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[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "errrr......good morning.....I. Hate. The. Swim. Schedule. ...Tired. I can't even make a good sentence."

Christine, I hope that the "swim season" is over soon. You really deserve a medal or an award of merit.

[[deleted user]]

July 17th...that's the last meet. What surprises me is that Emma doesn't complain about jumping in the water at that hour.

Today is the annual library book sale. I have to go pick up a number for the opening (you can only go in to the sale early with a number). Emma is getting a number too and I'm "training" her of what to look for when it opens, like what author names and that kind of thing. I have to make sure that we both have good sturdy shoes on, are properly hydrated, and remain focused. Haha!

[Chrissie]

About smoking and Europe. I live in Belgium. Here you are not allowed to smoke in offices or in restaurants. Same goes for Sweden. Denmark is different - OMG we tried to eat in a restaurant and we left immediately b/c of all the smoke. Different places, different rules. France is becoming definitely more smoke free. :0) Personaly now I am avoiding that side of the street where all the smokers stand and smoke at the entrance to the office buildings. How do people enter the building without going through the disgusting cloud? And sometimes you get stuck behind people who smoke as they walk! My parents always smoked..... My kids put signs up on their doors that no smoking was allowed in their rooms and they were ignored by my parents. Big arguments ensued!!! Recently my Mom finally gave up smoking. She just realized she didn't want to do it any more. THAT is how people stop. It was nothing I said, although I have nagged and nagged for years. Just overnight she changed her mind, I think b/c she had other health problems and realized smoking was so dam stupid. I always thought Mom had a "special smell". Now I know it was just a smoke smell. Books are funny - they really absorb all sorts of smells. Don't you notice that when you buy secondhand books or even borrow books?! Gosh, I wonder how mine smell...........

[[deleted user]]

Good morning everyone! I think I have conquered the worst of the jet lag. The girl has lost her voice, but feels okay. My husband is in bed right now -- it seems to have hit him the hardest. He stayed up every night doing the Norway blog, and now he has time to pay for it. :(

And, the old dog is now the leaky, old dog. Had to put him in doggie diapers. I hope it is just a bladder infection. Just what I need to deal with between laundry and goodreads!

[Kathy]

Morning all. Jeannette, it's so nice that you and your husband share the packing/unpacking duties. Of course, I'm probably my own worst enemy. I think I'm too much of a control freak to trust anybody else to do it for me. Hope everyone gets over the jet lag soon and doggie gets out of the diapers soon.

Christine, I got my granddaughter, 9-yr.-old, a sprinkler to use in this hot weather, and she only used it for a few minutes before declaring the water too cold. This girl is the same one who also goes to early morning swim team practice and doesn't have a problem with the cold water then. Go figure!

Gundula, stay safe. What with the earthquake tremors and your accidents, I, too, think a nice, relaxing vacation is in order.

Mona, what is this MagicJack? I must investigate.

[[deleted user]]

Kathy wrote: "Morning all. Jeannette, it's so nice that you and your husband share the packing/unpacking duties. Of course, I'm probably my own worst enemy. I think I'm too much of a control freak to trust an..."

It was a big step for me to let him pack my suitcase. I really like to be in charge of things. On the other hand, I just lay all the stuff out on the bed and it gets packed. As an added bonus, I get to complain when all of my stuff ends up on the bottom of the suitcase! :p

[Kathy]

OK, the jam cake recipe from my momma's recipes.

Short Cut Jam Cake

1 box fudge cake mix (18 or 20 oz.)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup blackberry jam

Add spices and vanilla to dry ingredients of cake mix. Then, prepare as directed on package (using eggs and milk indicated on package). At end of mixing, stir in the jam. Bake cake in 2 9-inch round layer pans (greased and floured). Baking time will be just a little longer than directed on the cake package. Cake stays moist until the last bite.


Easy Caramel Frosting

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cup sifted confectioner sugar (powdered sugar)
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in brown sugar. Add the 1/4 cup milk and continue stirring until boiling. Just as soon as it boils, remove from heat. Then when it cools to lukewarm, add powdered sugar and vanilla while beating with mixer on low speed. Then beat on high speed until right spreading consistency. If it gets too hard, you can a few drops of hot water. If not hard enough, add more powdered sugar.

[Kathy]

Jeannette wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Morning all. Jeannette, it's so nice that you and your husband share the packing/unpacking duties. Of course, I'm probably my own worst enemy. I think I'm too much of a control fre..."

LOL!

[Kathy]

On the jam cake, I wanted to add that you can see why it's popular at Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the spices that it contains.

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: And, the old dog is now the leaky, old dog...."

Poor doggie! I really hope that it's something simple and the diapers are gone fast. Those diapers aren't good for his doggie mojo, I bet.

[[deleted user]]

Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: And, the old dog is now the leaky, old dog...."

Poor doggie! I really hope that it's something simple and the diapers are gone fast. Those diapers aren't good for his doggie mojo..."

I bought a package of Pull-ups, with Woody on them. He's taking it in his stride, which is somewhat surprising. Good thing he gets to take them off for his walk -- no one has to see them! lol

[[deleted user]]

Kathy wrote: "OK, the jam cake recipe from my momma's recipes...."

Looks yummy. Wish I felt like turning the oven on! :( I'll save it for later.

[Mary]

Kathy wrote: "OK, the jam cake recipe from my momma's recipes.

Short Cut Jam Cake

1 box fudge cake mix (18 or 20 oz.)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup blackberry..."

Yum, yum, yum!! Thanks for sharing, Kathy!!

[Manybooks]

Kathy wrote: "OK, the jam cake recipe from my momma's recipes.

Short Cut Jam Cake

1 box fudge cake mix (18 or 20 oz.)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup blackberry..."

This looks delicious, Kathy. I wonder if it would work with cupcake mix as well. I should try that, seeing that I now have the bag of kitchen utensils that I actually did leave at my local grocery store yesterday. But, I think I will do some reading first.

[Beth]

Kathy wrote: "OK, the jam cake recipe from my momma's recipes.

Short Cut Jam Cake

1 box fudge cake mix (18 or 20 oz.)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup blackberry..."

Yum, Kathy!

[Kathy]

I'm glad you all enjoyed me finally posting the jam cake recipe. I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't made it. First my mother always made it before I was married, and for the last 33 years, my mother-in-law has made it. We only have it at the holidays. Hmm, maybe this year is the year I should make it.

[Lee, Mod Mama]

Kathy! Thank you so much. I'm very intrigued by the recipe. I can't even imagine what this is going to taste like. I will definitely give it a try.

[[deleted user]]

Morning everyone! I am still battling the dust. The bathroom renovation is carrying on. Monday is the next big push. There will be 2 million people in the bathroom all working together. (okay, I exaggerated...)

Hope everyone has a great day.

And I hope there are no more earthquake tremors. I experienced my first last year with the Abruzzo quake which woke me up at 3:00 in the morning with the bed swaying back and forth and up and down. I don't even want to imagine what it is like to be in the middle of one.

Love the picture of the doggie diapers. Hope he is okay soon.

Baci a tutti! (Kisses all around!)
H

[[deleted user]]

Hayes wrote: "Morning everyone! I am still battling the dust. The bathroom renovation is carrying on. Monday is the next big push. There will be 2 million people in the bathroom all working together. "

Ugh, I hate it when I have more than a million people in my bathroom. But I bet it'll be great when it's done.

I heard about the earthquakes and wondered who here would be feeling it. Yikes.

I'm off to the pool. Have a great start!

[Mona]

Kathy wrote: "Morning all. Jeannette, it's so nice that you and your husband share the packing/unpacking duties. Of course, I'm probably my own worst enemy. I think I'm too much of a control freak to trust an..."

Kathy: MagicJack is an internet phone service. I'm including a link from YouTube that will tell you the basics. They also have a website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLuyu-...

[[deleted user]]

Morning All! I hate having more than 2 people in my bathroom! You'll have to post pictures after the renovation is finished, Hayes.

I have 2, maybe 3, more loads of laundry and I am finished! What a pain: why do we have so many things to wear? Get to it, Christine! :p

Have a happy and safe day everyone!

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette, I refuse to tell you how much laundry I still have. All I do is do towels and swimsuits/gear, repeat, repeat....

Did I tell you guys about the library booksale yesterday? Wow, it was ugly. So many of the people there were armed with little scanners and loading up boxes for resale. If you tried to get something, they would seriously knock you out of the way. Anyone who was there just to get books to read (and we were outnumbered) was lucky to escape with anything.

[[deleted user]]

That is so sad, Christine. The library sells the books so cheaply, but they really should be making the profit.

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: "That is so sad, Christine. The library sells the books so cheaply, but they really should be making the profit."

I agree. I wish they'd raise the price from $1 a book to like $3. That's a great used book price for readers, but I bet the crazy resale people would come in less numbers.

[Maude]

Christine, I have been to library sales like that and it is always the same. People pushing to get something, scouts looking to resell, and then us - passionate readers who just want to find wonderful books to read. I wish I could just browse around but it is always so hectic and pushy. I rarely go anymore.

[Manybooks]

Maude wrote: "Christine, I have been to library sales like that and it is always the same. People pushing to get something, scouts looking to resell, and then us - passionate readers who just want to find wond..."

Supposedly, certain vintage book buyers do the same thing. They buy rare, vintage books at bookstores and on online sites and then put them up for auction on Ebay etc. Kind of annoying for those of us who are trying to buy or collect vintage books, or who might be actually in need of some of the titles because of reading or academic projects (many vintage series are simply not available as modern reprints).

[Kathy]

Lee wrote: "Kathy! Thank you so much. I'm very intrigued by the recipe. I can't even imagine what this is going to taste like. I will definitely give it a try."

You're welcome, Lee. I hope you love it as much as I do. It has always been my favorite dessert at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[Kathy]

Well, I couldn't get on my computer until this evening. ARggggggh! Hubby will be home next weekend, and I am going to have him take a look at things before I call the cable company. Christine, there is a library sale at our library tomorrow, and now I'm scared to go. LOL! I might have to miss it anyway if I go see my son tomorrow and take him out to eat and visit a bookstore.

I gave my son The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen last Friday, the author that I went to see last week, and when I talked to him on Monday, the first thing he said to me was that he had finished the book and loved it. I grinned from ear to ear. It's so great that I can still share a book with him like that. He's 23, so I'm hoping that we will always be able to do that. Oh, and he even asked my advice about a girl. When I told him what I thought, he said, "Mom, you are so smart." Add seeing my daughter and granddaughters in this week, and it has been a great week indeed. Oh, and a friend and I found a new place with plate lunches that has great buttered squash and homemade rolls.

[Kathy]

Mona wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Morning all. Jeannette, it's so nice that you and your husband share the packing/unpacking duties. Of course, I'm probably my own worst enemy. I think I'm too much of a control fre..."

Thanks, Mona.

[Kathy]

Hayes wrote: "Morning everyone! I am still battling the dust. The bathroom renovation is carrying on. Monday is the next big push. There will be 2 million people in the bathroom all working together. (okay, I ex..."

Hayes, when I had my kitchen done this past February, I thought I was going to kill the guy who did it before it was all over. All I can say, is it will be worth it.

[Beth]

You guys are brave for doing rennovations. I'd love to have my kitchen and bathroom redone! One of these days I'll do it.

[[deleted user]]

Good morning everyone! What a great story about the relationship you have with your son, Kathy! I am confident that you'll stay close like that. :)

One more load of laundry today and then it's soccer-watching weekend. USA today and Germany v. England tomorrow. My husband is a happy camper!

We had some great thunder storms all night. The weather is bound to turn muggy. The trip to Europe was great, but suddenly a big chunk of summer is passed by! Have a good one everybody! :)

[Lee, Mod Mama]

Kathy, what is a plate lunch?

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "Good morning everyone! What a great story about the relationship you have with your son, Kathy! I am confident that you'll stay close like that. :)

One more load of laundry today and then it's s..."

I know your husband would probably consider me a total traitor, Jeannette, but I really don't want Germany to win the world cup. Actually (and, I'm not watching any of the games, as I don't have a TV), I would love to see one of the African teams or another underdog win the whole thing; that would be so cool. Gosh, I better not show my face in any British pub tomorrow, Germany vs England, eek.

[[deleted user]]

Kathy wrote: Christine, there is a library sale at our library tomorrow, and now I'm scared to go. LOL!

Haha! Maybe just take a taser so that you can zap people if you see something good.

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: One more load of laundry...

Sheesh, rub it in.

I had to leave this morning by 5:15 for an invitational meet with Emma, and we just now got home. It was worth it because she won two of her events (that's the best meet she's ever had individually). Anyway, at the meet there was this dad who saw my book in my bag, and he started telling me that reading novels is a waste of time and he can't understand why people blow valuable time "reading stories" once they are adults. I was tempted to spray my sunscreen in his face, but I controlled myself.

[Maude]

Christine, I wonder what that obnoxious "gentleman" does with his time since he doesn't read? Probably watches TV all the time!

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: One more load of laundry...

Sheesh, rub it in.

I had to leave this morning by 5:15 for an invitational meet with Emma, and we just now got home. It was worth it because she ..."

Next time a "person" says something like that, just call him/her an uneducated Philistine (oh, you'd better use an easier word, like boor or dolt, as he/she would probably be too unenlightened to know the meaning of the word "Philistine"). I'm glad you did not spray sunscreen in his face, someone like that is not worth the effort, but you probably should have told him not only where to go, but to mind his own bloody business.

Oh, and congratulations to your daughter!!

[Mona]

Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: One more load of laundry...

Sheesh, rub it in.

I had to leave this morning by 5:15 for an invitational meet with Emma, and we just now got home. It was worth it because she ..."

An unsolicited opinion, I love those. >:(

[[deleted user]]

Wow Christine, I think the word jerk would be more appropriate. Maybe he never got past picture books and easy-readers in school! Bring the taser and forget the sunscreen.

Gunudula, we just watched the US lose to Ghana (the better team). They gave Germany a hard time last week, too. But, we will be cheering for Germany, cuz my husband's a true fan! It will make an interesting game tomorrow. It's on at 8:30am, so you will be able to sleep through most of it anyway! :)

p.s. Good job, Emma!!

[Manybooks]

Maude wrote: "Christine, I wonder what that obnoxious "gentleman" does with his time since he doesn't read? Probably watches TV all the time!"

Or drives around on an ATV or motorcycle, or goes to watch wrestling (the possibilities are unfortunately endless).

[[deleted user]]

It stuns me to think someone would say something like that to a stranger, Mona. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"

[[deleted user]]

Maude wrote: "Christine, I wonder what that obnoxious "gentleman" does with his time since he doesn't read? Probably watches TV all the time!"

He told me that as an adult he only finds time to read educational material that keeps him "moving forward". It was so obnoxious that I actually was trying not to laugh.

I just turned on the soccer game in time to see the US lose. Hmmmm.

Thanks for the congrats to Emma, everyone. :) She feels really good today.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "Wow Christine, I think the word jerk would be more appropriate. Maybe he never got past picture books and easy-readers in school! Bring the taser and forget the sunscreen.

Gunudula, we just watc..."

I know, if I were really, really into soccer I would probably cheer for Germany, but as it is, it would be great to see a team from Africa win, I do like underdogs.

[[deleted user]]

Sounds to me like he reads books with laxative properties! XP I might have laughed, or at least made a face. I hope he isn't at your school's team.

You've got a couple of great kids, Christine! (plus Dixie)

[[deleted user]]

Gundula,

We like to cheer for the underdogs, too, but it's a little bit of home for my husband. Now, if Germany doesn't advance, we'll pick a team to cheer for.

[[deleted user]]

He is indeed from our team. So lucky me, I get to see him again. I've never talked to him before, and I'll be sure to set up on the other side of the pool next time.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "Sounds to me like he reads books with laxative properties! XP I might have laughed, or at least made a face. I hope he isn't at your school's team.

You've got a couple of great kids, Christine! ..."

Nice choice of words, ha, ha, ha!! But, honestly, the guy obviously feels somewhat insecure, otherwise he would not be making these kinds of asinine statements. Or, of course, he could just be a jerk.

[[deleted user]]

Christine wrote: "He is indeed from our team. So lucky me, I get to see him again. I've never talked to him before, and I'll be sure to set up on the other side of the pool next time."

Tell him you'd rather waste your time reading than talking to pseudo-intellectuals....

[Mona]

Christine wrote: "Maude wrote: "Christine, I wonder what that obnoxious "gentleman" does with his time since he doesn't read? Probably watches TV all the time!"

He told me that as an adult he only finds time to ..."

Christine: Maybe he should find himself some "educational materials" on etiquette. And while he's at it, "move forward" and find somewhere else to sit.