What are you doing right now? Part 2 Showing 351-400 of 2,414

[Angela M]

I’m wishing all of you happy holidays and a healthy and wonderful new year !

[Greg]

A very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Mawlid an-Nabī, or whatever holidays each celebrates!

I am off to Arizona - just about to leave work and get on the road now to see my family.

You made me laugh Pam - that would be me. I'm not a morning person. :)

[Pam]

Safe travels Greg! I'm curious where in AZ you are going. My daughter and grandson are out there visiting my husband's family in Phoenix. Enjoy!

[Greg]

Pam wrote: "Safe travels Greg! I'm curious where in AZ you are going. My daughter and grandson are out there visiting my husband's family in Phoenix. Enjoy!"

Thanks Pam!

My mom lives in Scottsdale and my aunt in Mesa; so I'll be mainly in those two places. The place in Arizona that I have a soft spot for though is Tuscon .. I started college there when, good Lord, when I was 17. What happened to the time?! :) Sedona and the Painted Desert are some other georgeous (almost unearthly) Arizona places that I like to go to.

I took this picture in the Painted Desert years ago:



The desert can be a spiritual place. I don't think I'd move away from California now though. I love it!

[Karin]

dely wrote: "I think this is a good news. Maybe he likes how your son plays and wants to give him a chance?"

In the end, it was a mistake, but he's very friendly. He is a trumpet professor at 3 different colleges/conservatories and had reviewed 50 applications, most of which required a recording.

Still, I am happy that he remembered my son from one of those 3 (my son applied to two of those 3) colleges, and he has a live audition scheduled for this one (and of course we hope he gets a live audition from the conservatory that that professor saw his online video because that one (one of 2 with video prescreens) is his first choice)

[Karin]

Happy holidays!

[Greg]

Karin wrote: "dely wrote: "I think this is a good news. Maybe he likes how your son plays and wants to give him a chance?"

In the end, it was a mistake, but he's very friendly. He is a trumpet professor at 3 di..."

Keeping my fingers crossed for your talented son Karin!

[Pam]

Greg wrote: "Pam wrote: "Safe travels Greg! I'm curious where in AZ you are going. My daughter and grandson are out there visiting my husband's family in Phoenix. Enjoy!"

Thanks Pam!

My mom lives in Scottsdal..."

I almost went to U of A but my family moved from Prescott AZ to Kentucky the middle of my senior year so I went to UK instead. Either way, I'm a Wildcats fan!

Do you ever go to the Phoenix Zoo Lights? That's my favorite thing to do in the area, besides shopping, during the holidays. Have fun!

[Karin]

Greg wrote: "Karin wrote: "dely wrote: "I think this is a good news. Maybe he likes how your son plays and wants to give him a chance?"

In the end, it was a mistake, but he's very friendly. He is a trumpet pro..."

Thanks :)

It's getting in and getting enough financial aide and scholarships, too, as we have No Money for College (long story and of course we know it would have been good to save money throughout our children's lives, but everyone's family has different needs and I had to stay home with my kids)

[Esther]

Wishing Happy Holidays and Safe Journeys for everyone!

[Ruth]

My brother went to Embry Riddle in Prescott for the first two yrs of college and then transferred to SUNY in Buffalo to be closer to home. We used to have to send him care packages of coffee syrup (for coffee milk) and salt and vinegar potato chips, his two favorite things in the world.

[Greg]

Pam wrote: "
I almost went to U of A but my family moved from Prescott AZ to Kentucky the middle of my senior year so I went to UK instead. Either way, I'm a Wildcats fan!

Do you ever go to the Phoenix Zoo Lights? That's my favorite thing to do in the area, besides shopping, during the holidays. Have fun! ..."

What a small world! One of my friends and former work supervisors is now an associate professor at U Kentucky.

I haven't been to the Phoenix Zoo lights, but I'll definitely check it out!

[[deleted user]]

I’m currently sitting on the sofa at my boyfriends house and planning to finish Emma. After chris gets home for work at 6 we are having our Christmas dinner and presents so at some point I will have to cook and have a bit of a pre-cooking clean up

[Diane S ☔]

A very happy holiday to all, and a wonderful New year to come.

[Alannah]

Just submitted my essay, I am so glad it's done and out of the way. I know I will not get the best mark, but I know after this week, I will have more time for university work and can focus on my next assignments as I'm not feeling confident about getting a permanent position in my new job. I'm looking forward to just doing nothing for the rest of the weekend but reading.

[Pam]

I just finished hitting some tennis balls w my husband! We were taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. People are still running around in shorts & tee shirts. It's crazy for the end of December!

[Greg]

Alannah wrote: "Just submitted my essay, I am so glad it's done and out of the way. I know I will not get the best mark, but I know after this week, I will have more time for university work and can focus on my ne..."

Comgratulations Alannah, and I hope you have a great weekend!

[dely]

Alannah wrote: "Just submitted my essay, I am so glad it's done and out of the way. I know I will not get the best mark, but I know after this week, I will have more time for university work and can focus on my ne..."

Congratulations! Enjoy your weekend!

[dely]

Pam wrote: "I just finished hitting some tennis balls w my husband! We were taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. People are still running around in shorts & tee shirts. It's crazy for the end of ..."

I envy you! Here it's so cold, that most of the time I hug the radiator.

[dely]

Good news! In April I will go with a friend to Lourdes!
Yesterday evening a friend of mine has found two very discounted tickets. It was a bundle flight + hotel and it was very cheap so after my ok she booked. I'm a bit scared to fly but I can do it! Let's hope nothing happens till April because I really want to go to Lourdes.

Oh, and my son will go this summer six weeks to Chennai (India) as a voluteer for an association of women empowerment. The "old" year closes with good news so let's hope the new year will bring other good happenings!

[Pink]

dely, that's lovely news for both you and your son!

[Angela M]

dely, both trips sound fantastic! With your love of Indian stories, do you wish you could go to India, too ?

[Angela M]

I’m having coffee, catching here and reading news . It’s so cold out - 16 degrees F and the forecast is for 6 - 12 inches of snow between this afternoon and tomorrow! A good time to stay in !

[Ruth]

I just came home from work and the news said it was 10 degrees out. I have the weekend off so I think I'm going to hibernate today. Good excuse to stay home and read.

[Marina]

dely, sounds great! I'm sure both you and your son will enjoy both trips!

I just came home after a longish walk on the beach. It was not so cold when we went, so it was very pleasant. I'm using this week off to catch up with some reading and just generally chill out a bit. I already have a job assignment waiting for me so I won't be idle when I start working again on January 2nd.

[dely]

Angela M wrote: "dely, both trips sound fantastic! With your love of Indian stories, do you wish you could go to India, too ?"

No, not now. First of all I have to overcome my fear to fly, then maybe I will think to go to India :D One step after the other! Now I have only a 1 and a half hour flight, and if I will survive I can think about doing longer flights.

Thanks everyone! Let's see if my son will go. Today he had another interview but for North India. If they want him too, he doesn't know where to go. And now he is looking also for some jobs abroad.... I don't know where he will be this summer, but by sure not here at home.

[Laurel]

Hibernating here. It is up to minus 10 F. toward a high of minus 6. I thought I had to work today, but my boss forgot he had scheduled me and scheduled two other people - being the 5th Saturday of the month there's no regular person scheduled. Two of us were chatting on Facebook yesterday and realized we were both scheduled to work the same shift. She called him and learned there was even a third person scheduled! Ha ha! So neither of us ended up having to work. I am quite happy to not have to go outside in this bitter cold.

So I may not even get dressed today. Hanging out with my kitties, reading email, thinking about maybe working on a jigsaw puzzle today while I binge watch old Outlander episodes or something. Or maybe I'll bake something so I have an excuse to turn the oven on! Ooh - good idea. I got a salted caramel scone mix in my Christmas "stocking" from my sister. Going to go make that.... Bye.

[Alannah]

Pam wrote: "I just finished hitting some tennis balls w my husband! We were taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. People are still running around in shorts & tee shirts. It's crazy for the end of ..."

I'm jealous, it's so cold here. I'm praying it doesn't start snowing here.

[Alannah]

Pam wrote: "I just finished hitting some tennis balls w my husband! We were taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. People are still running around in shorts & tee shirts. It's crazy for the end of ..."

I'm jealous, it's so cold here. I'm praying it doesn't start snowing here.

[Nichole]

Happy holidays, everyone! I envy the rest of you. I have come down with pink eye. I will have to stay home from work for a few days next week.

[B the BookAddict]

Over here in AU, we are having the same 'problem'. Last Christmas week, we sweltered in above 36C/98F but this years we're having a coolish low 20C/70F. Nevertheless, my sister and I have swum every afternoon in the pool.

[[deleted user]]

The weather doesn't know what to do here. We had snow Wednesday/Thursday then it was 13C today which is pretty warm for a UK December.

I'm just checking through goodreads before getting on with my book for another hour or so before bed. I have a cup of Christmas flavoured tea (I think it counts as winter tea!). I ran the local parkrun 5k today so I'm quite tired and looking forward to my bed!

[Greg]

Laurel wrote: "So I may not even get dressed today. Hanging out with my kitties, reading email, thinking about maybe working on a jigsaw puzzle today while I binge watch old Outlander episodes or something. Or maybe I'll bake something so I have an excuse to turn the oven on! Ooh - good idea. I got a salted caramel scone mix in my Christmas "stocking" from my sister. Going to go make that.... Bye..."

This sounds lovely Laurel- hope you had a great day in! :)

[Greg]

Nichole wrote: "Happy holidays, everyone! I envy the rest of you. I have come down with pink eye. I will have to stay home from work for a few days next week."

What a pain to have this happen on the holidays Nichole - hope your eye is getting better!

[Greg]

dely wrote: "Good news! In April I will go with a friend to Lourdes!
Yesterday evening a friend of mine has found two very discounted tickets. It was a bundle flight + hotel and it was very cheap so after my ok..."

How wonderful these opportunities for your son dely - hope you both have a great time on your trips!

[Greg]

Back at home in California now. This morning we bought a huge amount of Chinese bow, shu-mai, ham siu gok, and har gao at the Hong Kong Deli near our house. Now throughout the day we're sitting in bed in pajamas stuffing ourselves watching Christmas movies. Just finished the delightful "A Muppet Christmas Carol" which over the years I have probably seen dozens of times. I do love that movie!

[Diane S ☔]

Hibernating here too, and binge watching Wolf Hall.

[Angela M]

Hibernating here too . It’s snowing so hard , you can’t see across the road . Expecting 6 - 12 inches and expected to fall 1-2 inches per hour ! Have the fire place going . We just had wine and cheese and hubby is going to make us steak paninis in a while. Not leaving the house needless to say ! Don’t know what he will watch on tv tonight but I’ll be on the couch with my kindle! 19 degrees - brrrr!

[Laurel]

That sounds equally lovely, Greg. I do enjoy the Muppets!

Greg wrote: "Back at home in California now. This morning we bought a huge amount of Chinese bow, shu-mai, ham siu gok, and har gao at the Hong Kong Deli near our house. Now throughout the day we're sitting in ..."

[Ruth]

we got a little bit of snow about maybe an inch or so. I went to take a nap this afternoon and ended up sleeping about 4 1/2 hrs. I probably won't be getting to sleep anytime too soon tonight. lol

[idiffer]

We have zero snow but I still don't want to go outside, because there's so many ppl just... existing.
Wrote that review for that arc, if you can even call it a review. So much forcing was involved. I'm never doing arcs again, not worth the negative emotions.

[Esther]

Alannah wrote: "Just submitted my essay, I am so glad it's done and out of the way. I know I will not get the best mark, but I know after this week, I will have more time for university work and can focus on my ne..."

Well done on the essay. I am a terrible procrastinator on essay writing and admire anyone who can get it done.
I commiserate with you about the job prospects but at least it will give you more time to devote to your studies.

ETA 'terrible procrastinator' sounds like I am bad at procrastinating when actually I am Olympic standard!

[Esther]

dely wrote: "Good news! In April I will go with a friend to Lourdes!
Yesterday evening a friend of mine has found two very discounted tickets. It was a bundle flight + hotel and it was very cheap so after my ok..."

Sounds like you and your son are in for a great 2018.

[Esther]

dely wrote: "Angela M wrote: "dely, both trips sound fantastic! With your love of Indian stories, do you wish you could go to India, too ?"
No, not now. First of all I have to overcome my fear to fly, then may..."

Don't leave it too late, dely!
All my life I remember my Mum talking about how much she wanted to visit India. She finally went when she was 75!
(Now she is 82 and trying to plan a trip to China!)

[dely]

Greg wrote: "Back at home in California now. This morning we bought a huge amount of Chinese bow, shu-mai, ham siu gok, and har gao at the Hong Kong Deli near our house. Now throughout the day we're sitting in ..."

This sounds very relaxing!

[dely]

Esther wrote: "Don't leave it too late, dely!
All my life I remember my Mum talking about how much she wanted to visit India. She finally went when she was 75!
(Now she is 82 and trying to plan a trip to China!)"

That's great! I admire people who also in an elderly age don't give up their dreams!

[dely]

idiffer wrote: "We have zero snow but I still don't want to go outside, because there's so many ppl just... existing.
Wrote that review for that arc, if you can even call it a review. So much forcing was involved...."

Yes, sometimes it's hard to write such reviews and also time consuming, but I feel "obliged" to write reviews with giveaways I won or when an author contacts me privately to read his book.

[Greg]

dely wrote: "This sounds very relaxing! .."

Extremely relaxing, it was just what I needed! :)

[Greg]

Laurel wrote: "That sounds equally lovely, Greg. I do enjoy the Muppets!..."

Me too Laurel, I never get tired of them! :)

[John]

Good Morning All!

A little over fifteen past six in the AM over here in North Carolina. Temperatures right now are in the mid twenties Fahrenheit (negative 14 Celsius). Lot of burst pipes in the county/province where I live, firefighters and emergency services have been in a mad scramble responding to calls. The local people where I live carried an article above the fold about it the other day. To put things in perspective, this is double the number of calls that emergency services receives for similar reasons in a typical month, so if anyone reading this lives in an area affected by the recent storm to exercise caution and open any cabinet doors, etc underneath pipes to let them "breathe" so incidents like those here don't happen to you.

More happily, I recently enjoyed the opportunity of visiting Thailand over the holidays. A relative of mine was getting married to a half-Thai in the area, so they showed me around and did some translation on my behalf in the restaurants, cafes etc. My first impressions of the Thais are entirely dependent on the people I met and is entirely positive. There wasn't a single unkind person I encountered in all my travels. Everyone I met went above and beyond to help. It underscores for me the role that all of us have as cultural ambassadors both here and abroad and I hope that they find America as enjoyable as I found their country.

That's really all for right now, so I thought I'd chime in.