Comfort Reads discussion
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Chit Chat
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Daily Chat
Lance Greenfield wrote: "You may not hear my screams in San Francisco, Lisa, but I will describe the feeling for you, post-needle!And I promise to share images of the results."
I don't think I could handle a tattoo (I even found electrolysis on my upper lip incredibly painful). I have a very low pain threshold for needles and the like, other types of pain I can deal with much better. Good luck, and I hope the pain is not too bad and the results spectacular.
Lance, I hope the feeling/pain isn't that bad. And I'll love seeing photos.
Mod
*sigh* We're expecting a massive hurricane people have been calling the storm of the century; our governor has declared a state of emergency; they've been talking about it for days. My boss, however, still has not decided what we're doing (note to boss: I won't be in) - and nothing is tarped or otherwise secured because he blew it off on Friday. Then at ten p.m. the phone rang - and it was my mother's doctor canceling her appointment for tomorrow. Yeah. Thanks. Ten? Really?
Tracey, That storm is all over the news. I hear Maryland is getting hit, but areas all up and down the east coast might be hit. I hope the worst of it misses you. I know people who have to evacuate in Brooklyn, and I know someone from my area who went to NYC just yesterday I think, for a week. Ack! I hope it won't be as bad as predicted. You're smart and your boss is not being considerate or thinking clearly. Ugh.
Gosh - you know it's bad when there are two weathermen onscreen at the same time.So far it's windy here; the coastline is in serious trouble, with very high tides and major waves. Everything is apparently closed except vital things like Starbucks and McDonalds. (Is it obvious how disgusted I am with people?)
I still can't believe the doctor's office called at 10 PM. A call at that hour is usually an emergency; this time it was just poor planning.
We've still got power (obviously) - don't know how long that will last. This is interesting...
I hope you have a real flashlight, or some candles! Keep safe!
Mod
Do any of the multiple weather men and ladies predict when the worst will be over and folks can start counting the toll?It sounds awful!
I have been in a few hurricanes and typhoons (SE Asia) in my time, but this looks like a bad un!
One thing that surprises me though, on a slightly lighter note, is that I haven't, so far, heard any Republicans blaming President Obama for Hurricane Sandy! It is obviously all his fault!
Tracey wrote: "Gosh - you know it's bad when there are two weathermen onscreen at the same time.So far it's windy here; the coastline is in serious trouble, with very high tides and major waves. Everything is a..."
I've been following the storm at night (in Europe) to follow its track. News is devastating. Please be sure that I sympathize with you and hope you're allright. Like @Lee said: Keep us posted.
OK - it's on its way out; we'll still be getting some wind gusts and rain, but it's clean-up time. We never lost power here, which is amazing - the wind was really scary now and then, and about half a million people in the state aren't so lucky. Other parts of the state are a lot worse off, and there were two deaths. And then there's the idiot who decided to go swimming in flood waters last night and hasn't been seen since, which ... I can't even. At the moment I''m just incredibly frustrated - again - with my idiot of a boss - the one who did nothing to prepare for the storm, remember him? He said he'd call this morning, and so far: nothing. I hereby refuse to call him, and I'm not budging till he calls; it's his job and I'm disgusted with him.
Thanks for all the good wishes!
Tracey wrote: "OK - it's on its way out; we'll still be getting some wind gusts and rain, but it's clean-up time. We never lost power here, which is amazing - the wind was really scary now and then, and about hal..."Good for you for standing up to your boss. Glad you did not lose power (all of Dundas and much of Toronto is without power as this storm has really affected Southern Ontario as well, mostly with rain and driving winds). My bf has had his generator on all night (and it's still going).
I hope the rain stops by tomorrow (and the wind). I'm supposed to be trying (or retrying) for my G license tomorrow morning, but if the weather is like it was last night, I think it will be a fiasco.
Why would anyone decide to go swimming during a hurricane? Wow (and besides this being dangerous/deadly to the idiot who decided to engage in such an activity, he/she also puts rescue authorities, the police etc. in danger because they will likely feel obligated to search for him/her).
It is good that you are safe, Tracey. And everyone else who has had to suffer the battering from Sandy.Your boss sounds very strange. I would always want to make sure that my employees were both safe and happy. It makes me wonder!
It also makes me wonder when I hear about, or see, people playing about in these storms. Do they seriously not understand the power of nature?!
Strangest of all, maybe, is seeing reporters in the middle of a flooded, evacuated area, telling their audience that everybody else has gone and that the water was up to their ankles 20 minutes ago and now it is up to their waist. Are they crazy?! Is a story like that worth dying for?!
It's weird - we didn't get too much rain. I hope it clears up for you, Gundula! I'm at work now (he finally called, wondering where I was - he forgot he said he'd call and let me know what was going on)(and no one else in our complex is in, but ...whatever), and it really wasn't bad where I am, a little inland. A couple of huge branches down, almost all the leaves down, one business that I could see damaged, but not nearly what I was expecting.
My boss never held a management position before this office, and he doesn't quite know what he's doing a lot of the time. It's a challenge.
I don't know if the swimmer was trying to kill himself or just being a moron, but either way I don't think they tried to rescue him; they couldn't. The danger was too great.
It was an amazement all yesterday to see these intrepid reporters out on the shoreline being bashed by wind and soaked by waves, standing there saying with a straight face that it wasn't safe, stay away from the beaches, keep roads clear for rescue and utility workers - in other words, do as I say and not as I do. I can't believe no reporter (as far as I know) has ever been killed by his own stupidity...
Tracey wrote: "It's weird - we didn't get too much rain. I hope it clears up for you, Gundula! I'm at work now (he finally called, wondering where I was - he forgot he said he'd call and let me know what was go..."
Personally, my attitude is that if reporters have a choice about going into dangerous areas (like a natural disaster or a war zone) that is acceptable, but if their jobs, their career depend on this, that is not acceptable. In other words, reporters should never be forced into seriously dangerous or potentially deadly situations (by management, or by the owners of the newspapers, magazines, TV stations for which they work), and should definitely not be at risk of losing their jobs if they were to refuse an assignment that could potentially lead to serious injuries or worse.
Gundula, exactly. At least when reporters go into war zones, there's a possibility that they're going for good reason, to report stories that couldn't be told from behind the lines. There is absolutely no value added when reporters stand out in a storm - besides comic relief when someone is drenched by a wave, of course.
Apparently the swimmer who went missing just had no common sense or concept of self-preservation; there's also a kayaker missing.
Tracey wrote: "Gundula, exactly. At least when reporters go into war zones, there's a possibility that they're going for good reason, to report stories that couldn't be told from behind the lines. There is abso..."
Wow, anyone who would kayak in such weather, anyone who would consider swimming in such weather really must have shite for brains.
And with the reporters, sure, it's comical if they get drenched, but what if something more serious happens, sigh.
It's good to hear that everything is allright with you.
Mod
Gundula, I hope your driving test went well!
I'm still waiting to hear from some people but those I've heard from are fine, and I'm assuming the rest are at most uncomfortable.Glad you're okay, Tracey.
Gundula, generators are wonderful. How did I miss that?!: You took your driving test? When? Hope it went great!
Lisa wrote: "I'm still waiting to hear from some people but those I've heard from are fine, and I'm assuming the rest are at most uncomfortable.Glad you're okay, Tracey.
Gundula, generators are wonderful. Ho..."
I'm trying for my G license tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes.
Gundula wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I'm still waiting to hear from some people but those I'veI'm trying for my G license tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes."Gundula, I hope it goes really well. Best wishes!
I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking).
Yay! Congrats! (I still suck at parallel parking.)
Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking)."Gundula, Congratulations!!! I'm so happy. That was nice of the tester, but obviously you did well enough on the redo!
Congratulations, Gundula! It must feel great to have your license!
Well done Gundula!I wish I knew what a G license is. Obviously it means something to most correspondents. Must be something Canadian, that us foreigners don't understand.
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Well done Gundula!I wish I knew what a G license is. Obviously it means something to most correspondents. Must be something Canadian, that us foreigners don't understand."
In Ontario, you have a graduated license system (and the G license is the final step). It might have taken me over five years to get this (after having been told for decades that I am too scatterbrained and too clumsy to ever learn to drive), but I made it, yay, yay, yay (and I'm glad that parallel parking is still a book with seven seals for some of you).
But I think for me, the worst was and is distinguishing left from right (I seem to do much better with left turns etc., lol).
It sure feels good to finally have this albatross off me. And I have not even told any of my family members yet (considering that they were the ones who kept telling me that I would never learn to drive or get my license, I'm going to wait for a while before I let them know and just savour it).And now, I want to learn how to drive a stick-shift, ha!!
Left and right must be difficult for you. I understand. You live in one of those countries where everyone drives on the wrong side of the road!!!
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Left and right must be difficult for you. I understand. You live in one of those countries where everyone drives on the wrong side of the road!!!"And you know, I agree with you. When we were in England and Wales this summer, I found navigating from the left hand side (from the passenger side much easier) -- while I was taught to write with my right hand, I think that I was actually meant to be left-handed.
I'm left handed but I think I'd be too scared to drive in the UK. I've been driving for nearly 1/2 a century the other way.
Gundula wrote: "It sure feels good to finally have this albatross off me. And I have not even told any of my family members yet (considering that they were the ones who kept telling me that I would never learn to..."Congrats Gundula!!..:)
Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking)."Congratulations!
Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking)."Congratulations, Gundula! *claps* *stamps feet*
Kim wrote: "Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking..."Still can't believe it :-)
Gundula wrote: "Still can't believe it :-) "I'm so glad, Gundula. More mobility is always a good thing.
Have you seen these funny company names?Note to Lisa: Perhaps our mutual acquaintance, Esdaile, has worked for company number 19. What is your opinion?
Sorry guys. That's a private joke between me and Lisa. We are having an hilarious conversation on another thread: one of my reviews.
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Note to Lisa: Perhaps our mutual acquaintance, Esdaile, has worked for company number 19. What is your opinion?"Ha!!! #19 fits perfectly, yes.
Thought you'd like that one Lisa. Anyone who's interested in what we're yacking about should flip over to my review of The Magic Mountain. There is a chap on there who will bring tears to your eyes. Weeping or laughing? That's up to you!
The local seafood place has a mundane enough name, but they sell t-shirts proclaiming "I got crabs at Dino's". Yeah. Hilarious.
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Anyone who's interested in what we're yacking about should flip over to my review of The Magic Mountain. There is a chap on there who will bring tears to your ey..."What a pompous twit. Which I will hereby refrain from saying in that thread, much as I'd like to. I was trying to find him simply funny, and then he pulled out the "Lord of the Rings might be 'better' – if you're TWELVE", and I just wanted to slap him. Usually obnoxious is anything but boring, but he manages to pull it off.
Thanks Tracey.You should drop a comment on that thread. I am sure that you'd think of something interesting to put on there.
Did you like the dialogue between me and Lisa on "in my opinion?"
I am convinced that Esdaile would not have understood the humour of it. And if he did, he would not be laughing as much as we were. My tummy was aching!
Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking)." Nearly missed your posting, congrats, Gundula.
Sylvia wrote: "Gundula wrote: "I got my license (My G license), so everybody should be taking cover, lol (seriously, I am very happy and very relieved, especially since the tester let me redo the parallel parking..."Thanks, but I am definitely not ready to drive on the Autobahn, lol!!
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Have you seen these funny company names?Note to Lisa: Perhaps our mutual acquaintance, Esdaile, has worked for company number 19. What is your opinion?
Sorry guys. That's a private joke between ..."
Thanks for the laugh (although I think I need to change my underwear now, sigh).
About your review of Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, frankly, I think with Thomas Mann, you either love his writing or you don't. And also, most of his novels are simply too long and too involved and too complicated (I love Thomas Mann as an author, but I really only love his short fiction, his novels are amazing and important, but I probably would never reread them after having to slog through many of them for my PhD comprehensive exams, and not just Thomas Mann in German, but also Robert Musil, Hermann Broch etc. etc., many German authors suffer from severe cases of verbal diarrhoea). But Thomas Mann's short stories and novellas, there are some that are (in my opinion) absolutely divine.
Lance Greenfield wrote: "Thanks Tracey.You should drop a comment on that thread. I am sure that you'd think of something interesting to put on there.
Did you like the dialogue between me and Lisa on "in my opinion?"
Twist my arm. ;)
Yes, I love the dialogue - and just put in my two cents. Pence. And trotted out a word or two of my fancy-schmancy vocabulary, too.
Tracey wrote: "Lance Greenfield wrote: "Thanks Tracey.You should drop a comment on that thread. I am sure that you'd think of something interesting to put on there.
Did you like the dialogue between me and Lis..."
I did s well, ha!!
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Comfort Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
No Angel (other topics)The False Prince (other topics)
Para Handy Tales (other topics)
Para Handy Tales (other topics)
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jane Austen (other topics)Rebecca Stead (other topics)
Ken Jennings (other topics)
Neal D. Barnard (other topics)
Nigel Tranter (other topics)
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And I promise to share images of the results.