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Archives & Readers' Guides => Archives of Book Discussions => Topic started by: BooksAdmin on August 02, 2015, 01:10:25 PM

Title: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BooksAdmin on August 02, 2015, 01:10:25 PM
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/6ffa6ad19551b713c035216baa74cc0d/tumblr_nrys2zq5jK1rt6ghko1_500.jpg)

Regardless if you've posted with us for 20 years or joined us 2 months ago, help us capture our golden "Wild Days" as we celebrate the memories of our best and memorable experiences discussing books together on SeniorLearn. Yes, "life is Good."

We have a "Plan" for celebrating our memories - "The Plan" helps us focus but more, "The Plan" is designed to assure that we give texture to our many memories regardless of books read and discussed last month, last year, or going on 20 years ago.

"The Plan" - Every two days, new topics will be introduced - If a forgotten memory creeps in days later feel free to post adding more depth to the focus questions we had featured earlier in our Legacy discussion.


Questions to help us Focus our Memories


THREE Days for these Questions
Wed. Thur. Fri.   OK we need some lists – Remember High School when we made lists of our favorite things from colors to cookies to movie stars  - Well we need Lists - Lists in units of 10 would be great.

 
Aug. 19~20~21    – 10 of your favorite Books
  – 10 of your favorite Books read and discussed on SeniorNet/Learn
  – 10 of your favorite Authors
  – 10 of your favorite Characters

 
Aug. 19~20~21   – 10 of your favorite movies that were books
  – 10 of your favorite phrases from the books we have read
  – 10 new bits of information you learned from our in-depth book discussions.
  – 10 of your favorite or most remembered discussions here on SeniorLearn.



If you have just joined us or as a reminder, here are the questions from the past few days.





Need a memory nudge? Here are links to our Archived Discussions. SeniorNet books are listed alphabetically and NOT by the discussion date. SeniorLearn discussions are listed by date. 

SeniorLearn Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=45.0) ~~~ SeniorNet Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=181.0)


Discussion Leader: Barb (augere@ix.netcom.com)
Title: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 08, 2015, 04:18:52 PM
Our "Wild Days" - all the unscheduled times we read and post on SeniorLearn and the times we binge read. It's all the time we do not schedule as an appointment or even in our daily 'to do' list that when we wake up each day we know this or that must be done. Our "Wild Days" are our wheee time or me time! And this discussion is where we honor our time spent reading and talking about books.

To honor ourselves and Senior Learn as well as those years we were part of SeniorNet we just need to have a legacy, a memoir, if nothing else, an explanation of why we were drawn to and continued to read with this group of readers, sharing with them our understanding of an author, a story, a literary happening here on this site.

We are also honoring the site that has been unique among the many online book discussions. Other book groups have attracted authors however, we in addition had come together on many occasions and we have a history of good works that helped others further their life of reading. We need to hear the particulars, what was done to pull these events together and who and what keeps this site available so that those of us who spend our free time reading and discussing the stories we read could enjoy our  "Wild Days". 

We want to hear about each other's experiences and as a recent TED talk explained, we accomplish something by hitting the nail head were as with total freedom choosing between hundreds of nail heads we spend too much time waffling and second guessing our choice. With that thinking we are setting up the nail heads - a few nail heads for every two days of posting.

In the heading there are three (nail head) discussion questions for Monday August 10 and Tuesday August 11 - they will be followed by questions for Wednesday and Thursday August 12 and 13. Additional focus questions, with dates will be posted as we move through the two weeks so that we will have questions for the 14 days of the discussion. There will be time after the two weeks for anyone to share their memories that may not have been prompted by the focus questions.

A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. – Neil Gaiman

Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. – Vera Nazarian

You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. – Paul Sweeney

And with that we want to be sure we do not loose the memories of our friends here on SeniorLearn. This discussion is not planned as a last page however, over the years we have many who turned their last page and they too spent their "Wild Days" with us so that the memory of their participation will be woven into our posts.

With quotes from the irascible Toad - Welcome - "Oh, what dust clouds we shall make! What carts we shall fling into the ditch! -  My friends we have come home to SeniorLearn with the smashing of the windows and crashing of the doors of our memory.

"Poop, Poop! Oh, poetry of motion! Ohh, the bliss! Ohhh... poop, poop!" Sound your horns, fire the cannons, shout "Hooray", for it's our grrrrreat "Wild Days"!   
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: maryz on August 10, 2015, 06:51:49 PM
mark
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 10, 2015, 06:57:18 PM
Wow, I''m not usually the first poster anywhere.  This is a great idea for a discussion, Barb.  I don't know if I'm mind-reading correctly, but I'm guessing that what you're up to is getting us all to think and talk about what reaading means to us, what experiences it's given us, and how it fits into our lives, with the framework of our shared experience here to give it structure.

But it's just as relevant to those of you who have recently joined us.  If you haven't had an "aha" moment here, you've had one somewhere else.  And you'll see the history of what we're about, and what you're getting into here.

I'm going to enjoy comparing notes with everyone.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 10, 2015, 07:21:30 PM
Those aren't easy questions, though.  The first "aha"moment that comes to mind occured when we were reading Richard III.  I hadn't read it before, but had seen the 1955 movie with Sir Laurence Olivier, and hadn't been that impressed with the play.  But when we read it together, and reached the turning point scene, where Richard is crowned, it struck me.  He's gotten what he wanted, and now you see him unraveling before your eyes.  He israpidly descending into paranoia and madness, and the rest is like watching a man rolling down a steep hill that ends in a cliff.

It's brilliant and horrifying, and I never saw it until we read it together.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 10, 2015, 07:38:04 PM
Yes, it will be nice to look back at who we were 20 years into this reading and discussing endeavor and how over the years we welcomed new folks and lost some who have either passed or never made it over when we changed from SeniorNet.

Aha PatH, you were posting as I was writing - Richard III - Now of course I need to refresh and look it up to see what was said, and who was posting in that discussion and how the discussion evolved etc. it will be like reliving all over those wonderful books and how we talked about them.

It took me some researching the archive to find my first first discussion - I do remember being so hesitant that I monitored the discussions for several months - that first bunch of readers were so top notch I was in awe and felt like a neophyte to even think I could add my two cents.

There was LJ Klein who I believe was a Physician from Kentucky and Joan Pearson and our Ella and Ann Alden and of course our Ginny who started this whole thing - several others but the one poster who I really admired was Roslyn Stempel - Oh my - I emailed her telling her of my admiration and asked her about some symbolism in Sir Gawain... - she did not suffer fools lightly - but what a mind and her ability to see the connections was beyond anything I had ever experienced.

I finally 'gutsed' it up and posted in Sir Gawain... after following both Dickens, Hard Times and prior to that the Hardy, Jude the Obscure - of course the welcome was a posted big red Welcome that took care of some of my nervousness over posting with such an illustrious group of readers.

The other difference I remember was back then we would go several months reading one book - later when we switched so abruptly from SeniorNet to Senior Learn, thanks to Ginny and JoanP and a few others for saving us - some of the archived discussions were lost - The first book ever discussed Snow Falling on Ceder was lost as well as the Odyssey both led by Ginny. These two discussions were followed by the Hardy, which again went for several months, then Hard Times and then Sir Gawain and the Green Giant and then... we absolutely slogged through Magic Mountain - whew that one nearly got the best of us but we did it.

Those first reading experiences are in my jewel chest of memories along with a year later we did, with JoanP leading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man oh yes, and we had great rollicking fun with Mapp and Lucia  - I just have to stop there were so many discussions that I fondly remember.   

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 11, 2015, 09:59:03 AM
Oh I remember Richard III, and also  Mapp and Lucia, how different those two are and yet such depth if you want to plumb them.

I'd like to answer question #1 before it's gone.

The discussion which provided me an eureka moment in our long history was The Iliad, I guess,  because I had never really read it before. The power of the thing just left me stunned.  To this day I still remember almost all of the discussion and think of it quite a bit.  And the two scholars we had in the discussion, Dr. Stanley Lombardo whose translation I used, and Dr. Mark Stone whose class on it at Furman were simply  amazing.  I learned so much from that discussion and it's never left me. That one was really "one for the Books," to me it may never be equaled.

I guess for a "normal" book discussion I would have to say the three that stand out for me were Bridedhead Revisited, where we did the film and the book, Remains of the Day--what a stunning book of great depth where we also did the film as well as the book and, strangely enough, The Ancient Mariner.

In that last one for some strange reason we all took different "parts" as shipmates on the virtual voyage. I remember distinctly Jonathan was in the Crow's Nest or was he just sent there so much  because he kept saying the most outrageous things?  hahahaa  It became a fine joke, to send him (usually) and anybody else to the Crow's Nest if they had contrary opinions (all in fun) and it was hilarious, I seem to recall. Lots of fun.

We've had some great times and great discussions, and  I don't think they are over yet. It's fun to look back, though. We are one of the few online sites which meet in person, but that's another day, I bet. :)

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 11, 2015, 12:48:18 PM
I found Seniornet because i was looking for something for a lesson plan for my Western Civ course and Google gave me the Durant discussion on their History of WC books! I couldn't believe that a group was intent on reading all 11 (?) volumes. Of course, there was so much great discussion that we never got past the Reformation. 😊 It was great fun while it lasted, however. Because of the world-wide participants there were many perspectives and many stories about historical places that participants had visited. With the help of the WWW we "visited" most of the places/people we were discussing.

From there, I,  of course, became a part of the many other discussions and followed you all to SeniorLearn. I've loved every minute of it. Thank you to anyone who has any responsibility for keeping SL operating. The discussions are mentally stimulating, often informative, sometimes humorous - all good things!

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 11, 2015, 02:24:58 PM
There you are, Ginny. Perhaps you can put my mind to rest on a curious little challenge put to it in a recent post of yours. Regarding the feeding of chickens. How is it done? In return, I can tell you of a neat little farming experience that I got as a teenager and have never forgotten. How to wean a calf. Have a pail of milk handy. As well as a hungry calf, of course. Dip a middle finger into the milk and then present it to the calf as a tempting t(r)eat. Once he's sucking on it, draw his head slowly into the bucket until the finger is submerged. It works on the first try. Next.

What a liberating adventure it was for me to join in the discussions. Here was an opportunity I had never experienced...to express my thoughts and opinions at whatever length my small store of knowledge allowed. It ended the frustration and experience of exclusion reaching back to my childhood, when, as the youngest at the large, talkative dinner table conversations I seldom got the chance to get a word in. I soon developed a style that made the most of every small pause in the talk.

What a thrill to find an empty, inviting reply box after the latest post.

Barb, I spent an hour in the archives last night, enjoying your discussion of The Magic Mountain, in 1999. I'm sorry I missed it then. When Ginny came along with her offer of a sea voyage I scrambled aboard. Played the stowaway at first and then found the best seat in the house. The Crow's Nest.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Ella Gibbons on August 11, 2015, 05:52:53 PM
It was approximately 17-18 years ago when I first discovered Seniornet  I had just gotten a computer and was learning and in those days we had a number of  search engines.  I used one to search for "senior sites" and found book discussions, online!  As Barbara stated, I was in awe of it, afraid to post any ideas, and it took some courage then and I have never left the site since. 

I think my earliest memory was of the popular nonfiction CIVIL ACTION.  And I have never forgotten David McCullough's wonderful book JOHN ADAMS - that went on for about six weeks or so in 2001.  In the book GOOD LIFE by Ben Bradlee we got an inside look at Watergate from the publisher's point of view and we almost got Ben online, we were so excited at the prospect, but he got discouraged with learning how to post on the computer.  Neil Simon's had this to say in his book REWRITES:

""The way I see things, life is both sad and funny. I can’t imagine a comical situation that isn’t at the same time also painful. I used to ask myself: What is a humorous situation? Now I ask: What is a sad situation and how can I tell it humorously?"

And SEABISCUIT in 2002.  Wonderful book, good movie.  As one can tell I like nonfiction and have so enjoyed sharing the adventure with others that also love it. 

Great joy to have spent these years with Seniornet and SeniorLearners.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 11, 2015, 09:33:24 PM
I'll certainly never forget joining Seniornet. I had retired, and was looking for book groups on the internet. When I saw "the Story of Civilization", I thought, Wow. I must have been nervous, because I remember saying "I see you started the Rome discussion a month ago: am I too late to join?" (just this year, about 12 years later, we finally ended it).

My second post was something like : that opinion that the author expressed was interesting. Do you think he's right? Another poster (who has since left) checked me. Why was I questioning this famous historian? Who did I think I was?!

I remember telling my sister "Boy, I'm never going back there!!". Luckily, I did look in the next day, and saw a zillion posts defending and praising me for being a critical reader, and encouraging me. This was my introduction to the lively, discussions we have here, and the supportive atmosphere that remains in spite of the wide variety of people and points of view. I later became good friends with the person who had criticized me.   
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 12, 2015, 08:51:30 AM
mm, as to the first two questions, I always read a book all the way through and then if I join the discussion, I will limit or try to limit my discussion to the part being discussed. I truly would hate limiting my reading to each small part.. Not going to happen. I have joined a few of the book discussions, but mostly like the other parts of senior learn or senior net for that matter.
I read for pleasure now and so critical discussions sometimes drive me nuts, so I stay out of them or stay silent. 
I really hate windows 10 or our site somedays, since I was typing away and I went from normal print to teeny tiny squibbles. Nuts.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 12, 2015, 09:12:45 AM
:) Jonathan. Feeding the chickens. It's kind of like the old illustrations you see of the woman in an apron (usually in a dress....not me) (http://www.wikigallery.org/download=274118-Dupre_Feeding-chicken.jpg) throwing corn to the hustling flock. Except our chickens always have the "right" kind of  food in a gravity feeder but "we" somehow have gotten in the habit of  anticipating with great eagerness the "treats" which they get in the evening.

At night they get vegetables, too, always broccoli stems shaved, they love broccoli, other greens,  sometimes grapes which produce an hilarious chase after the grapes, fruit, vegetables, depending on what scraps are available, and cracked corn called scratch feed.  The grapes roll,  so it's every chicken for herself as they take off in a mad dash. You can throw 20 grapes, they all run after one.

They remind me of people quite a lot.  It's like dessert, they love corn, but it's like feeding children candy. They need to eat their good food instead.

Regardless of the time change they line up at the gate waiting. Every night.   When the first one sees you coming she sounds the alarm and they all come running but at about 6 or so they are all fixated at the gate, waiting. Rain, shine,  you name it, they are standing there. It's quite a fun hobby. We had 4-H chickens and FFA chicken projects, and state championships  and plenty of trophies when the children were younger, but now in my old age I like chickens, and enjoy a small (25) hobby flock. And we bought this one for our grandson.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 12, 2015, 11:13:36 AM
I remember wanting to find an online book club, so I typed into the Google search engine..."online book discussion" and lo and behold I clicked the link to SeniorNet.  I browsed around and then asked if I could join even though I was not a "senior."  I was welcomed by many, and I remember the first discussion I participated in was Teacher Man by Frank McCourt.  I had seen it was about a teacher, and since at that time I was still teaching in my K-8th Catholic grade school, I thought it would be interesting to read about a teacher and how he handled his classroom.

(https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/CjBaz2ybdqMC?fife=w300-rw)

My next discussion I think was Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble, which I thought was going to be about siblings.  Boy was I in for a big surprise!

(https://books.google.com/books/content/images/frontcover/oZXTAAAAQBAJ?fife=w300-rw)


I kept telling all the seasoned members, avid readers and well traveled members, I was the new little chick, with little traveling and knowledge of the places in the book discussions we were reading about.  You all were so patient and helpful, especially my nighttime fairy friend across the globe, Gumtree.  I will never forget her, every time I see fog, I think of how she would describe Australia to me.

All the members were so very welcoming, knowledged and willing to help me muddle through how this discussion worked.  It's been many years now, and I have had the pleasure of discussing many books with all of you, and I have to admit, at times I still feel like the new little chick, because you all are light years ahead of me when it comes to knowledge of authors, places, and history......but I am learning.  "Senior Learn" is a perfect name for this book club.  It has taken me away from Danielle Steele, into a whole new world of 18th Century novels such as my favorite of all times, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, to Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell which is one of my next favorites, to 14th Century Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, and so many more.

I feel like I have traveled the world with all of you, and gotten at least a degree in minor history from our discussions.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 12, 2015, 03:03:28 PM
You sure don't seem like the new chick to me, Bellamarie,  you're an old friend.  And we learn from you too.  During the Emma discussion, you were never once fooled by Austen's misdirections.  You saw through all her misleading clues, and caught every one of her tiny clues about what was really going on, something I sure didn't do the first time I read it.  In fact you spotted some I still hadn't caught after several rereadings.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 12, 2015, 08:55:56 PM
Amazing that there are books that we do not all get around to discussing with this group - I know I missed out on Three Sisters - but like PatH said Bellamarie, you were on fire during our Emma discussion.

Will you just look at those shoes in the painting you shared Ginny of the woman feeding the chickens - goodness - talk about clodhoppers - but then the painting does show she is wearing normal leather shoes under those wooden clogs which in my mind would be far more comfortable than the whole wooden shoe we see used as footware.

Haha yes, that could be an expression that I think at least in my mind I will adopt - some fiction is like corn - taste good but not very nourishing - that thank goodness was not fed to us here on SeniorLearn or SeniorNet - some stories may have been lighter than others but they were all substantial pieces of fictitious literature.

Ella so many great books you have helped to shine the light on over the years - you and Harold - the one that was more recent that really grabbed me was Those Angry Days by Lynne Olson - the only other book that I ended up reading so many additional tomes to delve deeper and sort out so many happenings was The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal - I think for both those books I must have read at least a half dozen additional books in an attempt to dig deeper. You really held us all together when we read Those Angry Days.

Not sure what character I would like to have been but a book that stayed with me was the Red Tent. - I could imagine myself among the women - Oh yes, another -

In one of the Mapp and Lucia stories - when they in Tilling - I would easily have loved being Grosvenor and watching all the shams and high-end outrageous shenanigans surrounding her boss, Lucia and then hearing all the gossip shared among the staff from the other households. I could not even imagine a change to any of the characters - the stories were just too perfect. To answer the door with such sincerity telling the story of Lucia's illness when the Italian Contessa came to visit Tilling was priceless or to have heard Lucia and Georgie play their fast-moving and perfectly-timed duets. The possibility puts a smile on my face
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 13, 2015, 01:32:34 AM
Thank you PatH., and Barb, I must say I think I did get into Emma's character reading that novel.   ;D


I have to admit I have never read an entire book and pretended I didn't, but I can say I probably nudged PatH., a bit to finish up the third book The Cross, of the trilogy of Kristen Lavransdatter.  I could not wait to finish that book.

The one book I would like to have plopped myself down in was Night Villa by Carol Goodman.  I would love to have been the character Sophie Chase.  She not only traveled with her handsome professor Elgin to the isle of Capri Italy, but she was enthralled in a mystery of finding a cache of antique documents believed lost to the ages in the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.   

When Sophie enters the tunnels and chambers beneath layers of volcanic ash, the Villa della Notte–the Night Villa, I remember I was on the edge of my chair waiting to see what she would find.  It was intriguing, scary, breathtaking, and a bit eccentric.  I read so fast I didn't think I would stop, I had to see where this was all going to end.  Just when I thought I had it figured out, I found myself frightened for Sophie and not knowing who she could trust.  A real spell binder of a story.  What was especially special for me was that the author Carol Goodman joined us in our discussion, and we got to know her thoughts and reasons for writing the story, and she answered all of our questions we posed to her.  What a treat that was!

I looked back in the archives and found my very last post was in response to Ginny saying: "Still I doubt sincerely there is anybody here who did not learn something new."

I said:
I know I learned much and I would like to share a few things I have picked up.  Now don't think I could begin to speak Latin on my own, but with the help of some great sites I would never has visited had it not been for this book, I shall attempt my good byes.  Go ahead and laugh....I know I am. Looking foward to the next book,  Apudne te vel me? (Your place or mine?)

Ab (ex) uno disce omnes.     From one person, learn all.
Docendo discimus.              We learn by teaching.
Obesa cantauit.                         The fat lady has sung.
Cura, ut valeas!                 Take care!
Ab imo pectore.                 From the bottom of my heart.
Habetis bona dewm.           Have a nice day.
Te valere jubeo.                 I bid you farewell.

Vah! Denuone latine loquebar?  Me ineptum.  Interdum modo elabitur.   :o  ;)
Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me.  Sometimes it just sort of slips out.

Ciao.............
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 13, 2015, 03:02:43 AM
 :)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 13, 2015, 08:05:25 AM
How I came here. Hmm, there was a senior net class being taught at the tech high school and a friend was in it.She told me of senior net and said they were on line and I fumbled around and found them.. I think possibly 1997-8..not quite sure. Then when they started messing around with the site,, the new one made me nauseous with all the color , flashing, etc, so I stopped. Someone, Ginny I think emailed me about senior learn and I dove in and have been around ever since. You have helped me through the darkest part of my life with the accident and my husbands death and made me want to get up and see what all of you are doing. I am and always will be eternally grateful to so many of you, who have helped me so much.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 13, 2015, 09:48:25 AM
A year or so after JoanK joined SeniorNet, she persuaded me to join too.  I've never looked back.  At first, I was very timid about posting, but I soon got my courage back.  A very early book was Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club.. Fowler joined the discussion, and about the time we finished, met some of us for tea after giving a book sogning in DC.  So I got to meet JoanP and Deems in person, and we had a delightful chat with Fowler.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: pedln on August 13, 2015, 11:18:50 AM
Well, please forgive my good intentions, which never panned out.  I've been here everyday -- so glad you brought this here, Barb -- and each day been side-tracked by looking at so many discussions, which have brought back so many memories. I've been trying to figure my own chronology, but don't trust my memory any more.

I don't remember when I first came to SeniorNet, or how I found it.  Someone on the web had put up a list of sites for Seniors, and I tried it.  I don't remember what year.  I was thinking it was after 9/11,  but see that I was reading Icebound with the group, and that was right during 9/11.  I think the first book I read with SeniorNet was Andre Dubus III's House of Sand and Fog.  Had never heard of book or author.  Probably never opened my mouth during discussion -- everyone was contributing such profound statements and I was such a light-weight.  Or it might have been Prodigal Summer, as I had read some Kingsolver.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 13, 2015, 02:02:13 PM
Ginny, I, too, was impressed by our Iliad discussion.  I read Lombardo's translation, with others on hand for comparison.  Not everyone likes Lombardo; he's rather slangy, but L. makes a good case for his being closer to the original.  Iliad was designed to be declaimed to an audience, wasn't even written down until later, and Lombardo's cries out to be read aloud.  In fact I did--almost all of it.  It's a good thing I live alone.

Here 's the Greek army marching off into the mist:

While the Greeks moved forward in silence,
Their breath curling in long angry plumes
That acknowledged their pledges to die for each other.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 13, 2015, 02:46:03 PM
Haha blessed are the archives however... we could all get lost for days couldn't we - thanks Pedlin for reaching back in time and reconstructing when you started reading with SeniorNet/Learn - wow Prodigal Summer now that was a book - some stick with you and that is one that sticks.

Yes, Steph I think as much as you gained we gained - I do not remember ever having first hand anyone brave enough to walk through with a group online a time of grief after such a loss - you gave us a gift - thanks.

Oh PatH what excitement that made a nice memory to have lunch with the author of book that was high in the charts and then to have the personal connection to some of those who were posting their thoughts and discoveries on the reading site - not sure without checking the archives if we were SeniorNet or SeniorLearn while reading Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austin Book Club Speaking of Joan I am remembering when Joan shared with us her big move to the west coast - the wonders and the losses and no longer living near you I remember was a loss.

I'd love to get a picture in my head of how y'all share when posting on Senior Learn - yes, somedays I am still in my Jammies but here of late I mostly get online in the early afternoon however I am frequently online after midnight - sleeping is not my best skill for the past few years and so an afternoon nap seems to be a must.

I've a bedroom set up as an office with my computer and an old second computer that still has some things on it I need to retrieve - there is a book case and two desks and a console all jammed packed with office supplies and boxes of closed contracts stored in the closet going back to 1980  - in the tall bookcase is where I keep my books on symbolism and how to write and-and-and-

Usually I bring a cup of coffee that I often forget to sip and have to run out to warm it up two and three times - no longer do I bring my lunch after knocking the whole thing on the floor a couple of times - if I am home for the day it is a Tshirt and pants I would not be seen dead in outside the house - where as days I have other appointments than it is my typical work clothes - but never shoes - first thing I do is kick off my shoes - hate wearing shoes. During the cold part of winter I prefer fleece lined slippers with heavy socks.

And so where do you pull up your chair to chat with us on SeniorLearn - do you have a usual time of day to be online or do you grab a cup of or glass of and spend long chunks of time with us?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 14, 2015, 08:50:01 AM
Hmm..I am an early bird. I get up each day about 6 to 6:15am..rise,dress in uglies and off the dog and I got for our walk.. Up here in the vertical place,, I walk a mile, in Florida all winter, 2 miles..
then we come home, she gets her breakfast and I go shower , eat a light breakfast and settle down to the computer. do email, then onto Seniorlearn.. Today I am in a robe, but it depends on what I am doing later in the morning.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 14, 2015, 11:14:08 AM
I'm usually settling down in my loveseat with my coffee "and"..... with my dog Dana beside me, at around 10:00 am. Sometimes i'm still in a robe, or if dressed, I'm in something comfortable I have my ipad on a stand on the broad arm of the loveseat, sometimes i have the tv on catching up on the news. Then i check my email and come to visit with all of you. Sometimes, between checking out links and sipping and knoshing, all of that can take an hour or more. It's one of my favorite times of the day.

I enjoy all of your comments about reading, but also what is happening in your lives. It seems as though we've had to check more frequently with Maryz to see if she's been effected by the storms coming thru Tenn; we follow Steph from Fla to NC and back; Frybabe reminds me of my life in the Cumberland valley. Ginny remembers Peter Pan Bakery  (which 😫  is no more) in my present town; MaryPage, and others of you (Barb, Pat, Bellemarie, Pedln, Joan)  has something substantive to say about issues I care about. Ella and Jonathan (and others) have facilitated and added interesting comments in the non-fiction and Stories of Civ discussions(I knew i shouldn't have started with names, because i have enjoyed EVERYBODY's comments)

Thank you all for being my online friends and sharing your lives and your books with me, it is a highlight of my days.
Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 14, 2015, 11:32:02 AM
15

More on the wild side. I can truly say that SeniorNet and SeniorLearn make up a chapter in my life. The people I've met and the books I've read! It's so good to hear from you. And now, looking about in the archives, what a good time we have had. Some are gone, but left so much of themselves behind. Lorrie, at ninety, was preparing to lead a discussion of Moby Dick. And Deems recommended Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed, before she left us.

Good for you, JoanK, for questioning the 'opinion' of a famous historian. Nobody gets everything right, unless you call it fiction, I was happy to read that you convinced the rest. And to read that there was less dusting when you relocated to the west coast from the east coast. I remember thinking, of course, it's the clean air coming coming off the Pacific, and not the dust of a continent arriving in your home in DC.

I found a challenge in so many of your posts. This time it was counting the chickens in Ginny's wonderful picture of a farmyard scene. And one used to hear that it couldn't be done. The counting. Not the feeding. A hobby flock sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps when my eyes grow too dim to read.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 14, 2015, 12:16:52 PM
Now that I am retired there is no pattern for when I am checking in.  My mornings I usually jump out of bed, eat breakfast while catching up on some morning news with my hubby, and then open up the computer to check my Facebook messages, emails, add a few comments and answer posts to friends & family on my Facebook page, then I click into Senior Learn, to see what you all are up to.  If I am reading and discussing a book, I usually will first read the comments and then add mine.

What am I wearing and where am I sitting.....almost always in my sweats & sweatshirt in the winter, sitting in my favorite chair with my warm snuggly blanket, with my Shih Tzu Sammy curled up on the footstool at my feet sleeping.  In the summer months it is my short pjs and tee, rarely ever do I have on my makeup. I never have the tv on while doing my computer, I need total silence.  I have my ipad close by and my iphone, and all my books, pens, paper, glasses, and a cup of coffee which never gets completely drank. I spend about an hour or so and then begin my day.  If i find the time after watching all my dvr shows at the end of the day and am not too sleepy, I will check in and post before I go to bed.  Although, I have been known to check into our discussions in the middle of the day if I have a slow day, and am excited about the book we are discussing.

Jean, that is so kind of you to mention names, I can't begin to start to tell each of you what you do for me in this group, so I will just say I admire and respect each and every one of you.  I love the differences of personalities and opinions, and the knowledge you all have just blow me away.  I do miss the ones who have passed on, and I carry their memory with me.  I love that we have the archives because it's like getting to go back and visit with everyone once again.

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 14, 2015, 04:20:41 PM
I have it a regular part of my daily routine: after breakfast and before lunch, I go on the computer. I save Seniorlearn for last: First I feed the hungry by going onto The Hunger Site. Then I take care of all the stuff (deleting the dozens of mail messages that are ads and dealing with the one that isn't, doing the annoying business task of the day etc. etc.) Then my reward is that I can relax with my friends on Seniorlearn.

I'm wearing what I always wear: a tee shirt and comfy pants. I have three levels of dress: new tee shirt, middle aged tee shirt and old tee shirt. The one I have on today, I can date exactly because it has photos of my grandkids on it, and the 12-year-old is a baby in the photo. You can decide if that qualifies it as an old tee shirt yet.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 14, 2015, 10:30:25 PM
Goodness I completely lost track of the days - and so the next group of questions will be for Saturday and Sunday

Saturday & Sunday   1.  Which of the stories we have read reminded you of events from your life?
      - What in your mind was the wildest, off beat story that we discussed?
 
Aug. 15 ~ Aug. 16   2.  Of the many authors who posted while we read one of their books, did any one author stand out for you and if so tell us how and why?
 
Aug 15 ~ Aug. 16    3.   Do you usually buy or borrow the books we discuss?
      - Buyers, after the discussion do you hang on to the book, give it away or even sell it?
      - Borrowers, when you return it, do you tell those in the library about any of the tidbits we shared during our discussion?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 14, 2015, 11:47:49 PM
JoanK, I'm probably the only one who knows what The Hunger Site is.  Would you elaborate?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 15, 2015, 12:31:54 AM
Barb, I'm glad you lost track of time.  We're going so fast it's hard to catch my breath.

There are different patterns to my SeniorLearn activities depending on where I am.  The last few days, I've been visiting JoanK.  (If you wondered what that laughter was that you heard ricocheting around the universe, it was us.).   At Joan's, I'm typing away on my ipad mini, probably grouching about my fingertip issues.  I might be anywhere, but most often I'm curled up on her comfy sofa.

Now I've shifted to Portland OR, where I spend a lot of time visiting daughters and grandchildren, still on my mini, but not complaining at the moment.

When I'm in Bethesda,MD, I'm on my Mac desktop.

All three places there's no time pattern, except I usually check first thing in the morning.  Then I mostly stop by at random times, more or less often depending on what's going on.  I'm wearing anything you can imagine walking out of your bedroom wearing, but most often khaki pants and a Tshirt, though my Tshirts aren't as interesting as JoanK's.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 15, 2015, 08:53:29 AM
hmm. Favorites, my favorites are the new(to me) authors that I cautiously tip my toes in and then, oh joy,, find an author who makes my heart sing or my brain start functioning.. so for me there are simply no favorites of all time. Possibly
Wally Lamb ranks the highest because he brought to us a whole new world and let us join him in exploring.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 15, 2015, 09:41:14 AM
Golly what beautiful posts! I've loved them all! That was beautiful, Stephanie. I agree with what you said about Wally Lamb. He was one of the few people interviewed by 60 Minutes in the past whom they did not excoriate, I think they captured such a beautiful thing with that interview.

Little John is having an electronic Mind Craft moment, so I'll steal in here and post.

Barbara and Jonathan with the shoes of the woman in the feeding the chickens illustration!!  I never noticed them. After you mentioned it I went back to look and by George, she does have on leather shoes under those wooden clogs and it was an eureka moment for me because I have "chicken house shoes" but I get tired of changing into them and was looking about for some surgical booties when I saw your remarks. Of course! Wooden shoes! You could leave them outside the chicken house or pen OR...the rain would crack them, so how about those crocks? Surely somewhere I can find a pair of Crocks which would fit over the shoes and which the rain wouldn't bother. Genius! Thank you both for noticing. I never notice what's on people's feet for some reason.

Oh Pedln, right on with House of Sand and Fog!!! WASN'T that an incredible book? And discussion!   I will have to put that one right up there with the others I mentioned.

Not sure about Howard's End, tho.

I think the discussion (looking at today's questions) for me in which the author stood out, other than the ones already mentioned was the one  on climbing Mt. Everest, called  Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. And not in a good way. It's about the climbing of Everest in 1996 where so many died and how they died. He felt that the Russian Climber (I think he was Russian) Boukreev caused the death of many with his bravado and all but accused him of it in print. Whereupon Boukreev wrote his own book and said unflattering things about Krakauer. Turned out Boukreev saved quite a few  people, for which he is known, in that 1996 climb.    So it was truly a he said/ he said type of thing.   

I didn't know anything about mountain climbing then and I don't know much more now, but I sure have read books on it since,  including Boukeev's and that of  the egotistical doctor who also went. Boukreev died at 39 the next year  in an avalanche on Annapurna,  and is not around to defend himself, but he climbed 10 of the 14 top peaks without supplemental oxygen,  and I developed a dislike/ distrust  for Krakauer's statements ever since. Which one was right? It's a continuing controversy, just right for a book discussion.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 15, 2015, 12:04:11 PM
PatH., I love hearing you are spending time with your sister JoanK., livin and laughin it up.  I just spent a week reconnecting, reuniting and remembering precious memories with my cousin (more like sister) who I have not seen in years.  She and her sister came to live with us when her parents died at the age of 12 yrs, as if there were not enough girls under one roof already with my five sisters and myself.  She traveled and stayed with me for our class reunion.  We went to lunch with fellow classmates and cackled like chickens.  Then the next day lots of my alumni met at our old high school and walked the halls one more time, reminiscing of teachers, classes and events.  I was the tour guide/hostess so I had to bring my Senior class yearbook to put faces to names.  Later that day we had a huge reunion dinner/dance at a hall in my small hometown, where all of my former classmates gathered and we were able to catch up with each other after 45 yrs.  I talked and laughed so much I had NO voice for five days.  We are now on Facebook together and are talking about how we all still feel like we are in a cloud, and how magical the day/night was.  Oh to go back and being seventeen again......

JoanK., Hmmm.....12 yr old tee shirt.  I have a sweatshirt my daycare Moms had made for me for a Christmas present with all the daycare kids pics on it dressed in Ohio State/Michigan gear because they knew I love Michigan, and my hubby loves Ohio State football.  In the pic Austin is one year old, and he is a Junior in high school now, so that makes it 16 yrs old.  I saw him at our festival this past Sunday and he gave me the biggest hug.  My motto is....the older the more comfy!

Barb, this idea of "Our Wild Days" has been a lot of fun!  Wouldn't it be great to find a place to meet up one day with everyone who could make it? 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 15, 2015, 12:26:32 PM
I have been so busy I have not had a chance to read all the posts in the past days.  I was skimming through and found this one:

JoanK.,  I remember telling my sister "Boy, I'm never going back there!!". Luckily, I did look in the next day, and saw a zillion posts defending and praising me for being a critical reader, and encouraging me. This was my introduction to the lively, discussions we have here, and the supportive atmosphere that remains in spite of the wide variety of people and points of view. I later became good friends with the person who had criticized me.

When I read this I laughed so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks.  I wish I had a dime for every time I felt like you did JoanK.  We have a great group here and we all have strong opinions.  There are times I can come around to seeing things from a different perspective, and other times I have to resort to my favorite saying when I feel at at a standstill, which is "Agree to disagree."  I learned this in facilitating pre-cana classes with engaged couples. We gave them a sheet of questions they had to answer separately, then come together and go over their answers and see where they may be able to come to a common agreement.  At some point we facilitators could see there was no way the couple was going to both agree, so we would show them to respect each other's opinions, and be able to agree to disagree.  It has put out a lot of fires, in heated discussions.   :)  :)

Like you JoanK., I could never stay away. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 15, 2015, 01:38:56 PM
OH and here's a coda: I just saw this!

Icelandic actor Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson portrays Boukreev in the upcoming Baltasar Kormákur film, Everest, about the 1996 Everest disaster. The film is scheduled for release on September 18, 2015, and stars Keira Knightley, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sam Worthington, Josh Brolin and Robin Wright.

This  might be a great time to read Boukreev's book or the ones about him. Just thinking out loud. :)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 15, 2015, 03:26:28 PM
Off the wall I know however, reading your post of the mountain climbers a flash went through my head of being a kid and singing "The Bear Went Over the Mountain - the bear went over the mountain - the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see ~ the last stanza ~ ...and never came back again" -

We know our nursery rhymes were written to alleviate trauma or memorialize those who were traumatized by events it appears to be a good fit.  ;)

Just spent an hour reading the discussion of Puddnhead Wilson - wow - looking at the characteristics of slavery over and above the emotional shock to our sensibilities - that was a riveting discussion that included representatives from the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut sharing what they knew about Mark Twain along with all sorts of tidbits from those participating that added to the story. 

From our question list - Which of the stories we have read reminded you of events from your life? - Many of the books we have discussed would allow me to walk into the story and feel at home although there are aspects of the story that do not fit - some that have a scene or emotional reaction by the characters I've lived through; A Portrait of a Young Man - The Blue Flower Bookshop - Teacher Man - Hanna's Daughter - The Painted House.

And then - What in your mind was the wildest, off beat story that we discussed? - there are two - Tale Of Genji - that went on and on with all sorts of sex alliances - we ended up just two of us in the discussion and finally I threw in the towel - sheesh - and the other - I never could make heads or tales out of the reason, the point of the book beyond all these unsold book in open air piles - Why - what were we supposed to do or feel beyond the sadness of realizing how unsold books meet their demise - I guess I was expecting more and it never came - Sixpence House

Do you usually buy or borrow the books we discuss? I usually buy or some I have had on my shelves for years but most I buy and when the discussion is over most end up as keepers - only a very few times did I give the book away since our reading interests are so different than the few I know who also read and then here of late I have been reducing my library so some I have sold.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 15, 2015, 03:36:07 PM
there's another really great mountain climbing adventure book we read, and I can't remember the name. does anyone else?

before we leave the "sense of community" question, remember Don Quixote and our reader from Australia, Amparo, who, after it was over, came all the way to Washington DC to us? Someone recently posted a picture of her with some of us.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 15, 2015, 03:49:41 PM
We had reading with us several over the years from Australia didn't we - and wasn't there someone from the Netherlands for awhile - and we had a couple from New Zealand - we could spend days in the archives finding all these folks - the bit I have looked at bring up names some of which I just do not remember any longer who they were or where they lived.

Sounds like your visit with Pat was a great time for both of you - so glad - and how neat to have something to talk about beyond family so that you can share viewpoints reading with Senior Learn.

The past focus questions are all now in the heading so there is no feeling of leaving a topic - if something hits a memory button about any of what we have already addressed please do not hesitate to add your memory to our discussion that will be such a valuable archive in no time flat.

Hope a few of our other SeniorLearn readers add to this memory page. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 15, 2015, 05:49:26 PM
Camille Paglia's Break, Blow, Burn was a lot of fun. With Maryal/Deems as DL. And so were they all. It's an awesome archive. I believe the other mountain climbing book, Joan, was Joe Simpson's Touching The Void, but I can't find it.

Thanks, Ginny, for the news about the Everest film coming out in September. That will give me time to reread Anatoli Boukreev's Climb.

I enjoyed Ryszard Kapuscinski's Travels with Herodotus. And I highly recommend a bio of RK which I subsequently found. By Artur Domoslawski. The guy had an amazing career as an author and cold war reporter.

John Adams is perhaps my best remembered discussion. Thanks for that one, Ella.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 15, 2015, 06:46:12 PM
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/6ffa6ad19551b713c035216baa74cc0d/tumblr_nrys2zq5jK1rt6ghko1_500.jpg)

Regardless if you've posted with us for 20 years or joined us 2 months ago, help us capture our golden "Wild Days" as we celebrate the memories of our best and memorable experiences discussing books together on SeniorLearn. Yes, "life is Good."

We have a "Plan" for celebrating our memories - "The Plan" helps us focus but more, "The Plan" is designed to assure that we give texture to our many memories regardless of books read and discussed last month, last year, or going on 20 years ago.

"The Plan" - Every two days, new topics will be introduced - If a forgotten memory creeps in days later feel free to post adding more depth to the focus questions we had featured earlier in our Legacy discussion.


Questions to help us Focus our Memories


THREE Days for these Questions
Wed. Thur. Fri.   OK we need some lists – Remember High School when we made lists of our favorite things from colors to cookies to movie stars  - Well we need Lists - Lists in units of 10 would be great.

 
Aug. 19~20~21    – 10 of your favorite Books
  – 10 of your favorite Books read and discussed on SeniorNet/Learn
  – 10 of your favorite Authors
  – 10 of your favorite Characters

 
Aug. 19~20~21   – 10 of your favorite movies that were books
  – 10 of your favorite phrases from the books we have read
  – 10 new bits of information you learned from our in-depth book discussions.
  – 10 of your favorite or most remembered discussions here on SeniorLearn.



If you have just joined us or as a reminder, here are the questions from the past few days.





Need a memory nudge? Here are links to our Archived Discussions. SeniorNet books are listed alphabetically and NOT by the discussion date. SeniorLearn discussions are listed by date. 

SeniorLearn Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=45.0) ~~~ SeniorNet Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=181.0)


Discussion Leader: Barb (augere@ix.netcom.com)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 15, 2015, 07:05:55 PM
The book I thought was just too frustrating and wild reading for me was Possession by A.S.Byatt.  Just to give you an example the last comment I posted in the discussion was:  You all have been such fun, and I enjoyed you all more than the book!  Have a great summer and hope to share another book with you soon.  Just NOT Byatt for me.  LOL Ciao!

Ginny replied:   Gum and Marcie, I'm so impressed that you can recall Ash, but I agree with you Gum: I think that gets right at the heart of the problem with this book - the poems and stories just don't stay in the mind. As reader I had to backtrack constantly to  sort out the parallels being drawn instead of being able to just nod wisely and say to myself 'just so' or some such.   I agree, to me it was such an amorphous mess  that forced rather than invited the reader to try to figure out what was going on, I never had a foothold on anything. And that was deliberate on Byatt's part. I think.

That book turned me inside out and upside down!!!
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 15, 2015, 07:11:59 PM
Of the many authors who posted while we read one of their books, did any one author stand out for you and if so tell us how and why?

Carol Goodman was one of most favorite authors who joined our book discussion, but Annie Barrows who was co author of Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, is certainly the one who stuck out the most for me.  She and I became friends and were emailing each other back and forth for some time after the book discussion closed.  She was so kind and gracious and shared some personal feelings with me about her Aunt Mary Ann and their family get togethers.  I will always cherish these saved emails.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 15, 2015, 07:15:23 PM
Thanks Pat was not on during that last post from Jonathan -

With all these books mentioned that we read of course I have to take a look and see what we did and what we were saying.

Jonathan I forgot Break, Blow, Burn I think that was a book of short stories that we did over one summer - yep gotta go find it now -

Books about Mountain Climbing and I wonder if there is or will be a book about the 85 year old women who this summer scaled Kilimanjaro. The news indicated she was from Arizona and the oldest to have completed the climb.

Bellamaria I believe that was the second time we attempted Possession by A.S.Byatt - so many allusions and outright book titles of other authors and books in the Byatt does make reading her work a daunting task doesn't it.  I think a really good annotated copy of Possession would go a long long way.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 15, 2015, 07:26:02 PM
Another one while I was writing Bellamaria - ah Annie Barrows - what a treasure trove of correspondence you must have - that is special.

Which reminds me - back when FairAnna was still with us and doing Poetry for nearly 2 years we were focused exclusively on one poet a month - both older deceased and new poets - we did a month with Joy Harjo of Muskogee Creek heritage and I was enchanted with her work - I get every book she published. Joy Harjo posted with us during the month. Then several years later I emailed and asked a question - I could not have been more thrilled than if I had received an email from a world leader or even the Pope himself - and so I can imagine your delight corresponding with Annie Barrows. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 16, 2015, 09:09:20 AM
Ginny...The wooden clogs are all over both Holland and Switzerland. They are always carefully placed on the stoop next to the back door and always worn over some sort of shoe or slipper.. They last forever according to the wearers. You just have to get the right kind of wooden... My husbands grandparents came from Switzerland and he still has relatives there and when we visited, I asked about the clogs.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 16, 2015, 11:45:04 AM
So many memories and so little time ;)!  My first discussion was Snow Falling On Cedars.  I had found SN looking for senior sites and book discussions.  That was back in '97!  Ella and I arrived together on SN and her tag under her name was From the middle of Ohio?  So I kept asking where in Ohio and she finally told me "Gahanna".  Hahahaha! How surprised she was that we came from the same town and that our kids had graduated from the same high school.  At the time, I lived in the Atlanta area but was moving back to Gahanna.  We met for lunch at Bob Evans and have been close friends ever since.  So off to NYC we went in '98 for the first SN Books and Lit trip to meet some of the people we had met online.  No one went alone----we all took friends or relatives with us.  Judy Laird came with her oldest friend and they both brought their daughters.  We were finally able to put faces to names.!  Thank goodness for Leo House and Joan Pearson's knowledge of it.  We were there with SN in '98 and with SL in 2008.  Along the way we have bid farewell to many of our online friends thru their passing or their newest place to keep up with----FACEBOOK! Yep, me too. 

Some of my favorite discussions were Devil in The White City by Eric Larsen, the story of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad by Stephen Ambrose. Then Abraham and Walking the Bible by Bruce Feilor.  I met Feilor at a talk he gave here in Columbus.  He had just spent a year in chemo and in partial removal of his leg due to cancer.  Delightful young man.   Also Ella and I met Pete Hamil when he came to discuss his writing at the Bexley(suburb of Columbus Ohio) Read Along (year long) meeting.  We both asked him if he would join us online discussing one of his books.  Can't remember if he did. ;)

Many times I bought the books we were discussing but as time went on, the library became my books of choice. :D  I was keeping too many books already!

I miss our games that we played on SN.  I actually won one early in my life on SN.  Author was Tracy Kidder and the book was The Soul of a New Machine.  I read that book in 1983 and really have liked his other books also.
Remember meeting Thomas Hoving in NYC and Studs Terkel in Chicago and David McCulough in DC.
One time when I was in the hospital for 2 weeks(INR wouldn't settle), I remember that we had discussed the book about Renoir and the painting of of The Luncheon of the Boating Party. So Joan P. went to meet the book's author, Susan Vreeland for lunch? and they went to the museum in DC where the painting was on exhibit. So she sent me a picture of herself and the painting and Susan Vreeland.   And a delightful little book about the painting.  Sure cheered me up :) 

This group of readers and posters has added a whole new layer to my life.

Remember Ginny and Alf flying to see Pat Westerdale?  And wasn't it Pat Westerdale and Ginny who went to see the DL in MN. before she passed?  And the classical music man from Canada who went to visit Eloise as she prepared to try on those angel wings?

I hate to admit that it is 11:30am and I have been sitting at my downstairs
laptop for several hours wearing my PJ's and babbling along.  I must leave my memories and get dressed for brunch with my SO.  Later gator! :D :D
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 16, 2015, 01:23:00 PM
WOW! Annie, you and Ella have got some miles between you, and how exciting to have the opportunity to meet all those different authors.  Do you remember back years ago, not sure how many, you and Ella were going to come meet me halfway, since I live in Toledo, Ohio?  I'm kinda thinking it was when Ella fell and broke her leg or hip on ice in a parking lot.  Gosh, I hope my memory is serving me well on the details.  Anyway, wouldn't it be fun if we all could try a common place to meet in the next year or so?  Let's see what we all can do to make it happen.

3.   Do you usually buy or borrow the books we discuss?
      - Buyers, after the discussion do you hang on to the book, give it away or sell it?
      - Borrowers, when you return it, do you tell those in the library about any of the tidbits we shared during our discussion?


I used to always go buy my books for the discussions because I would highlight in the pages or write along the sides.  Then I began using my library and having a notebook and pen beside me all the time.  And lo and behold.....I decided to buy ebooks so I could easily access the books, and highlight and make notes, along with hunting for info on the search engines readily.  Now, I am back to really liking having a book in my hand.  Nothing can replace the feel of a book.  I still use my computer and ipad tablet, but I have been making lots of trips to the library with my grandkids, so I've loved having a book in hand.  The only problem is our discussions go past the return dates and luckily since they consider me a senior now that I turned 63, I no longer am charged a late fee.  Imagine that! When I call the library ahead of time to have the books placed on hold, I generally will find myself having a conversation with the person on the phone about our online group. I just recently have been sharing my books with others.  I have kept all the ones I have purchased we have discussed, because I like looking on my bookshelf and seeing them and remembering our discussions.  The ones on my ipad I keep.  If I let someone borrow any books I assume I am not going to get them back, so I consider if I want to have them or not before loaning them out.

 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: pedln on August 16, 2015, 01:31:49 PM
So many memories, so much to want to say, so little time.  Ann Alden -- was it Jane and PatW who went to see Lorrie in MN, shortly before she left us.  I remember reading The Ladies of Covington and THe Lovely Bones, both with Lorrie as DL. And thought how brave it was of her to be so candid in sharing her griefs and tragedies.

JoanK -- love hearing about your T-shirts. (I"m in t-shirt and jam bottoms right now.)  It's a T-shirt from the Washington (state) Coalition Against Censorship, and has CENSORED emblazoned across the chest, listing such titles as Catch 22 and The American Heritage Dictionary

Stand-out authors -- there are many.  Annie Barrows, as Bellamarie has mentioned. Matthew Pearl is one of may favorites -- he shared so much along with us in Dante Club and also The Last Dickens.  Paul Collins -- remember Sixpence House and Hay on Rye?  We also discussed Not Even Wrong, his history about autism.  At one point I had corresponded with his wife, also an author, and she told how they had moved from the West Coast to Iowa City, where they found a special kindergarten that met the needs of their son.  I often think of that family and wonder how they are doing.  And a more recent author -- Helen Simonson, who took time to meet with us and answer all our questions about Major Pettigrew.

But it's you all who are the major stand-outs, and I don't want to start listing names, except for the first two people I met in person --  at the 2002 National Book Festival-- Ginger W and Annafair. And after that I didn't feel like such a newbie any more.

Ginny, thanks for the film info.  Definitely want to see that.  I remember seeing the earlier film at the I-Max years ago. Those ice stairs, having to go up them, and then the only way to get back was to go down them.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 16, 2015, 05:01:13 PM
JONATHAN: that was it. Thank you. I'd like o find it and bread it again. That man can write!

GINNY mentioned my big move from Maryland to California. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Seniornet. I wanted to move, because my daughter and grandchildren are here, and I wanted to get to know the children and be part of their lives. But I was afraid of moving where I had no friends, and becoming too dependent on my daughter for social life. Then I realized: I take my friends with me wherever I go, as long as I have a computer. This gave me the last bit of courage I needed.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 03:41:54 AM
Interesting Steph that your husbands people are from Switzerland - what part - what language do they speak?

OH Annie thank you, thank you for sharing all your memories and they were dozes - the history of SeniorNet/Learn in one post with all the connections we have made over the years - terrriffffic

Pedln you do have some good memories of several authors don't you - how special - and then meeting some of the others in D.C. - nice memories aren't they and yes, once we meet we really feel so connected. I know the meetup in Chicago did that for me even with the hilarious debacle of the Blackstone hotel closing as we arrived with room reservations in hand. Of course then, it was not quite so hilarious but our fearless group leaders worked out a great and remarkable alternative.

And JoanK my word that is a tribute to this group. To think you felt this online group was companionable enough that you took from it the courage needed to move from one end of this nation to the other - Wow - now that is a statement that I bet many of us will hold dear to our hearts - what an exalted endorsement to SeniorNet/Learn online friendships built on a common interest. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 03:55:49 AM
Ok next set of focus question that are in the heading along with all the preceding questions listed in the lower part of the heading.

Monday & Tuesday   1.   Do you track the books you have read or the books you plan to read?
       - Do you have a stack of books TBR?
       - While reading do you underline passages or slip a marker to note certain phrases?
       - If you keep your books do you ever go back to find some passage half remembered?
       - Is there one book in your collection above all others with the most saved passages?
 
Aug. 17 ~ Aug. 18   2.   Are there any discussions that you did not join and now regret you did not read the book with the group?
       - Which book is it that you regret not joining?
       - Have you since read it or, is it still in your TBR pile?
 
Aug. 17 ~ Aug. 18    3.   Have you read a book on your own and then turned to our archived discussion after or while reading the book?
       - Did that help or open your eyes to new and different aspects of the story?
 
Aug. 17 ~ Aug. 18    4.   Had you seen the movie of a book we were discussing before the discussion and if so, did it make a difference how you understood the story and the characters?
       - Most movies reduce the number of subplots to one overall issue raised in the story. Did you notice this in any movie you saw before or after we discussed the book?
       - Did the movie focus the narrative for you or did you feel the story was changed or incomplete?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 17, 2015, 08:45:40 AM
Tims grandparents came from Reitnau, province of Berne.. a teeny town in the German speaking area of Switzerland. Most of the remaining relatives live in the various cities of Switzerland because they are mostly professionals..
My TBR stacks of book reach all over my house. I keep a variety on hand and also haunt thrift shops, used book stores, etc. I use my Kindle when I travel, just easier than a lot of books, but also a few paperbacks in case I get stuck somewhere and cannot rev up the Kindle.
Our last trip for Senior Learn for me was the bookies who rented one of the mansions on Sullivans Island(?) north of Charleston,one winter and had a blast. Ginny planned the whole thing. The last NY trip was 2010 early fall, not a good year for me, so I did not go.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 17, 2015, 01:22:34 PM
 The Isle of Palms. Unfortunately all those trip archives seem to be gone. Who could forget that mammoth house we rented ocean front and Judy Laird dropping her photo chip  IN the backstairs tour of the Aquarium in the turtle pond? Didn't the turtle eat it? And the fun we had with author Mary Alice Monroe who came with her photographer friend. That was a great trip. I am still hoping I can find some of those photos somewhere. I have them all, it's a matter of finding them, they are lost to view with the change.


Adoannie, how good to see you again! Hope you and Ralph are doing well? We still have the same games here that we did on SeniorNet, in fact we have more. They are here: http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=50.0 (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=50.0)

Oh our Bookfests!

Thomas Hoving, who will ever forget him? Some of us corresponded with him for years until his death. Larger than life. I recall writing him when the Euphonious Krater was demanded back to Italy, he was the original one who called it the "hot pot," he had known all along. Quoted in the news.  I've got a photo of Pearson somewhere with him and me with him. I treasure it. And one of him with the Bury St. Edmund's Cross. What a gracious, kind person he was.

Chicago and Studs Terkel. That was the one Pearson was running thru the halls with a blanket filled with broken glass. I will never forget that as long as I live. Who on earth could forget that? hhahahaa And  Ella was interviewed on TV about the closing of the Blackstone Hotel,  I think the name was.

NYC again, Adoannie did a good job with that one. The  Soiree with our two authors: (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/bookfests/NYCauthorstea.jpg) with our authors Bruce Frankel and Maryann McFadden.  And then at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/bookfests/NYCmet.jpg)

Bellamarie mentioned Carol Goodman, another NYC trip, how lovely  she was. How we enjoyed meeting her mother whom she brought along. Wasn't it the Ritz hotel? On the same day they were expecting some Saudi Prince, I almost never got in the hotel at all for the security.

 I sure hope I can find those photos. Have got one of Robby at the Beach (who by the way sends greetings, he's still going strong in his practice and hopes someday to come in again) on the beach for his morning walk. And Eloise and Annafair. And Pat Westerdale.

I think it would be fun to get up a montage of  photos some may have since ours are lost of all the previous bookfests. How MANY we had in DC alone!  And here he is, naturally I kept a separate copy of this one, I mean how many times in your life do you stand next to Wally Lamb?
(http://seniorlearn.org/latin/graphics/Wallylamb.jpg)

He was walking thru the tents for the exhibitors at the National Book  Festival looking at the exhibits like an ordinary person and he stopped to see what we had.  He had been signing books  where the line to meet him had stretched out longer than any other I have seen, that was when he had been on Oprah. She loved his book. People were saying it had changed their lives.  So that started a wonderful project which lasted a long time and hopefully benefited a lot of people.

The two SeniorNet Conventions. One in  Wilmington as Larry remembers in the Library and one in  DC, we had a big crowd then. I will never forget that Roosevelt Monument and the bread line. And PatH. I don't know if she wants this mentioned but she had a nasty fall (it was pitch black dark) and we went to the ER where she was about as composed as I have ever seen any human. SO impressive. I said I must remember this because it was hysteria all around us and there she was, calm as a cucumber with her medical history ready on some sort of electronic device. Boy howdy. The scene was like something out of a TV show on ER's.


And other trips: yes we did go out to see Lorrie, Pat Westerdale and I in the snow. I couldn't get over how people drove in the snow  like that, even tho Philly was my home town, I had forgotten!

And Andrea and I did go see PatW as she was recuperating, what a lovely place she lived in, what wonderful people. And Andy (ALF) is no slouch herself.

There's not one trip we did together we don't have lasting (sometimes hilarious) memories of, they were all worthwhile and a lot of fun.


Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 06:46:10 PM
Great Ginny now you know what we need to do I photo by photo name the folks who are photographed - the first photo - the big crowd scene around the table with I am assuming the authors - I count 17 heads - starting from left to right lets see if we can get some names - where ever that was taken I am not sure but I do not think I am among that group so we will have to depend on your memory or anyone who was in attendance and is still posting with us.

1 wears a black dress with a scarf looped and hanging round her neck
2 wears black with a turtle neck and her hair is pulled back
3 wears blue with white hair
4 wears black and wears glasses and is peaking out from the back row
5 wears a short sleeved white Tshirt or blouse with a black vest
6 front and center with a grey jacket having white lapels and a black dress with grey hair
7 Some one really peaking out from the back - think the tippy top of her dress is black
8 Wears a bright pinkish color sweater or jacket and a striped shirt with a scarf
9 In the back with long black hair and wearing black
10 black dress, gold chain and grey, probably black and white patterned shirt/jacket
11 lighter brown color hair wearing bangs, a necklace and a black dress
12 white hair, black dress and a lovely broach on a chain sitting on the dress
13 Way in the back with just white hair showing and a bit of forehead
14 wears glasses, an aqua Tshirt under a black jacket
15 In back with reddish hair pinkish blouse black jacket
16 Brown hair grey blouse dark navy jacket with a color
17 Is you Ginny with your very light blond hair and short sleeved black dress.

Do you think using the number a few names can be associated with them

The next photo I think is from the same event with 12 faces smiling at us - some I can see as the same from the above photo and a few I think I recognize but would need to look into our archives to get names.
Your there and I can see Annie or maybe it is Jeryn wearing the lavender jogging suit - oh and I know that first from the left in the lavender Tshirt and grey jacket but would have to find her name - Gregory or something comes to mind. Number 5 wearing the flowered shirt I think is Alf/Andy/Nurse Ratchet and number 9 with the very white hair, white classic collared blouse and black sweater I think is the gal from Canada, Eloise I would have to look up her name, last name I think started with a P. son who lived in Switzerland

Of course the last is you and Wally Lamb - great photo - what memories - can we get a few names though - that would really tie it together. Maybe - yes, why not put the two photos in the library and see if anyone who has not shared with us on this site may be able to help ID some of these folks.   
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: jane on August 17, 2015, 06:47:18 PM
Pedln...good memory...Pat W picked me up and we made a quick trip to see Lorrie in St. Paul, as well.  She was unable to get out much then as she was on oxygen full time, as I recall. 

Jane
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 17, 2015, 06:51:01 PM
So many memories and so little time😃. My first book was Snow Falling On Cedars.  I had found SN by looking for senior sites. That was back in '97! Ella and I arrived at the same time!  And in '98, we met each other F2F.  Our kids attended the same high school!☺️☺️☺️ So off to NYC and the first SN BOOKS AND LIT trip to meet some friends from our online discussions! No one came alone but brought sisters or friends.  Judy Laird came with her oldest friend and they both had their daughters with them.  We all were finally able to put faces to names!  Thank goodness and Joan Pearson for Leo House.  We were there with SN IN '97 and with SL in 2008.  And along the way we have lost  many posters thru their passing or their newest place to keep up with----FACEBOOK!!!
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 07:02:39 PM
Annie and Jane can either of you put names to some of the faces in the photos that Ginny provided - that would be so great if only one or two and slowly we may be able to whittle down these un-named faces.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: jane on August 17, 2015, 07:05:00 PM
I cannot as I was not able to attend any of these events.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 17, 2015, 07:07:08 PM
Oh that's right, Jane went too, to see Lorrie! I remember that now. Was that before or after Pat and I went, Jane? 


There's no need to ask in the Library, all the information on the photos is in the Soiree in NYC folder, the last one left here on the website: here:

http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1459.msg94551#msg94551 (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1459.msg94551#msg94551)



(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/bookfests/NYCauthorstea.jpg)


Front row, seated: Authors Bruce Frankel and Maryann McFadden

Left to right (scroll sideways  to see everybody):

Mary, Tom (Maryann's friend), Eloise, Judy's friend Liz, Joan R, Zulema, Pedln (hiding), Ann, Judy (Pedln's daughter) Andrea, Meghan (Joan R's daughter) Gay from the UK, Lucy's friend, Vivian,, Deb (Maryann's friend), Lucy, Ginny. Not shown: Patrick, Maryann's husband.




Morning at the Met: at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing

(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/bookfests/NYCmet.jpg)


Left to right: Lucy Ginny, Mary (in back) Zulema, Andrea (ALF), Ann, Vivian, Meghan (JoanR's daughter), Eloise, Joan R, Gay (Bow Belle) from the UK, Pedln.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 08:05:07 PM
Ah so - Terrific - thanks so much - Does anyone else have a photo of a past event that involved those from SeniorLearn or SeniorNet - it would be fun to see them.

This may be a photo to post on Sunday again - On Sunday I thought we could have a Memorial Day listing all the names we can of those who are no longer with us - just to have everyone that contributed to this phenomenal effort over the years recognized. We really do stand on their shoulders and it would be a simple post - no memorializing just who we remember and if we remember them from an event or a discussion that is great. Reviewing the archives there were so many names.

But lots to talk about till Sunday - we have these two days of questions to share about and then we will have some lists to develop and share later in the week - so much yet to help us really get to the story of SeniorLearn and SeniorNet book discussions and our memories of our time reading with each other.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 17, 2015, 08:09:54 PM
The questions posed for today and tomorrow - I'll start - No, I did not unfortunately keep a list or a booklet listing the books I have read either from our discussions or over the years my own reading - always intended but just never did it - at least the books I have purchased from amazon are listed in the past annual receipts.

I absolutely hate writing in or marking up a book - there was a time I did underline passages with one of those highlighters and I have purchased used books that have notes written in the margins and passages underlined but somewhere along my reading life I just could not mark up a book so I slip bits of paper between the pages - sometimes an empty envelope laying nearby and have even resorted to a tissue from my handy tissue box (allergies mean always tissues) - a friend gave me a box with all these little colorful tabs that self stick but not so hard they cannot be removed - and yes, I am forever going back to review a passage from a book read sometimes years ago.   

And yes, my falling apart paperback 1958, Doubleday Image copy of Ascent of Mount Carmel translated by E. Allison Peers still, after I removed many has a dozen papers sticking up in various colors, sizes and heights from the book. Years ago now that was so satisfying when I visited the Carl Sandburg museum/home in NC and saw he too had lots of paper place marks poking out of nearly every book in his extensive library - Did my heart good to know there was someone of his stature who did the same thing. 

Now how do you keep track of important phrases or even how do you find in the book we are discussing the sentences or phrases that are directing your thoughts?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 18, 2015, 07:55:10 AM
we had a blast in Isle of Palms.. Game night brought on the competitive gene in our lovely gentle ladies.. and Robbie supplied the chocolate to keep us up all night.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 18, 2015, 09:44:18 AM
What beautiful pictures, thank you so much for sharing.  It's fun seeing faces of some of the people we are discussing our books with.  A fine looking group!!

2.   Are there any discussions that you did not join and now regret you did not read the book with the group?
       - Which book is it that you regret not joining?
       - Have you since read it or, is it still in your TBR pile?


I almost did not join Hot Zone by Richard Preston.  I did not think I would be the least bit interested in learning or discussing the Ebola virus.  Shockingly, I actually am glad I took the time to read and discuss it. 

My TBR pile of books are actually logged into my ipad under ibooks.  When I hear about a book one of you all have read and think I might like to read it, I go to my ibook account, download a sample and then keep it in the list of books I have not read yet. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: cynthiel on August 18, 2015, 10:48:47 AM
Hi.  I just discovered your website/forum and I am eager to participate. Immediately I was drawn in by Jonathan's post about being from a large family where it is was hard to get a word in, also my experience.  It has led me to form a little writing group of women to share our personal histories.  Some wanted to mine the memories of older family members, others like me wanted to share stories of youth and the present to have her point of view heard.  We read our stories aloud to each other.  Two members have taught English as a second language at a community college in town.  A love of reading binds us as well. 

I look forward to discussing and hearing about your lives as we penetrate the joys and mysteries of reading and writing together.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 18, 2015, 12:36:14 PM
Hi, cynthiel, and welcome!  You picked a good time to find us, while we're in the middle of reminiscing.  You'll be an old friend from the start.

Usually we have a book discussion going on where this discussion is, plus all the more general discussions--fiction, movies, mystery, non-fiction, poetry, and science fiction/fantasy.  There we tell about what we've been reading, compare notes, and get ideas from others for what to read next.  The Library is a catch-all, where we talk about all the categories, plus anything else we think of.

Join us, talk about what you like, make new friends.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 18, 2015, 12:49:32 PM
Welcome cynthiel - so glad you found us - yes, we are sharing our memories - the combination of the years we were SeniorNet and now SeniorLearn are coming up this winter as 20 years - some of us have been a part of this reading discussion since the beginning and others, like you have found us along the way -

Hope you find some good discussion time and join with us as we read and discuss books together - Our usual format is a book a month but then at times we have only devoted a couple of weeks to a short story and other times two months to an in-depth tome.

This month as you found us we are breaking from our usual pattern and we are each sharing some of our experiences reading and discussing books on SeniorLearn - Please poke around on the site and you will find other topics of conversation. The library is a general meeting place where some of us share the recent books we are privately reading.

So glad you found us and we look forward to your pulling up your chair and sharing your views on the books we read. We have not had a writing group but then who knows - that may be an addition others would also like to see added to SeniorLearn.

Some of our focus questions may interest you since they are not all about our history - we are using this format to mine our memories and to share a more intimate view of who we are - all the focus questions are in the heading on the top of the page. You cynthiel, as we all, are encouraged to share our experience from any of the focus questions covered so far. This discussion is using this format till next Tuesday and then if there are any memories that had not been explored using the focus questions we will share sorta à la carte.

We look forward to your posts cynthiel.

Bellamaria you use your Ipad far more than I do and it sounds like a good system - like most of us I am always in my minds eye 6 books ahead in what to read. Sometimes Amazon has a used copy that pops up for some ridiculous price like a penny and they have even had used books they sell with prime that the entire book is less than the typical shipping costs on a used book. So I grab the book - yep, a library of books yet to read.

I've picked up a couple of the books we were reading here on SeniorLearn on my kindle and frankly each time I get so frustrated and vow never again, but the price is good and if I am in a hurry I succumb. The reason for my frustration is I am so visual and if I want to go back to a passage that I need to review I have no way of knowing where it is - where as with a book in hand I can see the page and where about in the book it was located based on the thickness of the pages at that point when I first read the passage. So often a passage while reading is interesting but I never imagine it will be pivotal to the story.

Steph I've heard the stay at the Palms was one of the highlights for so many - I finally decided at the time not to go since I was still driving across the country during those years and I had only made the drive at Christmas to my daughter's in North Carolina so I just could not imagine doing it again to South Carolina - Part of the problem for me was I do not sleep when I stop at a hotel as I had several times making the trip to my daughter's and so, rather than tossing and turning and sitting up watching TV, only getting more tired I would drive straight through - From here to her house it took me from 15 to 19 hours according to the weather, traffic and if I took I-20 or I-10 - Going to the Palms would have meant I would be crashing, as I did visiting my daughter's, for a good day when I arrived - plus the long drive took me a couple of weeks when I returned home to feel really rested. Still working the heavy schedule that I kept that was a problem. So I passed and have alway had a heart jerk since that I did not go ahead and make the trip.

Hope you find a few more photos for us Ginny as you rummage through your travel collection. Seems to me there was a photo you shared a few years ago of you and Pat W and someone else in I think London or maybe Italy - hope you find it and can share that on Sunday when we do our memorial day.

Whoops Pat you were posting as I was writing - it is nice isn't it that cynthiel found us.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 19, 2015, 06:08:54 AM
THREE Days for these Questions
Wed. Thur. Fri.   OK we need some lists – Remember High School when we made lists of our favorite things from colors to cookies to movie stars  - Well we need Lists - Lists in units of 10 would be great.

Aug. 19~20~21     – 10 of your favorite Books
  – 10 of your favorite books read and discussed on SeniorNet/Learn
  – 10 of your favorite Authors
  – 10 of your favorite Characters
 
Aug. 19~20~21      – 10 of your favorite movies that were books
  – 10 of your favorite phrases from the books we have read
  – 10 new bits of information you learned from our in-depth book discussions.
  – 10 of your favorite or most remembered discussions here on SeniorLearn.

Yep, lots of lists but do not panic - we have 3 days and a fourth if needed...  :-*
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 19, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
Welcome Cynthiel!  I am so happy to see you found our discussion group.  I promise you will not be disappointed. The great thing about our group is you can post any time you want, and as often or as less as you want, and no one is going to interrupt you.  I come from a large family as well, Italians who talk all at one time, with hands moving in all directions. Being the second to the youngest of seven, I never seemed to find a way to get my voice heard over five sisters and a brother.  I love reading books and am a bit of a writer, with a few pieces published.  I have a children's book ready to submit when I finally get up my nerve.  My first granddaughter did all the illustrations for my book as she would spend her summers with me helping with my in home day care.  I hope to get back to writing now that I have retired, although I seem more busier than ever.  We here at Senior Learn have been sharing our memories over the past years, and I especially like how we are sharing where we usually settle in, and what we wear while posting.  Comfy clothes seem to be the most favorite choices, pjs, tees and sweats!  So get your cup of joe,  tea, cocoa, or whatever your drink may be, snuggle up in your favorite spot, and enjoy!
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 19, 2015, 10:31:32 AM
Barb, Yes, I can not live without my ipad.  We just got a new beautiful Apple store in our mall and I thought I had died and gone to Heaven!  My ipad was not charging the other day and I was mystified, since I had done all I knew to do to reboot, and go through the steps to figure it out.  I first started teaching Apple computers back in 1984, so I know there is very few things that can go wrong with these devices.  I finally gave in and took all my chargers, adaptors, cords and tablet to the new Apple store.  I was so impressed with how immediately a salesperson approached and was so friendly and willing to help me.  A technician was assigned to me and he tested everything, and was able to determine my two wall adaptors were no longer good, my cord had a tiny crack in it, and that I had some how managed to be using the wrong adaptors to charge my ipad.  As he was talking I was remembering throughout the summer my grandkids would bring their ipods, and iphones along with their chargers/adaptors and we seemed to have gotten each others mixed up.  He helped me for possibly thirty minutes, explained some things to me and had my ipad charging as we talked.  Left the store feeling so excited and the only cost was for the new cord and adaptor.  All the technician support and help was FREE!  I wish I had a dime for every time I have said, "I LOVE Apple!" over the past 30 yrs.  Like I told the tech, I just wish I would have taken the advice from the first Apple technician who came to our school who suggested I buy stock in Apple back in 1984.  I would have had a nice nest egg for my retirement.

Anyway.....when I read my ibooks on my ipad I use the capabilities of "highlighting", "bookmarking" and "notes" so when I want to go back and find something I just need to click and it's there.  Nothing will ever compare to a real book in hand, but I have gotten comfortable with ibooks now that I can use these capabilities.  I also love the extra tabs so I can keep my book open, and still search for things on the web, at the same time.

Whoa!!!   Those 10 of ..... and lists just gave me a bit of a panic attack.  It takes me back to being in school and opening my test and feeling overwhelmed!  I can maybe do 2 or 3 of each, but I know I won't manage 10.    :o
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 19, 2015, 10:45:49 AM
I'm not very good at lists either.   I'm going to do mine in instalments.  But it doesn't take me even a second to come up with my absolute favorite quote from a discussion.  It's from the Iliad.  Nestor is one of the Greek warriors, elderly now, though still fighting, and respected both for his courage and his wisdom.  Agamemnon says to him:

Nestor, old sir! If only your knees
Were as strong as your spirit!

That's me, all right.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 19, 2015, 12:32:11 PM
You make me feel envious Bellamarie - I have a family deep into technology - my son-in-law owns a computer store in South Carolina where my grandson has finally moved up from Savannah and is sharing the responsibility for about 50 employees but they are all about Microsoft and PCs - my first computer was an Apple and I loved it but since, felt disloyal attempting to choose other than through them and so my devices are no longer Apple.

OH dear did not think that naming 10 was like School - I just remember how we used to get a notebook and fold in half the first page so that on that half page we had these questions about our likes and on the full page behind it we wrote our answers so that when that full page was completed the next was a half page followed by a full page - we had usually a set of 20 questions on the folded half page and we would ask all our friends to full in their likes using this system. It was great fun and a lark as we discussed the merits of a movie, book, movie star, flavor of ice cream, favorite coke, candy, teacher, subject in school, color, fruit, on and on...

So please yes, just share what you feel is a fun share - this is to be like Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole toasting a summer day while messing around in boats.

Hahaha I love it Pat - oh oh oh - knees as strong as your spirit - how perfect.

Somehow we will have to gather some of this - not sure yet how - but maybe a recap will happen as part of Saturday because that as a favorite quote is too good to let it go, buried in the posts.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 19, 2015, 01:45:08 PM
I have so many quotes that I bring back to mind - my mother did that with EVERYTHING we said or at least that is how it seemed - we would ask a question about the most mundane thing and Mom would quote or break out in song with lyrics that were directly related to the question - I do not think that women ever said anything without starting her announcement or thought with a quote - one of my more joyful memories of my mother. Where I do not necessarily say my quote outloud, when I hear someone talking I smile in my head and make a connection.

The Harry Potter series gave me so many but these come to mind. 

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

Nothing like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas.

And then from one of my all time favorite books - A Child's Christmas in Wales -

It snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.

When standing in the wet, smoky room, Jim's Aunt, Miss. Prothero, came downstairs and looks at the fireman in the smoke, cinders and melting snowballs and says, Would you like anything to read? Just love it... often when I am at loose ends looking for a book I remember that scene as well as, when I see someone acting ridiculous so that instead of getting myself in a twist I remember this scene.

Oh and in Mapp and Lucia they pepper their conversations with, la bella lingua and they say ta ta to each other with,  Au reservoir!   And seeing someone bluster how can you not think in your head of Major Benjy loudly saying, Qui-hi. Evidently a phrase he used when he called his servants in India. 

From One Hundred Years of solitude there is this fun, Cease, cows, life is short.

And this profound and simple logic - I love it. a person doesn’t die when he should but when he can.

But my all time favorite is long and I pull it out several times a year to read - the irony of it - the sadness of knowing the circumstance experienced where this logic is so right and appropriate and yet, the satire and the truth of it overwhelms me everytime - from Slaughter House Five.

“The visitor from outer space made a serious study of Christianity, to learn, if he could, why Christians found it so easy to be cruel. He concluded that at least part of the trouble was slipshod storytelling in the New Testament. He supposed that the intent of the Gospels was to teach people, among other things, to be merciful, even to the lowest of the low.

But the Gospels actually taught this:

Before you kill somebody, make absolutely sure he isn’t well connected. So it goes.

The flaw in the Christ stories, said the visitor from outer space, was that Christ, who didn’t look like much, was actually the Son of the Most Powerful Being in the Universe. Readers understood that, so, when they came to the crucifixion, they naturally thought, and Rosewater read out loud again:

Oh, boy–they sure picked the wrong guy to lynch _that_ time!

And that thought had a brother: “There are right people to lynch.” Who? People not well connected. So it goes.

The visitor from outer space made a gift to the Earth of a new Gospel. In it, Jesus really was a nobody, and a pain in the neck to a lot of people with better connections than he had. He still got to say all the lovely and puzzling things he said in the other Gospels.

So the people amused themselves one day by nailing him to a cross and planting the cross in the ground. There couldn’t possibly be any repercussions, the lynchers thought. The reader would have to think that, too, since the new Gospel hammered home again and again what a nobody Jesus was.

And then, just before the nobody died, the heavens opened up, and there was thunder and lightning. The voice of God came crashing down. He told the people that he was adopting the bum as his son, giving him the full powers and privileges of The Son of the Creator of the Universe throughout all eternity. God said this: From this moment on, He will punish horribly anybody who torments a bum who has no connections.”
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 19, 2015, 02:41:13 PM
Oh, dear, that's so archetypical Vonnegut.  (Chuckle.)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 19, 2015, 07:31:36 PM
One of my very favorite quotes, is from Gone With the Wind:

"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.”
― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

My very favorite book I would have to say is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
A favorite quote from this book is when Elizabeth says this to herself after she reads Darcy's letter and realizes that she had no reason to despise him as she had.  It reminds me a bit of myself, when I realize I have a bit too much pride, clouding my own judgement.

"How despicably have I acted!' she cried. - 'I, who have prided myself on my discernment! - I, who have valued myself on my abilities!."

Another favorite book of mine is Let's Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage by Lisa Beamer the wife of the hero Todd Beamer in the 911 attacks.  I read this book and it has stayed with me forever.  Todd was a father of two small boys, and when he wanted them to get busy he would say, "Let's roll." Just before he and the other passengers on United flight 93 stormed the terrorists, Todd said these two words to signal to try to attempt to prevent the plane from killing more people than the ones on the plane.

"Let's roll." will forever be in my mind as a reminder of the faith and courage this man had for his family, and country.

"WWWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) is also a quote I keep in the forefront of my mind.  I did not see the movie, nor hear the song, I only became familiar with it in teaching religion classes years ago.  I use it often while teaching my third grade CCD children.

Hind's Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard is yet another favorite book I hold dear to me.  This book helped me work through some very troubling times in my life and brought me to a clear understanding of what God wanted from me.  It is a Christian allegorical tale of Much-Afraid, a woman searching for guidance from God to lead her to a higher place.  One of my favorite quotes is:

(http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Psalm_30_5.jpg)

And also:   "The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like Hinds’ Feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine High Places."  [/b]      Habakkuk 3:19
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 20, 2015, 08:40:33 AM
Wow.. Quotes are not a big part of my lift, but some of those were powerful..
My favorite book, I reread every 5 years or so is totally unknown.. It is titled The Cheerleader and is by Ruth Doan Mcdougal. It is a very ordinary story of  a girl in New Hampshire and her two best friends all through high school.  Its value to me is that it is like someone had been listening to my life and made a book of it and made me realize how ordinary lives count in some strange ways..
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 20, 2015, 03:18:02 PM
Lucky you, Stephanie. And don't we all hope to find ourselves in the books we read. How helpful it might have been for Nestor to have read Habakkuk. Vonnegut does it for some of us, who are inclined to the surreal. Old Filth, discussed here, not long ago, brought the shock of recognition. And so it goes. But I'll always feel sorry for old Nestor. In our busy, clever times, even his wisdom might appear creaky.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 20, 2015, 04:54:24 PM
Ah Bellamaria, to have some of Scarlett's fabulous ability to minimize any discomfort - we can all smile at ourselves with the wish to be as Scarlett - I seem to optimize the opposite grabbing onto any problem like a dog with its bone. And so the world goes round doesn't it... 

Yes, the Cheerleader, a perfect 1950s story that was our young lives - nice memory Steph

Jonathan - perfect - we are all tempted to be Babylonians at times - the world seems to be reviling in Babylonians in so many places and within so many enterprises down to our own desire to influence others as, impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own
... Then they sweep past like the wind and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 20, 2015, 06:02:44 PM
Ok my appreciation of the books that were my favorites on SeniorNet and SeniorLearn -


1.   Those Angry Days ~ Lynne Olson
2.   First Confession ~ Frank O'Connor
3.   The Moonstone ~ Wilkie Collins
4.   The Tempest ~ William Shakespeare
5.   Walden ~ Henry David Thoreau
6.   Becoming Madame Mao ~ Anchee Min
7.   Christmas Carol ~ Charles Dickens
8.   Mapp & Lucia ~ E. F. Benson
9.   One Hundred Years of Solitude ~ Gabriel García Márquez
10.   Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man ~ James Joyce

But then I loved Bleak House by Dickens and I loved the Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald. And I loved The Red Tent by Anita Diamant Oh yes, and John Grisham’s Painted House and The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal and Richard III and even though I read it as a young girl I still loved discussing The Good Earth by Pearl Buck and Renato's Luck by dear Jeff Shapiro who joined us for so many days during the discussion but the story was a delight. Oh how do I make room, I cannot imagine being on a desert Island without a copy of A Child's Christmas in Wales and then there are the Harry Potter books we read filled with wonder, intrigue and such a sense of justice along with the foreboding of things to come.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 20, 2015, 11:20:59 PM
Ooops sorry, I misunderstood and did not realize we were suppose to pick favorites from our archives here at Senior Net and Senior Learn.  Okay I am going to give this a shot, not in any particular order of favorites, except Jane Austen must be #1 with me.

1.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2.  Emma by Jane Austen
3.  Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
4.  Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
5.  That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
6.  Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
7.  Night Villa by Carol Goodman
8.  So Happy Together by Maryann McFadden
9.  Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble
10. America's Prophet by Bruce Feiler

Many of these books I would never have picked out and read on my own.  I am thrilled to open my mind up to the many different genres we have chosen to tackle.  Some easy reads, others taking us back to the 14th and 18th Centuries, while others had us aimlessly cruising the shores of Cape Cod, or traveling to Paris, and then of course we could not leave out politics and religion.  We have spent many hours, days, weeks, months and years together snuggling up in our pjs, sweats, tees and slippers, with our favorite drink nearby.  I look forward to many more with all of you. 

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 21, 2015, 01:41:26 AM
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/6ffa6ad19551b713c035216baa74cc0d/tumblr_nrys2zq5jK1rt6ghko1_500.jpg)

Regardless if you've posted with us for 20 years or joined us 2 months ago, help us capture our golden "Wild Days" as we celebrate the memories of our best and memorable experiences discussing books together on SeniorLearn. Yes, "life is Good."

We have a "Plan" for celebrating our memories - "The Plan" helps us focus but more, "The Plan" is designed to assure that we give texture to our many memories regardless of books read and discussed last month, last year, or going on 20 years ago.

"The Plan" - Every two days, new topics will be introduced - If a forgotten memory creeps in days later feel free to post adding more depth to the focus questions we had featured earlier in our Legacy discussion.


Questions to help us Focus our Memories

Our Memorial to those who read and discussed books with us on both SenoirNet and SeniorLearn.

This is not a page to memorialize folks. It is to honor by mentioning those names we can remember whose shoulders we stand on today because of their contribution to this longest running book discussion on the WWW.



Past Members
Sunday   Many names are in our Archived Book Discussions
  - Let's see if we can remember some of those names.

 
Aug. 23 Names of those who we know are no longer with us.
  – Names of those who never made it over from SeniorNet
  – Names of folks who no longer read with us.

 
Sunday 8/23 Hope you can catch us up to date about any of these folks
  – Or remember in what discussion you both were posting, that would be great.



If you have just joined us or need a reminder, here are the questions from the past few days.





 

Need a memory nudge? Here are links to our Archived Discussions. SeniorNet books are listed alphabetically and NOT by the discussion date. SeniorLearn discussions are listed by date. 

SeniorLearn Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=45.0) ~~~ SeniorNet Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=181.0)


Discussion Leader: Barb (augere@ix.netcom.com)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 21, 2015, 02:01:01 AM
You're in good shape Bellamaria there are TWO questions - one the favorites from our discussion and the other a list of your favorite books - so you have another shot that I know I am looking forward to taking full advantage of both questions

There are so many that we have discussed and your list is wonderful - You did join a couple of discussions that for what ever reason at the time I did not get to participate so it is really nice to see those books listed as some of your favorites - looking forward to see what books your second list will include - and then we have favorite authors - that for me will include several poets.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: pedln on August 21, 2015, 11:35:45 AM
Bellamarie, I'm going to follow your example and not try to list these favorites in order, just list those books and discussions that really made an impact.

1.  Boys in the Boat
2.  End of Your Life Book Club
3.  The Dante Club
4.   The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
5.  Zeitoun
6.  Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
7.  Clara and Mr. Tiffany
8.  Ladies of Covington
9.  Kite Runner
10. Greater Journey

The first one has probably had the most impact on my recent  daily routine.  After reading Boys in the Boat I have fallen in love with the indoor rowing machine and ask myself each day "when am I going to the gym to row?" It has now become a "must do" as I always feel better afterwards, and am setting and meeting some goals. (Thank you Ella for bringing that book to us.)

I feel badly about the last on the list -- The Greater Journey -- as I was a kind of drop-out. But there is so much there about the Americans in Paris and I periodically return to it, and oten look for a picture of John Singer Sargeant's Gallery at the Louvre.

My bucket list still contains the Morse Museum in Orland0/Winter Park -- to see the Tiffany collection there.

Off to row.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 21, 2015, 05:28:48 PM
So now I will try to tackle my favorite authors in no particular order.  Again, at the top of my list will be:

1.  Jane Austen
2.  Elizabeth Gaskell
3.  Louisa May Alcott
4.  Danielle Steele
5.  Mary Higgins Clark
6.  Nora Roberts
7.  Maya Angelou
8.  Debbie Macomber
9.  Nicholas Sparks

As for favorite characters, at the top of my list is of course:

1.  Emma Woodhouse from Emma
2.  Jo March from Little Women
3.  Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice
4.  Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice
5.  Laurie Laurence from Little Women
6.  Simon Darre from Kristin Lavransdatter
7.  Cynthia Kirkpatrick from Wives and Daughters
8.  Squire Hamley from Wives and Daughters
9.  Major Ernest Pettigrew from Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
10. Juliet Ashton from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I had to add the two characters from Little Women even though we have not read the book, because those two have stayed with me forever, like Lizzie & Darcy. 
 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 21, 2015, 06:10:09 PM
Ah both Pedln and Bellamarie have added more lists for our legacy - love it...

Favorite Characters - now that will be a tough one for me - but authors - and actually some of my favorite books we never did read here on SeniorLearn - been clearing out again getting rid of books, mostly paperback lighthearted novels and books on needlework, decorating, and old dated political books like Henry Kissinger's Diplomacy. And I know just the books I weighed back and forth if I should get rid of them or not. Back later - time to hear from my son and a couple of my grands.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 21, 2015, 07:44:42 PM
Here are my favorite authors today. :)  They may change tomorrow. I am basing this on the length of my admiration for them and the number of times I have reread them:


1. Richard Yates
2. Charles Dickens
3. E.F. Benson
4. Sinclair Lewis
5. Alfred Tennyson
6. Homer
7. Julius Caesar
8.  Samuel Taylor Coleridge
9. Shakespeare (how can I leave him out?_ SO much pleasure provided)
10.  Plutarch
11. How can I leave Hilary Mantel out? I can't stop rereading her Wolf Hall series.

And the list keeps growing. We've read all of these authors here except Hilary Mantel who is relatively new to the scene, but much lauded.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 21, 2015, 09:24:21 PM
OK 10 Authors

1. Susan Griffin (A Chorus of Stones and other Books)
2. Simon Wiesenthal (The Sunflower)
3. John O'Malley S.J.
4. Dylan Thomas
5. Haruki Murakami
6. Eudora Welty
7. Mark Twain
8. Semus Heaney
9. Henry David Thoreau
10. Matsuo Basho
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 21, 2015, 09:31:09 PM
ONE more Day- Saturday 8/22 - We just need to include...
   
  – 10 new bits of information you learned from our book discussions.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 22, 2015, 12:24:35 AM
I'm not sure why because it wasn't at the top of my favorites list, all though it may be in my top 10, but when i think of a SL book discussion the James Audubon book comes to mind. I remember being angry at his treatment of his wife, leaving her for long periods of time and not providing much money for her. But, i certainly did learn a lot from that book. I loved his paintings of the birds and I'm glad he did what he did. I mollified myself about his spousal behavior by remembering the time, and by knowing that many people who have a passion, often an obssession, have lost themselves in their projects. The family has usually suffered from their obssession.

Jean

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 22, 2015, 01:07:30 AM
I can not really come up with just 10 bits of information I learned from our book discussions, because there have been so many for me. 

1.  I learned so much when we read the Hot Zone, I knew so little about the ebola virus and that book was an encyclopedia of information not only helping me understand where it originated from, but how it can be transmitted, and how to protect yourself and healthcare providers from being exposed, and I also learned to not let the fear of the this virus put me into a panic mode.

2.  Kristin Lavransdatter, I learned the earlier teachings and traditions of the Catholic church, and about the Vikings. 

3.  With the Jane Austen's novels, I learned to appreciate and enjoy the dialogue of their speech, the era of the 18th Century, their manners and customs, especially for dating and marrying, and I learned how difficult being a woman of strength and strong will can actually be frowned upon. 

4.  In Boys in the Boat, I learned so very much about rowing, the make of the boat and the importance of each person and stroke. 

5.  Reading Girls in Atomic City, I must say I was in shock and awe learning how we could actually create a town, keep it a secret and create an atomic bomb. 

6.  I Always Loved You, taught me so very much about the fine strokes of an artist, and how complicated their lives can be living in such solitaire. 

7.  Reading Greater Journey, taught me to truly appreciate Paris, and how it was the starting point of so many things that was brought back to the United States in medicine, art, etc. 

8.  Alice In Wonderland, oh dear where do I begin?  I learned there was a whole lot more to falling down a rabbit's hole than meeting up with a cheshire cat, a deck of cards, a rabbit, and as for Lewis Carroll I can best put by putting one of my last posts in the discussion:  "While you say, "his reasoning is often tenuous." one thing I can say for certain where Carroll is concerned in writing this nonsensical story is....he left NOTHING to chance.  He was a brilliant mathematician, with a mind that seems to have not missed a beat in remembering and using all things possible to create this story, astronomy, theology, poetry, fantasy, mythology, analogy, psychology, etc., etc., etc.

9.  Wives and Daughters, taught me how you can't always put expectations on one of your children because it is protocol, leaving another child with less expectations and feeling less worthy.  I also learned that a friendship between two sisters can be valuable, yet disappointing when you realize one has been keeping secrets and doing things that go against your moral fiber. I also learned that selflessness can actually be selfishness.

10.  Remarkable Creatures taught me to appreciate the remarkable things the sea can bring to us, and the discoveries that may still be left to find.

11.  Good Earth, oh dear, this book truly was like no other I have ever read.  It taught me about generations of families who can never take their wealth for granted.  It was a book of the seven deadly sins.

12.  President's Club, was just filled with inside information of presidents and how they treat each other.  I enjoyed this book.

And this is where I must stop, since my eyes are saying time for bed.  All the books we have discussed has taught me so much about so many things, but most of all it was the members who have taught me the most important of all, and that is to allow myself to be open to all possibilities, and it's okay to agree to disagree.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 22, 2015, 12:11:13 PM
Is it possible to recover a very long post that I have made and lost today? I need someone's help? 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 22, 2015, 12:43:22 PM
 Ann: if on a computer, try hitting the back arrow button and see if it comes back up?


The next time it happens right click on the empty window where you were posting and try clicking "Undo," the first selection when you right click. If, however, you have moved away from that window, try going back with the arrows and see if that works.

What I do when the post gets long is I right click with the mouse (this applies to a computer only), choose select all and then choose copy and I have that much, anyway, if I don't copy or paste in between finishing a post it will be there as the last copy...if something should happen. I know it's annoying. :) Sorry for the problem.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 22, 2015, 01:26:14 PM
Thanks Ginny!  Do I assume that its too late to recover this one post?  OMG! Took an hour to write it ((((:::::
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 01:28:06 PM
If Ginny's suggestions don't work, that's heartbreaking.  All that work!

when I remember, I defend myself the same way Ginny does, by saving the text before posting.  Steps are different on the Mac.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 22, 2015, 01:29:41 PM
I'm not sure. If you didn't have success by hitting the return arrow to a previous screen, since you posted for help the Undo won't work and if you didn't make a copy (golly moses, an HOUR~!!!!) or if you're on an Ipad or IPhone, I guess you're toast.

Happens to me all the time. One little misstep can do it.  That's why I make copies and use undo.

I am sorry. :)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 01:33:13 PM
I've got so much to say, and only this afternoon to say it in.  I've been traveling, and though I've had a computer with me, I haven't had as much time as usual.  Every time I start to work up a long answer, we're already on the next section.  Now I'm home, I'll write as fast as I can--still unpacking, though.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 22, 2015, 01:36:08 PM
Oh Annie, how awful to spend so much time, only for it to be gone.  I have had that happen to me and know what you're feeling.  I make a habit of copying before attempting to preview or post, so if a glitch happens I have my copy.  Good luck!

PatH., Be sure to make a copy!   ;)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 22, 2015, 02:00:38 PM
Well, I better get going on the rewrite :-[ :-[ :-[
I may have to complete this after we attend the Welcome party for our new residents this afternoon. Ralph is still getting ready to go so I have a few minutes before we have to leave.
 ;) ;) ;)
I want to tell Ginny that Ralph and I are doing fine considering he has been in the hospital twice this summer and I am in water PT for my knees but other than that we are okay.  You know what some of my favorites are:  "Getting older is not fun!  If its not your bum its your elbow".    Quote from Kate Morrow, my grandmother! ;)  And then there's this one: "If it weren't for our drs, we wouldn't have any friends"  Quote from Ella's neighbor who had had a sick year.  I just heard the following on Facebook this week:  "Don't worry about getting old, it doesn't last long.

My other message is for Bellamarie who asked if Ella and I could plan on meeting her halfway between Columbus and Toledo. I will ask Ella if she's up for a luncheon with you.  She is on oxygen 24/7 so might not want to travel.  It sounds like fun!

Now for some of my favorites:

Snow Falling On Cedars will always be a fav as it was my first book discussion on SN.

Abraham and Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler.  I was lucky that he came to Columbus to speak to the "Reading For The Year in Bexley"  and I got him to sign a book for Mary, my sister.
"DownTown NYC" by Pete Hamil also spoke to the same group and Ella and I encouraged him to join us when we discussed one of his books.  Can't remember if we read his book and discussed it. I know that we did read his  book about the immigrants in Lower Manhatten.  Ped'ln knows that title ;D

"The Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens which we discussed more than once.
I also saw it twice in live musical theatre.  Once in Atlanta,GA and once in Indianapolis, IN.
I often wonder if Atlanta still performs theirs.  It was fantastic!

"The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel which was also a movie.

"The Luncheon of the Boating Party" by Dianne Vreeland

"Nothing Like it in the World" by Stephen Ambrose.  Wonderful discussion with Ginny leading the way.

"The Road" by Cormack McCarthy.  I was discussing if from the hospital that time too.

While I am writing this, the Met Opera is doing a Gilbert and Sullavin  on the radio! In English!  Wow!  The Pirates of Penzance"

We are off to the welcome party.  More later!
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 22, 2015, 03:34:31 PM
Annie what a trooper - it is such an awful feeling to loose a long post - and here you are attempting to capture again for us what you said - terrific

Did not know Ella was on oxygen 24/7 - and here Ella still wows us with her ability to gather a group of us into the most fascinating discussions that really get to the bone.

Wouldn't that be great Bellamarie to go up and have a meeting with Ella and Annie - what a treat and memory for you that would be.

PatH hurray looking forward to your catch up - there is one set of questions that needs to go into the heading but most of them are there - what a treat to look forward to knowing you will be posting.

Ginny to the rescue - oh oh oh how many over the years have we lost everything - it is so maddening because as soon as any of us decide to first write on Word or hit copy when writing or do something that will be an insurance, low and behold the very time we decide we can risk is when the keyboard god says, 'gottcha' 

Bellamarie you sure enough have made the case that discussing any book with Senior Learn is an opportunity to 'Learn' - fabulous. I was especially taken with what you said about Lewis Carroll and I forgot about Remarkable Creatures - that was not only a good book but there were many new things to learn about while reading that book - I remember while reading that book it was hard for me to square the active life and scientific knowledge being accumulated by the characters with some of the other literature about this time in history.

Jean - yes, I remember how outraged over leaving his wife and family for so many years at a time - as you said, it does seem to be the way of life in order to live and pursue your talent and interests - Don't remember if I saw before or after our discussion the PBS special that showed one of only a couple of his original books that are gigantic in size and there is a word to describe the size that I forgot - but the process of making those paintings into a book was astonishing - so glad you brought the book to our attention.

Back later with some of my thoughts on what I've learned from reading and discussing books with SeniorNet and Senior Learn.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 04:20:13 PM
See how often one learns tidbits here.  I knew Audubon's largest books were elephant folios, but I looked it up to check, and they are actually  double elephant folios, and are over 3 feet by 2 feet.

http://manalivedesign.blogspot.com/2010/10/double-elephant-folio-for-record-books.html (http://manalivedesign.blogspot.com/2010/10/double-elephant-folio-for-record-books.html)

https://sites.google.com/site/lostparadiseofbirds/slide-show-1 (https://sites.google.com/site/lostparadiseofbirds/slide-show-1)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 04:58:11 PM
Most important, I've honed my reading skills on SeniorLearn, and learned to look at books in a different way.

But I can't go a week without something coming up in conversation that I know something about because I learned it here.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 22, 2015, 07:10:45 PM
Of course, my favorite book discussion and the one i learned the most from was the discussion that brought me to SN and then SL - Story of Civilization. As i have said before I was teaching Western Civ and was looking for some tidbit, probably a picture of some Middle Ages building or person, and Google brought me here.

The wonderful Robbie was posting a passage from the Durant's 11 volumes. I think their duscussion was in the early Middle Ages. I'll have to check in the archives. After Robbie "retired" from that job, Trevor carried on well and ably.

After Robbie and Trevor's good work, the next BEST thing was the use of the web and participation of people from all over the world and people who have traveled all over the world - all came together in a perfect.........what's the opposite of "storm"?  ;).....entertaining,  informative discussion with pictures!! Pictures of buildings, paintings, sculptures, geographical places and anything else people had taken pictures of, or had found on the WWW! And narratives and literature that amplified the issues and times we were talking about. What fun!

Maybe at some time inthe future we can pick up the discussion again. We just sort of ran out of gas.  :D :D

In fact I just had a brilliant (haha) idea. Since i missed the first 3 or 4 volumes of the discussion, i'm going to go to the archives and read those!! What a delight that should be! A BIG Thank you to whomever of the administrators who saved those.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 22, 2015, 07:28:54 PM
BY THE WAY, some of you get the newsletter from Learnoutloud, but some of you probably do not. And i know some of you get The Great Courses. In last week's newsletter they announced that The Great Courses are testing a new something-or-other and thru Learnoutloud, for a short time, you can get FREE COURSES.

I'm watching Experiencing America through the Smithsonian, it's quite good. I'm also just starting
24 lectures on Turning Points in History. I think you have to go though Learnoutloud to sign up, but don't worry, that is a very reputable site. There are courses on everything - art, music, war, politics, philosophy, etc,etc. and all free.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 07:38:32 PM
Here's a rather random stab at making a list, but I'm not going to number it, or stop at ten if I get beyond:

From Boys in the Boat: I learned a lot about rowing, including the remarkable spirit needed to forge a team.  My neighbors across the street are rowers (both parents and the teen-age boy and girl) and they say Brown got it exactly right.  I also renewed my interest in film maker Leni Riefenstahl, and her role in Hitler’s propaganda.  Some of that came up in conversation with a friend just a month ago.

From The Greater Journey: I learned about a part of American cultural life and the need to study abroad in the 1800s that I knew very little of, plus what was going on in France at that time.  This meshed with I always Loved You, about the last part of this scene, and the relationship of Degas and Cassatt.  The National Gallery of Art here had an exhibit at that time about the two artists and their works.  JoanP and pedln and I went to see it together—a remarkable experience.

From Camille Paglia's Break, Blow, Burn: this was an analysis of a number of poems, and mostly I didn't agree with her, but she suggested a whole new (to me) layer of meaning in Coleridge's Kubla Khan.

From The Hare With Amber Eyes my eyes were opened to the advantages and restrictions of the wealthy European Jewish  community in the 19th and 20th century, plus I learned about netsuke.  I didn’t even know what they were before, but they are wonderful and fascinating.  I even bought one—no, it’s not an expensive collector’s item, I got it at the Japanese Garden in Portland, OR, and it cost about as much as a hardback book, but it’s nice and I enjoy it.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 07:50:29 PM
Here's my netsuke:

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff125/PatriciaFHighet/IMG_2033%20flounder%20netsuke.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/PatriciaFHighet/media/IMG_2033%20flounder%20netsuke.jpg.html)

It's smaller than the picture, less than two inches, and fits neatly in the palm of your hand, where it has a good feel--smooth and slick on the bottom, and slightly textured on top.  I think it's meant to be a flounder done by someone who didn't know flounders are flat.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 22, 2015, 09:09:25 PM
Nice links PatH to the double elephant - Qatar hmm interesting - so that is probably where all the money has gone - ah so...

OH how great to here that Jean about the Learnoutloud connection - ah and to review some of those early discussions - what a treat we have - yes, thanks to the early administrators and the big effort made when SeniorNet abruptly disconnected us and all the scramble to save all the archives.

And you also Pat with The Hare With Amber Eyes AND you have a netsuke - oh oh oh - what a treasure and to know someone who owns a netsuke - wonderful.

Well here are my most memorable learning opportunities here on Senior Learn - there were many but these are the highlights. I too agree - there something we learn - not news - but real learning in every book we read - I remember JoanK  abile to explain all the intricacies of early nineteenth century English lit – Example, I had no idea till she explained what a 'living' was and then of course true to form I had to research how the Church of England organized.

The real learning for me is the books I just had to read in addition in order to track down the background or source for some of what we were reading. Or the book presented so many questions that I had to track down further books for explanation.

The two more recent reads of past years that via for the huge amount of additional reading was first, when Ella did  - Those Angry Days by Lynne Olson. That book discussion even had me reading Mein Kompf, and even getting that book I learned how all but one author, the books had been altered with parts skipped and told by most western authors with a slant that explained him as a monster from day one. To find a copy that told it as he wrote it was a feat. He had his delusions for sure but you could see where and how his hatred of Jews was part of his upbringing. Amazing to learn was his natural talent for architecture and other disciplines that he could not focus on the study and therefore, was never accepted in those universities. Other books I just 'had' to read for that discussion included a huge tome - one of a series about Churchill during the years before WWII - on and on...

The other book that again, it was one book after the other - in fact I got so wrapped up in my inquiry I stopped posting and was stuck where WWII affected the family. I kept thinking, how did this all start.  It was European but so much a Catholic mantra that the reason for the hatred was that the Jews crucified Jesus. It hit me - it did not make sense - there were no group called Christians for nearly 100 years after the crucifixion - everyone was Jewish even those who followed Christ were called Jews who followed Christ. So how and when…?

Well I learned all about the Pale in Russia that I thought the only Pale was in Ireland. Even got on Google Map, followed the street of Odessa, and found there is a huge monstrous size Iron Pot still there left by the Saracens and the Greeks were the first to settle Odessa.

Then read other books which included stories explaining hangings off balconies and other atrocities during the 16th and 17th century mostly because the new merchant class was in competition with the old and established Jewish Merchants and Traders -

Then learning how after Spain kicked out the Jews and some during, most often threatened with or were tortured,  converted just to remain in Spain while those who left, some became the Pirates we read about but, more went to the Netherlands where they were accepted however, they kept to themselves creating successful and wealthy communities. Then, more news to me, with a later surge of Jewish immigrants to the Netherlands, arriving from the east it was against their rules, not the government's rules, the Jewish community was not to help any of the Jews that were escaping from the Baltic's, Russia and Germany, who did not have the education or wealth of the Spanish Jews.  They were not to feed, hire or help off the street, much less marry or heaven forbid be allowed to enter one of the synagogues, all cause for serious sanction, most often expulsion from the synagogue and the day to day business within the Jewish community. 

Each book gave a peek into a new atrocity and a history was developing but no answer as to how it all started till my last sojourn gave some hint of an answer. Finally landed on Constantine, who when these leaders converted and converted all their subjects it all sounds so nice and orderly. Little did I know the force and killing of children as punishment etc. was typical to make folks convert.  As to those in Rome who were already the followers of Christ, up until Constantine, they were being pitched to the lions and other atrocities and now all of a sudden they were the favored group. It turned out not only were the Jews blamed for various malfunctions in Rome from disease to fires but the biggie - there was a small symbol on the lower corner of  Constantine's flag that was a symbol for the Jews that he had removed and replaced with a Christian symbol.

Somehow, realizing everyone was a Jew at the time of the crucifixion, to me the idea to blame the Jews for the Death of Christ sounds too much like a rallying cry.  I still have more to read but, the Romans had issue with the Jews before Jesus so, what this is all about I still am not sure.  Is it a Roman hatred that was passed along or were the Christians all of a sudden getting relief, becoming top dogs deciding they had to get on the right side of Constantine and so they betray their own heritage to hate the Jews. I still have the early seven Ecumenical Councils to read where I understand the issue of the Jews is addressed on one of them. Whatever - it sure had and still has me by the tail reading, all because of one book discussed here - The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 22, 2015, 09:20:59 PM
Oh, JoanH, he/she is so cute.  Does he have a name?

Ginny I aM

Well, the welcome new neighbors party went very well and we have attained some new volunteers.   :) :)  We always need new volunteers in a condo complex.  :)

Ginny, I am saving my posts throughout the whole writing of these long ones.  Thanks for the suggestions.

Well,  I am back and wanted to tell you that I have been in contact with Robby Iadaluca. He asked me to be a friend on his Facebook page. And his quote on aging:  "I looked in the mirror last week and said, "So this is what 91 looks and feels like."  I feel great and am still working with my patients."   He is such a dear.  Remember when he danced with Eloise on the Isile of Palms?  I had pictures but they were not very good so I dumped them.

Back to some book titles that I liked.

David Mccullogh's "The Greater Journey" was a joy to read and discuss.

"The Kite Runner" by  Khaleed Hossini   My f2f group not only read the book but we attended the movie.

"The Girls Of the Atomic City" by Denise Kiernan was a real eye opener. 

"Kristan Lavransdatter"  was fascinating and I read the whole thing but don't think I commented on it.  I was so sure that I wouldn't like it and then I couldn't put it down.Thanks for that story of Norway,  PatH  :)

I still have not read one of the classics that was discussed very early in our sojourn on the net. Something with a Green Knight in its title.  I just haven't had time.  But maybe if I ever retire from here, I will read it then.  Since it was 20 years ago,  I wonder if we could discuss it now.  I will be looking it up as soon as someone puts the correct title here.

Did we read "Searching for Hassan"?  I loved that book.  Its hard to believe how much Iran has changed for the worst.

What about "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy?
 
And how could we forget "The Bone People" by Keri Hulme?


Did we discuss Pete Hamil's  "Forever".  Another well written book. 

I have read another of Stacy Kidder's with the title of "Strength In What Remains"?  Its mind bending!  And beautifully written.

I read a fair number of mysteries during the year.  Love Louise Penny and Anne Perry.  Ralph is also interested in both of those writers' books. They're fun reads.

I am trying to watch a baseball game and a NASCAR race which Ralph is switching back and forth from each presentation? 

Barb, how long can we still reminisce here?  I am now heading to the Archives to find some titles that I can't quite bring to mind.

We went to the library yesterday and brought home 10 more titles.  Not sure we will read them all.  Ralph is still recovering from his last hospital stay as they kept him in bed until they found the GI bleed that he had.  When you are 81, laying on your back for 14 days, 'tis hard to come back from.  We are working toward attending another wedding in Ithaca,NY in late September. 

So, good night ladies!  Am off to the archives and then to the race/baseball game. 

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 22, 2015, 09:34:21 PM
Annie have at it - tomorrow Sunday will be our day to bring up the names of those who are no longer with us or who never made it over or just dropped out over the years - and then Monday and Tuesday I have another focus question and a sorta wrap up question but we can leave this discussion open till the end of the month - I will get all the questions we have used to jog our memory in the heading and just have at it - so yes, you have time.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 22, 2015, 10:22:37 PM
Clara and Mr Tiffany was another book whereby I learned a lot. I knew nothing about glassware, or making glassware, or the Tiffany studios. How interesting that was, as was the story of Clara.

Another book that I remember learning a lot from reading was London, a fiction book about the history of the city of London. I don't see it in the archives, could it possibly have been before 2003? It sure doesn't seem like it was that long ago. I enjoyed that book very much. did that same author also write a novel about NYC?

I also enjoyed and learned from Guernsey Literary, etc. I had never read anything about the occupation of those islands during WWII. The story of the citizens lives was nicely done also.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 22, 2015, 11:40:59 PM
Some of the pre-2008 discussions got lost in the move, many of them the later ones.

Annie, The Green Knight is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.  I didn't read it here, but I read it in college English Lit., and I have the translation of J. R. R. Tolkien, which is supposed to be the best.

Someone suggested Strength in What Remains for discussion here.  It didn't make it, but I read it, and you're right; it's very powerful.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 23, 2015, 12:45:11 AM
Annie, I am so sorry to hear about Ralph.  I hope he recovers quickly.  If Ella is not up to a road trip, I understand.  I had to giggle when I saw you mention, "The Pirates of Penzance" it brought back the scene in Pretty Woman where Edward (Richard Gere) takes Vivian (Julia Roberts) to the opera and an elderly lady asks Vivian if she liked the opera: 

Elderly Lady at Opera: “Did you like the opera, dear?”
Vivian: “It was so good, I almost peed my pants!”
Edward: “She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.” 


PatH., well my heavens there you go proving my point, we are constantly learning new things from each other....a netsuke!  Whatever is it?  I have to say, those eyes are creeping me out a little.

Jean, your post jogged my memory about the lives of the other characters in Guernsey Lit., I was in awe how the members would sneak around so as not to get caught having a book club.  And what about that pig! 
I have never heard of the newsletter from Learnoutloud.

Barb, oh goodness your post just made me laugh out loud especially this:  "The other book that again, it was one book after the other - in fact I got so wrapped up in my inquiry I stopped posting and was stuck where WWII affected the family."
I could always tell you were lost to the hunt, when you ceased posting in our discussions.   :)

Okay while you all are catching up, I am going to take a shot at books turned into movies.  I can think of a few I just love, and some may not have been in our discussion.  As a matter of fact, I'm thinking most of them were not.  I'm also going to critique which one I thought was better or if they were true to the book. 

1.  Safe Haven....................  Book was far better than the movie. 
2.  The Best of Me                  Did not read the book, was told the book is even better.  I loved the movie.
3.  The Help..................Book was far better than the movie. They took a serious book and made it almost a comedy.
4.  Pride and Prejudice.............Book far better than the movie.         
5.  Gone Girl..........................Both were great!
6.  Emma..............................Book far better than the movie.
7.  Gone With the Wind............Both were fantastic!
8.  Alice In Wonderland............Movie much more enjoyable seeing the animated character come to life.
9.  The Notebook....................Both tear jerkers.
10.To Kill a Mockingbird...........Both great!
11.The Da Vinci Code..............Both good.
12. Little Women....................Both absolutely wonderful!
13.Harry Potter......................Not a fan of either.
14. Fifty Shades of Grey..........Worst book/movie ever, IMO.  My daughter in laws and I decided we would read the first book to see what all the rave was about.  We finished the first book and was so disgusted, we agreed one was enough for us.  Friends told us the other two were repetitive and redundant of the first.  I refused to go to the theater and pay money to see the movie when it came out, and I tried a Facebook boycott.  It bombed in the theaters, and those I know who saw it said it was the worst movie they ever saw.  I saw the two lead characters on a daytime talk show and they seriously could not stand being in the same room with each other.  The male actor who played Christian Grey, said when he would go home to his wife and baby daughter at the end of shooting, he would take a shower to try to wash off the dirty feeling he had treating a woman so awful.)

Okay, must say good-night, once again up too late.

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 03:55:36 AM
From the Heading for Sunday August 23.

Our Memorial to those who read and discussed books with us on both SenoirNet and SeniorLearn.

This is not a page to memorialize folks. It is to honor by mentioning those whose shoulders we stand on today because of their contribution to this longest running book discussion on the WWW.



Past Members
Sunday   Many names are in our Archived Book Discussions
  - Let's see if we can remember some of those names.

 
Aug. 23 Names of those who we know are no longer with us.
  – Names of those who never made it over from SeniorNet
  – Names of folks who no longer read with us.

 
Sunday 8/23 Hope you can catch us up to date about any of these folks
  – Or remember in what discussion you both were posting that would be great.

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 09:12:02 AM
I'll sneak in a few more from yesterday before going on.
Bellamarie:
Quote
1.  I learned so much when we read the Hot Zone, I knew so little about the ebola virus and that book was an encyclopedia of information not only helping me understand where it originated from, but how it can be transmitted, and how to protect yourself and healthcare providers from being exposed, and I also learned to not let the fear of the this virus put me into a panic mode.
Thank you for saying that, Bellamarie, that's exactly what I was hoping to do in the discussion.

As I learned from the book, a netsuke is the little carved ornament on the cord hanging from the sash of a Japanese gentleman's kimono.  He carries things in a pouch on the cord (no pockets).  Now they are mostly just used as ornaments.  Mine does have the two little connecting holes on the bottom to thread the cord through, but it would be pretty tricky to do so.  From the front, he looks worried, not creepy.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 10:19:48 AM
From The Hot Zone I also got a better picture of village life in central Africa, which was then filled out by Strength in What Remains.

From Captain Bligh's journal of the mutiny on the Bounty, I learned a lot about that bit of history, and what amazing journeys you could make in a small boat with few navigational aids, plus I had a blast talking about sailing stuff with Marni.

From Team of Rivals I learned the details of politics leading up to and during the Civil War, plus more than I knew before about how remarkable a man Abraham Lincoln was.  That was my first stint as a discussion co-leader, and Ella kindly held my hand during the learning process.

From Women in Greek Drama I learned the structure of Greek plays, and got an appreciation for them, and from the Iliad and Odyssey I came to love the poetry.

That's not even all my list, but it's many of the highlights.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: FlaJean on August 23, 2015, 12:00:34 PM
I was on AOL those many years ago when I stumbled onto the SeniorNet mystery forum.  I have never been much of a "poster" but have really enjoyed the various forums.  After SeniorNet closed that portion of their site, I believe it was Marcie? that notified me of SeniorLearn.  What a wonderful group.  I've enjoyed both SeniorLearn and SeniorsandFriends--although it is mostly silently.  :)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 02:58:02 PM
Ah Flajean so glad you peeked in - glad to know you are our guardian angle sitting quietly by our side - Marcie does so much to keep us together - our quiet shepherdess :)

PatH you sure continue to show us how we all get something different from reading and discussing these books - and also the variety we have is really apparent as we have been sharing the past week or so - many books I did not get to participate in the discussion have been very meaningful to those that did participate - so that to have a personal viewpoint of this site looses its punch - and I bet that we each get something valuable but different from reading the exact same book as another who is posting. Amazing isn't it.

I need a bit of time and then I am back to start listing names - some I hope others can fill in who they were or where they are or if they have passed and we did not hear - as well as for starters I have to list one who did pass and was a dear who often out of the blue would call - always it seemed just when I needed to hear a friendly voice.

That was Anna Fair or later she called herself Fairanna - Anna Alexander who passed a few years ago and was the discussion leader for Poetry as well as a Poet herself.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 23, 2015, 03:16:37 PM
So, in going through the site for Fiction-Old-New-Best Sellers back in 2009 in the Archives, I found quite a few names of people who have left us and many names that I haven't seen here in ages.  But, when I looked at some of those names on my list and read today's posts, there were some posters that I have't seen for a long time.  I will remove those names from my list ;) ;)

So, here's some names of those whom we have lost over the years to wearing angel's wings.
Babi
PatW
Eloise,
Gumtree
JoanG

Names I have't seen in ages:
Serene Sheila
Aberlaine
Tomereader
Phyll
CallieOK
EdithAnne
nlhome
Pamjo
Straude
MargeV
hats
Joyous
mynioga(Macou)
Frybabe
Salan
mrssherlock
alf
Winsummm
evergreen

Now these last names may be posting on something like the Library or on Books Fiction Nonfiction Best Sellers which is Judy Laird's folder.

People have been talking about Robby and  and I have to tell my story of that.  In Chicago, at our luncheon, BarbStAubrey and Robby were sitting to my left and we got to talking about
the Durants' Story of Civilization in 11 volumes.  Well, Robby was so interested that I asked him why he didn't offer to do that discussion?  Well, there you go!  And there he was, making all do some work on our history memories while asking some very good questions and it just took off.  And then, as Mable told us, Trevor took over.  His name is another one that I haven't seen for a long time.

Hope some of you know where some of these folks have been hiding lately.

Back later :) :) :).




Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 03:52:27 PM
Annie a few on your list have been very much present here on Senior Learn so we can quickly clear up the where abouts of those names

CallieOK - posts often and not too long ago changed her photo - which is great...  :-*
Tomereader - does post often in the Library and posted in our last read together.
Frybabe - I swear you must get up at 4: in the morning Frybabe I often see your post here at 5:
nlhome and Alf - have both posted but maybe not as often
Serene Sheila - I see her posts off and on in the Library
Salan - posts often in the Library
Hats - I have not seen her posts in awhile now - she would pop in and I wonder if her health is down
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 04:01:58 PM
I have not seen kiwilady from New Zealand in awhile
or JudeS I think from the west coast also have not seen in awhile. Hope all is well with both of them.
Gumtree from Australia passed on - such a wonderful contributer
Deems passed on - now Deems were some shoulders that we stand on today.
Who was Laura who posted on the Guernsey Literary...
And also from the Guernsey Literary... who was Aberlaine and also EvelynMC
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 04:24:52 PM
Frybabe is still very active here.
Mrs. Sherlock (Jackie) quit for reasons unrelated to us, shows up once in a while.
I think JoanK still sees winsumm occasionally; she'll tell us.  Same with JudeS.
Tomereader is very active on the other site--in fact I see she's on it right now.
Trevor just stopped doing SOC about 2 months ago.  Don't think he posted much elsewhere.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 04:27:58 PM
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/6ffa6ad19551b713c035216baa74cc0d/tumblr_nrys2zq5jK1rt6ghko1_500.jpg)

Regardless if you've posted with us for 20 years or joined us 2 months ago, help us capture our golden "Wild Days" as we celebrate the memories of our best and memorable experiences discussing books together on SeniorLearn. Yes, "life is Good."

We have a "Plan" for celebrating our memories - "The Plan" helps us focus but more, "The Plan" is designed to assure that we give texture to our many memories regardless of books read and discussed last month, last year, or going on 20 years ago.

"The Plan" - Every two days, new topics will be introduced - If a forgotten memory creeps in days later feel free to post adding more depth to the focus questions we had featured earlier in our Legacy discussion.


Questions to help us Focus our Memories


Memory Jog
Monday and Tuesday   Where you a part of the Prison initiative that was also supported by Wally Lamb when he was instrumental in supporting the women writing their stories? Tell us about it?
  – Where you a part of sending children's books to the Indian Reservation? Tell us about it?

 
Aug. 24 ~ 25 What snapshot of your "Wild Days" and the Good Life reading on SeniorLearn lives in your heart that you want to leave us with as your gift to all of us.

 

If you have just joined us or need a reminder, here are the questions from the past few days.






 

Need a memory nudge? Here are links to our Archived Discussions. SeniorNet books are listed alphabetically and NOT by the discussion date. SeniorLearn discussions are listed by date. 

SeniorLearn Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=45.0) ~~~ SeniorNet Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=181.0)


Discussion Leader: Barb (augere@ix.netcom.com)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 04:28:31 PM
Someone I miss is TraudeS--an extremely interesting woman.  She stopped posting when her eyesight got too bad.
Marni disappeared after her father died--I suspect got too busy, the never came back.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 04:37:52 PM
Another name I have not seen in months is bluebird24 - do we know anything?

Thanks Pat - I'll get the heading up - whew that went fast...
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: pedln on August 23, 2015, 05:58:21 PM
Does anyone know anything about JOan Roberts.  She was at both the SeniorLearn New York get-togethers and we connected also when I visited my NY girls, and visited a Middle EAstern Museum whose name  I can't remember.  I've wondered about her ever since Super Storm Sandy.

Joan's husband made stained glass windows for their home on Long Island and she provided a picture of one of them for the Clara and Mr. Tiffany discussion.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 06:13:02 PM
bluebird was always an occasional visitor.  She was fairly active in the Alice in Wonderland discussion a year ago, not sure I've seen her since.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 06:56:19 PM
Found more names -

Claire – may not have made it over – posted in Absalom

Charlie W – passed

SpringCreekFarm - didn't make it over but still posts on Senior and Friends

AnnThamm

Shasta Sills

June Miller

Charlotte J. Snitzer - passed July 5, 2000 at 79 years old.

Carolyn Andersen from Norway – may not have made it over

Betty Gregory – passed – such a positive upbeat contributor

Marg Mavor

Katie Jaques

Nellie Vrolyk - doing her thing probably writing

Marvelle

vanessa1166

Malryn (Mal) – passed – I think she was from Boston – a heavy contributor

Horselover

Lorrie - passed

Frugal

HarrietM
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: jane on August 23, 2015, 07:40:19 PM
Lorrie passed away some years ago.

SpringCreekFarm is alive and well and posts often on another website.

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 23, 2015, 07:54:50 PM
Nellie Vrolyk was already off the site when I joined in 2004.  She had minded the Science Fiction site I took over a few years later.  She was also a writer, and I suspect she wanted to spend more time on that.  I googled her occasionally, but haven't done so lately.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 08:18:53 PM
thanks changed the list to reflect what y'all have just shared -
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 23, 2015, 08:22:14 PM
Found Charlotte Snitzer looks like she has passed - July 5, 2000 at 79 years old.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: maryz on August 23, 2015, 08:58:29 PM
Joyous is now Joy, and is in a retirement complex in Louisiana .  She still posts occasionally in bosom buddies on seniors and friends.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 23, 2015, 10:01:05 PM
Here are some names I discussed a few books with and have not seen their names in years.  Good luck Barb, because this looks like a huge task to accomplish.  Hope this helps some.  Please forgive me if there are repeats.

Markov
Barbi
Marjv
Babi
Straudetwo
Judy Laird
Janice
EvelynMC
kidsal
Lou2
Malryn (Mal)
Marvelle
viogert
Carolyn Andersen
GingerWright
jane
MmeW
Andrea Flannery
SarahT
marylou
JudytheKay
southcoast
Louise Licht
betty gregory
Larry Hanna
MarjV
EllenM
Lorrie
Artemis
1amparo
mabel1015j
CathieS
sierraroseCA
piker
Scrawler
lgrod
Mippy
Ann Alden
joynclarence
colkots
marni0308
Edith Anne
ellen c
seattle
joynclarence

Three people who come to my mind, and I know you already have their names, that I truly miss are, Deems, hats, and Gumtree.  I hope they are lurking, or peeking in on us in spirit.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 12:18:18 AM
Ok I will take care of the ones we have already found and the ones who are regulars posting on this site

Markov
Barbi
Marjv - Marj posts regularly
Babi - much loved passed a couple of years ago
Straudetwo - PatH shared above when her eyes got bad she stopped posting with us
Judy Laird - posts with us - she travels a lot
Janice - posts with us although has not posted this summer
EvelynMC
kidsal - is from Wyoming and has been posting regularly with us.
Lou2
Malryn (Mal) - passed
Marvelle
viogert
Carolyn Andersen is from Norway and cannot find anything
GingerWright - posts regularly on Senior and Friends
jane - Jane is our wonderful Jane that keeps us safe from hackers and puts up and takes down headings and and and
MmeW
Andrea Flannery - is our Andy - retired and living in Florida
SarahT
marylou
JudytheKay
southcoast
Louise Licht
betty gregory - passed a few years ago
Larry Hanna - headed our tech page forever and still posts with us
MarjV - is already on the list
EllenM - I believe Ellen is Flajean who posts with us.
Lorrie - passed
Artemis
1amparo
mabel1015j - Jean posts with us just about every day
CathieS
sierraroseCA
piker
Scrawler
lgrod
Mippy
Ann Alden - Annie is who you are planning to meet when y'all visit Ella.
joynclarence
colkots - I believe is CallieinOK
marni0308 - we learned after Marni's father died she has not been as active
Edith Anne
ellen c
seattle
joynclarence - Joy we learned earlier is living in Louisiana and posts with Senior and Friends
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 01:58:47 AM
Memory Jog
Monday and Tuesday   Where you a part of the Prison initiative that was also supported by Wally Lamb when he was instrumental in supporting the women writing their stories? Tell us about it?
  – Where you a part of sending children's books to the Indian Reservation? Tell us about it?

 
Aug. 24 ~ 25 What snapshot of your "Wild Days" and the Good Life reading on SeniorLearn lives in your heart that you want to leave us with as your gift to all of us.

 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: FlaJean on August 24, 2015, 09:16:09 AM
Barb, EllenM is not FlaJean (me).  ;)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 24, 2015, 09:41:56 AM
Thanks Barb for the updates.  I was a bit overwhelmed just seeing the names from the past and realizing we have not heard from them for so long.  I am not sure what Senior and Friends is.  Good luck you are doing a great job!
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ginny on August 24, 2015, 09:44:17 AM
Edith Anne: Latin student, retired due to illness

Mippy: Latin student, is on Facebook

Louise Licht: Was connected with SeniorNet, and a learning center, was a bright light. Lost touch with her at least 10 years ago.

SarahT: A judge in California, she dropped out  a long time ago when she moved.

kidsal : Sally is a Latin student who is here.

1amparo: lived in Australia and came to  the SeniorNet conference in DC.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 24, 2015, 09:58:21 AM
My snapshot I will leave as a gift to SeniorLearn is this: 

I will always hold dear to my heart each and everyone of you past, present and future who have shared your time, thoughts, beliefs, talents and knowledge while discussing our wonderful books.  I will keep a snapshot memory picturing each of you in your tees, sweats, sweatshirts, slippers, robes, or any other comfy clothes you wear as you begin your day with us. As I drink my cup of coffee with my hazelnut cream, and have my morning blueberry muffin while I scan your daily posts, I will picture each of you with your cup of favorite morning drink and feel the friendships we have formed over the years here at Senior Learn.  The most warm feelings I keep with me is of Gumtree giving me a vision of Australia, and the one thing I will always hold dear is the warm welcome I received from each of you.  I won't try to find who it was, or the exact words, since it was so long ago but the one phrase that has been lasting to me is reading...........

"Come join us, pull up a chair, crumpets and tea are awaiting you."

You all have made life a little more interesting, bearable, and knowledgeable for me and many.  May our thirst for knowledge never cease, and may our memories never fade. 

Ciao for now~
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/11954630_10207811836237233_2284324707565058247_n.jpg?oh=d6f6d519b97e973a85a34ea8d66af38a&oe=5668D853)
Yep, this is me, with my Shih Tzu Sammy, my favorite blanket, computer, ipad, iphone, notepad, my coffee with hazelnut cream in my favorite cup, with my favorite scripture, "Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  I'm wearing my favorite tee (Kappa Delta 5k run I participated in for my granddaughter's sorority, and my Michigan plaid shorts that have to be at least 20 yrs old, and of course...barefoot since it's summer! I am still trying to figure out how to upload pics so I am sorry this is so large.  One day I will figure out resizing pics.

P.S.  Thank you Barb for leading us into a wonderful look back to "Our Wild Days"

                               
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 24, 2015, 11:33:57 AM
Goodness, Bellamarie, that chair looks so comfy.  Can you clone it?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 24, 2015, 11:55:32 AM
PatH., I bashfully admit, I have gone through a few chairs.  This is my newest one.  I kept this footstool, and made a new cover for it to match the chair because my dog Sammy would never forgive me if I took away his favorite place to sleep.  What is not in the pic is my basket of pens, highlighters, notebooks, and other reading material at the side of this chair.  It is very comfy, and I spend way too much time here.  But then, I am retired and have earned this time for ME!   ;)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 24, 2015, 12:20:53 PM
Bellemarie - that's a perfect statement. I think we can all say "ditto" to how important SL has been to us.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: maryz on August 24, 2015, 12:33:13 PM
It wasn't joynclarence, but joyous who is in Louisiana.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 02:16:12 PM
ouch EllenM is not FlaJean sorry - FlaJean were you a part of the Chicago bash - because that is where I think I have the memory of meeting Ellen and you look much like I remember Ellen looking - now I could be wrong on all counts here - we are talking memory that is not always accurate - but I thought Ellen was from Boston and brought her daughter with her and she was the mother of a rather large family - I know you FlaJean live in Florida but I did not think that was where you always lived - help me out please - did you live in Boston or am I totally Flummoxed just trying to sort out if we ever met.

Maryz thanks - I was under the impression that Joy was widowed and used to sign in with both their names and after Clarence died became Joy at times and Joyous at other times -  :-\ - yes/no please, heeelp.

Ginny thanks for helping us out with a few of the names we still had not found a connection - that was a real help - we sure have had some wonderful minds sharing their riches over the years.

Fabulous corner and photo showing us in your reading corner Bellamaria - so you like cream in your coffee - I am not for the cream but love flavored coffees - I know, so gauche for coffee drinkers but hay, it is a lovely taste - and like Pat says that is one comfy looking chair.

We had one cooler day last week and already, although the temps are back up in the high 90s, the sun has a different slant on the tree leaves that says to me the season is about to change - we do not experience anything less then the high temps till the end of September or early October and then it is mild, 80s high 70s, often till Christmas with maybe a couple of days here and there when a 3 day norther pushes through, so that the talk of a colorful Autumn is delayed as it is for those among us who live in Florida but it is nice to know many of you are soon to be seeing the riot of color trees put on - all to say the Autumn with all its rich color is a good metaphor for what we have here on SenoirLearn - a rich and colorful history with readers who share their riches with us when we discuss a book.

I was struck reading some of the archived discussions how we would sprinkle in a fuller explanation of some of the aspects of reading literature - like one post explaining foreshadowing and another alliteration - just a review of our history can put us on our toes because I notice the Glossary of Lit is on the bottom of my pile where it used to be on top just under the book I was reading along with a thick dictionary - I've been turning to the computer here of late for a dictionary which means saving the word till I leave my reading spot - hmm - I used to immediately check on words before going to the next sentence - liked that and I like flipping the pages - think I will get both books back up on top.   

Jean I was curious - how has your reading of the archived Durant discussions been going - were you able sit long enough to preview a discussion and are you now going to start reading the series or will the archived discussions do it for you?

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: maryz on August 24, 2015, 02:22:02 PM
That might be the case, Barb ( about Joy). I don't know. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 02:39:54 PM
Oh that is funny thanks ever Maryz - trying to piece together recent history we may as well be piecing together someone's roots - oh oh hahahaha
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 24, 2015, 03:21:48 PM
Winsom (Claire)  is still going strong, and still painting. I talk to her on the phone a couple of times a week, and have been to see her. (she lives about 60 miles South of  me in San Clemente).

JudeS and her husband stopped to see me a few years ago, and we had a wonderful time talking about everything. But I've lost track of her.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 03:57:28 PM
Ah so -  I wonder if Winsom is the Claire that posted in some of our early discussions before the year 2000

Seems to me I sorta remember that JudeS lived in San Fransisco

Thanks Joan for the update - there are still so many names but this is nice to have some idea of the folks we shared time with and exchanged our understanding of the many books we have discussed. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: FlaJean on August 24, 2015, 05:16:43 PM
No, I lived in MD before moving to Florida and never attended a bash, but they do sound like a lot of fun.

JoanK, I remember Winsom as having very bad eyesight and was having difficulty reading the posts?  Good to know she is still doing well.

I remember FairAnna as we occasionally corresponded.  She lived in the VA town of my birth which was an interesting coincidence.  Was so sad when I heard of her passing.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 24, 2015, 06:09:36 PM
Ah the separate and unique FlaJean never to be confused again with Ellen  ;) :-* - yes, Fair Anna was a dear lady and a powerhouse or kindness and activity wasn't she.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 25, 2015, 05:53:20 PM
Cannot leave this discussion without sharing a very moving experience that happened years back - for December that year we did the Dylan Thomas - A Child's Christmas in Wales - it was a delightful discussion that brought back memories of childhood for a poster called Parman who was from New Jersey and to my astonishment which I shared with him in a post, he was Jewish enjoying and discussing with us this very Christian story. Not only that but he was ill and did not expect to live very much longer - he stayed with the discussion to the end contributing one special post after the other - I remember Robert was also in the discussion and a few others whose names are no longer with us - well it turned out that was the last discussion for Parman - that special experience has remained with me all these years later.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 26, 2015, 08:54:59 AM
Thank you Barb, for leading this discussion.  It was nice to wander back and remember, books, events, and most of all the wonderful members who are no longer with us, and of course those who are still posting.  I will leave you with the one statement I put in my snapshot post:

May our thirst for knowledge never cease, and may our memories never fade.

Looking forward to our next book discussion.
Ciao for now~

Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 26, 2015, 09:19:21 AM
This has been a wonderful reminiscence of our history, who and what we are, our accomplishments, memories, experiences.  But that’s just the start, and the future is ahead of us.  We’re about to enter our third decade.  What’s most important to us now?  Where should we focus, what paths should we take?

Everyone, what do you see ahead, what’s important to you now, for our future?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 26, 2015, 06:42:47 PM
What's important for our future?

First, to bring new people in. I'm sure there are many Seniors out there for whom this site will mean as much as it has to us, but who don't know about it. Do any of you have suggestions?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 27, 2015, 12:33:18 PM
Just a quick memory for Ped'ln.  Joan Roberts wrote me a few years telling me she was on oxygen 24/7.  Said she could still cook because her connection to her oxy tube reached the kitchen.  Haven't heard from since.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 27, 2015, 01:35:07 PM
But while you're in here, Annie, in our third decade, do you see us doing much the same sort of thing, changing emphasis, branching off in new directions, or what?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 27, 2015, 05:27:54 PM
Pat I just got off the phone with a small group of us who are talking about a legacy plan for a rather large tract of land east of town - the questions for the meeting were decided and I thought these same questions could apply to your posts about our future - if we replace the word land with SeniorLearn some of the questions could work. Here are the few that I thought would work since they do not have to do with a legacy for grandchildren or hunting and fishing access or legal interests or planning for future stewardship.

What does the SeniorLearn (land) mean to you?
What do you value most about SeniorLearn (your land)?
What would they like to manage, protect, or conserve?
What would you like to see happen to SeniorLearn (your land) in the future?
What would you NOT like to see happen in the future?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: CallieOK on August 27, 2015, 09:17:57 PM
My ears were burning so I peeked in to see if y'all were talking about me.  Sure enough -found my name mentioned!  I've always been CallieK or CallieinOk.


I've actively participated in just a few discussions- mainly because I don't usually get as involved with the "deeper meaning" of a book as most of you seem to - and the ones I remenber best are very light weight compared to the ones I see mentioned.  However, I appreciate being led in some reading directions I wouldn't think of on my own and hope to be around for a long time.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 27, 2015, 10:19:41 PM
Aha thanks Callie - we'll get straight yet matching names with just the right person. So glad you cleared that up for us. If you know any of the other names that we still have not attached to any memory of who they are and where they are please share.

Ok Pat - the future - what comes to mind - when I read a book for relaxing enjoyment I do not need to discuss it - yes, it is nice to have a place like our library where we can share we have read such and such and we enjoyed it and it was thrilling or romantic or lived up to its hype or whatever - essentially a one liner or the most a paragraph describing the book and our experience reading the book.

But then differently than how Callie likes to read I do prefer to read a book where I am going to be confronted with new ideas and characters, who live differently and read about historical times when life was lived with a different set of mores that I can learn about or, a story based in current times but in a different part of the world where culture, traditions, and morals are different - or a book that digs into a set of morals that I had not experienced and it a chance to look at all sides of the moral dilemma without measuring the right or wrong only learning the basis for the choices the author gives to the characters. And I like reading about history and the history of the land to learn the small changes not included in the big picture, that give more understanding to the big picture - to have that kind of book to read I most enjoy discussing it with a group of like minded inquisitive readers that I have found all these years here on SeniorLearn and earlier on SeniorNet.

I would like us to be so entranced with constructing knowledge about the text, using symbols, language, setting, plot, character, foreshadowing, and the like that we will want to share our experiences with others and urge them to join us knowing that we will embrace their scholarship towards a deeper understanding and appreciation for humanity with all its warts and all its glory.

I know how it sounds da de dah but from my heart that is what I hope for our future.

And so that may be it - we need a book to discuss using the elements of literature to find the meaning and humanity written in a story by an author and another discussion that is sharing opinions and reactions to the story based on our own lives.

Since we have from the beginning always had a literary discussion, for a time was called the Great Books the second group would be an addition and from what I understand is a good description for how those posting in the mystery discussion are enjoying a book and sharing that enjoyment. I am thinking out loud here - so maybe we already offer the other way to discuss a book.

I know I meet new readers in groups but they are really wanting to socialize with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee or over lunch and casually talk about the book without referring to the literary devices used to analyze a book - they are sharing their thought almost as we do in the library when we give a synopsis of a book we have read and how it affected us. Where as, there was someone who I had encouraged back when we were SeniorNet but she soon dropped out because she was put off by those who wanted to give their opinion rather than finding meaning using the elements of fiction - yes, she was an English lit. educator.

Is the mystery group the answer - is it a satisfying experience or, is it too much about the mystery genre that other lighter fiction is not discussed.  I do not participate - did share my love of the cozies but at the time those in the group were into more elaborate mysteries with more depth and plot and cozies were not given any attention - since, the mystery discussion may have changed and JoanK as well as, someone who frequents the discussion would be better spokespersons.   

And as Steph said today in the Library, that we are a patient group who may not agree and therefore, we do not expect to lock step behind one opinion. I hope we can continue in that mindset.

It will be interesting to read other posts and what is important to them and what will make SeniorLearn a meaningful site.

I also hope we can continue to have Jane or someone like her who is willing to keep all the crazies off the site so we feel protected and safe posting our inner most thoughts.

Yes, it would be nice as JoanK brought up to have more active members - however, being in a business that is dependent on attracting new contacts, year in and year out, I have learned while doing the job for 35 years what it takes and it is a huge undertaking. However, to attract a few members can happen as it does in any club or business or volunteer endeavor when those who participate feel proud of their participation and want to share the experience with their friends and casual acquaintances.  Most of us have lots of friends however, we are on this site because so few of them love reading so, sharing our pride in our discussions becomes a bit more limited. But without the huge undertaking to entice strangers to this site that I think is our best hope - to share our enthusiasm with others we know and meet who love reading and discussing what they read.

Another, I think we could probably attract some new followers if we had a facebook page - however facebook lends itself to quick one liner blurbs which is not what we are all about - it is great for folks who text each other often but, facebook is not a place for discussion - now it could be a site that does little current conversation but does archive the recent book discussions, make announcements and maybe one or two other discussions that do not include folks sharing their inner most thoughts. Because I think that is what we want protected - we have this safe place to share and we do not want the whole world to easily listen to our thoughts and feelings - if they find us that is one thing but to put it out front and center as a facebook account is quite another.

Well what I do know is in September we will be discussing a very contemporary issue - our environment - and how we affect lakes. No deep literary analysis but lots to learn, share, contemplate and look at our own nearby lakes and how we enjoy them and the condition they are in that, may be better or not from our memory of the condition of 'our' lake 20 or more years ago.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 27, 2015, 11:38:49 PM
Sometimes I do think we can over analyze a book, and not enjoy it for what it is.  While I expect to learn something while reading a book, delving into so many other areas and history can get overwhelming and cause others to shy away, lurk, rather than participate in the discussions.  By taking an inventory of who was, and still is a member of SeniorLearn, I can see there are many who are choosing not to join in the discussions. 

So if we are going to attempt to find out where we go from here for our future, I think we have to try to find out why our members are not participating in the discussions.  Is it because of the books we are choosing, is it they don't want to delve deeply into the books, is it they don't have the time, is it because we don't have enough leaders, etc., etc.  What ever the reasons, it is important we address it, and try to make what ever changes necessary so they want to participate in our book discussions. It seems over the past few years we have had so many fall to the wayside.  Why is this?  I was not aware we were changing the method for deciding on our book each month.  Was this posted somewhere and I missed it?  We have had many books that were recommended over the years, and it seems even though they did not win the votes one month, some were never brought back to be considered again.  I read voters would vote on a book, and end up not participating in the discussion.  Can we ask you don't vote unless you are going to actually participate? I personally would like to have titles to choose from, and vote on.   

We have to find out why so many have dropped out of the discussions, and try to figure out how to get them to participate again. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: CallieOK on August 28, 2015, 12:24:07 AM
Barb, 
I also love to read
a book where I am going to be confronted with new ideas and characters, who live differently and read about historical times when life was lived with a different set of mores that I can learn about or, a story based in current times but in a different part of the world where culture, traditions, and morals are different

 reading about history and the history of the land to learn the small changes not included in the big picture, that give more understanding to the big picture


However, to casually talk about the book without referring to the literary devices used to analyze a book - they are sharing their thought almost as we do in the library when we give a synopsis of a book we have read and how it affected us.??     Yup - except on rare occasions - and then not for an extended period - that's me!! 

The discussion in which I was most active was "Empire of the Summer Moon" - mostly because I live in the region in which it took place and could help with descriptions, history, etc.   I also closely followed "Blue Highways" - atlas in hand, making notes, doing a bit of side research, etc. - but I bogged down with the analytical discussion.

I'm really not literary enough to be "entranced with constructing knowledge about the text, using symbols, language, setting, plot, character, foreshadowing, and the like".   

So I appreciate the opportunities to read....and learn...from those who are.    :)

Onward and Upward.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Steph on August 28, 2015, 08:53:20 AM
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/6ffa6ad19551b713c035216baa74cc0d/tumblr_nrys2zq5jK1rt6ghko1_500.jpg)

Regardless if you've posted with us for 20 years or joined us 2 months ago, help us capture our golden "Wild Days" as we celebrate the memories of our best and memorable experiences discussing books together on SeniorLearn. Yes, "life is Good."

We have a "Plan" for celebrating our memories - "The Plan" helps us focus but more, "The Plan" is designed to assure that we give texture to our many memories regardless of books read and discussed last month, last year, or going on 20 years ago.

"The Plan" - Every two days, new topics will be introduced - If a forgotten memory creeps in days later feel free to post adding more depth to the focus questions we had featured earlier in our Legacy discussion.


Questions to help us Focus our Memories


Memory Jog
Monday and Tuesday   Where you a part of the Prison initiative that was also supported by Wally Lamb when he was instrumental in supporting the women writing their stories? Tell us about it?
  – Where you a part of sending children's books to the Indian Reservation? Tell us about it?

 
Aug. 24 ~ 25 What snapshot of your "Wild Days" and the Good Life reading on SeniorLearn lives in your heart that you want to leave us with as your gift to all of us.

 

If you have just joined us or need a reminder, here are the questions from the past few days.






 

Need a memory nudge? Here are links to our Archived Discussions. SeniorNet books are listed alphabetically and NOT by the discussion date. SeniorLearn discussions are listed by date. 

SeniorLearn Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=45.0) ~~~ SeniorNet Archive (http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=181.0)


Discussion Leader: Barb (augere@ix.netcom.com)




OK.. I used to participate more in book discussions,, but they used to be more about the actual book and less about how it was written, or where the reader felt the author fell...or other things that do no interest me.. I still love Senior learn, learn new authors or old authors who have just published a new book.. We are quite a varied group and possibly a classic type group and a more everyday type of group would be easier. I just flat out dont know. I am busy and that does not help. But I kept some notes and it has been quite a while that we had a book that I wanted to read.. and that is sad..
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 28, 2015, 11:14:53 AM
Good.  We're getting some ideas here; that's what I hoped for.

First, I want to make something clear: we want all of you here, whether you participate in the monthly book discussions or not.  This site is about many things.

However, the long discussions are the linchpin of the site; they provide its structure, and it's crucial to keep them healthy.

Picking the right books is important.  For some years, we were asking people for suggestions, then having a vote.  This stopped working well--the votes were too scattershot, with no one book getting enough votes to make a good discussion.  (You need 5 or so unless they are extremely active.)  So we went back to the original method of letting discussion leaders pick books they wanted to lead and thought would make good discussions.  Suggestions are always welcome, and will definitely be taken seriously.

Variety is important, something for everyone.  We seem to be OK there.  In the last year we have done 4 fiction books, 2 of them classics and 2 recent, one poem, and 4 non-fiction, one 19th century history/culture, 2 20th century, and one current scientific issues.

Any further ideas are welcome.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 28, 2015, 12:52:30 PM
I am not going to be helpful here.  ;D No new ideas, I'm happy.  :)

I like things as they have been for the ten years I've been a part of SL. I've joined in some of the indepth discussions when a book has sounded like something i want to read and I've joined in some that I wasn't sure about and ended up liking the discussion more then I expected to. I also like the "drop-in" sites like Library and Mystery where I've found some very good conversation and heard about some new (to me) authors and books.

I have noticed that the regulars have gotten to be a smaller group and that there haven't been many new people. I tell people about the site often, but don't have knowledge that anyone I know has joined us.

By the way, some of you may remember Karren Hill who was with us for a while and posted on S and F's, she is not doing well, she's been battling cancer for a couple of years. Her daughter has let some of us know that she will read all emails that might be sent to KarrenHill@gmail.com to cheer up her mother.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: jane on August 28, 2015, 01:23:11 PM
Jean....Karren passed away at 2:00 am this morning, with her daughter holding her hand and at home as she wanted.

She fought a long, hard battle with cancer.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 28, 2015, 01:44:33 PM
Thanks Jane - appreciate your bringing the news to us...
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 28, 2015, 02:07:29 PM
Ohhhh, that makes me so sad. ..............thank you for letting us know.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: bellamarie on August 28, 2015, 04:18:31 PM
My deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Karren Hill's family.

PatH.,
Quote
First, I want to make something clear: we want all of you here, whether you participate in the monthly book discussions or not.  This site is about many things.

However, the long discussions are the linchpin of the site; they provide its structure, and it's crucial to keep them healthy.
Very well said!  Indeed we want each and every one of you here, in any capacity possible.  I just think we need to address the drop off in the participation in the discussions.  If anyone can help us improve to get more people involved it would be good for the club. 

As for the choosing of future books for discussions, I would like to see the books that have been mentioned prior, come back around for consideration.  I have seen a few members say they recommended a book and it fell to the wayside.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 28, 2015, 05:18:25 PM
'd like to hear more from those who DON'T participate. it sounds like some of us just don't want to chew over a book for a month. That's fine! But what about the others.

STEPH: you say there hasn't been a book you were interested in for a long time. Can you think what about a book would make you interested? What would make a good discussion book for you?

Not all books have enough "meat" in them to be worth talking about for a month.  I've only led (or co-led with Ella) two discussions lately, and I was lucky: they were both good discussion books even though different ("Boys in the Boat" and "Emma"). I'm trying to think what made them so.

Both immersed us in a time and culture different from ours, and in enough detail and variety that we could appreciate different aspects of it. Boat in the suffering during the depression, the effects of poor family life, the nuts and bolts of rowing, the rowing culture, the craftsmanship, and against that the whole Nazi culture. Emma, the details of upper class life in England: the minutia and its importance. Both had deeper levels: the mystical aspect of rowing in boat, the search for character and what it takes to live a good life in Emma. Emma had not the craftsmanship of building a good boat, but the craftsmanship of building a good story (and of leading us astray again and again) and of portraying character and conversation so accurately. Other books we have read have the symbolic richness that barb is talking about.

And of course, they have to be good stories. They were good drama: drew us in, kept us in suspense etc. But that's not enough for a month-long discussion: we can just read ahead and finish the book, and discuss whether we liked the ending. No, there has to be things to learn or think about all along the way. That is why we have these discussions: because some books need to be savored: the details need to be appreciated: the richness.

And then there are books that are too scary to approach alone, and it helps to have company along the way. Whether it's Shakespeare, that a H English teacher persuaded us we were too dumb it ever understand, or a scary subject (who would want to read a 400 page book about ebola al one?) it helps to have hands to hold along the way.

And some are too long, and knowing we'll pause along the way gives us courage to start them. Even if we don't finish, we get something from them.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 28, 2015, 05:21:56 PM
I got off the subject. those who don't participate, but could: what might attract you to one.?
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: JoanK on August 28, 2015, 05:31:02 PM
There are a zillion ways to read a good book. If someone else is interested in some aspect of the book that I'm not, I just skim or skip those posts, leave them for someone else and read the ones I am interested in. The main thing is not to feel that MY way of reading a book is the RIGHT way. I was very interested in the mysticism in "Boat", but I made several posts about it, and saw no one else picked it up. Fine, move on.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 28, 2015, 05:46:50 PM
Quote
I have seen a few members say they recommended a book and it fell to the wayside.
This happens sometimes.  Usually, it's because there weren't enough votes for it to make a discussion.  You need five or so to make it good, especially since you have to allow for someone not liking the book after all and dropping out.

Occasionally it's because no one wants to lead the discussion.  It's a lot of work, and you don't want to do it if you don't feel you could do a successful job, or the book doesn't have enough in it to make a successful discussion.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: nlhome on August 28, 2015, 07:41:30 PM
This discussion came at a busy time for me, traveling, company, a wedding party for our last child to be married, and of course the many distractions of summer. I haven't had time to read all the posts, yet.

Why don't I participate in book discussions? Well, I have a couple of times, but mostly I don't. Sometimes the books don't appeal; sometimes (like with the Lake book for next month) there is not a copy available through my system inter-library loan, and I don't have time order outside the system (I don't buy books for myself any more unless at the Friends of the Library sale) and usually I just don't like being held to a schedule when I read.

One of my majors in college was English, and I parsed, discussed, tore apart, analyzed and examined poems, stories and books until my eyes crossed. I read Jane Eyre once in high school, twice in college - talk about digging into a book! I enjoyed it at the time, but I don't do that in-depth dissection often now. I appreciate that others do.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 28, 2015, 08:23:40 PM
nlhome thanks for updating us that the Lake book is not readily available - you may want to add to the 'Lake' conversation in that we are looking at the lake we mostly frequent and seeing it through the eyes of the author as he describes his experiences as well as his concerns and best of all how a lake is birthed or created - it will be easy enough for us to go online to learn more about our own nearby lake that we never think to look at the lake through the eyes that this book offers.

this look at our lake will be advanced by the focus questions and so where it would be lovely to read the words in the book the bones of the book will be translated into focus questions.

Hope to see your post during the discussion.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 29, 2015, 09:32:56 AM
While I was in the warm water pool for PT for my knees, I met a lady who asked me where I got my WEEKLY READERbag that I use to carry my belongings to the pool twice a week.  I told her about our group and where I got the bag.  1st DC trip.  She seemed interested in looking in so I gave her our SL address on the web.  I will see her next week when we graduate to PT on dry land.  I will remind her about us.  She's loves to read so I will tell her some more then.  She's younger than most of us so I am hoping she will tell others about us.  We will see. :)
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 29, 2015, 02:23:13 PM
Wonderful Ann - now that is an idea - to have a reading bag designed that we could purchase and use to carry what does not fit in our purse -
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 29, 2015, 02:38:03 PM
Let's keep going. We're still a happy few who can make an adventure out of reading a book. And, it seems to me, the most recent discussions have been the best. (Sorry I didn't pick up on the mysticism, Joan, I was trying too hard to stay dry.) But then do I have a book for you. For everyone. I was reminded of it after seeing the Tokyo book scene posts in Library and thinking of Mr. Hundert's (The Palace Thief) awakened interest in Japan. I see it as another great journey, following David McCullough's. So my contribution to the subject under discussion is to propose anther mutually-supportive read.

The Great Wave: Gilded Age Misfits, Japanese Eccentrics, and The Opening of Old Japan, by Christopher Benfey. Symbol and Mysticism without end. Lots of literary adventure, beginning with Herman Melville and his quest, to Theodore Roosevelt's quest for new judo techniques. The index is a Who's Who of cultural and scientific America. As well as Buddhism and bushido, whatever that is. Hope y'all don't mind travelling whaling ship.

The author teaches literature at Mount Holyoke College and the book was published in 2003. Here's a picture on page 95 that has Isabella Gardner and friends. Of course you might expect to find her in Japan, picking up some things for her place in Boston. And here's another. Of Theodore Roosevelt, with representatives from Japan and Russia, negotiating a peace treaty at Portsmith, New Hampshire, 1905. p256
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: Jonathan on August 29, 2015, 02:45:48 PM
I have a Gardiner Museum catalogue in the house somewhere. I must find it and see what Isabella picked up in Japan. Or perhaps I'll get into the car and drive down to Boston. It's a dream collection,
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: PatH on August 29, 2015, 04:13:46 PM
It's a dream collection, and both amusing and maddening to go through.  Everything is arranged pretty much the way she had it when she was alive, and if there's a system, I don't know it.  And things are poorly labelled.  So if you're looking for something, you might not find it, but you also run across unexpected treasures when you're looking at something else.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 29, 2015, 04:29:10 PM
I ordered a used copy from Amazon - sounds like a fascinating time of discovery for foreigners visiting Japan - Never thought I ever wanted to visit Japan except for one area where Shinto monks have a path up the side of a mountain to their shrine - When I was into needlework their use of silk and gold thread is phenomenal but so beyond my capabilities however, browsing the patterns was a joy.

Now with the article about an area of Tokyo that is all about books there is more to Japan that seems interesting - there was a book something about understanding some of the beliefs that are seen exhibited in sublet ways like the tying of the two huge rocks in the waters off Japan. Do not know if they are on the sea side or the ocean side of Japan. 
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 29, 2015, 10:30:12 PM
Wheee we are open - Jane did it... our pre-discussion For Love of Lakes is open and ready AND the link is in the heading for the intro to the book along with the link to the book that is about 3/4ths of the book that is available to us from Amazon - here is the link to the discussion ... http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=4803.0
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: ANNIE on August 30, 2015, 12:28:39 PM
Jonathan, the Gilded Age sounds very interesting.  Would you be willing to lead it?  I am willing to discuss it.  And it sounds like many here are interested also.  What say you?

Barbara, I have ordered Love of Lakes from my library and don't know if its in yet.  But I hope to discuss it with you.
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: mabel1015j on August 30, 2015, 12:51:32 PM
I would also be interested in the Gilded Age, or anything about TR. That is a fascinating period of history and he is one of the most fascinating characters in American history.

Jean
Title: Re: Our Wild Days: Creating the Good Life on SeniorLearn
Post by: BarbStAubrey on August 31, 2015, 02:34:34 PM
Thanks everybody - this has been great - to look back at who we are and take pride in our history and then to look forward - to the future - just great - we will be closing this discussion the end of the day -

You can meet us in our next discussion - For Love of Lakes - that we have somewhat started but we have not explored the book more than the introduction to the book - also we found that the majority of the book is online as an extensive preview offered by Amazon - here is the pre-discussion where we are sharing our memories of lakes we have experienced as children and the lake we visit now as adults - http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=4803.0