Random Thoughts Showing 15,701-15,750 of 17,689

[Linda]

It is still summer but the overnight temp fell into the 60's last night. Three nights ago we were in the mid 70's. Yesterday high made it into 70's. What is going on? That hurricane\ tropical depression is what is going on! My college football teams played in the 90's Saturday, and both teams won. My professional teams played in cooler weather on Sunday and both lost. I skipped Monday night football. The weather will normalize and get hot again--but fall is near and the song THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER will not get out of my head. It is strange that at our first highschool football game we wear shorts and use a funeral home fan to try and beat the heat. Then by the second night game, we wear a jacket and fans sort of snuggle to beat the chill. The coldest football game I ever attended was the 27th of December--the Liberty Bowl. Marguerite Piazza sang the anthem. It was so cold that we fans snuggled with friends and complete strangers in ways that bordered on the pornographic. The coffee froze on the way back from the concession stand. As you can tell, I am still stressed, but I feel better after unloading on you all. I am green with envy for those of you living in the southern hemisphere. I would like to hear how your weather is trending. p.s. Marguerite Piazza is a famous opera singer who lived in Memphis, Tennessee. I think she has passed on.

[Linda]

I have one thing more to tell you, and then perhaps my stress will disappear and I can read my Colin Falconer book. Last Friday our air conditioner broke and this house heated up like a tin can in the Arizona desert We had 'twenty fans a'turnin' because we were 'a'burnin' up!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh boy, I sure do know that feeling of wanting to eat myself out of house and home when I am stressed. lol. I fight it, but I do find it hard to resist the chocolate. :)

[Laureen]

Terri wrote: "Oh boy, I sure do know that feeling of wanting to eat myself out of house and home when I am stressed. lol. I fight it, but I do find it hard to resist the chocolate. :)"

Smoking was my dirty secret to stress. I finally kicked the habit 3 years ago after many tries. I have put on 3 dress sizes since. Chocolate is so nice.

[happy]

To any of our members who are in the path of Florence - stay safe and hope you are on high ground!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri won't be on for a few days, guys. Her husband is in hospital. She's got more to worry about than us.

[Marilyn]

Oh, dear! Sending best wishes and good cheer.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Got the message when I came online this morning. I wasn't on yesterday, I had doctor's appointments. Got a hell of a shock. Her husband is a really nice bloke. I've texted her to check on both her and him.

[Mark]

Margaret wrote: "Terri won't be on for a few days, guys. Her husband is in hospital. She's got more to worry about than us."

Send our best to the both of them.

[May]

Margaret wrote: "Terri won't be on for a few days, guys. Her husband is in hospital. She's got more to worry about than us."

Dear Lawd, Terri has had a tough year. Please add my hugs and prayers to the group message.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Terri's husband is getting out of hospital lunch-time today. So good news for them both.

[Marilyn]

Oh, that’s good news!

[happy]

Dang - If not for bad luck, I don't think Terri would have any luck at all!

She and hers are in my thoughts a prayers

[Adrian]

The way the universe keeps picking on folks who don't deserve it is clear evidence of the non-existence of god. Or if he does exist he's a mean sprite who deserves not our devotion.

In other news, I had an excellent morning at Erina library with an appreciative audience. Was told I should be a lecturer on medieval history, which rather made my day.

[Ace]

Adrian wrote: "The way the universe keeps picking on folks who don't deserve it is clear evidence of the non-existence of god. Or if he does exist he's a mean sprite who deserves not our devotion.
..."

Bit harsh Adrian, there are believers here who have strong faith.

[Andy]

Thanks for the update Margaret :) Good to hear he's on the mend. Pls pass on my best wishes to them both

[Allison]

That girl cannot catch a break!!!

Hoping it isn’t something serious!

[Allison]

Commented before seeing Margaret’s update.

Yay!! Good thoughts going out into the universe for you, Terry!

[Dawn]

Adrian wrote: "The way the universe keeps picking on folks who don't deserve it is clear evidence of the non-existence of god. Or if he does exist he's a mean sprite who deserves not our devotion...."

Or maybe he doesn't involve himself as closely in our lives as we would like to believe.
We are free beings with free-will and we live in a world of those same people.

Maybe he let's us live our lives and live in our environment and deal with what happens because he knows we can??
Instead of being a helicopter parent??

[Adrian]

Maybe...

Well, we can all send best wishes in our own way.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

I've passed the good wishes on. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Hi everyone,
I haven't had a chance to read through everyone's posts. I know a bunch of you are wishing me and hubby well as Margaret was kind enough to pass on word from you all.

Hubby has been off work for 3 weeks. And I have not wanted to have my face glued to a screen while he's home, mostly because he's been through a tough time. I do check facebook daily (it's where I keep track of the stud cattle world as it is currently bull selling season! Lol) but anymore internet time than that would have me too often on my Tablet.

I miss everyone. I miss books. I miss talking books with others.

Be back active in A&M once hubby returns to work next week.

I'll run a quick group read poll when I'm back among you then too.

All the best,
Terri

[happy]

Terri,

Good to hear things are looking up

Best wishes and I hope things continue in the right direction!

Margaret has kept us all in line :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

*cracks whip* Yeah!

[May]

Good to hear that things are looking up!!

Looking forward to your updates & polls!!
May

[Jane]

Glad hubby will be home in a few days!!!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Thanks everyone. :)

I'm easing quietly back into the runnings of A&M. Hubby went back to work this week but not everything has been smooth with that.

He has to have an operation soon to deal with his health problem and then he should be back to a normal healthy 40 year old!

Thanks to all of you for staying active in group and not relying on me only to keep discussion going. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.

See you around group!!!!

[Tamara]

We visited our son in St. Louis over the weekend. I've told him how enthusiastic many of you are about Bernard Cornwell and mentioned I'd like to read one of his books one day to see what all the excitement is about.

Lo and behold! When we arrived, he surprised me with a brand new copy of The Last Kingdom. I raised the boy well :)

Uhtred, I'm on my way! I just have to take a short detour and finish reading a couple of library books first.

[happy]

ENJOY!!!! IMHO, Mr. Cornwell rarely disappoints :D

We are well into fall, snow on the tops of the mountains and all. I'm channeling my inner 5 year old as I walk through the leaves while taking the dogs for there daily walk. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Ah! What a delight for you, Tamara! Give your son a pat on the back from me. What a top bloke to buy you your first Uhtred book.

When I first read The Last Kingdom I wasn't madly in love with it. I really liked it, but didn't really love it. That came with book two.
Then I read it again some years later and loved it because I came to it with the eyes of someone who had read six more books in the series at that stage.

Considering how much you appreciate Robert Low's Oathsworn series, Tamara, I think you may be compatible with the books. But you never know....

Oathsworn series for those who live under rocks and have never heard me speak of it.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4231...

[Tamara]

Terri wrote: "Ah! What a delight for you, Tamara! Give your son a pat on the back from me. What a top bloke to buy you your first Uhtred book.

When I first read The Last Kingdom I wasn't madly in love with it. ..."

Thanks! I'm excited to get to Uhtred.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I think this is the first year in the 10 year history of the Goodreads Choice Awards that I am not going to vote for a single book in any category.

The historical fiction are all too modern for me, being that they are all modern history. The History Non Fiction has nothing that I have or would read. Cookbooks, surprisingly, not a single book I knew of nor any that I would read or use.

So, no voting for me this year.

[Allison]

I’ve heard several complaints that a ton of books aren’t even out this year yet!!!

[Jane]

How or who chooses these in the first place?

[Bobby]

I did vote for because one of our good friends’ daughter wrote it. But I agree, didn’t recognize or relate to many!

[Andy]

:D Historical fiction section always makes me laugh, so biased towards female authors I have to say 12/15 this year & the token male authors stories aren't really for a male audience.

BUT....... Ohhhhh I got to vote for summit in Fantasy section Brian McClellan & his flintlock fantasy series. (kinda French revolution & Napoleonic era with magic really)

[Jane]

Historical fiction: Hammer of Rome
Fantasy: The Queens of Innis Lear
mystery: The Widows of Malabar Hill

The first 2 are write-ins. Oh, I'm sure they will go nowhere.
The last one was one of GR's choices.
I saw nothing else of interest to me.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Andy wrote: ":D Historical fiction section always makes me laugh, so biased towards female authors I have to say 12/15 this year & the token male authors stories aren't really for a male audience.

BUT....... O..."

Biased towards female readers, mate, not just towards female authors.
I know that the majority of readers are female and the majority of historical fiction is bought by women, but I do feel that men get forgotten.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I think they base it on how often the books are added to 'want to read' lists. Maybe also the 'read' lists, don't know about that one.

I also think that books like those in the hist fic category get there because they are the kind of books that appeal to all readers of fiction, not just the hist fic reader. They are a lot more marketable.

Chick lit historical fiction. Not my type of hist fic at ALL.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "I think they base it on how often the books are added to 'want to read' lists. Maybe also the 'read' lists, don't know about that one.

I also think that books like those in the hist fic category g..."

Agreed! And I try to stay clear of "bestsellers". Some I consider potboilers. I try to avoid books set in the present. I think it may be all of these things plus high ratings.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I always seemed let down by these 'bestsellers' when I used to read a bit of contemporary fiction. Much ado about nothing in a lot of cases.

[Bobby]

Soooo....got a full right knee replacement last Friday! All those years of soccer finally caught up with me. Lots of reading time on the horizon. Many of my friends warned me about how much pain I would have but I'm up walking sans the walker with very little discomfort. Probably should have done this long ago.

[Allison]

Glad you are doing so well, Bobby!!
Make someone keep handing you books one right after the other ;)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Great to hear you healing so well, Bobby. Those knee operations can really change lives.
I keep trying to convince my Mum to get one. She hobbles around, struggles to get in and out of a car. It could all change if she just did the operation.
Her best friend just had one and I am hoping that this will make her see how much better things can be.

[Mark]

Get well soon Bobby.

[Sherry]

Bobby wrote: "Soooo....got a full right knee replacement last Friday! All those years of soccer finally caught up with me. Lots of reading time on the horizon. Many of my friends warned me about how much pain I ..."

Bobby, thanks for the positive comments! I'm due for a new knee on Monday and feeling a tad apprehensive about the surgery. It's great to hear that things went so well for you.

[Tamara]

Sherry wrote: "Bobby, thanks for the positive comments! I'm due for a new knee on Monday and feeling a tad apprehensive about the surgery. It's great to hear that things went so well for you. .."

Good luck with your knee surgery, Sherry. I hope it all goes well.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good luck, Sherry. You'll be in and out of hospital in no time.

Just think of the positive life on the other side of it all. Don't think of the time in between.

[Jane]

Sherry wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Soooo....got a full right knee replacement last Friday! All those years of soccer finally caught up with me. Lots of reading time on the horizon. Many of my friends warned me about ho..."

My husband had both knees replaced at the same time several years ago, and all has gone well for him after it was done, Sherry, and they've probably improved technique since he had it done.

[Andy]

Always gotta look after the joints & I'll add the back to that as well, such an improvement in quality of life once you get these niggles fixed, its always amazing how bad some folk let things deteriorate which can effect their overall health. Good luck to all those taking the plunge & to those that are hesitating consider this your "shake" to get yerself fixed! :)