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General Discussion > What are you doing right now? Part 2

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message 1201: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) WRT to DNA testing conversation, I would really like to do this testing, also. (I do have some reservations, though, because you don’t know how this data might be used in the future.) My dad is convinced that he has Jewish blood from his ancestors from Minsk, even though he was raised Catholic. It’s so interesting how the police are now starting to solve cold case files by comparing a criminal’s DNA to family tree DNA data compiled by companies like Ancestry.com! They’ve made 2 recent arrests in serial rapist/killer cases.


message 1202: by Esther (new)

Esther (eshchory) | 1368 comments Pam wrote: " One thing I found interesting is that there are people who are highly skilled in reading & writing in English but not in speaking. I thought the skills all went hand-in-hand, but not necessarily! ."

My primary language for communicating these days is Hebrew so I speak fluently (but with quite an accent) . However I don't read much and my writing skills are pretty basic.
On the other hand I learnt French at school and although I enjoyed reading in French and was technically fluent I couldn't understand the news or people with accents and knew little idiomatic French or slang.


message 1203: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie It is the first day of fall and it is gorgeous here in Brittany, France. Sunny and brisk. I love the fall. The walks in the sunshine today have put me in a great mood.

I hope others are having a nice day too.


message 1204: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) Beautiful day here in New Mexico, too! I’m with Chrissie- Yay for fall, my favorite season! 🍂🍃🍁 Hope everyone has a GREAT week!


message 1205: by Nancy from NJ (new)

Katz Nancy from NJ (nancyk18) I’m watching Anderson Cooper discussing today’s proceedings with Kavanaugh.


message 1206: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) I watched the entire Kavanaugh hearing today! Listening to the IBMA (bluegrass) Awards on FB now, which is much more enjoyable!


message 1207: by Greg (last edited Oct 04, 2018 01:01PM) (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Pam wrote: "Thank you all for your kind words! Esther- No I don’t plan to travel & teach, at least not now. The training I did is with a non-profit organization called ReadWest. They match their tutors with an..."

This is great Pam! I have participated in these programs before too at the library, and I very much enjoyed my tutoring time. In the area I volunteered, there were more Asian immigrants, but there were some from everywhere.

I eventually got a TESL (Teaching ESL) certificate from a college program, but I haven't changed careers :)

What have you been reading with him or her?

If they have it in your area, I loved my time volunteering with "School on Wheels" too. They provide tutoring for children of homeless families to catch up. Often, their lives moving from shelter to shelter were so nomadic that the students had really fallen behind in school, and they really needed the help.


message 1208: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
dely wrote: "On Saturday I went to Saint Michael's Abbey in Piedmont, not far away from Turin. It is an amazing place and also important: it's one of the seven abbeys along the "holy line" of Saint Michael.


..."


What a beautiful place dely!


message 1209: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) Thanks Greg! I just got notified that I’ve been assigned my first student! She is Chinese and working on her US citizenship. I’m really excited to get started next week! This is a non-profit program for adults and it’s not associated with the public school system.


message 1210: by Greg (last edited Oct 04, 2018 01:49PM) (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Pam wrote: "Thanks Greg! I just got notified that I’ve been assigned my first student! She is Chinese and working on her US citizenship. I’m really excited to get started next week! This is a non-profit progra..."

Sounds great Pam! The program like this in the library by me is part of "Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA)" - I very much enjoyed my adult "students" in it.

Hope you have a great experience! Let me know how it goes. :)


message 1211: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Last night my little sister gave me my niece's two school uniform to hem and take up before Saturday when she'll collect them. An impossible blue color which will be hard to color match. Have yet to decide whether to hand or machine sew and whether I'll have to use invisible thread which is a b*tch to work with. Thanks for the short notice, sis!


message 1212: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
B the BookAddict wrote: "Last night my little sister gave me my niece's two school uniform to hem and take up before Saturday when she'll collect them. An impossible blue color which will be hard to color match. Have yet t..."

Hope it works out Bette! - your niece is lucky to have someone to try and make her uniform fit!


message 1213: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
I finally got a cold from overdoing it with work and classes and volunteering; so I listened to my body and stayed home from work today - sleeping as much as I can and lounging about with my cat.

On Monday & Tuesday, I'm supposed to take Dylan on some college tours in Arizona; so hopefully I can kick this fast!


message 1214: by Alannah (new)

Alannah Clarke (alannahclarke) | 14702 comments Mod
Greg, hope you feel better before Monday.


message 1215: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Alannah wrote: "Greg, hope you feel better before Monday."

Thanks Alannah :)


message 1216: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Pam wrote: "Thanks Greg! I just got notified that I’ve been assigned my first student! She is Chinese and working on her US citizenship. I’m really excited to get started next week! This is a non-profit progra..."

Pam, that sounds interesting! Best wishes with the teaching :)


message 1217: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) B the BookAddict wrote: "Last night my little sister gave me my niece's two school uniform to hem and take up before Saturday when she'll collect them. An impossible blue color which will be hard to color match. Have yet t..."

Bette, you're a wonderful aunt :) My aunt used to actually tailor-make and sew the shirts of my summer school uniform for me! The school designated a tailor for the skirts, as that tailor was the sole supplier of pretty Scottish Tartan patterned cloth.


message 1218: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Greg wrote: "I finally got a cold from overdoing it with work and classes and volunteering; so I listened to my body and stayed home from work today - sleeping as much as I can and lounging about with my cat.

..."


Greg, I hope you'll feel better very soon! You are a great uncle :)


message 1219: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie B the BookAddict wrote: "Last night my little sister gave me my niece's two school uniform to hem and take up before Saturday when she'll collect them. An impossible blue color which will be hard to color match. Have yet t..."

Good luck, Bette. I sure hope your sister appreciates what you are doing.


message 1220: by Marina (last edited Oct 05, 2018 12:32AM) (new)

Marina (sonnenbarke) Greg, I hope you feel better soon!


message 1221: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie Take care, Greg. Get better quickly!


message 1222: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Thanks Chrissie, Marina, Alice.

I hate being sick! :)


message 1223: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie Greg, good luck for a speedy recovery!


message 1224: by Angela M (new)

Angela M Greg, hope you feel better soon . I have to say I just love the relationship you have with Dylan. I have stepchildren but married late in life and only the youngest lived with us for a while. I’m
very close with my niece and nephew with whom I did a lot with when they were growing up . They are now in their thirties and have told me on many occasions that they have great memories of the things we did together. So I love hearing about your time with Dylan and your participating in these milestones! You’re a terrific uncle!


message 1225: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Greg, it always sounds like you are a favourite uncle of Dylan's.

Thanks for the encouragement on the sewing, guys. My niece goes to one of the top girl's secondary schools in Melboure and the uniform a high quality fabric which is quite thick, considering it's for a summer uniform. The sewing is slow going. I decided on hand-sewing.


message 1226: by Greg (last edited Oct 05, 2018 08:13PM) (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Thanks Bette and Angela!

On his father's side (my brother's side), I am his only uncle and his mother's side has never had much contact with him; so I am sort of his only uncle. That makes it easier to be the favorite uncle I guess. :)

I feel so happy that he wanted me to be the one to take him on the tours - it's hard to believe he will be graduating high school. Things are going to change for him in so many ways! I am excited for him but am also going to miss him.


message 1227: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Greg, I understand what you mean. As my nieces and nephews have grown up, I missed their 'little selves' from earlier times. Of course, my grand-niece now affords me the opportunity to have that again.


message 1228: by Pam (new)

Pam (bluegrasspam) Greg- That’s awesome that you can take Dylan on those tours! It’s amazing how quick they grow up! Maybe he will stay close by so you can still see each other on the occasion.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Yesterday, we had a fabulous start to the Balloon Fiesta! I didn’t go but the winds brought it to my neighborhood! There were dozens of balloons that came our way and landed at our park, some interrupting soccer games. My husband helped land and pack several of them. We both agreed that it was more fun than going to the Fiesta! And, we didn’t have to leave at 4am and deal with the traffic nightmare.


message 1229: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Pam wrote: "Greg- That’s awesome that you can take Dylan on those tours! It’s amazing how quick they grow up! Maybe he will stay close by so you can still see each other on the occasion.

I hope everyone is e..."


Thanks Pam!


message 1230: by Karin (new)

Karin Greg wrote: "Thanks Bette and Angela!

On his father's side (my brother's side), I am his only uncle and his mother's side has never had much contact with him; so I am sort of his only uncle. That makes it eas..."


What an honour to be asked. This is a big deal and I hope you two enjoy it :)


message 1231: by Norton (new)

Norton Beckerman. (nortsb) | 97 comments I'm anxting over how much work I have and how I shouldn't be on Good Reads right now.


message 1232: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Karin wrote: "Greg wrote: "Thanks Bette and Angela!

On his father's side (my brother's side), I am his only uncle and his mother's side has never had much contact with him; so I am sort of his only uncle. That..."


Thanks Karin!


message 1233: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Norton wrote: "I'm anxting over how much work I have and how I shouldn't be on Good Reads right now."

Ha ha, I know what you mean. What sort of work are you putting off Norton?

I saw on your profile you do brain research - that's fascinating. Do you come from a medical background or a psychology/social science one?


message 1234: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments 6.45am Victoria, AU. Normal morning activity of reading all my GR groups threads.

Later today, I'll be sewing the hem of my niece's second school uniform. I should be finished already but have had a rotten flu/cold for the last ten days; my first in eight years.


message 1235: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
B the BookAddict wrote: "6.45am Victoria, AU. Normal morning activity of reading all my GR groups threads.

Later today, I'll be sewing the hem of my niece's second school uniform. I should be finished already but have had..."


Hope you feel better soon Bette! How did the first uniform go - everything got worked out ok?


message 1236: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Thanks, Greg. The first uniform was just right nd my hemming skills were better than I had remembered:)


message 1237: by B the BookAddict (last edited Oct 16, 2018 01:27PM) (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Thanks, Greg. The first uniform was just right and my hemming skills were better than I had remembered:) The fabric of the dress slowed me down so it took just on 8.5 hours to do. Boy, did my hands feel crippled by the time I finished it. Typical me, instead of doing it in 3 hourly lots, I did the whole thing in one day!


message 1238: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
B the BookAddict wrote: "Thanks, Greg. The first uniform was just right and my hemming skills were better than I had remembered:) The fabric of the dress slowed me down so it took just on 8.5 hours to do. Boy, did my hands..."

Wow! That is a lot of work - hope your niece appreciates it! :)


message 1239: by Chrissie (last edited Oct 16, 2018 10:57PM) (new)

Chrissie B the BookAddict wrote: "6.45am Victoria, AU. Normal morning activity of reading all my GR groups threads.

Later today, I'll be sewing the hem of my niece's second school uniform. I should be finished already but have had..."


I feel sorry for you--still sewing away! And now you are sick on top of that.


message 1240: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie I am off for a walk out in the rain. At least today it is not very windy. I can guess the wind velocity by how hard it is to walk. The past few sunrises have been beautiful--shifting from pink and range to purple and many nuances of blue.


message 1241: by Lauri (new)

Lauri (otwlauri) | 136 comments Please don't laugh, but I'm watching the end of Men in Black -- and I'm about to watch Interview With the Vampire! For some reason I like to watch horror movies & read scary stories in October... 😺


message 1242: by Chrissie (last edited Oct 17, 2018 01:07AM) (new)

Chrissie I remember roasting and salting pumpkin seeds for the kids at Halloween.....after first carving the pumpkins. In Sweden nobody did this so I went to their school classes ad explained. Nowadays, Halloween is celebrated in Sweden too.

My creepy read was The Eyes!


message 1243: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Lauri wrote: "For some reason I like to watch horror movies & read scary stories in October... 😺"

I do the sane often Lauri!


message 1244: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Chrissie wrote: "I remember roasting and salting pumpkin seeds for the kids at Halloween.....after first carving the pumpkins. In Sweden nobody did this so I went to their school classes ad explained. Nowadays, Hal..."

I remember doing this as a kid Chrissie - the area where I lived was very fertile; so vegetables grew easily and quickly and we grew our own pumpkins as well!


message 1245: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie Wow, did you get big pumpkins, Greg?


message 1246: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
Chrissie wrote: "Wow, did you get big pumpkins, Greg?"

They were pretty big! The area was formerly swampland; so the soil was extremely rich. We grew all sorts of vegetables.


message 1247: by Chrissie (new)

Chrissie I love big mammoth pumpkins.


message 1248: by B the BookAddict (new)

B the BookAddict (bthebookaddict) | 8315 comments Yesterday morning 8am. I open kitchen blind to see the two goats out of their paddock and up in the pasture at the end of my house, casually grazing on our big oak tree. I rush up the other end of the house for the dog lead and then return and out my back door thru to find not a goat in sight. Run down 150 yards to our road in case they went there, didn't find them so I run back up to the house and down to pastures. There they are, Bertie perched on top of a load of wood and little Ermie looking around very nervously. Clip dog lead on Bertie's collar and start phoning my neighbour (part-owner) for help. Finally she arrives and we take both goats back around to their paddock.

I was exhausted, too much running for this 53 yr old and too much excitement for one morning.


message 1249: by Greg (new)

Greg | 8316 comments Mod
B the BookAddict wrote: "Yesterday morning 8am. I open kitchen blind to see the two goats out of their paddock and up in the pasture at the end of my house, casually grazing on our big oak tree. I rush up the other end of ..."

Goodness Bette! Glad you and your neighbor were at least able to round them up. Goats really are mischevious (though in my opinion also lovable) creatures.


message 1250: by Karin (last edited Oct 21, 2018 03:42PM) (new)

Karin No wayward livestock or mammoth pumpkins, but it's been busy around here for mostly humdrum things plus my son having to do 18 credits his first semester which is too many. I am his official typist since he is very slow and has so much work to do--back in my day some students hired typists because not all of us typed and no one even owned a word processor because they were new and Very Expensive. As long as he is doing the writing, which he is, but he's faster with printing than typing.

That said, I'm going to spend 2 minutes singing as a student in a recital next weekend-I am really not very advanced, but it's beginner on up, all adults (all ages, but lots are younger) so I will fit right in, I hope. It was just confirmed today, so rather last minute notice.


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