All About Books discussion
General Discussion
>
What are you doing right now? Part 2
9:40 am here in Shanghai. We are packing up our bags preparing for the next stage on our trip. Proud to have mastered the Shanghai metro system (it is easy as everything is very clear marked in English) now we are going to buy train tickets!
Also it has started to rain but only a drizzle so we are still debating whether we need an umbrella. We have already taken some amazing photos of the skyscrapers wreathed in clouds.
Sounds fantastic, Esther! Enjoy the rest of your trip!
@Bette that goat chasing sounds a little too lively for my taste. I am sure goats are charming but the only time I got near one as a child it butted me, hard. I have kept my distance ever since!No goats round here but my husband is suffering culture shock at some of the street snacks.
Although I don't eat shellfish having been brought up in England I am not so surprised to see people eating creatures with shell and snappers and tentacles but for my husband it is similar to seeing people eat cockroaches!! He has a kind of fascinated horror!!
Bette, well you can skip a walk today! Hope the rest of the day is calmer.I am off to take a walk in pretty strong winds. I measure them by whether or not they push me over or if it is hard to walk when they push you from the back. Usually a wind from the back makes it easier to walk, except when they are really strong.
I haven't had much time for GR lately. I got a big assignment twelve days ago, which was due today so luckily I'm a bit relieved now, even though (luckily) I still have more work to do. Last Friday and Saturday I was in Rome visiting a friend, which was good. Then yesterday my parents came here to finally meet my boyfriend's parents.
Mod
Good to know that you made it Marina!
And how did the meeting between your parents and your future inlaws went?
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "I haven't had much time for GR lately. I got a big assignment twelve days ago, which was due today so luckily I'm a bit relieved now, even though (luckily) I still have more work to do. Last Friday..."How did it go between the meeting of the parents? Good I hope.
Laura & Chrissie, it was a really enjoyable meeting, they took a liking to each other so it was good!
Joan wrote: "Karin, the recital sounds fun. I’ve stepped away from my church choir - I have to master the fundamentals before I can sing in a group. I knew matching pitch was going to challenge me, but I hadn’..."
Technique can help with matching pitch. If I don't support, I can hit a wrong notes and I got a perfect score on my last piano ear exam (NOT on any others!). I am NOT an advanced vocalist, but do have some music training elsewhere.
Some choirs will give you practise CDs to help learn your part. If you sing alto, it's also good to be far from all other parts and to stand near strong, experienced singers.
I usually go to my piano and practise playing my part and the closest harmony part, then trying to sing mine--I don't have to do it as often now, but I'm partly a kinesthetic learner, and yes there are musical people like this! It's not as though every talented musician is born with some fantastic ear where they can learn everything by ear. Not only is that a myth, but there are many things that can not be learned well only by ear--but people that don't know music can't tell, or it's music that isn't that difficult.
Myth Buster at your service!
PS one of my pet peeves are people who have an extremely limited definition of what means someone has a lot of musical talent. I will forgo the diatribe here, but suffice to say that almost every single hearing person can learn to carry a tune, especially if they were sung to by their mothers or caregivers (especially if accompanied by movement--passive listening to recorded music does NOT produce the same results--another soapbox issue of mine!!!)
BUT it's not too late :)
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "I haven't had much time for GR lately. I got a big assignment twelve days ago, which was due today so luckily I'm a bit relieved now, even though (luckily) I still have more work to do. Last Friday..."I'm glad you got that done :)
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Laura & Chrissie, it was a really enjoyable meeting, they took a liking to each other so it was good!"That is a good start!
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Laura & Chrissie, it was a really enjoyable meeting, they took a liking to each other so it was good!"That sounds good!
Well we are back home.Yesterday was spent resting, backing up all the photos we had taken and listening to the thunderstorm that dropped golf-ball sized hail-stones onto our balcony. Also getting the dryer fixed which short just before we got home from London burning out both the plug and the wall socket!
Today I am tackling the laundry - including redoing all the laundry from London that I couldn't do before due to the aforementioned dryer problem.
DH has popped into work and should be back soon, while DS has just walked through the door. It is lovely to see him - we missed him a lot while we were away. He is full of stories about he has been up to and has, of course, a ton of stinky laundry!
There is always so much to do when you get home.......
Today is one of those hard days.. My daughter just woke up. She slept for twenty minutes, that's it. Her teeth are coming out and she's struggling with pain, and if there are mums in these groups they know what i'm talking about. So i'm just trying to relax and find some more patience in my mind :) ps Hi everybody! I'm new. Sorry for my weird english. I'm italian. Writing from Milan
Welcome, Simon! We understand what you are saying and that is important.It i shard when babies are getting their first teeth. I had this little plastic gizmo that you put in the refrigerator which the baby can chew on. It cools and comforts their gums. Good luck to both of you.
Chrissie wrote: "Welcome, Simon! We understand what you are saying and that is important.It i shard when babies are getting their first teeth. I had this little plastic gizmo that you put in the refrigerator whic..."
Thank you!
Hello, Simona. Don't worry, your English is perfect:)
B the BookAddict wrote: "Hello, Simona. Don't worry, your English is perfect:)"Hi! Thank you! I'm still learning, but reading and writing on goodreads groups is really helping me a lot with the language.
Simone, my step daughter had a flannel twisted and sewn into a ring. She kept it moist in the refrigerator, and she gave it to her babies for teething - I guess the soft cold was soothing.
Joan wrote: "Simone, my step daughter had a flannel twisted and sewn into a ring. She kept it moist in the refrigerator, and she gave it to her babies for teething - I guess the soft cold was soothing."Flannel? Really? i've never thought of that! thank you, i will definitely try :)
Simona wrote: "Today is one of those hard days.. My daughter just woke up. She slept for twenty minutes, that's it. Her teeth are coming out and she's struggling with pain, and if there are mums in these groups t..."Welcome Simona! Nice to see another Italian in the group!
About the baby and teething, I did like the other girls said: that plastic thing in the refrigerator. I had two of those so there was always one ready to be used. I remember that I bought also a homeopathic cream to massage on the gums and that worked fine too. Sadly I don't remember the name but I'm sure it is easy to find in a pharmacy or bio shop.
Esther wrote: "Well we are back home.Yesterday was spent resting, backing up all the photos we had taken and listening to the thunderstorm that dropped golf-ball sized hail-stones onto our balcony. Also getting ..."
Where have you been? Vacation?
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Laura & Chrissie, it was a really enjoyable meeting, they took a liking to each other so it was good!"Good to hear this! Let's hope it will last forever!
It's 8:30 am and I should go out for some grocery shopping and I hope it won't rain though the sky is very dark.I've been very busy with work and then also the cat shelter called me. I don't know if you remember that last year I did some "cat-ish" bookmarks that they could sell and keep the money for their cats. Now they called me to ask if I could do more of those because people liked them and they are all gone. So in these days I was also busy doing them.
I don't remember anymore where you were talking about singing etc., if here or in another discussion. Btw, I started a kind of lesson about devotional songs (linked to hinduism). It's both singing (devotional songs but also mantra etc.) and also meditation. Sadly it is only once a month.I like it a lot! For who doesn't know me, I'm more a shy and "closed" person and for me it's very hard to sing or perform among people (or even to stay among people). This is excactly the reason why I want to do it: to overcome my limits. I've seen that singing "opens" me. I don't know how to explain it. It is as if it unlocks my "closure" towards other people.
They have a totally different musical scale. It's not a do re mi .... but a sa ri ga etc.
dely wrote: "Esther wrote: "Well we are back home.Yesterday was spent resting, backing up all the photos we had taken and listening to the thunderstorm that dropped golf-ball sized hail-stones onto our balcony..."
Yes and no.
First I went to London for a work course. 3 days were taken up with travelling, meetings and the course. But in the evenings I was free for restaurants and the theatre.
However the course finished late Friday and travelling in Israel on Shabbat is problematic (and actually forbidden for my boss who is religious) so work paid for an extra 2 nights at the hotel and we came back Sunday midday.
DH decided to come with me so Saturday was a free day for both of us and we spent the time walking round the Covent Garden (which was particularly interesting as I had just finished reading Rivers of London which is set in that area)
I had 3 days back at work and then DH and I flew to Shanghai for a week's vacation. It was fantastic but tiring.
dely wrote: "Simona wrote: "Today is one of those hard days.. My daughter just woke up. She slept for twenty minutes, that's it. Her teeth are coming out and she's struggling with pain, and if there are mums in..."Hi! Thank you! I actually tried the refrigerator thing but it didn't work.. i will try the homeophatic cream, finger crossed! Are you italian too? Where are you writing from?
Esther wrote: "dely wrote: "Esther wrote: "Well we are back home.Yesterday was spent resting, backing up all the photos we had taken and listening to the thunderstorm that dropped golf-ball sized hail-stones ont..."
That's great! I bet it is tiring to fly till Shanghai only for one week but I hope you had a lovely time!
Simona wrote: "Hi! Thank you! I actually tried the refrigerator thing but it didn't work.. i will try the homeophatic cream, finger crossed! Are you italian too? Where are you writing from? "I hope that at leat the cream will work!
I live in Savona.
dely wrote: "Simona wrote: "Today is one of those hard days.. My daughter just woke up. She slept for twenty minutes, that's it. Her teeth are coming out and she's struggling with pain, and if there are mums in..."Dely, there is a German homeopathic remedy called Traumeel. It comes in pills and cream and the pills worked wonders for my daughter when she had a tooth pulled; the pain went completely away in about 5-10 minutes. She just put a pill by the tooth and let it dissolve. You might be able to find it where you live.
Cleo wrote: "Dely, there is a German homeopathic remedy called Traumeel. It comes in pills and cream and the pills worked wonders for my daughter when she had a tooth pulled; the pain went completely away in about 5-10 minutes. She just put a pill by the tooth and let it dissolve. You might be able to find it where you live. "
Thanks, but it is Simona that needs something for the teething of her daughter. My son is already 20 years old :D
Mod
So glad to hear this Marina!! :)
Mod
Yesterday was spent resting, backing up all the photos we had taken and listening to the thunderstorm that dropped golf-ball sized hail-stones ont..."
Glad you had a good time in Shanghai Esther!
Mod
Hope things are getting better with the teething Simona!
dely wrote: "Cleo wrote: "Dely, there is a German homeopathic remedy called Traumeel. It comes in pills and cream and the pills worked wonders for my daughter when she had a tooth pulled; the pain went complete..."It seems like my kids were each teething until they were nearly 20! Not all nonstop,or that they needed the remedies after they were very young, but all cut wisdom teeth in their late teens (or one had a impacted one he just had removed and another has 2 half impacted ones so has to have hers removed and she is 20.)
Karin wrote: "one had a impacted one he just had removed and another has 2 half impacted ones so has to have hers removed and she is 20 ..."Ugh! I've heard that impacted ones can be very painful! I hope it goes well for her!
Cleo wrote: "Ugh! I've heard that impacted ones can be very painful!..."
Thanks. I had 2 impacted ones out as a teen and it can be, but young people recover relatively quickly. But if her dentist had realized they weren't going to cut, it could have been totally covered $$ wise if it had been done 2 years ago. She is paying for most of it herself (she is very responsible with certain financial things such as her car and her dental stuff, and she's taking next semester off, anyway, so that will help)
Mod
About this, 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/
I usually receive both Notifications and Email regarding current threads and posts on Goodreads. After my absence, I had too many notifications so marked everything as 'read'. I expected GR Email this morning but did not receive any. Is anyone else having this problem?
I have most email notifications turned off. You can check under Account Settings, then Email Settings to see if something got changed.
Thanks, Petra. I checked and found that I needed to re-verify my email address. Must be something to do with my new whiz-bang internet dongle/modem. Will see how I go tomorrow.
Mod
Hope it worked Bette!
Mod
Greg, I hope this week is better - 4 day work weeks always mess with my head.
Greg wrote: "Well, it was another fairly miserable week at work, but I resolved a few bad customer problems; so I'm hoping next week is more relaxing!"I hope this coming week is better for you, too! Do you get Monday off?
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The World of Yesterday (other topics)A Companion to The Cantos of Ezra Pound (other topics)
The Cantos of Ezra Pound (other topics)
Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma (other topics)
Out There: A Scientific Guide to Alien Life, Antimatter, and Human Space Travel (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Leo Tolstoy (other topics)Alessandro Manzoni (other topics)
Rosamunde Pilcher (other topics)
Anita Shreve (other topics)
Umberto Eco (other topics)
More...
I’ve stepped away from my church choir - I have to master the fundamentals before I can sing in a group. I knew matching pitch was going to challenge me, but I hadn’t realized that harmony, rhythm, and breath would too- my head was spinning after every rehearsal.