General Chit-Chat Part 2! Showing 1,351-1,400 of 2,680

[Alannah]

I was shocked to hear about the shooting and took it as an opportunity to look at myself. I don't have much experience with Judaism there is a synagogue in the middle of my town, but it always seems empty no matter what day I'm there. Where I live, the Judaism has fallen to the sidelines as it still seems to matter whether you are Protestant or Catholic. Most of us grew thinking the other religion was the enemy (which I suspect unfortnately happens everywhere) and that is why I probably never think of the treatment of Jews in the UK until I read something about a girl's experience on twitter, it explained how she was bullied and told to hide her Jewish identity. I was more shocked when I got to the end and the girl had posted that this was England, I was expecting it to be in America.

[Joan]

Dely, I like the way you handled your neighbor’s bias - a teachable moment as they say here.

[Joan]

@Karin - I thought it looked wonderful too. I’m thinking of choosing one dish for our Thanksgiving Celebration this year. The one big challenge- I’m not much of a cook.

[Karin]

Joan wrote: "@Karin - I thought it looked wonderful too. I’m thinking of choosing one dish for our Thanksgiving Celebration this year. The one big challenge- I’m not much of a cook."

You'd have to find something very simple with few ingredients. Also, you may well be able to find a Youtube video or even more on how to prepare said recipe. Some of those videos are better than others (I mean for baking and cooking-I haven't used this book!)

[Alice]

I'm saddened by the news that my all-time favorite author Jin Yong (aka Louis Cha) passed away at the age of 94. I read his martial arts and chivalry novels as a child, and watched countless TV and movie adaptations growing up. He has been and always will be my hero and my idol! May he rest in peace.

[Greg]

Alice wrote: "I'm saddened by the news that my all-time favorite author Jin Yong (aka Louis Cha) passed away at the age of 94. I read his martial arts and chivalry novels as a child, and watched countless TV and..."

Sorry to hear that Alice!

[Esther]

Alannah wrote: "I was shocked to hear about the shooting and took it as an opportunity to look at myself. I don't have much experience with Judaism there is a synagogue in the middle of my town, but it always seem..."

One of the relaxing things about visiting China is that the Chinese have positive views of Jews and Israel on the rare occasions they even know what Jews and Israel are.
When we visit England and the rest of Europe we debate whether to wear our Stars of David, try not to speak too much Hebrew in public and if people ask where we are from we always take a moment to asses the situation before replying.
So far we have had no negative responses except when I accompanied a friend to a knitting group and one person cornered me the whole time I was there bombarding me with aggressive questions about our government's policies.

[Esther]

Alice wrote: "I'm saddened by the news that my all-time favorite author Jin Yong (aka Louis Cha) passed away at the age of 94. I read his martial arts and chivalry novels as a child, and watched countless TV and..."

It is always a shock when a childhood favourite passes.
Do you have a recommendation for someone to get started reading his books?

[B the BookAddict]

Esther, I had no idea you still had to worry about things like that. Shocking!

What is it about the Jewish people that people seem to dislike so much? As far as my reading informs me, hasn't this problem existed as long ago as 2000BC?

[Alannah]

I lived with a girl in university who was raised Catholic (on her father's side) but her mother's side is Jewish, while we were living together. She was starting to embrace her Jewish heritage and didn't have any bother. One day, she was given money and wanted to spend it on a star of David so she could have it for graduation, we were more shocked that the girl in the jewellery store did not have a clue what we were talking about.

I try to live life by two mottos, 'Nobody can help the situation they were born into so why give them grief' or 'You never know what a person's situation is, never assume and never judge.'

[Alice]

Esther, about Jews in China, indeed there's a long history of Jewish presence in Kaifeng of China (I learned about this from Pearl Buck's Peony). It's quite amazing.

And thanks for your kind words. As for Jin Yong's novels, presently there are just a few translated versions of his works. I know two such translated novels which are acclaimed English translations: The Book and the Sword (translated by Graham Earnshaw) and The Deer and the Cauldron: 3 Volume Set (translated by John Minford). The former one (in Chinese) was my childhood favorite.

[Greg]

Lots of trick or treaters this year - I think we had more than 50! This is the first year we almost ran out of candy! I do love to see everyone having fun though - it's a great holiday! :)

[Greg]

[Alannah]

We only had a couple this year, a bit disappointing. Very few parents will take their children out now for the fear that they will be ignored. A lot more people would rather go out now and enjoy the festivities rather than sit at home waiting for trick or treaters.

[Greg]

Alannah wrote: "We only had a couple this year, a bit disappointing. Very few parents will take their children out now for the fear that they will be ignored. A lot more people would rather go out now and enjoy th..."

How sad Alannah - I really enjoy the festive atmosphere of all the neighborhood kids coming by. It's a bit of bonding time with the neighbors too.

[Joan]

Greg - do you live in a city? In my suburb not many tricksters walk door to door but at large park nearby the community has started a sort of car-trunk by car-trunk trick-or-treating. It is great fun because the kids see each other’s costumes and get lots of ooh and aahs from enthusiastic adults.

Nice job on your jack-o-lantern

[Greg]

Joan wrote: "Greg - do you live in a city? In my suburb not many tricksters walk door to door but at large park nearby the community has started a sort of car-trunk by car-trunk trick-or-treating. I think it is..."

It's not exactly in a city but a bit more urban feeling than the typical suburb - sort of a working class suburb I guess ... with a bit of the beach atmosphere mixed in? Most of the neighbors do know each other.

I saw that some churches were having something, and certainly many schools have trunk or treats here. But the neighborhood kids still do come around the old fashioned way as well.

[Diane S ☔]

We had about sixty, more than the last several years. The weather was nicer and I noticed many more parents are dressing up. Maybe everyone is trying to cheer themselves up, since are news is so awful. Anyway it was nice to see families together, having fun.

[Angela M]

We live in a development where there are mostly retirees, and there are only s few young families with children. The first clog years we lived here , we bought a lot of candy and no one came :(. After that we just went to see the grandkids (two different places ), but not far . A couple of years we went along with the little ones as they went door to door.

[Greg]

Angela M wrote: "We live in a development where there are mostly retirees, and there are only s few young families with children. The first clog years we lived here , we bought a lot of candy and no one came :(. Af..."

Glad you've found ways to continue enjoying the holiday Angela! :)

[Greg]

Diane S ☔ wrote: "We had about sixty, more than the last several years. The weather was nicer and I noticed many more parents are dressing up. Maybe everyone is trying to cheer themselves up, since are news is so aw..."

My cousin and her husband dressed up as mad scientists since they work in the science field. They sent me some pictures - so great! :) I hope some people did cheer themselves up with some silly fun - it's something many of us could use in my direction of the woods I think!

[Marina]

Just want to say - Diane, I love your new profile picture!

[Greg]

Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Just want to say - Diane, I love your new profile picture!"

I didn't notice it because of the small phone icons, but I zoomed in now thanks to Marina - what a great picture and a great (I assume) Halloween costume! :)

[Angela M]

Diane , love the Halloween pic !

[Greg]

I am finally leaving work now - sometimes lately I wonder if it is worth it. I need a well paying job to keep the house, but I am just so tired. Oh well, I'm sure things will look better after a night's sleep.

[Marina]

Greg, I know what you mean. I did have a well-paying job (sort of) in Luxembourg, but I was always so tired for working late... and there were other issues, too, so I decided to give it up after only a couple of years. Now it's all very different since being a freelancer is not half so well-paying and moreover it's not stable if you know what I mean. Some months I earn good sums, while other months, like the last few months, I earn very little. I am still stressed from time to time, though.

[Joan]

Greg and Marina,
Looking at it from the other side - I, too, slogged through long, exhausting hours for 20 years, job satisfaction averaged 75%, worked my way up, finally created a job that suited me within the organization, and was able to retire with a nice (not extravagant) nest egg, while young and healthy enough to enjoy it.
I’m still hoping a fairy-godmother will give me a few million $$, but the dogged route worked for me - I hope your paths work as well.

[Greg]

Thanks Joan & Marina - and Joan, that is my hope! If I can somehow pay off this house in the next 20 years, we should be able to retire without any severe deprivation.

But a fairy godmother would be really, really nice! :)

[Esther]

Alice wrote: "Esther, about Jews in China, indeed there's a long history of Jewish presence in Kaifeng of China (I learned about this from Pearl Buck's Peony). It's quite amazing..."

Recently a group of the Kaifeng Jews have moved to Israel and we now see many more Israeli-Chinese faces in our day-to-day (in addition to a phenomenal increase in Chinese tourists)
Although our China trip took a lot of planning I don't feel we are anyway 'done' with China. Kaifeng might be an interesting place to visit next.

When we did our organised tour last year we visited the Synagogue and museum in Shanghai. After so many Jew refugees were rejected by the States and Europe China gave them a home and they created a thriving community saving thousands of lives.
It was incredibly moving.
Just recently a friend told me that their grandparents had managed to escape the Holocaust by going to Shanghai.

Thank you for the book recommendations. I have added them to my TBR.

[Esther]

No trick or treating here but our daughter sent photos from England of her costume. She is into anime so created her own interpretation of 'Murder Princess'. It was stunning.
Now she has 'popped over' to Amsterdam for a couple of days while my brother-in-law and his family are there on holiday.
She will be back in England in time for Guy Fawkes night so at present her life is work-party-work-party!

[Esther]

Joan wrote: "Greg and Marina,
Looking at it from the other side - I, too, slogged through long, exhausting hours for 20 years, job satisfaction averaged 75%, worked my way up, finally created a job that suited ..."

I worked during my 20s but my career started slowly due to language and cultural barriers (few Israelis though a polite English person could be tough enough to work book-keeping!)
By the time we had children DH was working such long hours we decided I should work part-time and from home so the children would have at least one parent present during their waking hours.
Financially it was tough.
Now I am back in full-time work and doing so much over-time I sometimes wonder why I pay a mortgage on a building I see so little!! But I do like my job and my wages mean my DH can work less, we have time to enjoy some hobbies and we can take lovely vacations together.
When I hear the young parents at my work struggling over how to juggle school/work timetables I am thankful I had the privilege to stay home with our children but it is nice to have the confidence now that every month we will have enough money to pay all the bills without going into debt.

[Alice]

Esther wrote: "Alice wrote: "Esther, about Jews in China, indeed there's a long history of Jewish presence in Kaifeng of China (I learned about this from Pearl Buck's Peony). It's quite amazing..."

..."

Esther, there is a memoir written by a Russian Jewish woman Liliane Willens, entitled Stateless in Shanghai. It's about her life in Shanghai before and during World War Two. It is published by Earnshaw Books, the same publisher who published my historical novel The Green Phoenix. I haven't read it yet but intend to.

[Karin]

Esther wrote: "Alice wrote: "Esther, about Jews in China, indeed there's a long history of Jewish presence in Kaifeng of China (I learned about this from Pearl Buck's Peony). It's quite amazing..."

..."
This is very Interesting. Last winter I met a woman who was born in Singapore and lived there until she was 7 because her parents, who were not Jewish, moved there in the 1930s because of what Hitler was doing. Until then, I'd never thought about whether or not people fled Germany, etc, to go to Asia in order to leave.

This is probably because I have met people who escaped from China during the 1930s because of communism, and also who bought land in Canada during the 1990s to leave Hong Kong before it reverted back to Chinese rule--I hadn't though of people fleeing to Asia.

[Esther]

Alice wrote: "Esther wrote: "Alice wrote: "Esther, about Jews in China, indeed there's a long history of Jewish presence in Kaifeng of China (I learned about this from Pearl Buck's Peony). It's quit..."

That looks interesting. I have added it to my TBR.

[LauraT]

Joan wrote: "Greg and Marina,
Looking at it from the other side - I, too, slogged through long, exhausting hours for 20 years, job satisfaction averaged 75%, worked my way up, finally created a job that suited ..."

That's a dream in Italy!

[LauraT]

Can I ask a favour to all of you? Could you please just enter into this page of my Municipality web site?
http://turismo.comune.perugia.it/arti...
You don't have to do anything, just enter the news!
And generally speaking, if you happen to have a spare minute a day when on line, just enter to my homepage and click the English version: it could boost a bit the English part!!!
http://turismo.comune.perugia.it/

[Angela M]

Laura, I took a look at both pages . Beautiful photos! Looks like a lovely city .

[Greg]

LauraT wrote: "Can I ask a favour to all of you? Could you please just enter into this page of my Municipality web site?
http://turismo.comune.perugia.it/arti......"

I looked at the webpages too Laura. The pictures are gorgeous! Are you asking for feedback on the English language parts?

[LauraT]

Greg wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Can I ask a favour to all of you? Could you please just enter into this page of my Municipality web site?
http://turismo.comune.perugia.it/arti......"

If you like it !!!!

That's my city, and the website is translated almost all by me! Therefore the more people enter into it the better it is for me! ANd if you see mistakes don't hesitate to write me: I've got so many things to do that I often write "fischi per fiaschi" as we say in Italian!!!

[Karin]

I like it, but since you asked for suggestions, on the English in the first link meteo was a mystery to me until I clicked in it. We call that weather in English. Yes, meteorologists predict the weather, but it's just weather.

[Ruth]

They finally hired someone for my shift and my co worker Maria who has been out with a broken foot is coming back Sat hopefully (she has Dr's appt Fri). We will finally be fulled staffed for the first time since April. I plan on putting in for vacation time for next month. I need a break because I am getting burnt out. Sick of working short which is what I've been doing since April. First one co worker was out for months (bad back) and then the other and one co worker quit. I am tired and so desperately need a break. I've been the only aide for 29 residents. I had 1 resident on the call light every five minutes last night. I was actually fantasizing about being a serial killer of old people. Lol. Sorry for this rant but needed to vent.

[LauraT]

Poor old people!!! But out of jokes, I don understand how it is to feel when left alone! Hope things are really gettin beter Ruth

[Chrissie]

Ruth wrote: "They finally hired someone for my shift and my co worker Maria who has been out with a broken foot is coming back Sat hopefully (she has Dr's appt Fri). We will finally be fulled staffed for the fi..."

Ruth , the burden you have been carrying is tremendous. More and more often this occurs in the care services. All suffer from this--those being cared for and those doing the caring. It is a problem occurring in many countries. I do hope you can take a vacation and that things will begin to improve.

[Ruth]

The problem is a lot of the younger people think this is going to be great and then when they start the job they realize it is really hard work and end up quitting. I can't really blame them either. It is hard work and the pay sucks. We pay mechanics more to take care of our cars then we pay people to take care of our elderly and children. Sad.

[LauraT]

Ruth wrote: "The problem is a lot of the younger people think this is going to be great and then when they start the job they realize it is really hard work and end up quitting. I can't really blame them either..."

Same here in Italy!

[Ruth]

It is probably the same everywhere Laura.

[B the BookAddict]

Ruth, we won't let you near the insulin then, lol:) Seriously, I really feel for you and hope you get a holiday soon.

[Esther]

Ruth wrote: "I had 1 resident on the call light every five minutes last night. I was actually fantasizing about being a serial killer of old people. Lol. Sorry for this rant but needed to vent. "

That sounds like the exhaustion talking. I am surprised you weren't hallucinating with tiredness on such a schedule.

[Tweedledum]

Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Life is quite overwhelming for me at the moment. I'm still reading quite a lot, though not so much as usual. I have a hard time concentrating. I'm not reviewing anymore, or very rarely, not even fo..."

Sending hugs Marina, struggling myself at the moment to keep my head above water but good to be able to dip into AAB occasionally.

[Diane S ☔]

Hugs to both Marina and Ruth. I can relate to both of your predicaments. Life can be overwhelming and caregivers are not given much credit for the exhausting work they do.