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Pewter Blue
Imke and Nancy - you're alive. And we have visitors:)Lisa Kay - I am reading A Fine Balance because I love beautifully written books and sad books and historical fiction and it has been on my tbr list and I found a cheap used copy at Goodwill and I am on a kick right now about books from India, and a group I am in on Facebook is going to read it at the end of the month giving me the opportunity to squeeze it in now. Midnight' s Children and next month's A Walk Across the Sun are also India.
Nancy - I read a book of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri earlier this year and loved her writing. I will definitely be reading more of her work. There are some amazing Indian authors. I am finding Rushdie to be quite exceptional.
Nancy - are you in New York? I would love to go to a Broadway show someday. Have fun. How exciting.
I haven't been around much because my mother is back in the hospital. Last Wed she had her gallbladder removed and that tumor on her pancreas removed. She is doing well. But I work for her and yesterday our accounting program started acting up. Today alone I spent over 4 hrs just trying to fix that. It's printing all our forms wrong and I can't access reports I need to run.
I'm heading out to a diet meeting but I can probably work on the doublet tonight. If it's like the last one then we can all do one and submit it for credit.
Brooke - hey. Yes I see you are alive and well. O.K. I have been reassured. My team has actually been busy reading instead of fooling around wasting valuable reading time on Goodreads, like me. I'm addicted. But it makes for good reading breaks. And I guess there is also that other thing, you know, life. I'm just having fun ya'll. No worries.
I'm alive as well!My Mom's annual Crab Feast was on Saturday and we were literally all hands on deck from Thursday-Monday including set-up and clean-up. My fiancee is also visiting and we had a friend from Boston come down, so I haven't gotten much computer time.
I've also been low in reading time. I finally finished Wanderlust, which I had been reading since around the 6th. I have a few other books I'm in the middle of - I need to start finishing them!
I also found myself in my local Comic Book Shop yesterday. Not only did it put a hurting on my bank account, but it's also hurting my reading for this challenge because I picked up a few graphic novels that don't count for tower teams. I'm not sure if anyone here is a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender and/or Legend of Korra, but I plowed through Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise Part 3, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search Part 1, and Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Search, Part Two. Good stuff for fans of the series, it bridges the gap between the two!
On Sunday I'm driving up to Canada for the week, so I'm hoping to knock out a few audiobooks on the drive. I'll be home after labor day and things will be back to normal for me!
I did #116 (the doublet), but since it's a blinking cupcake anyone can get it for more options when we turn in the cupcakes. :)
Lisa Kay wrote: "♥plays♥, Nancy. Lucky you!"In addition to seeing Pippin I am also going to an exhibit of children's book at the 42nd Street Library. This library with the lions Patience and Fortitude is one of my favorite places in Manhattan and even without a special exhibit, I just love to wander the stacks and sit there and read.
Vicky wrote: "I'm alive as well!My Mom's annual Crab Feast was on Saturday and we were literally all hands on deck from Thursday-Monday including set-up and clean-up. My fiancee is also visiting and we had a f..."
Have a wonderful time, Vicky. I love listening to audiobooks and hope you choose some really good readers since that makes or breaks a read for me.
Ha ha. I go to do laundry and come back and look at all this activity. Lisa Kay recomended I read a book about how to do things by myself. I have one response Lisa Kay - there is no I in team. Hee hee. I hope people get my humor - sometimes hard to portray through texting. @ Nancy. Wanderlust is on my tbr list. I really want to read it. What did you think? I read The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.. I loved it. I greatly suffer from this condition - wanderlust. I miss traveling soooo much.
Vicky - I am so jealous - did you get to gorge on crab? I luv luv crab. Mmmmmmm. And if my fiance was visiting I surely wouldn't be on here talkin to you all. Or if, you know, I had a life period. My life has become working, being a mother, and reading/frequenting Goodreads talking to others about books - but the ladder is something we all have in common:)
Sarah wrote: "Ha ha. I go to do laundry and come back and look at all this activity. Lisa Kay recomended I read a book about how to do things by myself. I have one response Lisa Kay - there is no I in team. Hee ..."Aha, there isd a solution. Next time team disappears, get busy doing house chores, they'll be back in no time
Sonia - or I can go visit other teams like I did today:) Much better than chores. Even better - I should be reading.
I was so tired when I got back last night that I didn't turn the computer on at all. I just read for a little bit and went to bed. Work is really busy right now so I will probably check in here and there but can't do the doublet until after work.
Yeah. Go Team. Sorry I don't post pics. I am computer illiterate. Now I am trying to see if there is a puzzle I can do.
Why is it that when both my mother and I are in the office, the phone doesn't ring and nothing happens. But when it's just one of us the phone rings off the hook and everyone wants all these oddball parts & special orders yesterday? Tonight, after I drop off my parent's mail and prescriptions, I am just going home and relaxing. I'm ordering pizza and putting my feet up.
I submitted puzzle #116. How do you know if it was approved?
Sarah wrote: "I submitted puzzle #116. How do you know if it was approved?"You get answer from me saying if it was correct or wrong. ☺
Mod
Sarah, I responded to you before here , and so did Captain Cupcake via eMail. Read those and your question will be answered.
Mod
Never mind figured it out.
I had the most wonderful day yesterday in Manhattan. I began at the 42nd Street library which is the most amazing place for any bibliophile. I specifically went there to see the exhibit of children's books. It was a truly amazing exhibit dating back to the primers of the 1700's to a large display about Harry Potter and the action figures found both in books and comic books. If you are in the city and want a wonderful experience this exhibit is there till March of 2014. Then I was off to lunch at a great Middle Eastern restaurant where I had borekas, salad and baklava. The city was so alive with children of all ages waiting to see Broadway shows and tourists snapping away. Finally it was time for me to be entranced with the show "Pippin." And believe me - a theatergoer who never misses an opportunity to see a live show that this was one of the best productions I have ever seen. Filled with wonderful cast members which included Terence Mann and Tovah Feldshuh, great songs and lyrics. witty dialogue, unique costumes and sets and a message we all should take to heart. I definitely want to see this again. Then I ended the day by meeting my husband for dinner at our favorite pizza place.
I have always said that books have provided me with the greatest comfort. Growing up in Manhattan, an only child and almost as an adult at a young age, books were my siblings, friends and an inexpensive way of traveling the world. And as I grew and did and do travel I was amazed to see many of those treasures I read about as a young woman. Today living in the exurbs (we also have a small apartment in the city which is rented from time to time) I find that in addition to books, a day in the city lifts my spirits almost as much as books. I maintain that I am a city girl and yesterday was testimony to this fact. New York gets all kinds of flack about this problem and that problem but believe me when I say, "Come visit - you will go home filled with lots of memories, for sure."
Mod
I love NYC too - I have been a few times in different seasons and always found something new and interesting and despite its reputation the people have always been lovely and helpful . Great friends of ours live in Long Island and it is always nice to go around with a "local" too. Although with a travel time of around 23 hours it will be a while before we return now that we have a baby!
Karen - how wonderful to have a baby and I can fully understand that between the baby and the long trip, you won't be here too soon. But when you do come, let us know. We love showing people our fair city.
I have never been to NYC:( Someday. Maybe you could meet me and show me around Nancy. And we could go to a show. I would be so lost. I did grow up in a town though that did have a lot of theater and got to see several plays - both Shakespeare and more contemporary plays. I grew up in Ashland in Southern Oregon, which is home to The Shakespeare Festival. There are three theaters for the festival, including the outdoor Shakespearean theater - then there is also a caberet theater. I love home. I live five hours away now in Portland, and have a three year old - so my travel has really been limited over these motherhood years.
Mod
Sarah - do come to NY and we will see the sights and a show. This goes for anybody else too. I have never been to Oregon so maybe someday. And the Shakespeare festival and other theaters sound wonderful to me.
I've been to NY once. It's craziness was slightly overwhelming for me, but dang Broadway is AMAZING. I saw Phantom of the Opera, and it's honestly one of the most amazing, unforgettable things ever. The talent is just mindblowing.
I think I found the mother lode of a book today at the library. The title is The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Not only did the NY Times have a glowing review of this book but the rights to the movie were already sold and the Today show chose this as the first book for their newly formed book group. The 21 year old author just graduated From Oxford and methinks we may have another JK Rowling in the making.
Nancy wrote: "I think I found the mother lode of a book today at the library. The title is The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Not only did the NY Times have a glowing review of this book but the rights to th..."I literally just heard about that one yesterday Nancy!!! It looks super great, and everyone else seems to think so too. If you read it, you'll have to let me know what you think. Hopefully it will live up to all of my intensely high expectations now!
**gasp** Oh, I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera! I've seen it twice; once in Los Angeles (with the original Michael Crawford) and once in San Francisco. I'd love to see it again in New York. My husband and I always said one day we'd go to New York to do our Christmas shopping. **sigh**
It's definitely worth it! I've seen many musicals in New York and Chicago, and nothing has ever compared. It was truly amazing. I hope you do end up seeing it in New York sometime then!
You're right, Riya. It is amazing to see how talented people are. And I love the feel of a "live" performance. There is nothing like it. Lucky you!
Oh I know!! They try to make musicals into movies, and it simply can't capture the whole aura of a real life performance. It stuns me how much raw talent some people can have!
Riya wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I think I found the mother lode of a book today at the library. The title is The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Not only did the NY Times have a glowing review of this book but th..."I really want to begin this book right now and although I have one due on 9/28 that I've been meaning to read, Reconstructing Amelia, why not begin The Bone Season tonight.
And I certainly will let you know what I think as I read along.
BTW - why does a trip to the library mean I have to rearrange those books I listed as reading now? LOL
Lisa Kay wrote: "**gasp** Oh, I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera! I've seen it twice; once in Los Angeles (with the original Michael Crawford) and once in San Francisco. I'd love to see it again in New York. My hu..."Our friend's daughter was the understudy in Phantom in San Francisco. I must admit I never really loved this musical but then again we didn't see it with Michael Crawford and that probably made a big difference. But the truth is I never enjoyed anything with obsessive love as a theme. But the music like in Les Mis was truly glorious.
As for Christmas shopping in NY, Lisa Kay please come and do that. There are few places in the world as magical as NY at Christmas time. Well, that might be an exaggeration but it is a wonderful time of year here. We once did a NY Christmas with our suburban daughter - showed her Eloise's portrait at the Plaza Hotel, took her ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza under the tree and also saw the windows along 5th Avenue. But it was the only time she ever did this even though she lived in Manhattan for close to 13 years.
Riya wrote: "Oh I know!! They try to make musicals into movies, and it simply can't capture the whole aura of a real life performance. It stuns me how much raw talent some people can have!"Riya - there were two musicals which were made into movies which I really loved more as movies They were Chicago - who could help but love Richard Gere trying to dance and Queen Latifah and Rent which wasn't sung at the show but screamed over the too loud music.
Nancy, I just finished
today and quite liked it. The "world building" was a bit confusing at the beginning (lots of new terms!) but the book gets better from there on. I'll definitely read the sequel when it comes out.
Nancy wrote: "Riya wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I think I found the mother lode of a book today at the library. The title is The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Not only did the NY Times have a glowing review of thi..."Well I really have heard good things about
. I want to read it... next year.
Mod
Andrea wrote: "Nancy, I just finished today and quite liked it. The "world building" was a bit confusing at the beginning (lots of new terms!) but the book gets better from t..."Andrea - Glad to hear you enjoyed this book but who am I kidding - a dystopian society, a clairvoyant, a proposed 7 book series and I didn't like The Hunger Games, Twilight or the author Neil Gaiman? In other words the book of the Fall or even year,
The Bone Season
just wasn't for me. With all due respects I did read 100 pages or should I say plodded through them and made an executive decision to close the book.
So, now I am going to begin listening to The Witches by Roald Dahl and reading Reconstructing Amelia. Or at least that's what I think. But who am I fooling. I don't know what I'm reading till I'm about to finish a book. LOL
Riya wrote: "I've been to NY once. It's craziness was slightly overwhelming for me, but dang Broadway is AMAZING. I saw Phantom of the Opera, and it's honestly one of the most amazing, unforgettable things ever..."Yes, NY is overwhelming but as I often say I'd rather walk the streets of Manhattan than drive my car in the suburbs. LOL
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post this here as well as the cuopckes and games folder but I sent in puzzle 119. And once again I am confused. The first e mail I got said I was right and a cupcake was on it's way. The second one said there were errors and was I looking at the right puzzle. I even had my husband check this and he agreed with my answers. Now I don't know if we got the cupcake or not. Well, I tried and that's OK with me.
Nancy wrote: "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post this here as well as the cuopckes and games folder but I sent in puzzle 119. And once again I am confused. The first e mail I got said I was right and a cupca..."Nancy, I'm having some trouble with internet connection so it looks like there was some problem.
My first mail said you were wrong, because we weren't looking at same version of images. After I discovered that and fixed images, I sent you second mail saying you are correct.
I guess first mail got lost somewhere on the way and arrived as second. ☺
Don't worry, your puzzle was correct and you got cupcake. ☺
Nancy wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Nancy, I just finished today and quite liked it. The "world building" was a bit confusing at the beginning (lots of new terms!) but the book get..."What did I tell you Nancy - my vote was Reconstructing Amelia. If you read it let me know what you think. I wonder if we have similar tastes. And what have you read by Gaiman? Did you not like his writing or was it the story or both?
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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Today I'm working on a fantasy diary about after the zombie apocalypse. It's fun. :)