Author Topic: The Library (Read 2085269 times)

maryz · « **Reply #1520 on:** April 25, 2010, 08:27:50 AM »

The Library

Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat is always out.
Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not).

Let the book talk begin here!

Go for it, Steph!

Babi · « **Reply #1521 on:** April 25, 2010, 09:00:15 AM »

I'm with MarZ, STEPH. Listen to those strong urges. It's to be expected
that the routines of a lifetime will assert themselves and you will feel an urge to travel. Why not go where you really feel drawn to go?

JoanK · « **Reply #1522 on:** April 25, 2010, 07:52:37 PM »

Such places can be truly wonderful. Near where I lived in Maryland was a retreat center. I used to go there one day a month for a silent retreat. The peace of the place just sinks into you.

I haven't found such a place here, but there is a park I go to next to the ocean. Sitting quietly there for awhile really helps me deal with my life.

Steph · « **Reply #1523 on:** April 26, 2010, 05:40:32 AM »

I had wondered about a retreat center, but the only one even close is a catholic one and I suspect that it would be a bit more religious than I want.
If the urge persists, I will look into going.. I think it was the peace there that is bringing it back to me. As hard as I try, peace for me is hard to deal with just now. I still have flashbacks of the accident and way too much disbelief that he is really gone.

Babi · « **Reply #1524 on:** April 26, 2010, 08:28:11 AM »

I don't think the Catholic retreat would impose on you, STEPH. What experience I have had
with retreats was usually in a group, but we were left alone to carry out our own plans. I believe if you asked about a retreat for peace and quiet, that is what you would get. It doesn't hurt to ask. Probably more important to you would be the surroundings there; whether they meet your needs for beauty and serenity.

JoanR · « **Reply #1525 on:** April 26, 2010, 09:07:39 AM »

Seph - I think Babi is right and that a retreat at this time would be a very healing thing for you to do. From what I've heard, you would be granted all the peace and quiet you would ask for.

For you folks with Kindles, here's an amusing little anecdote from today's NYT Metropolitan Diary section:

"Dear Diary:

Emerging from the subway at 96th and Broadway, I heard the familiar sound of a man preaching from a Bible. Some things never change.

But the Bible caught my eye — it was thinner than usual. The man was preaching from a Kindle! Some things will never be the same. "

serenesheila · « **Reply #1526 on:** April 26, 2010, 09:31:59 AM »

Thanks for a good laugh, JOAN. The Bible reading from a Kindle. I wonder what will be next.

STEPH, I hope that you will trust your instincts about a reteat. I have attended several retreats at Catholic places. No one ever encouraged me to attend Mass. The surroundings were quiet, relaxing, with three wonderful meals a day. Both of these Retreat Centers still send me upcoming retreat schedules. I think if you call and ask them for a schedule they will be happy to send it to you.

Sheila

Judy Laird · « **Reply #1527 on:** April 26, 2010, 02:17:34 PM »

We were out to dinner thur night for Don's 80th birthday ,
My 10 year old grandson was twitching around ( and to tell you the truth) he
would have sat still in that chair if he was mine.
Any way Tim says play with you phone, he opens it and a screen drops down
and he is reading the Bible . I SAY WHAT?

??

joangrimes · « **Reply #1528 on:** April 26, 2010, 04:38:39 PM »

Well here I am in the Library so I guess it is all right to post the title of a book that I am reading and enjoying on my Kindle. It is called "Mr Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I am enjoying it but of course I am slow reading it because of my eyes. Some of you might like it. It is Simonon's first novel and is classified as a comedy of manners I believe. Joan Grimes

Steph · « **Reply #1529 on:** April 27, 2010, 05:57:07 AM »

I will think of the retreat and possibly call them. It just seems to me that in the past five months, way too many people including my grief counselor wanted to pray over me..I am not a believer in public prayer. I think this is a very very personal thing to a human and should be done by myself and with great thought beforehand.

Babi · « **Reply #1530 on:** April 27, 2010, 09:02:36 AM »

Certainly private prayer can be a very personal thing, STEPH. And despite my strong belief in
prayer, I also feel slightly uncomfortable when someone wants to pray over me publicly. I do
believe, tho', that when there is a goal being sought, united prayer can be a powerful thing.
There is a right time for both, wouldn't you say?

Steph · « **Reply #1531 on:** April 28, 2010, 06:01:54 AM »

I would guess that my years as a conviction quaker has convinced me that silence is a powerful force. So I truly am not comfortable with public prayer.. It always seems to make me think that someone is showing off..

Babi · « **Reply #1532 on:** April 28, 2010, 08:37:39 AM »

Your last post made me chuckle, STEPH, thanks to an old memory. The idea of the quietness of the Quakers had always appealed to me, so I finally visited one of their services while I was in California. Perhaps one of
the women wanted to impress the newcomer. Anyway, she rose to be reconized by the pastor
and commenced to pray. She prayed, and prayed, and prayed and prayed.... A quick peek
informed me that even the pastor was dismayed and equally peeking at me to see how I was
taking it. After covering at length every possible subject, and possibly everyone she knew, she
sat down triumphantly...and I never returned.

JoanK · « **Reply #1533 on:** April 28, 2010, 02:41:18 PM »

I admit to also being embarrassed by public prayer. The retreats I went to were silent ones, but there was a leader (differant each time) and a short prayer at beginning and end.

But it was the silence that did the healing. Each time I went, I was able to get more and more into it.

PatH · « **Reply #1534 on:** April 28, 2010, 07:02:33 PM »

Tee hee, Babi. My last boss before I retired was a devout Quaker, and he remarked, about the fact that anyone can speak at a meeting, "If you leave the door open, sometimes a few flies come in".

Steph, I wish I could teleport you to one of JoanK's silent retreats. As she says, it's the lengthy silence in a healing and peaceful environment that does it.

Steph · « **Reply #1535 on:** April 29, 2010, 05:57:35 AM »

Yes, it is the silence of course.. I did laugh. There is always at least one member at meeting that feels compellled to show off. Many times, the elders speak to them privately to see what is going on. It is thought by old line quakers, that much speaking is the sign of something wrong inside.. Who knows..

salan · « **Reply #1536 on:** April 29, 2010, 06:22:33 AM »

Your conversation reminded me of one woman in my ftf bookclub. She always "hogs" the conversation and drones on and on about personal items that have very little to do with the book. This last meeting, she even interrupted one member and switched back to her own conversation. I suspect that she is just lonely, but it's beginning to spoil the club for me. Anyone have any suggestions about how to stop this without hurting her feelings. It's most frustrating~
Sally

JoanP · « **Reply #1537 on:** April 29, 2010, 07:22:39 AM »

Sally, do your discussions have a leader? It sounds as if you need someone who will continue to steer back to the book discussion, taking her comments, interupting if necessary and relating them to the book - perhaps then directing a followup question to another member of the group?
Yes, it does sound as if she's lonely. I don't see any hope for change though, unless someone can take over the leadership.

Babi · « **Reply #1538 on:** April 29, 2010, 08:25:33 AM »

PATH, I loved that remark.

SALLY, I had a friend like that. She was intelligent, well-educated and
outgoing, but she definitely hogged the conversation. It seemed she needed to be the center of attention, needed an admiring audience. I was content enough to be her sounding board when we got together. Still, I stopped asking her to join us when my son and his family visited...at his request. He wanted to visit with us, not spend the day listening to my friend.

Steph · « **Reply #1539 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:00:29 AM »

I worry that I talk too much when out now. Before I always had Tim to talk to, but there are days now when I see noone except possibly a waiter when I eat a meal out. Senior learn is my closest conversations many days.

Babi · « **Reply #1540 on:** April 30, 2010, 08:41:38 AM »

Since I became fully deaf, I find I talk to myself a lot. I'm the only I can 'hear'.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1541 on:** April 30, 2010, 11:15:40 AM »

Seems like I want to chat on the phone to my sister more than she. She always ends the calls with an "I've got to run . . .to the bathroom. to move the sprinkler, to let in/out the dog, etc. So I know that I talk too much. Maybe we should organize a telephone chain for when we need to natter on, calling one another, with a certain time limit we are allowed to talk and so not alienate too much our "listener". Sort of like a 12th step sponsor. "Hi, I'm Jackie and I'm a compulsive talker."

ginny · « **Reply #1542 on:** April 30, 2010, 12:54:10 PM »

Isn't it lovely to have our book discussions where we can say our piece and there it stays, nobody can interrupt, and we all benefit from hearing all the opinions raised, the art of conversation on a new level. Love it.

I'm still reading the Van Gogh book, how do you like it Joan K? Some of the print IS exceedingly small, but it's worth it, I think. He's not at all what I thought he was, nor his letters.

Talk about Brotherly Love, I think Theo wins, hands down.

I'm reading the Omnivore's Dilemma and for some reason (what IS it with me) I have the Young Reader's Edition, which is fine, as I'm then spared (somewhat) what I'm sure are the gory details. It's bad enough.

Do you like chicken McNuggets?

19 percent of Americans eat in the car. The chicken McNugget was invented in 1983 by Tyson in response to McDonald's request for a hands free chicken product.

6 chicken MdNuggets contain nearly twice as much fat as a regular hamburger.

They also have ( these may be misspelled, who on earth could spell them?)

sodium aluminum phosphate
monocalcium phosphate
sodium acid pyrophosphate
calcium lactate (these are anti oxidants to keep the fat in the nugget from spoiling).

dimethlypolysiloxene: (anti foaming agent): a suspected cause of cancer

tertiary butylhydroquinone or TBHQ, made from petroleum sprayed directly on the nugget or inside the box to "help preserve freshness"

This is a form of butane (lighter fluid).

Eating a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation and collapse."

5 grams can kill you.

Better hope whoever or whatever is spraying it on your own McNuggets has a steady hand, huh?

Of 38 ingredients to make a McNugget, 13 can come from corn.

This is what the book is about. It also has the fascinating history of Dr. Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg) and his strange sanitarium or health clinic, and dietary requirements (want to lose 100 pounds fast?) Unreal. And what "Fletcherizing" was.

Naturally being on a diet I am now drawn to these types of books but how can anybody eat fast food and hope not to be obese?

Now I'm entering the "Industrial Organic Food" chapter and am half afraid to read it.

What are YOU reading?

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1543 on:** April 30, 2010, 01:13:30 PM »

Just finished The Merchant of Menace and am now reading The House of Seven Mabels - both by Jill Churchill - cozy mysteries - fun, i like her characters, they are people i "know."

Still reading Taking on the Trust - Ida Tarbell taking on John D. Rockefellar and STandard Oil - dry, but also interesting - is that possible?

Still reading Virgin Earth by Phillipa Gregory - it's a big book -

- and Will's Trial - German's in Texas....................

So, you see i read sev'l books at one time, but not necessarily quickly........jean

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1544 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:26:31 PM »

Reading Earthly Joys by Phillipa Gregory; Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen conquered the world,Claire Harman; Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lehman. Just finished Parisian Prodigal by Alan Gordon; The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine; Pigs Don't Fly by Mary Brown.

Steph · « **Reply #1545 on:** May 01, 2010, 07:52:48 AM »

Jackie, I loved Pigs dontFly,, hated Motherless in
Brooklyn and want to read The Three Weismanns..

JoanP · « **Reply #1546 on:** May 01, 2010, 09:16:32 AM »

Just opened - the Book Club Online Discussion for May - Anne Tyler's Noah's Compass. Lots to talk about here, even if you don't have the book yet - retirement issues, memory loss, etc...all told in Tyler's inimitable style and gentle humor.

Looking forward to hearing from YOU there!

Babi · « **Reply #1547 on:** May 01, 2010, 09:45:52 AM »

Any item which is cut in smaller pieces is going to have more coating and
more fat that a large single piece. I don't eat McNuggets or anything else
of that kind. I think Valerie might; I'll have to warn her about that lethal 'freshener'.

I was discouraged to learn, JACKIE, that my library doesn't Alan Gordon,
or Cathleen Schine, or Mary Brown. (sigh) Well, they did have one by Schine, but it's
listed as lost. (sigh)
'

pedln · « **Reply #1548 on:** May 01, 2010, 10:52:40 AM »

Babi, I talk to myself too, and now that it getting warmer and the windows are open, I’m afraid the neighbors might here me. I sort of mumble real low, but still . . .

Omnivore’s Dilemma – got it for Christmas a year or so ago, but have not read it. No McNuggets, but my meal last week at Beef O’Bradys was probably just as bad. There may have been fish or shrimp inside those battered things, but they were pretty bad. Forget that place. Stay home.

I’m reading A Reliable Wife for my f2f group that meets next week, hate it, and wonder if I’ll be able to finish it. I just don’t give a hoot about the characters. They lie, they’re perverts, yuck.

Am finally getting into Norwegian Jo Nesbro’s Nemesis, a renegade cop story.

And I’ve read Robby’s chapter in Bruce Frankel’s What Should I Do with the Rest of My Life. That’s one you all want to read. He’s had an amazing, vigorous life – still does. I want to take this book slowly, one person at a time.

I’ve finished Noah’s Compass, loved it, am really looking forward to the discussion, and hope you will all join us. Get the book if you can, but come, even without it, as there is much to talk about that relates to all of us.

But today, tomorrow, this week, sometime I just want to settle in with something I can lose myself in and can’t put down. Noah was like that. Now I want another one.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #1549 on:** May 01, 2010, 11:54:38 AM »

Babi: Does your county have a library system you can join? When I lived in San Jose I had borrowing privileges in both the city and the County of Santa Clara libraries which allowed me to check books out of the satellite cities in the county such as Palo Alto, home of Stanford University.

Octavia · « **Reply #1550 on:** May 01, 2010, 06:53:43 PM »

Before she had Alzheimers my Mum talked to herself constantly. We could always locate her by following the voice. Now I've started. It helps to have a cat or dog, they're the perfect excuse.I was just talking to the cat

.

So sorry to hear about that massive oil spill. What a wildlife tragedy for your coastline.
A man wrote to our local paper while we were worrying about ours, and said there were massive oil spills after the World Wars but there were no cleanups. He said that micro-organisms developed and dealt with it.
Is he out of his tree? What did happen then? I've never heard oil spills mentioned, actually.

JoanK · « **Reply #1551 on:** May 01, 2010, 07:54:32 PM »

I talk to myself too. (Why not: I'm an interesting conversationalist).

serenesheila · « **Reply #1552 on:** May 01, 2010, 08:09:20 PM »

I am another self talker. I also talk back to the TV. IMO, nothing wrong with either. Now that my daughter has moved in with me, that may change.

The inside of my home looks like a tornado has struck! It is giving me a chance to practice patience. haha I have no idea when she will get everything put away. She is out on a date, today. They are playing golf. Of course if I had my way, she would be at home, putting everything away. Oh, well, she is home, and safe. I am enjoying her company. Her little dog, Bella, is fun to watch.

It is a sunny day here in Sacramento, CA. With a slight breze. One of my favorite activities is sitting in my recliner, with the heat and massage unit turned on, watching the neighborhood trees blowing in the wind. That is retirement life for me.

Sheila

CallieOK · « **Reply #1553 on:** May 01, 2010, 09:00:37 PM »

True family story: When I was about three, my Dad got after me and I muttered something under my breath. When he asked what I'd said, I replied, "I was talking to myself...but I hope you heard me." History does not record what happened after that - but I still carry on a lot of one-sided conversations.

joangrimes · « **Reply #1554 on:** May 02, 2010, 12:13:35 AM »

I talk to myself also. I don't want to forget how to talk. I need to practice.
However tonight I had a treat because my DL took me to see the play in which my very talented grandson, Daniel , was performing. I was able to carry on a conversation with her and my grandson on the way home. I really enjoyed seeing the play.

Joan Grimes

CallieOK · « **Reply #1555 on:** May 02, 2010, 12:37:30 AM »

One of the greatest pleasures of being a grandmother, Joan. How old is Daniel?

Steph · « **Reply #1556 on:** May 02, 2010, 05:50:45 AM »

Actually at this point, I talk to my love. I know he is gone, but somehow talking out loud and pretending he is around helps me deal with small crisis..If i have a big one, all bets are off.
I do have two dogs and I talk to them and both of them answer.. in dog talk of course, although my old guy contorts his face and really looks as if he is trying hard to talk like I do. Lots of up and down sounds and gurgles.

joangrimes · « **Reply #1557 on:** May 02, 2010, 08:06:54 AM »

Quote from: CallieinOK on May 02, 2010, 12:37:30 AM

One of the greatest pleasures of being a grandmother, Joan. How old is Daniel?

Yes Callie! How true! Daniel is going to be 17 in October. He loves acting and attends a High school that is a Theater Academy. So he is really focused on acting. Joan Grimes

Babi · « **Reply #1558 on:** May 02, 2010, 09:01:28 AM »

Yes, JACKIE, I can request a book through inter-library loan. There is a
dollar fee, but when I want a book bad enough it's certainly worth a buck.

JOANK..

SHEILA, I talk to the TV, too, especially during games or when criticizing
ads. As in..'if you knew the answer, why didn't you call for the 'd's?!
There were three of them!'

CallieOK · « **Reply #1559 on:** May 02, 2010, 09:52:02 AM »

Joan, my 17-year-old granddaughter is passionate about musical theater. She attends a "regular" high school but studies voice and theater production at a local Theater Academy and dance at a Dance Academy. I don't know that she will ever achieve Star billing - but she is good enough to have gotten character roles and be a featured dancer. She is considering a college major in Dance Education or some other field that will allow her to be involved with musical theater in case she can't earn a living by performing.

Babi, don't you wonder how these game show contestants can function without all the help "we" give them?

I am bereft this morning.

I finished the last book in my TBR stack last night. Good thing the library is open this afternoon. I would have to tell myself a story.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2085269 times)