The Next Best Book Club discussion
Non-Book Related Banter
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Need to rant?
At your NECK? Ummmmm... Does is have anything to do with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTxxnq... ??EDIT: Did I mention that Meg Cabot is a hypochondriac???
KristenR wrote: "I need to rant about my husband.He's turning 30 this month, and I've been planning a surprise for him. A few of his closest friends are going to pick him up the Friday before his birthday and t..."
In those cases I try really hard to think that I am doing it because I want to do it and not because he would like it.
fiona yesterday I tohught about you at work. A girl had an accident a bit ago and has problems with her back. they gave her something to put around her body with a little round thing on th eback. whenever she wouldn't sit straight up you would hear a sound like a little bird. you can wear it under your clothes.
*snorts* That's awesome! I'd settle for dinner and a movie... I don't need any more jewelry... :)
Rachel,That sounds like a plan....My birthday is in April, so after this surprise happens and he knows that I was planning it all along, then I can get a kick-ass present!
Sara....."I don't need any more jewelry" I don't understand....you can't put those words in the same sentence...can you?
Perhaps you could hit him up for a trip to the bookstore?
Personally, I hate surprises.
KristenR wrote: "Sara....."I don't need any more jewelry" I don't understand....you can't put those words in the same sentence...can you?"I don't wear a lot of jewelry... and I don't wear half the jewelry I have! Plus, as much as I love to buy books and clothes, I'm quite thrify when it comes to large purchases that really aren't necessary.
I won't have a touch-screen cell phone until that's all there is available... I don't buy myself purses or shoes very often (don't worry--it's mostly because my mom is a purse/shoe whore, and buys me plenty)... and I usually buy movies in the $5.00 bin at Walmart (I got Sleepless in Seattle today!). Jewelry is one of those expensive things that I can't justify spending a portion of my meager salary on. I'm just weird like that.
Maybe when my stinking husband gets out of Vet School and gets a job, things will change...
Rachel, because of you, I'm naming my ScriptFrenzy character Vashti! It's perfect! :D
Me too, it fits who I think my character is, so it's absolutely perfect. :) Thanks!
Fiona wrote: "Gah!I'm eating away at my dinner, and my mum comes in wanting to clean up and then complains when I don't eat it all. Well, how can I eat it all if she's bearing down on me wanting to take it awa..."
When people ask me how I got on with my parents as a teenager I explain that when I was 18 I not only left home but moved 3,000 miles away.
They live close by now and although my mother occasionally pulls some cr*p she knows that if she wants to see the grandchildren .......
Rachel wrote: "I do too. I have never met anyone with it as a first name, but I think it would be a beautiful name for a girl."When I first started with my company, my direct supervisor's name was Vashti. It fit her perfectly.
Fiona wrote: "Sounds... like some strange torture device to me!"it doesn't hrut or anything jsut makes a sound so she sits straight again.
Can I rant about the RETARDS who don't turn their headlights on during times of inclement weather? It was POURING RAIN today, and half the idiots out driving are camouflaged due to their inability to turn their freaking lights on! If the road is gray and the sky is gray and your car is gray, we're going to need a LITTLE more help, thanks! If you don't know how to use your lights properly, paint your car a NEON color!! Idiots!
Sara, I hate that too! People in my area do that all the time, and I think it's actually a state law here. And, not only do they not use their lights, but they drive as if at any second their car is going to go careening off of a cliff or something... So they drive 4 1/2 MPH, I'm guessing so that they can jump out before they reach the cliff edge.
Becky wrote: "Sara, I hate that too! People in my area do that all the time, and I think it's actually a state law here. And, not only do they not use their lights, but they drive as if at any second their car is going to go careening off of a cliff or something... So they drive 4 1/2 MPH, I'm guessing so that they can jump out before they reach the cliff edge."Oh no, no. It's the opposite here. Everyone drives these massive 4-wheel-drive trucks, so they think they're invincible. So they drive really fast wrecklessly in the rain (whereas I usually slow down to only 2-3 over the speed limit, as opposed to my normal 10), because they think their trucks can handle it. And I'm like... "Uhhh.. guys? When it rains, the friction factor of the asphalt goes WAAAAAYYY DOWN! And STOP RIDING MY BUMPER!!"
Did I mention that there is nothing that pisses me off faster than someone riding my bumper? I get this road-rageous prompting to slam on my breaks when people do it. I try really hard not to, though...
Haha! No, people here drive like they suddenly forgot how any time there is a raindrop within 10 miles. That's the only time though - they drive like maniacs every other time, even blizzard conditions!
Becky wrote: "Haha! No, people here drive like they suddenly forgot how any time there is a raindrop within 10 miles. That's the only time though - they drive like maniacs every other time, even blizzard conditi..."It's the same here. We don't get weather very often, but even a light mist, and Southern Californians think they will melt like the Wicked Witch of the West. It's ridiculous!
I hate when stupid idiots come on a group based on books and reading, spams their crap, and accuses us of not reading! Ahh! I can't take it I just want to let out a torrent of curse words but I know we do not curse in this group. In other words, it's been a long night at work.
This time of year always gets me so angry. Let me preface this by saying that while there are so many Americans that are like "Oh, I'm Irish!" I actually am. My dad's parents both immigrated from Ireland which makes me half-Irish (My mother's family is actually from Sweden which makes me a half-breed haha...Irish/Swedish ancestry, weird, no? But I digress...) I think it's a travesty that a national religious holiday has been turned into a sad excuse to drink green beer and get plastered. My dad's family celebrates St. Patrick's day but it's a very quiet family affair. And it's always religious in tone, they're very strong catholics. I know the whole tone of the holiday here really upsets my grandfather. It's just stupid Americans perpetuating stupid stereotypes about how drunk Irish people are all the time, and that go around ranting, "Oh, I'm Irish for the day!" Ugh. Temporary nationality to rationalize debauchery is no way to celebrate someone else's ancestry.
Katie, I'll agree with your rant, but for a different reason. Why would people pretend to be something they aren't? What's wrong with who they are? To say nothing of the fact that I have Protestant Irish roots. ;)
Katie, If you're a half-breed, then I'm a mutt. I'm part Irish, and Scottish, and Swedish, and Dutch... And Hawaiian and Native American... and those are just the ones I know of. :)I do agree with you about St. Patty's day. I'm not a religious person, or even really a traditional person (our Thanksgiving dinner last year was lemon and dill trout!), but I do hate when people FORGET what holidays are supposed to be about and just use them as an excuse to party and make a fool of themselves.
Like I said, I'm not a religious person, but I do celebrate Christmas, and I keep in mind the spirit of the holiday even though I don't necessarily subscribe to the belief behind it. It's not just an excuse to get presents, just as St. Patrick's Day shouldn't just be an excuse to get plastered!
I hate to sound ridiculously ignorant, but I'm not Catholic.... I didn't realized until just now that St. Patrick's Day was a religious holiday. (It makes sense, as it's named for a Saint, but I never put the two together.) Are there traditions associated with it? Eating certain foods? Saying special prayers? Is there a special St. Patrick's Day Mass? Just curious...I don't drink, so I don't think of St. Patrick's Day as a day to get plastered... To me, it's just a day to wear green (or else people pinch you!) and dye your food green. But I think you're right--most Americans treat the day lightly. BUT, I think that's out of ignorance. Like I said--I had no idea it was a serious religious holiday, and I don't know about other Americans, but I imagine the general population is the same way.
Oh, also: I don't pretend to be Irish. My last name is Ferrell (which, I believe at some point was O'Ferrell, although probably not spelled like that)... but (1) that's my HUSBAND's last name, and (2) that's so far back, it HARDLY counts anymore.
I think it's the green stuff that bothers me. If you're Protestant Irish, you're Orange.
I have IRish blood on my father's side. Personally I dont care about St. Patrick's day one way or another. I think drinking that much is insane anyways. I don't get New Year's either. Yes it originally was a religious holiday. i personally dont think there is anything wrong with celebrating the culture and having corned beef and cabbage etc.. Even having a bit of brew. But I hate overindulgence for any reason. I have no personal desire to celebrate the conversion of people to another religion. But for those who see it as a good thing, more power to them. As for christmas, I celebrate it for my family and friends because it is what THEY celebrate. I celebrate the solstice myself. Americans commercialize everything its true. I think most holidays are silly, BUT if people enjoy them in a HARMLESS way, more power to them. My personal favorite holiday is Halloween, on many different levels. We all could get insulted about a zillion things if we worry about what everyone else is doing. I think the important thing is that a person celebrate what gives meaning to their life in a personally satisfying way as long as it harms none. We are all different and that is one of the greatest things about this world
Sorry about the green stuff, but I'm not protestant Irish either, so orange is right out. We Americans like to dress in colors, you know? Whether it's to support our local sports team or for a holiday or season. We had a Breast Cancer Awareness day last month (not sure if this was local or state-wide or national or global), and everyone was supposed to wear red. (And if you did, you got to wear jeans on a non-casual day!) The green thing... To me, it's just a way to remember Ireland, 4-leaved clovers, and leprechauns. It's just meant to be cute and lucky, as far as I know. I know no one is trying to cause offense.
Ugh, so I'm in college now. Today this dumb idiot sits next to me in lecture (we had a test) and whips out her waterbottle which clearly had beer in it and unfortunately the professor didn't even notice. Before that, two plastered girls walked into my most favorite class and interrupted pretty much the best prof on campus with their stupidness. I mean, my prof was giving a fantastic lecture on the Durham Cathedral and CUTHBERT! However, that being said, I'm moderately young (21) and if I didn't have work I would probably be out partying with my friends but it's fine cuz it's just me, Gemma Doyle and the person I'm supervising.
Katie wrote: "This time of year always gets me so angry. Let me preface this by saying that while there are so many Americans that are like "Oh, I'm Irish!" I actually am. My dad's parents both immigrated from..."Katie, I am living in Dublin since November and I am not Irish. so yesterday we went to watch the parade but had said before arriving we wouldn't buy like one of the funny hats with Irish colours. But when we came in the city centre and saw how the Irish were enjoying their day together with all the foreigners and how nice everything was we both put on one of those hats too. But jsut to join the fun and not to celebrate really the day because I am not Irish. i can tell you that till a bit after the parade finsihed people weren't drinking, weren't fighting or shouting...it was so great to experience a day like St patrick's day in this way. i was afraid it would be like in London but completely different. Okay later in the evening they did go and drink but mainly younger people.many came with their family to celebrate and after the parade they went back home or went to eat something. It was nice to see. But I also didn't feel okay celebrating a day that wasn't truly mine.
Sara wrote: "I hate to sound ridiculously ignorant, but I'm not Catholic.... I didn't realized until just now that St. Patrick's Day was a religious holiday. (It makes sense, as it's named for a Saint, but I ..."sara, yesterday we tried to fins out if they did a mass after the parade or before but don't know. the parade did finish at St patrick's church but I heard the bells of the nearby christ church...I expect them to have done a Mass in the morning...
Sara wrote: "Sorry about the green stuff, but I'm not protestant Irish either, so orange is right out. We Americans like to dress in colors, you know? Whether it's to support our local sports team or for a ho..."we sometimes make fun of the green because it is really everywhere, like the mail boxes for isntances, many people dressing in green on normal days...
Jeane- That sounds so great! I have always wanted to go to Ireland, we have a lot of family there but we've just never had the money to go. Yeah, I think it's awesome to celebrate St. Patrick's day even if you're not Irish. My problem is mainly with the ridiculous amount of alcohol consumption. It sounds like the parade there was fun and just really celebrating the day. Over here, like in New York and Boston, it's just a cesspool for really gross people to get plastered and have an excuse to be publicly drunk. My friend went one year and she said it was disgusting. That's my real problem with St. Patty's Day in America. Other than that I do think it's good fun.
Katie wrote: "Jeane- That sounds so great! I have always wanted to go to Ireland, we have a lot of family there but we've just never had the money to go. Yeah, I think it's awesome to celebrate St. Patrick's d..."katie myabe half an hour later we went back home and a bit later some people were drinking again too much but you can expect that even if I don't agree with it. There were problems because of the alcohon but not like in England. Dublin centre is also not very big. I did enjoy it and for once it was such a nice sunny weather...which seems to continue this week.
Hi, Katie, my mom is Irish/Swedish too.
So what's the next work holiday coming up? Good Friday? Have I mentioned lately how much I love Catholics?? :) Y'all rock!
Good Friday is actually a very big deal in my area.Chimayo, New Mexico has a miracle church (Spanish Catholic) built about 300 years ago. People go there to to become healed from various crippling infirmaties.
Also, for almost that same length of time people have made walking pilgrimages from all over New Mexico (sometimes as much as 200 miles) to this shrine, usually with the intent of arriving on Good Friday. So for all of Holy Week the roads around my town are crowded with walking pilgrims. And on Good Friday itself there is no way to drive out of the village because of all the walking devotees.
My boss always knows I will not be in to work on Good Friday.
I was born and raised Catholic(Cajun French, not Spanish Catholic); but no longer consider myself specifically a Catholic nor a christian. But I respect the spiritual devotion that Good Friday and the Chimayo shrine encourages among the folks here in northern New Mexico.
Also, folks don't drink during Holy Week. And there is a very special (sacred really) mood about during Holy Week that is almost impossible not to feel.
Can you explain what Good Friday is all about so that we can all have a better understanding? It's a day to remember that Jesus died for us, correct? I guess we just focus on Easter--on the Resurrection rather than the Crucifixion in our church.
Good Friday was the day he actually died. He rose again 3 days later-Easter Sunday.
Not just Catholics observe Good Friday. I'm Lutheran and we have special services all pre-Easter week as well. :) We also mark/ observe the beginning of Lent including Ash Wednesday, (and the Lenten weeks to follow).
I can't imagine a Christian church of any kind that didn't have something going on Good Friday. There would be no point to Easter without Good Friday.
I can, since I belong to one. Obviously Christ couldn't have risen from the dead if he hadn't died, but we still only celebrate Easter. Like I said before: we focus on the fact that Christ overcame death, not his death itself.
Hey--I'm curious.... When you block a person on goodreads, what does that do, exactly?
Can they tell if you've blocked them?
Only if they've tried to look at it before, I guess... Hmmm... intriguing...Anyway. I'm sad that Spring Break is over. It's been really nice having my husband home. He's always at school and studying and all that jazz. Only 2 more years....
Well, Fiona, it looks like Sylvester ate Tweety Pie. ;)
It's not really a rant. I'm not angry or anything, but the company I work for is cutting back, due to the economy and over 400 of us will be without employment beginning May 31st. It is a bit scary, but not as scary for me as some. I'm more concerned for a lot of others. It's definitely the pits!! :(
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no...there's nothing in particular going on that night. It's funny, I don't know if I would be so upset if I hadn't planned it for him already. He took all the excitement out of it for me.