Random Thoughts Showing 1,251-1,300 of 17,689

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I got vouchers the last couple years from some family. That was good. I got to go book shopping and buy books I would read. :-)

[Bryn]

My mother and sister are trained to buy from my Amazon wish-list. They even get me to 'high priority-low priority' them.

[Simona]

Well trained relatives! You really are the Cesar of daughters :)

[Bryn]

Oh, I don't know about that. Can't say I identify with Caesar. -- Think I just have a nice mum and sis.

[David]

Bryn wrote: "Last Christmas, on a nameless site I do not miss, I remember people popped up to post on Christmas Day. I think they were in escape from their families, needed a bit of respite or normal life."

I'll probably swing by the threads for some eggnog. :) In the meantime, Happy Holidays to everyone!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Happy Holidays to you too, David!

[Marilee]

While I buy gift books for a few people, ones I know well enough to be comfortable with their tastes and libraries, for most, it's certificates or gift cards from book purveyors.

I've received some wildly off the mark gift books over the years... haven't we all? Even my mother, who should have known better, as she was aware I usually read historical, literary and suspense novels plus non-fiction, kept buying me popular romances. She thought I'd love them "as a change". I'd just say thank you, so as not to hurt her feelings. If she had bought the books at a local book shop, I could usually exchange them, but in this day and age of mail order, it's not so easy.

So, when I got a Kindle, I thought the problem was solved. I suggested to mother that I'd love a gift credit for eBooks, but she insisted I must have paper books, as they're "real" and a gift she could wrap and I could open.

She passed away earlier this year. I'll miss the surprise of seeing whatever ill considered books she'd put under the tree for me and others in the family. But our memories are alive and well, and we'll smile as we recall her gifts.

[Linda]

Lovely, just lovely, Marilee.

[Linda]

There is something strange afoot at my house. Tom (husband) and younger son, Jon, usually load me up with gift cards from B&N at Christmas. Earlier this month Tom asked what I wanted, and I said B&N gift card. Wrong answer. He repeated his question and I said a new knee length dress. Wrong answer. He asked again. Determined not to be wrong again, I didn't answer. He didn't notice. Then Jon comes along and suggests we pool our Christmas money for Tom's gift. I agreed, but didn't ask what that gift might be.

UPS suddenly shows up with packages for Tom five days in a row. I have decided that UPS knows what I want for Christmas.

This is how I expect things will shake out: Jon will get parts to build a new computer. Tom will get Jon's old computer with fancy add ons. I will get Tom's old computer with add ons--not of the fancy variety. Feeling bad that I am getting something I know nothing about and will never use, Santa will give me a genuine B&N gift card and a new knee length dress.

Merry Christmas to everyone. May your memories of Christmasses past bring you joy, and Christmas this year become a sweet and treasured memory for tomorrow.

[happy]

The best present my mother ever gave me was a book. As a toddler I appearently loved the "Tale of Peter Rabbit". The family legend is that I knew it so well, when mom was reading it to me, she couldn't even change an a to a the:)

When she knew she wouldn't see the next Chistmas, she got the presents all purchased for that year. Mine was a complete set of Betrix Potter. She signed the Peter Rabbit volume telling me to read them to my grandchildren.

When the grandkids come over they want bumpa to read "Rabbit".

Thanks Mom

[Simona]

Bryn wrote: "Oh, I don't know about that. Can't say I identify with Caesar. -- Think I just have a nice mum and sis."

Maybe it's because I meant Cesar, the dog trainer, without the second "e", and not the emperor...I agree that you couldn't have better relatives, since they know and respect what you desire.

[Bobby]

Merry Christmas book buddies....mugs of Wassail for all my friends...cheers!!

[Bryn]

Simona wrote: "Maybe it's because I meant Cesar, the dog trainer..."

Sorry, Simona (feels stupid) - that cultural ref shot straight over my head. Have not heard of him, but Caesar leapt to mind in this group.

The family get me nonfiction because it's less affordable but more a 'need' -- fiction, more 'fun', is easy to take care of myself. So I tend to get heavy, obscurely-titled academic tomes at Xmas and I assure them I'm thrilled, which is the truth. 'Anything that makes you happy, Bryn...'

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

happy wrote: "The best present my mother ever gave me was a book. As a toddler I appearently loved the "Tale of Peter Rabbit". The family legend is that I knew it so well, when mom was reading it to me, she co..."

It was my dad who did that. Not my mom. There was a huge library of books when I was a kid called the "Companion Library" two books to a volume. It was all classics like Black Beauty, The Prince and the Pauper, The Wizard of Oz etc. It was about 20 volumes - meaning about 40 individual books all told. I wanted it so badly, but was sure my parents couldn't afford it. My birthday came and I was so unhappy because it appeared my dad had forgotten my birthday. I was curled up on the window ledge crying when a big truck came down my drive. A man got out with a huge brown box, came to the door and asked if "Miss Margaret W.... lived here". Tears had all stopped as curiosity had overriden misery. I assured him that was me. He had a clip board & told me to sign here. He carried the box into the house, winked at mum, wished me a Happy Birthday and left. I tore the box open to find the entire library of books. I started crying again, except they were tears of happiness.

[Linda]

I should win the award for the oddest of random thoughts.

Why is a pronunciation guide not provided in encyclopedia entries?

[Anne]

I had several books as a child that i still remember. One was called, "Artie and the Princess" about a baby dragon who got lost and ended up at a castle. another was called "Myths and Enchantment Tales.' I must have read that 100 times. My parents always bought me the Caldecott winner each year, and I remember when "King of the Wind" by Marguerite Henry was the choice, another I have read many times. I LOVED getting books for gifts, even when I got older-hated getting clothes until my teens.

[Bobby]

I now remember my first book Uncle Wiggily and His Friends. My now 87 year old aunt gave it to me....I still have it with her inscription inside!!

[Anne]

Bobby wrote: "I now remember my first book Uncle Wiggily and His Friends. My now 87 year old aunt gave it to me....I still have it with her inscription inside!!"

OMG-I LOVED uncle Wiggly. I still remember the one where they had a dunking apple party and the bad Wolf(?) was tricked into grabbing a fake apple that was really a pin cushion and full of needles and pins. I still remember his tongue with all the stickies on it-LOL

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I am fairly sure the first book I can remember was,

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

[David]

Linda wrote: "I should win the award for the oddest of random thoughts....Why is a pronunciation guide not provided in encyclopedia entries?"

Totally random interpretation of the question:

Either, either. Neither, Neither.
Tomato, Tomato. Potato, Potato.

Ella and Louis. Enjoy. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2oEmP...

[Chris]

Terri wrote: "I am fairly sure the first book I can remember was,

The Tale of Peter Rabbit"

I don't know which of the books I remember was first, but that very edition of Peter Rabbit was the one I had as a child Terri. My parents always gave us at least one book for Christmas, probably to try and get at least some peace from two young boys, some of the ones I remember were annuals like and illustrated collections of fairytales.

[Mark]

I use to get the rupert bear annual every Christmas, and I still buy the older ones to fill the gaps in my collection.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Chris F wrote: "Terri wrote: "I am fairly sure the first book I can remember was,

The Tale of Peter Rabbit"

I don't know which of the books I remember was first, but t..."

Mine was that cover too. I had it for a long time. It was precious to me..and then in my early 20's some friends grubby little kid stole it off me and i never saw it again. :(
She better have liked it!

[Linda]

David Krae wrote: "Linda wrote: "I should win the award for the oddest of random thoughts....Why is a pronunciation guide not provided in encyclopedia entries?"

Totally random interpretation of the question:

Either..."

Now for the grand prize, name that tune!

[Linda]

THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER, my father's magazine, was my first. Next was the HOLY BIBLE. Finally, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, my older sister's first grade reader. My interest is piqued. Why didn't we have books in my childhood home? I must ask my mother..

[Dar B]

My first book was a big Mother Goose book with so many poems that I had it read to me hundreds of times between the ages of 2 and 5. I didn't learn to read until I went to first grade at 5, and then I had a difficult time learning- not sure why.

During the following summer, my dad worked with me to help me learn reading and math. They bought me some Little Golden books and my two favorites were Tawny Scrawny Lion and The Saggy Baggy Elephant. I went back to school that year starting in the lowest level reading group and moved up to the top one by the middle of the year! I loved reading and bought my first scholastc book that year as well, Caps for Sale.

[Marilee]

The only book I remember vividly from childhood, one I read constantly, was Robert Lewis Stevenson's A Garden of Verses. The edition I had was illustrated with wonderful watercolors, imaginative, yet realistic. I can still picture some in my mind's eye. One I particularly loved was The Land of Counterpane, which featured a child is confined to sickbed, playing with toys amongst the bed covers. There was just something about the imagery... I was a rather dreamy child, my mother told me.

The really funny thing is that as an adult, I don't really care to read poetry.

[Kate]

I remember a wonderful illustrated edition of the Robin Hood tales that my dad read aloud to me when I was little. Not the Disney version; a real medieval-language edition, very vivid. My dad wasn't really much of a reader - hence the scene of tears and weeping when my mom arrived home to find me crying my eyes out as my dad struggled through his own tears to get through the scene where Robin is laid to rest in Sherwood after being poisoned. Because my dad, not being a reader, hadn't known that Robin dies in the end.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Kate wrote: "I remember a wonderful illustrated edition of the Robin Hood tales that my dad read aloud to me when I was little. Not the Disney version; a real medieval-language edition, very vivid. My dad was..."

Ohh, Dad. :( The poor chap.

Nice story Kate. :-)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Those little Golden books were the greatest thing for young kids. So vibrantly coloured. I still own some of those from my childhood.

[Linda]

Darla V wrote: "My first book was a big Mother Goose book with so many poems that I had it read to me hundreds of times between the ages of 2 and 5. I didn't learn to read until I went to first grade at 5, and the..."

That is a good story. If your father had not taken the time to help you learn to read, your life might have been totally different. He loved you very much.

[Kate]

My dad was one of the rare people who wasn't a reader, but turned into one late in life. Largely because my mom and myself were such voracious readers and always gabbling about the latest books we loved. And the series that hooked him on fiction for good?

C.S. Forester's Hornblower series. He'd have liked this group's taste. :D

[happy]

As I've mentioned - Peter Rabbit, I really don't remember it that well though. The first thing I think I really remember Mom reading to us was Kipling's Just So Stories and The Jungle Books and the original versions of The Bobbsey Twins

[Dar B]

Marilee wrote: "The only book I remember vividly from childhood, one I read constantly, was Robert Lewis Stevenson's A Garden of Verses. The edition I had was illustrated with wonderful watercolors, imaginative, y..."

I had that in a little Golden Book form. Land of Counterpane was one of my favorites, too!

[Dar B]

Kate wrote: "I remember a wonderful illustrated edition of the Robin Hood tales that my dad read aloud to me when I was little. Not the Disney version; a real medieval-language edition, very vivid. My dad was..."

Too precious! I can imagine Mom taking it all in and probably starting to cry, herself.

[Dar B]

Linda wrote: "Darla V wrote: "My first book was a big Mother Goose book with so many poems that I had it read to me hundreds of times between the ages of 2 and 5. I didn't learn to read until I went to first gra..."

Linda, so very true. That year, second grade, I began getting mostly A's and developed a sense of confidence that I may never have had, otherwise. My best subjects became English and Math.

[Mark]

I can remember reading my mum's famous five books at my nan's, which led to reading the secret seven and the others Enid blyton wrote.

[Dawn]

I think it's time to say Merry Christmas to everyone.

Enjoy all the wonderful food and have fun with your families! I know I will be! :)

[Mark]

Merry Christmas everyone.

[Linda]

My grandson has dyslexia. Whether a restaurant menu or captions on the tv, he would quietly sidle up to me and whisper, "Read that for me."
At age twelve he got special help. We were eating out and I started reading the menu for him. He said, "Ninna, you don't have to read for me because now I can read for myself!

Darla, your story had such a positive ending.

[Anne]

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Wonderful New year.

[Bryn]

Merry Christmas from Australia, where it IS Christmas

[Lia]

Dear friends,
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year... enjoy the holiday...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Merry Christmas, Yule and everything else. :-) !!!

[Linda]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and all!

[Simona]

May your days be merry and bright...merry Xmas everybody.

[Tasha]

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays! :D

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I hate food. *lays back down on pillow*

(I have eaten too much and my tummy is huge. I think it will burst. It is Boxing Day here now, and I should not have raided Xmas leftover lollies after breakfast..I need to stop eating...at least for a few hours...errrrg)

[Tasha]

I don't seem to have that problem...at least this time around thankfully. ;)

[Leland]

Happy Holidays all! I hope you all are spending the day in the best way you like.