General Chit-Chat Part 2! Showing 1,801-1,850 of 2,680

[Tweedledum]

it's not all bad and we do have the option of retiring but it's complicated and a very uncertain time. Although we knew both jobs were threatened you can't really prepare for the shock and the feelings it engenders when it actually happens. Also I can't make decisions about my future , for example , until we know for certain where we are going to be living but I am confident about going free lance and back on supply to supplement my teacher's pension which I will be able to take once my post ends. However the good news is I am also going to get compulsory redundancy in January. Our daughter Is back home as her job finished in July and although she has already been offered some part time work it's not going to be enough to enable her to rent straight away. But hopefully that is going to build up to something approaching full time by Christmas.

[Joan]

Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "I've found a pretty interesting article about Goodreads, although I don't agree with most of the things its author says: https://onezero.medium.com/almost-eve......"

$150 million! I was surprised to learn that was the value of Goodreads in 2013 when Amazon purchased it.
Who knew our book chatter was worth so much!

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/...

[Joan]

Tweedledum wrote: "it's not all bad and we do have the option of retiring but it's complicated and a very uncertain time. Although we knew both jobs were threatened you can't really prepare for the shock and the feel..."

Welcome back Tweedledum - and good luck with all those changes. My husband and I accepted (were encouraged to take) early retirement a few years ago. Left me wondering who I am exactly.

[Tweedledum]

Joan wrote: "Tweedledum wrote: "it's not all bad and we do have the option of retiring but it's complicated and a very uncertain time. Although we knew both jobs were threatened you can't really prepare for the..."

I completely get that!

[Petra]

I'm glad you are back, Tweedledum.
You and your hubby are certainly in a changing situation. I'm sorry for the stress and concern it is causing. I do hope the uncertainty is settled soon and the stress relieved.

[Tweedledum]

Thanks Petra

[Tweedledum]

If anyone is up in London over next few weeks do check out Anno’s Journey exhibition at Japan House on Kensington High Street . A lovely exhibition of the work of author and artist Anno Matsumusa who created some wonderful children’s picture books .

[Marina]

Tweedledum, I'm so sorry. This is certainly a very difficult time for your family. I honestly hope things will work out fine in the end, but I understand how stressful this must be.

[LauraT]

Joan wrote: "Very interesting article Marina. It put into words what I had been feeling. Although I enjoy reading the posts by my GR friends, I don’t think of Goodreads as a reliable source for information, it ..."

But I've never considered it a source of information on books. Or, better, it is one source of information - often better than Amazon site or similar bookstore web sites. For me it is mostly a gathering place to talk about what I like reading. Since I'm in here, I've doscovered hundreds of books - some I've loved, some I liked, some I didn't. But that's as usual!!!!

[Joan]

I agree Laura,
What I am referring to is -the nerd in me believes that if a site is posting information such as book blurbs, publication info, and author biographies then the company profiting should ensure the information is accurate.

[B the BookAddict]

Joan wrote: "My husband and I accepted (were encouraged to take) early retirement a few years ago. Left me wondering who I am exactly..."

Joan, yes, that's how I felt and still feel sometimes even after a decade.

Tweedledum, that's a lot of change for your family all at one time. I hope things works out well for you.

[Tweedledum]

Thank you Marina, Bettie and Joan.

[dely]

Tweedledum wrote: "Hi everyone, i haven't been on GR for months as real life has been extra stressful with both my hubby's job and mine ending prematurely forcing us to consider our options big time. Our home goes wi..."

What a hard and difficult time! I wish you really all the best!

[Ruth]

Welcome back and I hope everything works out for you and your family.

[Karin]

Tweedledum wrote: "If anyone is up in London over next few weeks do check out Anno’s Journey exhibition at Japan House on Kensington High Street . A lovely exhibition of the work of author and artist Anno Matsumusa w..."

It's good to see you again, and I hope that everything works out for you and yours :)

[B the BookAddict]

Things have gone pretty quiet here lately, let's start some chat.

[Karin]

Yesterday I sang in a student vocal concert/recital with students of all levels. Rest assured, I'm at the lower end of this (a few have degrees in music already--this is the Continuing Education department at New England Conservatory so there are professionals who even take group classes and/or lessons at times). No one died as a result and I even managed to get every note right in the first one--in my case it's not a tone-deaf issue, but one of technique (bad technique can mean missing a high note, etc).

[[deleted user]]

Brava, Karin--it takes a lot of courage to perform music in front of an audience but it can be a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

[Esther]

Karin wrote: "Yesterday I sang in a student vocal concert/recital with students of all levels. Rest assured, I'm at the lower end of this (a few have degrees in music already--this is the Continuing Education de..."

How wonderful!! You must feel exhilarated.

I love singing and often lead services for my congregation.
But I haven't participated in any proper practice for years and really want to start breathing excercises so I can hit those high notes with more certainty.

[B the BookAddict]

Congrats, Karin.

[Alannah]

Congratulations Karin.

[Karin]

Thanks, all! I have been taking for 2 years so am finally starting to really improve (my teacher is honest--he never said anything good about my sound the first year, last year started saying "good lesson" sometimes and, finally, this year, has made some positive comments on my sound. He is not mean and has never been negative, but it's better to work with an honest teacher :). I still have a long, long way to go.

[Joan]

Karin, congratulations- you’re an inspiration for your singing and it’s heartwarming to hear that your son is open to accepting your input on his writing -sounds like a great relationship.

[LauraT]

Congratulations Karin!!!!! I bet you're really proud!

[Karin]

Thanks, all. I am happy that my son and are are close. Since my middle daughter got a serious boyfriend she doesn't share as much with me anymore (fairly common, I know) and my eldest as Asperger's and a PDD so even though she's cognitively highly gifted it's impossible to be close with her.

[Joan]

We just watched the 2015 BBC production of An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley (1945) it was AWESOME and timely, we thought.
I strongly recommend it if you are looking for something to stream.

[Leslie]

Karin wrote: "Yesterday I sang in a student vocal concert/recital with students of all levels. Rest assured, I'm at the lower end of this (a few have degrees in music already--this is the Continuing Education de..."

Congrats Karin! I have an awe for people with musical ability (especially singing).

After spending several months in hiding from myself and the world (mostly in the form of binge watching TV shows), I am slowly emerging back to myself (ie binge reading books!).

[Joan]

We recently visited Colorado for the first time - absolutely beautiful. Today my dear husband dropped that it would be a nice area to live. I’ve been trying to get off Long Island for 40 years!...
but I love moisture, rain even, grey misty days, someplace like Three Pines. Colorado seemed awfully dry and sunny.

[Karin]

Joan wrote: "We recently visited Colorado for the first time - absolutely beautiful. Today my dear husband dropped that it would be a nice area to live. I’ve been trying to get off Long Island for 40 years!...
..."

Colorado is dry and sunny--but also cold in the winter. I spent a week there once, not far from Pike's Peak. Another time I spent a night in Denver due to a weather delay up in Vancouer when I was travelling home for Christmas--before cell phones. Yes, there were hand held mobile phones from 1973, but I never knew anyone who had one. They were so James Bond! But in the mid-1980s I did meet someone with a car phone. (the mid-1980s was when I spent that night in Denver--I spent that week there c. 1991).

[Joan]

Karin, I had no idea then been around that long.

[Karin]

Joan wrote: "Karin, I had no idea then been around that long."

Me neither, although I know that the first wireless phone was invented in 1906--but it was large. Also the first radio to carry sound (both by Reginald Aubrey Fessendon, Canadian inventor who is best known for inventing the prototype of sonar. Marconi ended up licensing Fessendon's radio because he never got music and speech to carry on the radio waves).

[Joan]

Marconi & Tesla are very big on Long Island.

https://teslasciencecenter.org/events...


https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com...

[LauraT]

Joan wrote: "...but I love moisture, rain even, grey misty days, someplace like Three Pines. Colorado seemed awfully dry and sunny."

In Italian we say "Chi ha il pane non ha i denti" that translated sounds sometghing like: Those who have the bread don't have teeth!

I HATE rain, humidity, mist, and I live in Perugia, rather a foggy and rainy city in Italy!!!! To have an idea, give a look at Ratking by Michael Dibdin, set exactly where I live and work!!!!!!!!!!

[Kirsten]

LauraT wrote: "Joan wrote: "...but I love moisture, rain even, grey misty days, someplace like Three Pines. Colorado seemed awfully dry and sunny."

In Italian we say "Chi ha il pane non ha i denti" that translat..."

Isn't that the city Meredith Kercher was murdered in?

[LauraT]

The very one!!! I used to work right above the house where the killing took place. But a part from that, it is a really nice cosy little town; its only problem is the weather - really English! - and the fact that we are quite far from the sea ...

[Esther]

LauraT wrote: "In Italian we say "Chi ha il pane non ha i denti" that translated sounds sometghing like: Those who have the bread don't have teeth! .."

In Israel we say " Why do they give nuts to old men!"

[Joan]

Just the sort of sayings that trip up folks reading literal translations!

Perugia sounds like my sort of place,
except I don’t speak Italian - I can mangle French but really American English is my only language :-(

[Karin]

Joan wrote: "Marconi & Tesla are very big on Long Island.

https://teslasciencecenter.org/events...


https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com......"


Yes, they are. Most American books only list Marconi as the inventor of the radio because he transmitted the letter S in Morse code, but was unable to get voice to travel. It is common for inventions to have a number of people involved separately attempting the same thing, and the radio had a number of people doing different things, but Fessendon made it really work. RCA completely shafted Fessenden even though his invention was integral to analogue television. Thomas Edison never once claimed to have invented the lightbulb-he bought a patent from a Canadian inventor who lacked funds and perfected it (but there is a long history of attempts at getting one to work).

https://www.ieee.ca/millennium/radio/...

https://www.thoughtco.com/reginald-fe...

FYI, the first practical, AUTOMATIC dishwasher was invented by a woman, but she didn't make the very first, impractical one. Because they were so expensive at first, it was primarily hotels and restaurants who bought hers. https://www.kidsdiscover.com/quick-re...

[Joan]

Karin,
Thanks for that info - I knew Tesla & Marconi had controversial reputations. Now I can see why.

[LauraT]

Joan wrote: "Just the sort of sayings that trip up folks reading literal translations!

Perugia sounds like my sort of place,
except I don’t speak Italian - I can mangle French but really American English is m..."

If not for living, do come and have a look at it: you never know, you may want to learn Italian after that!
Give me a call: I'll show you around, as I've already done with some of AAB's members!!!!

[Joan]

Thanks Laura, we will!
Our big trip this year is to the U.K. for my mother-in-law’s 100th birthday.

She’s still active and remembers much from years ago but her short term memory is gone.

[Jennifer]

Joan wrote: "Just the sort of sayings that trip up folks reading literal translations!

Perugia sounds like my sort of place,
except I don’t speak Italian - I can mangle French but really American English is m..."

I’m monolingual and did fine when visiting Perugia. Interesting sites and great food. LauraT of course knows way more than I do but I’m very glad we visited the city.

[LauraT]

Joan wrote: "Thanks Laura, we will!
Our big trip this year is to the U.K. for my mother-in-law’s 100th birthday.

She’s still active and remembers much from years ago but her short term memory is gone."

Lovely lady I bet!!!! And England is always a great place to visit... if it wasn't for the weather!!!! Next time ...

[LauraT]

Jennifer wrote: "Joan wrote: "Just the sort of sayings that trip up folks reading literal translations!

Perugia sounds like my sort of place,
except I don’t speak Italian - I can mangle French but really American..."

So you have to come back with me! And another good point of Perugia is that we are close to a lot of nice places: Siena, Ravenna, Bologna, Rome, Florence ...

[Joan]

A heartwarming book moment here:
"How Watching Jeopardy Helped Me Say Goodbye to My Father" by Sam Anderson
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/ma...

[Christine]

Hey everyone

[Karin]

Christine wrote: "Hey everyone"

Hey back--how are you???

[Leslie]

How is everyone's Xmas shopping going? I myself am a procrastinator so haven't started yet, though I have been thinking about what to get people. I prefer to have a list of what to buy and go out and do it all at once...

[Karin]

Leslie wrote: "How is everyone's Xmas shopping going? I myself am a procrastinator so haven't started yet, though I have been thinking about what to get people. I prefer to have a list of what to buy and go out a..."

We're supposed to shop ;) !. Very slow, of course, but I am going to work on it ASAP. In fact, I ought to get out of GR and do any online shopping as it's the 15th already!

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "How is everyone's Xmas shopping going? I myself am a procrastinator so haven't started yet, though I have been thinking about what to get people. I prefer to have a list of what to buy and go out a..."

It's years now that I've reduced it to the bone - only children and some treats for me and my husband, a part from some Knick knacks for my collegues. And I can pridely say I've finished with all of them!!!!