Random Chats

[Leigh]

Thanks! Do you have any plans in particular?

[Kandice]

Sunday is my son's 18th birthday so he's having a party.

[Leigh]

Quiet Valentine's Days are the best....

[Joey]

Wife and I are going to try doing a 3K and then Korean BBQ for our Valentine's Day.

[Melaslithos]

I love Korean BBQ! Both of you are lucky!

[Pma25]

Has anyone read A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray? I am thinking about reading it, but haven't seen many people talking about it, not outside of GR at least.

[Ana]

Nope, but it was already on my to-do list.
I don't plan on buying any books anytime soon though...

[Pma25]

It seems like a good read, sadly I was drawn by the cover, I mean...so pretty xD Although I really try not to judge a book by its cover, but a pretty cover is like an extra when you already have a great story I think. Maybe I will post a review after I read it. Any tips on how to do a good review?

[Ana]

Ah yes, that happens to me ever so often. A lot of times, if not most, I am disappointed by the book.

Regarding writing a review, in my opinion a good review is not a summary of the book (that's what the synopsis is for!!) and does not to give away too much of the story; instead, we can read about the impressions the reviewer got from reading it and what was done well and not so well. I try to follow those guidelines and justify to the best of my ability why I give the ratings I do. Feel free to check my reviews, it's hard to explain!

Anyway, everyone has their own style of writing and I am sure what I value is different from other people. Don't worry, you will find your own voice soon enough!

[Pma25]

oh ok I see, thank you! I will give it a try.

[Ana]

Welcome, feel free to create your own topic in Members Corner folder and keep us updated on your reviews and any other info you want to share :)

[Julia]

thx Ana!

[Ana]

Hello, everyone! How is your sunday coming along?

[Leigh]

Aaron(Reblast) wrote: "It's storming here and I'm sick. I'm thinking of leaving GR."

You want to leave GoodReads forever? Or just take a break?

[Leigh]

Hmmmm. It seems like you fit in here just fine! Maybe you need to drop some of the other groups and find a couple of new ones to see if they work out better. Every group is different.

[Pma25]

GR is for everyone, you shouldn't feel "bad"...

[Ana]

I am pretty sure most of us here in Book Lair are adults.
Maybe you are feeling down because you are sick, focus on getting better ;)

[Kandice]

Aaron, like Ana said, I think you fit in here. I'm sure the demographic of a group depends on the group itself. Maybe you just need to find some new one. I've been on GR for years and I have found that as I age, so do my friends, but at the same time, it's kind of fun to have some younger friends for a different perspective. Same thing goes with the geezers...until I become one! :D

I hope you stay. (and feel better)

[[deleted user]]

I didn't know GR was teeming with teens...?

[[deleted user]]

Hmmm... I'm surprised. I thought they stuck to making duck faces on snapchat and instagramming their lunch...

[Ana]

Hi!
I know it's over but I am curious, do you guys celebrate Carnaval in your country?

[Kandice]

Yep! It's funny because the 8-12th graders where I work were taken to see Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last night. It was downtown and part of why we could afford it was that the tickets were discounted for Fat Tuesday. All the streets were blocked off and there were supposed to have been 50,000 people in a 12 block radius.

I was a chaperon and it was an amazing show, but it was also fun to watch the kids watch the people. They're all Jewish so I had to explain the concept. They are all going to be examining the ashes on my forehead this afternoon. O_o

[Kandice]

I have always been fascinated with the concept of Mardi Gras. We used to go downtown (San Diego) for it, but now that I have been to New Orleans for it, I don't bother with it here. I make a King Cake, and always go to mass for Ash Wednesday, and we give something up for Lent, but the carnival part, at least when it takes place somewhere other than New Orleans has lost it's appeal for me.

It was fun to see the kids sort of "experience" it last night, but that's about it.

[Ana]

Yeah, I am not much into it either. I have always viewed it as something more for kids but as the years pass adults here dress up more and more. Men are keen on dressing up as women. It's good fun I guess, just not for me.

And yeah Lent is here, yay... v.v
Do you not eat meat today either?

[Kandice]

No, I won't eat meat today. Does anyone else give something up for Lent?

[Ana]

Well yes, that's the purpose of Lent, I guess, making sacrificies, giving up something you really enjoy (doesn't have to be meat, tradition is just for today, Ash Wednesday) for the love of Christ. Well, for christians at least!!

I've thought about what I should give up and have not come up with anything specific... I suppose the hardest thing for me right now is to take time from reading and the computer so I will be praying the rosary every night in my room in utter silence. No hummings of any sort...

I wonder if I can manage 40 days straight hmm...

[Melaslithos]

In China, we have a little problem this year, Ash Wednesday happens at the same time as Chinese New Year, which is not really compatible.

So I've seen some Christian Chinese celebrate CNY early, and apparently the bishop of Taiwan (or is that HK?) gave a derogation authorizing the Christians to celebrate Ash Wednesday later.

[Ana]

That would be brilliant, Aaron!

Melas, I never knew that could happen. Thank you for posting that!

Oh and I said the meat thing is only for wednesday but it's supposed to go on every friday till easter. Well, abstinence is supposed to be 'heavier' in general on fridays. Is that how you guys celebrate Lent as well?

[Kandice]

Ana,
yes. My daughter and I gave up soda for Lent this year. For me, it's not so much soda like Coke, Pepsi, etc, but I drink about 24 bottles or cans of seltzer water every two weeks or so. That's not including the 2 liters I keep in the kitchen at work to drink, so it will be tough. I LOVE bubbles!

Last year, instead of giving something up, I wrote a letter each day of Lent thanking someone who means a lot to me and telling them why I appreciate them. It was a nice way to realize just how much you have to be grateful for.

[Kandice]

Aaron(Reblast) wrote: "I'm considering quitting smoking for lent."

Just for Lent, or for good, but beginning during Lent? Either way, good for you!

[Joey]

Sadly my Valentine Korean BBQ didn't happen. The whole family got the plague. Ugh.

[Kandice]

Joey wrote: "Sadly my Valentine Korean BBQ didn't happen. The whole family got the plague. Ugh."

Which strain of the plague? ;D Sorry!

[Joey]

Heh. Some seriously mean head cold...just as I was recovering from a sinus infection too. Ugh.

[Kandice]

Joey wrote: "Heh. Some seriously mean head cold...just as I was recovering from a sinus infection too. Ugh."

I don't know about your household, but in mine we have the tendency to "share the love" and just keep passing it around a while. We need isolation pods or something!

[Ana]

Kandice wrote: "Ana,
yes. My daughter and I gave up soda for Lent this year. For me, it's not so much soda like Coke, Pepsi, etc, but I drink about 24 bottles or cans of seltzer water every two weeks or so. That's..."

That is awesome Kandice, particularly the letter idea, I had never thought of it. Yes, it is definitely very important to be thankful of what we have.

Aww Joey I am sorry to hear that, hope you all get better soon!

[Pma25]

Aaron(Reblast) wrote: "Good morning, all!"

Hi there! How are you?

[Pma25]

Aaron(Reblast) wrote: "Hey, Random. I'm fine. And you?"

I am fine too, thank you. You were sick, are you feeling better now?

[Kandice]

Good morning everyone! Today is my 22nd wedding anniversary. :D

[Kandice]

Thanks.

I'm glad you're feeling better.

[Ana]

Happy anniversary, Kandice!

I have actually been busy creating a blog on wordpress, since yesterday. Do any of you guys use it? I wonder if it will help me get more books from netgalley, since some publishers use not having our own blog as grounds to deny access to the book.

I don't know anything about html though so it's being slow. Very disappointing that I cannot add spoiler tags too.

[Kandice]

Ana wrote: "Happy anniversary, Kandice!

I have actually been busy creating a blog on wordpress, since yesterday. Do any of you guys use it? I wonder if it will help me get more books from netgalley, since som..."

I update our website at work and that is run on WordPress, but it's not a blog, so I don't think the programming is the same. If you are unfamiliar with html, can't you use the "visual" tab for editing? It's not as precise, but you should be able to work in it.

[Melaslithos]

@Kandice Congrats!

@Aron Glad to hear you're feeling better

@Ana I have one, very easy to use. You actually don't need html unless you want to do some specific things. But usually, you would find a plugin for everything. Are you using the free blogs on wordpress.com or a self-hosted one (wordpress.org)?

[Ana]

Yes Kandice, I do ok I suppose, don't know much more beyond bolding and italics but the site has nice features.

I am using a free blog, Melas.

[Ana]

Hey, Aaron :)
How are you feeling today? More upbeat?

[Ana]

Good to hear! :D
Hope you have a great start to the weekend too ^_^

[Melaslithos]

Ana wrote: "Yes Kandice, I do ok I suppose, don't know much more beyond bolding and italics but the site has nice features.

I am using a free blog, Melas."

Ana, if I am understanding correctly, you are using html in the article you are posting.
You shouldn't have the need to use it unless you are trying something very special.
On the top of the writing window, on the right, you have the choice between html and text style. If you choose the text style, you should have icons with "bold", "italics", etc., just as in Words.
At least, that's how I remember it was before, and that's how it is on self-hosted websites.

For spoiler tags, I never tried to use them on my website, but the trick is usually to highlight the text in the colour you are writing it in (usually black). Like this, only a black rectangle will appear, but your reader can still read what you wrote when selecting the text.

There also might exist a html spoiler tag but I'm not sure. I will have to check, but I'm on holidays, not on my computer, and my brother's computer is making me go crazy!

[Kandice]

My husband and our best friends went to The Puzzalarium for our anniversary. I'd never even heard of it. You get locked in a room with a timer for 60 minutes. You have that long to solve the puzzles in the room, find 6 keys and get out. It was amazing.

Here's the site: http://www.puzzalarium.com/

Take a look. :D

[Ana]

Yep Melas, I figured that out, but I find it easier to use the html box because of the spacing between paragraphs; I have also been tinkering with lists.
I have no idea how to do the highlighting thing though :S

Oh I have heard about that sort of thing here in Portugal though it's veyr new. Let me know what you thought of it, should be lots of fun!

[Ana]

I have finished adding the info I wanted there the most, so posted the blog link in my Corner topic. Anyway, you can find it here: https://mistluna.wordpress.com/

I like the idea of having a seperate page to link to the book reviews. I just wish there was an easier way to do this, instead of creating a list manually.

I know there is a menu option that would probably help, but when I tried to use it it wouldn't work. Sucks being a noob at this, eh.

[Melaslithos]

@Kandice: We call them mystery rooms here, there are several in Shanghai. I already been to two. I love it! It's really fun, and really good team building stuff.