk to her for a while. She seems fine now. I guess she crashed and scared herself.
If this was the first time it had happened, I'd be upset, but it isn't. Normally, she just doesn't notice minor details like crashes, but occasionally she really gets herself. We were looking at pictures on the computer a while back when she flew into the room, playing with Pixie, & dove under the bed. She hit her shoulder really hard & did the same thing. I got down on the floor & she crawled onto me, leaning into me hard, trembling all over. I could just tell she had no idea why she got hurt & was upset about it.
I swear, she makes a cartoon character look smart sometimes.
;-)
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Thank you, but it's what I do every day. That's one of the pluses of being the entire IT Department from the janitor up to the director. I get to see the trees & the forest. I make the decisions & then have to live with them. Believe me, I've made enough mistakes over the years that I try very hard to think things through thoroughly.
;-)