The Next Best Book Club discussion
Non-Book Related Banter
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Need to rant?
Did you hurt yourself, or is it from straining over those wascally wabbits? Have you tried a heat pad?
I've discovered that the overhead light in my bedroom gives me headaches. This is not cool because the only other lights in the room are a small reading lamp by the bed, or a floor lamp on the other side of the room. Maybe I just need to get new or different bulbs. Hmmm...
Are they cool or warm lights, do you know? I can't see as well in warm light, but cool light, after a while, gives me a headache. Maybe you could move the floor lamp closer to the bed?
Becky wrote: "I've discovered that the overhead light in my bedroom gives me headaches. This is not cool because the only other lights in the room are a small reading lamp by the bed, or a floor lamp on the othe..."Backy I used to ahve that too when I was a child so I got one of those lights ot stand in the room that you can decide how much light you want. It really helps.
Kandice wrote: "Did you hurt yourself, or is it from straining over those wascally wabbits? Have you tried a heat pad?"Kandice, Fiona probably sat again too lomg at the computer and not straight with her body completely in a not good position....
I suppose its a warm light, not the white fluorescent light. But it is one of those CFLs and there is only one when there should be two, so it gives off this kind of weak, pitiful light. I have been using the floor lamp by my bed (which is the kind where you can choose the light level) more often, but then last night I was lazy and didn't feel like walking all the way over to turn it on, so I just used the overhead light. After a while, I started feeling crappy, and got this sinusy-migrainy-headachy feeling behind my eyes. No fun.
I think that I am either going to have to move the lamp, or buy new bulbs for the overhead light. I think I'll just move the lamp to the other side of the bed (right now its on my boyfriend's side) so that I can use it instead.
I read in bed mostly, and I like a lot of light when I read, but I don't like it right in my face, so the lamp would be good.
Why should turning on a light be such a tough decision?? Jeez!
I like tons of light, but I like it to come from behind, not in front of me. My husband laughs that reading is such a process! He just doesn't understand.
Saved By Grace wrote: "Kandice, I like to read that way too! I like to write with light a certain way as well, with the beam going to my right and not too bright; just so, so that I can see my mech. pencil's shadow and s..."I thought I was a bit crazy because I HATE the shadow of whatever I am writing with to fall over my written words. Glad to know I am not alone.
There are lots of power outtages on the island so I started to read with my cell phone's flashlight balanced on my chest and liked it so much that I quite often read like that in bed. It just illuminates the page I'm reading and nothing else and for some reason or other the likes it too and cuddles up closer which is very nice.
Petra X wrote: "There are lots of power outtages on the island so I started to read with my cell phone's flashlight balanced on my chest and liked it so much that I quite often read like that in bed. It just illum..."That's too funny! I have one of those book lights shaped like a goose that peeps over the top of your books. I used to sneak read in bed as a child with one, so it always makes me feel naughty to use it.
Fiona wrote: "WHy can't I ever go to bed at a decent time? 4 am and I must go."Good night and pleasant dreams, dear.
Fiona, maybe you did while falling with your head on the keyboard while you should have been in bed!!!!
Fiona, that's been happening a lot lately apparently. There's at least 2 threads about that going on in the GR Feedback group.
Sweet dreams, belatedly, Fiona. (when you see this tommorrow, you'll know I wished them for you)Both of my sons, who I took to see Jeff Dunham Friday night, (and both bought t-shirts)show up, now, 10:40 asking if the new t-shirts they wore BOTH Saturday and Sunday are clean, so they can wear them tommorrow to school. Now, I ask you, since I only got home at 6:45 p.m., and left at 8:30 a.m., when did I have time to wash them?
Being the sap I am, I am washing them as I type! I'll toss them in the dryer before I go to bed, and iron them in the morning. How, oh how, does motherhood make us such doormats???? It's those great big blue eyes frantic at the idea of waiting, even one extra day, to show off their swag! (plus I really had a good time, so sort of understand)
Kandice wrote: "Sweet dreams, belatedly, Fiona. (when you see this tommorrow, you'll know I wished them for you)Both of my sons, who I took to see Jeff Dunham Friday night, (and both bought t-shirts)show up,..."
What a mummy love:-))))
I had no idea you could quit at 16! That's right at the age I would bet a lot of kids WANT to quit. Sorry, but I think that's silly. I definitely feel for you on the school situation. I am super lucky as far as that goes. We ARE NOT rich, but completely lucked into a house in a rich style neighborhood. There are 4 elementary (grades K-5) schools within walking distance, and all 4 have less than 1000 children. We also have 2 middleschools (grades 6-8) to choose from. They all offer GATE (Gifted and Talented education) programs for the kids that qualify.
Where we aren't so lucky is High School (grades 9-12). The two we should send our kids to are awful. No college prep classes. No arts and entertainment classes, really, really basic with lots of shop and wood classes.
My children have all been lucky enough to qualify for GATE, so I drive my oldest who is in 9th grade pretty far to a school where he can take college prep classes. He qualified to take Media which is only offerred in a few highschools and counts as college credit. I don't mind the drive and thankful everyday we only have to do it once they reach Highschool age.
On the other hand, my sister-in-law's children go to schools that are so overcrowded the libraries were removed to make more classrooms. There are 42 kids in elementary classes and up to 60 in Highschool classes. There are so many children they have 4 lunch periods to accomodate them all, so you could eat lunch as early as 2 hours after you get to school, or 1 hour before you go home.
I think the WORLD's school systems are really wacked, and how can we expect our youth to make our world a better place when we scrimp on educating them?
Kandice wrote: "I had no idea you could quit at 16! That's right at the age I would bet a lot of kids WANT to quit. Sorry, but I think that's silly."Kandice, perhaps the reasons behind the allowable leaving (not quitting) age would help you understand?
In the UK, children start school at 4 years of age, so they have the same years of schooling at 16 as North Americans at 18.
The concept of early leaving (it used to be 14) is based on apprenticeship education. Unlike the short term qualifying courses in North America, apprenticing reguires years of guided training for certification. The apprentice receives a stipend which allows them to focus on their training, rewards them for their progress and allows them to become expert in their chosen field. It works!
In belgium, if I am correct, we start kindergarden at 3 and finish school at 18 (or the year you become 18) and I think it is very good like that.
Jeane, as there are myriad levels of national and local bureaucracy in Belgium, the state school system can seem confusing. The compulsory school age in Belgium is 6-18 years, though they may be accepted at five if they are deemed ready. At age 16, pupils can study part-time if they wish.
I started school in kindergarten at 5 and finished when I was 17 --but that's only because I left public school and homeschooled myself for 2 years, otherwise I'd have been in for another year.
I agree Fiona! Plus, flares, or bell bottoms, have the added advantage (for us lassies) of making our legs look thinner. I am always looking for thinner!!!!
M.C. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how critical that sounded. I did not mean to offend. I actually started nursery school at 3 1/2 and finished up at 17. I just meant that, since my son is almost 16, I know tons of kids that age, and if given the choice, I think quite a few of them would quit! Not mine, thank goodness. It just seems that after the 16 hump, they seem to realize the value of an education a little more than they do during the golden rush of hormones and fresh drivers licenses! Please forgive. ;)
Rachel wrote: "My daughter started school when she was 4, and most of the kids in our school district start at 5 (6 if they miss the cut off).But I actually have a rant of my own. What is up with all of the pe..."
Obviously, I am not very well informed. What the heck is all this decapitation? I haven't heard of any of these!!!! Perhaps I've lost MY head???
I must really bury my head in the sand, because all this is making me tearful! I don't want to know. (I'm still going to click on the link so I am not completely uninformed)
That Canada bus attack was gross. I remember hearing about it last year. I just heard about the VA Tech attack. It's just so sad because it the same school where they had the shootings two years back. It's such a bad reputation for the school.
Kandice, no offense taken so please, no worries! There are differences in schooling in other countries and it often helps to know why...so not everyone believes we're all going to hell in a hand basket!Schooling the UK is different, even though you may recognise some of the terms. Nursery school can begin at age 3 but always by age 4, and is compulsory to 16. Whereas the formal education in the US is generally mandatory from age 5/6 to 16, varying slightly by state.
Your school education is divided into ‘grades’, and US grades K (Kindergarten) - 12 correspond to 'Years' 1 - 13 in the UK. (Year 1 beginning at age 3 or 4.)
You'll never get a high school diploma in the UK! A diploma is awarded upon completion of high school in the US but in the UK, you achieve qualifications (O and A levels).
And as the minimum driving age is 17 in Britain, no turning 16 with a DL :)
Some British schools reverted to exams based on O levels after 1988, they are still used in many former British colonies and O-levels continue to thrive as well respected international qualifications for students in other countries. Cambridge still offers O levels for International Examinations.
Haha, it would be rather inconvenient to be a graduate but still have to go to school anyway. Good thing they write in those provisions, huh? Heh.
Your dad is a wise, wise man, Rachel! He is absolutely correct. New Rant: I hate doing dishes. Why does it seem like no matter how often you do them, they are ALL dirty at once?!? I swear I have a little troll in my house whose only function is to make sure I have no clean dishes.
This alcohol is going to my blood stream pretty fast. End rant.
I actually enjoy washing dishes. We re-did our kitchen 2 years ago and I elected NOT to have a dishwasher. I think it's relaxing to be in the warm sudsy water. Plus, I get soap that smells nice. I do NOT dry dishes. Yuck. I let them drain.
I don't like using paper plates or plastic stuff... they are bad for the environment. So it feels like I am always doing dishes. Kandice, you are crazy for not wanting a dishwasher. If I could find a place to put one in my apartment, I'd buy one. Even one of those little portable ones would do, but I have NO room at all anywhere near any plumbing. Not even in the bathroom.
My mother HATES doing dishes. Not only does she have the built in dishwasher in her kitchen. she has one of those stand alone ones in her mud room. She puts only dishes in the kitchen, pots, pans and others in the mud room one! I'm not joking when I say I enjoy it. I never even ask the kids to help, unless they are interested in drying. It just feels like a nice quiet, relaxing time all by myself. I would wash yours Becky, if accessible ;)
On the CEILING? And I am the weird one?!!!!I'd wash yours too, though!
At least you ARE vigorously scrubbing! I hate to find a dish with anything on it. I mean that is supposed to be clean! And once it's dried on there...blech!
I hate all forms of domestic work. I'd rather do accounts than dishes.
I hate accounts. I don't mind the domestic chores, I just wish there was a bit more appreciation for doing them! I think my whole family believes there are fairies, brownies, fornits, whatever, that sneak in the night... and VOILA! Clean house! Ummmm, I AM the FREAKIN' fornits!
It's just a law of physics or something! I had every intention of finishing mu book last night, but there was one forgotten thing after another (from my children) until it was waaay past their bedtime, and I was too tired to finish. Almost, though, so this morning for sure!You could put a sign on the top of your head. DO NOT DISTURB-ABSORBED
This is a guilty rant, as it's none of my business. A family on our block recently added on to their house. It is now HUGE, I mean way bigger than any other house on the street, but beautiful. My complaint is the color! The bulk of the house has been painted for a bit, but there are bits of wood siding that have only been primed. When I got home last night it was dark, but this morning, on the drive to schools, I saw the color they had it painted yesterday. The bulk is a lovely shade of moss green. The siding is... PINK! I am not joking. A shade that will probably stop traffic. Why? Sort of Pepto Bismal meets Piglet. What reason could there be?
It took me months to decide what color to paint my house, and I certainly took in to consideration what others would think! I am just going to avert my eyes as I drive by and hope there's nothing on that side of the street that requires my attention.Fiona-YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE READING!!!!
I don't have a house but if I did I would take other people's thoughts into consideration. Especially in a big house...that's a lot of color. I have seen Barney purple houses and Flamingo pink houses. They certainly brighten up the neighborhoods :-)
Fiona wrote: "The McCann parents made a stupid mistake but I don't think anyone suffered as much as they did. All news is sad. If I ran a newspaper I'd love to just have a headline saying:
THE WORLD ISN'T THA..."
Great idea Fiona! A couple of days ago my boyfriend was going to tell me something that was in an online newspaper and I asked him first if there was something else than....(and I gave some topics). I hadn't seen any news in whatever form those days but as always it was all the same like the other days...
The Next Best Book Club
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Empire Falls (other topics)Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (other topics)
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I Capture the Castle (other topics)
Wild Cat (other topics)
My lawyer friend said to give them $500 nuisance money as it would then cost them more to sue for the rest than they could get back as they would have to sue me in Florida and then get the courts on the island to enforce it. I don't think they deserve a damn thing. Since my lawyer friend is a $500+ an hour lawyer though I am going to take his advice!
That rant does not illustrate how damn effingfuckingbastardkickingspitting angry I really am though.