Reading X for the nth time

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I will give away about 50 books to anyone who wants to come to my apartment and take them away for me.

Never again will I live on the 3rd floor without an elevator.

[[deleted user]]

I've had a will for some years and one of the stipulations is that my library, along with a small stipend, will go to someone who will love and care for them. I've never had anyone in real life worth willing them to but I'm eyeballing some of yall now ;)

[Laurel]

I seriously love the idea of a bibliophile nerdy Thunderdome... Jim Butcher could officiate!

[[deleted user]]

Lol..oh that would be awesome indeed. Ala, I'm going to add you to my will but there's definitely going to be a Road Warrior clause.

Good luck with the move, Denae. If I were closer I'd totally come play pack mule for ya. I've moved..hmm...77 times? Maybe 78

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Denae wrote: "I will give away about 50 books to anyone who wants to come to my apartment and take them away for me.

Never again will I live on the 3rd floor without an elevator."

I can do that once you reach the DMV.... ;-D

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Odd Ala...I keep seeing these odd, seemingly sourceless shadows in my library...oh well.

MrsJ...I've talked to God about that. Hopefully I have a shot at being around for Butcher to finish Dresden's story. As for my, "to be read list", the fact that I keep adding more books than I read may make that one a slightly unfair request.

[[deleted user]]

Have you guys ever worried about your buds online? Like I would honestly be upset if some of you just disappeared with no explanation. I wish there were a way to notify folks in case of an emergency, ya know?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I've thought about asking one of my kids to let everyone know "if something happens (cue ominous music)". But I've seen people just drop out of sight before...

[whimsicalmeerkat]

There actually are services for that. Not sure what I think about the concept though. But, yeah, I've gotten worried about people before.

Also, "some" huh.

[Laurel]

If I lived closer, I would definitely help you all move, even if it meant carrying boxes and boxes of books down flights of stairs. (You can ask a friend of mine, I've helped carry 40+ boxes of books down 4 flights of stairs).

Can you imagine the fun we'd have unpacking all the books, drinking a few alcoholic beverages, arguing how to shelve them, which authors deserve pride of place, etc. Good times!

[[deleted user]]

Lol..yup. Some :) There are some I'd be tickled pink to see fall off the face of the Earth :) Or at least the internet ;)

Don't worry, Denae, you're one of the ones I'd be worried about if ya disappeared

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I thought 12 moves was bad.

As for the books, I'm only keep a few boxes worth. It hurts in one way to get rid of them, but in others most of what I'm getting rid of is either MMPB or things I'm unlikely to re-read. Some of them are favorites, but I'm not so attached to those physical copies that I'll pay to store them. I did get about 50 sent to people through bookswap. I'd definitely prefer to do that with the rest, since I know they're wanted, but I just don't have time, so they'll go to either a friends of the library sale or the goodwill. Depends on which is open tomorrow.

It'd be a hell of a time moving with this group. Granted, I'd probably have to mislabel the boxes with books, at least until everything was moved in. I can see it now, boxes "accidentally breaking open" en route, people getting distracted by whichever books "fall" out of them, people finding the fact that I have The Butcher: And Other Erotica next to a Precious Moments Bible disturbing, being questioned as to why I own so little fantasy... The alcoholic beverages would probably make up for everything. I would have to make it clear ahead of time that despite the fact that the majority of my stuff is packed in liquor boxes, most of my liquor has already been moved. All I have here is some tequila and 2/3 of a handle of bourbon.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Oh, I'm sure Grant will have no problem passing on Andre Northon to me. :) I'll bribe him with apple butter or something.

[[deleted user]]

Lol...I'll graciously pass on Andre Norton to Carol since she's been so kind as to put up with our thread meddling ;) *ahem* and I prefer peanut butter cookies to apple butter ;)

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Does that mean I can have the apple butter?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Side stepping existing conversation... Denae, I've also noticed that liquor boxes make great moving boxes. Most are a size that will allow for book packing (not so big as to injure someone who tries to pick them up) and very sturdy. When I moved here a little over a year ago I picked up boxes from the store near us twice a week (their big order days).

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I apparently shocked the girl who worked at our local liquor store when she mentioned she had boxes she'd broken down and I asked for those. I came away with about two dozen on a single trip. I was really, really excited.

At this point, I have more boxes than I'll need, it's just a matter of getting everything into them and sorting out what will fit in my car, what's going to storage, and what I have to donate. I'm so glad this will be over soon.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Grant wrote: "Lol...I'll graciously pass on Andre Norton to Carol since she's been so kind as to put up with our thread meddling ;) *ahem* and I prefer peanut butter cookies to apple butter ;)"

Alright then, Done! :-)

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Good luck moving, Denae. I used Rubbermaid bins when I last moved because I was intending longer-term storage. Fully half of them were books. Can't bear to part with some of them--as I learned trying to find out of print editions can be challenging and expensive. That's why i'm so impressed by MrsJ!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Carol wrote: "Good luck moving, Denae. I used Rubbermaid bins when I last moved because I was intending longer-term storage. Fully half of them were books. Can't bear to part with some of them--as I learned tryi..."

:-) It was a labor of love :-)

OMG, I don't even want to think about moving my books...

...and I have books EVERYWHERE. My mom has some, my grandparents have some. I need to consolidate...

[whimsicalmeerkat]

My parents moved at some point after I went to college, therefore I have *everything* I ever owned that was in their house. This means I move around childhood toys and books. I don't think it's exactly normal.

[Laurel]

Oh, its normal. Almost every time I see my patents they have a new box of stuff that is "mine". Personally, I believe that at least half of it is stuff they no longer want and are downsizing, but how do you argue with "Your great-grandmother meant for you to have this..."

[whimsicalmeerkat]

This stuff is pretty unquestionably mine. *I* probably don't want half of it, but I just don't have the time or energy to go through it today. I'm apparently emotionally attached to my Legos and Barbies and Care Bear Cousin, etc.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I left home when I was 18. My parents moved from Ohio back to TN not long after that...and almost everything I left at home got thrown out. My parents weren't big on sentiment. What didn't get thrown out (my slotcar track and a few other things)...they gave to my youngest brother (he was 2 when I moved out). They didn't really survive.

We all move odd "stuff" Denae. I was finally forced to let a lot of things go in the last move (and reduce my library) simply due to space and ability to physically move, that had been with me for decades.

We're just human.

[Amanda]

My friends Jd swears I will move every single box of books myself next time because my library is a huge pain to move because many are boxed and heavy. He's a fanfiction reader so he doesn't have to worry about moving his libary lol. I'll be moving soon myself (somewhere in the next couple of months still trying to sort out where to move right now) and I know its going to be a combo of relief and anxiety.

Yep Mike Liquor boxes are awesome for moving books, dvds and vhs (yep I still have a bunch of them :)).

I love getting books from discount stores like Goodwill but sometimes I KNOW I'm getting somebody's beloved treasures that some misguided someone just willy nilly tossed to the store without considering people that might have appreciated them more. I feel better for the fact I know I'll love them but wonder how the original owner would have felt and therefore also somewhat guilty.

Yeah I wonder how folks are when they dissappear. I get into following some people here and did way back when as a teen on Epinions where we'd formed a neat little community.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I spent a lot of time active on dragonmount.com when I was in high school and I regularly wonder how the people I talked to a lot are these days.

[Tracey]

Amanda wrote: "but sometimes I KNOW I'm getting somebody's beloved treasures that some misguided someone just willy nilly tossed to the store..."

I always think it's so sad when I buy a book at a library sale or Goodwill and find an inscription. "To remind you of the wonderful time we had [insert location of book here] in last summer!" or, worse, "With love from Mom/Dad/Aunt Ethel - Christmas/birthday/graduation 1995"... I hate that, and I always wonder why they gave the book away.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I have a complete collection of Zane Grey (the red and beige editions that show up now and then). I almost let them go some years ago but then I found a note on a fly leaf to my dad (who owned the books) from his mother (my grandmother).. so they stay in my collection to get handed down. Even though neither of my kids has ever read a word by Zane Grey.

I know what you mean Tracey.

[Kevin]

Tracey wrote: "Amanda wrote: "but sometimes I KNOW I'm getting somebody's beloved treasures that some misguided someone just willy nilly tossed to the store..."

I always think it's so sad when I buy a book at a ..."

I hate it when I find random things in book that are bought from a used bookstore or library booksale. I have found a couple of airline tickets, some picture, two or three hand written letters. I am guessing that they were used as bookmarks.

[Tracey]

Me too! I've found airline tickets too, photos - some kinda scary ones - dozens of random receipts of course ... all sorts of stuff.

[Amanda]

Tracey wrote: "Amanda wrote: "but sometimes I KNOW I'm getting somebody's beloved treasures that some misguided someone just willy nilly tossed to the store..."

I always think it's so sad when I buy a book at a ..."
Exactly! I hope they at least took the time to read the book or if it mattered to them they thought about before they got rid of it. I own a couple of books like that.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I know there are some odd things left in books at times. I once found this strange envelope marked eyes only and inside wa

[Tracey]

Mike? Sensei? Oh dear, was that a black SUV I just saw speeding awa

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I once found a rather haunting picture of a sad looking girl on the beach in a copy of An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness. I think I'm going to leave it in there when I eventually give away or sell the book.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Uhh....why is it 7:45? The lat I knew it was about 3:30. And why are there empty spots on my book shelves? I don't have empty spots on my book shelves....My shelves have always been loaded down. I'd say there are books missing, but I can't seem to recall the titles that are missing????

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Uhh....why is it 7:45? The lat I knew it was about 3:30. And why are there empty spots on my book shelves? I don't have empty spots on my book shelves....My shelves have always been loaded down. I'..."

uh oh...

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Clearly we need to go investigate this.

[Tracey]

Hypothesis: in the guise of men in black, Mike's children, son's best friend, and his pastor slipped him a Mikey - er, Mickey, and Retconned him so they he wouldn't notice the books they absconded with while he was out. HowEVER, they underestimated his close bond to his library: HE'S ONTO YOU, KIDS. Don't mess with the Sensei.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Mike, did you write a note saying "remember this" on a picture of the Batman building? (Don't remember who owns that now, is it still Bell South?) It may or may not have an invisible elevator in the front. Or an evil crime lord on the top floor. Or possibly just evil music agents.

[Tracey]

Or maybe aliens.

(ETA - Or maybe bunnies ...)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I'm not sure yet...but I seem to have left myself a manila envelope inside a copy of The Deed of Paksenarrion with a watch, a stick of chewing gum, a postage stamp and locker key.

[Tracey]

No airline ticket?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

No....but I there was a bus token in the bottom of the envelope.

[[deleted user]]

*makes popcorn, sets out a bowl to share, reclines and watches :)*

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Oh, I hope it's bunnies! Good call, Tracey. I mean, adorable fluffy bunnies would be good, but I suppose Night of the Lepus bunnies aren't totally out of the question.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

O_o

*grabs a handful of popcorn*

Want some Chocolates?

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Is that even a question? Who doesn't want chocolates? *passes around a plate of cookies*

[Rob]

Tracey wrote:
(ETA - Or maybe bunnies ...)"

Or maybe midgets...

(not a Buffy nerd, honest, I just lurve the musical :)

[Bill]

Grant wrote: "Have you guys ever worried about your buds online? Like I would honestly be upset if some of you just disappeared with no explanation. I wish there were a way to notify folks in case of an emergenc..."

I been doing forum of various types since about 1989. In all cases people I've gotten to know disappear and I'm left wondering what happened to them. And, we've had to deal with a number of deaths. On one site we even have a remembrances page for those passing the veil.

I think it part of online life to learn to deal with this sort of thing and not really so different from real life. Many, many good friends have moved on and contact decreases over time in real life.

I also think it a part of estate planning to figure out how to deal with your online present after you die. I have some personal web sites I'd like to have continued after I die and have provided funding in my will for that. But, once gone, one loses most control over what will actually happen.

[Tracey]

On one group I was part of there was suddenly one day a message in one member's name saying that she was dead. The moderators deleted it. They posted it again. Turned out it was true... It was a horrible combination of honest grief, being glad the family let us know, and really wishing there had been another way to do it...

I've freaked out a little about people who vanished, till I realized that every time I sent a worried email the response would be "Oh, I'm fine, just busy". 'Kay.