Author Topic: The Library (Read 2086595 times)

marcie · « **Reply #3080 on:** November 21, 2010, 11:22:33 PM »

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!

Suggestion Box for Future Discussions

marcie · « **Reply #3081 on:** November 21, 2010, 11:22:55 PM »

Wow, Steph. You have Santas from all over the world? Are they a "set" or from different manufacturers? I hope you take a photo.

Steph · « **Reply #3082 on:** November 22, 2010, 06:01:28 AM »

Yes, I am going to my older sons for Thanksgiving, but will be home by this next weekend.. Then I too think I will decorate the house as much as I can.. I got through this weekend.. The first anniversary is hard..

Babi · « **Reply #3083 on:** November 22, 2010, 08:34:55 AM »

My cousin Rosalie collects Santas. The last time I was at her house for Christmas they literally
covered every available surface. You literally couldn't count them all. My sister-in-law has a
knack for making lovely decorations, and I have one of hers that I've hauled out and used for
years. Alas, it's now lost some of it's trimmings; probably time to recognize the inevitable and
let it go.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #3084 on:** November 22, 2010, 11:41:23 AM »

I really don't know which heading to post this message in, but I think there is a regular here that is entranced with all things Pompeii and Herculaneum. I had dvr'd several episodes of a PBS presentation, "Secrets of the Dead", and they had one on Pompeii, The Last Day and separate one on Herculaneum, which had a lot of the same footage in it. It was such an enthralling presentation, I thought I would bring it up. If you've missed it, try to catch it on its next go-round.

JoanP · « **Reply #3085 on:** November 22, 2010, 04:34:56 PM »

Tomereader - I'm certain you will find interest in the Classics Bulletin Board discussion here - http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=1.0

maryz · « **Reply #3086 on:** November 22, 2010, 07:00:09 PM »

Glad you're going to your son's for the holiday, Steph. You'll get through it all, I know. {{{{Steph}}}}

Babi · « **Reply #3087 on:** November 23, 2010, 08:38:20 AM »

   HAPPY THANKSGIVING

marcie · « **Reply #3088 on:** November 23, 2010, 10:50:39 AM »

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you. I'm very thankful for the wonderful company of readers here.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3089 on:** November 23, 2010, 11:20:48 AM »

We don't have Thanksgiving but I am equally grateful - "such richness", to quote Barbara Pym

Rosemary

ginny · « **Reply #3090 on:** November 23, 2010, 01:11:54 PM »

Happy Thanksgiving wherever or however you celebrate it if you're in the States, and if not, lift a turkey leg and join in vicariously!

Tomereader, I have heard nothing but good about that show, thank you for mentioning it here! Everybody I know is raving over the Herculaneum one, and PBS replays those programs all the time, I hope to be able to see it myself.

There's a new exhibit travelling the world now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, a fabulous new mosaic floor from Lod, Israel. If you've ever wondered how they move a huge mosaic floor, wonder no longer, the Met website gives a 9 minute film of them doing just that, will wonders never cease. Check it out here:

http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=5.msg95860#msg95860

in the Classics Bulletin Board, your jaw will drop.

Steph · « **Reply #3091 on:** November 23, 2010, 02:22:01 PM »

I will have to check out PBS for that I loved Pompeii and hope to go back someday and just wander. Just now I am speculating on next September and Scotland. Went once for a week, but mostly in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Balleter.. Since I was there for a large wedding.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3092 on:** November 23, 2010, 04:21:14 PM »

Steph, where are you planning on going in Scotland? If I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to ask. I am anticipating that we will have moved to somewhere in or near Edinburgh by next spring, and I would be more than happy to meet up and/or offer you a bedroom if you need one. At the moment we are vacillating between buying a flat in the city or a house out in East Lothian (the bit that stretches east from Edinburgh to North Berwick) - it's a beautiful coastline with some lovely villages, but of course if we live there my daughter will have to travel into town for school. However, when we visited the school we think she will go to last week, the 6th year girl who showed us round commuted daily from Dunbar, which is a lot further, so it can be done.

Anyway, would be interested to hear your proposed itinerary,

Best wishes

Rosemary

roshanarose · « **Reply #3093 on:** November 23, 2010, 07:27:07 PM »

Rosemary : great that you have now (almost) decided. The coast, ahhhhh....... Love the sea. But city living certainly has its advantages. I watched a program last night about a decorator (interior?) and his wife who are moving into an old house in England. I think the family is called Bowen. It is interesting. I think it's called to the Manor Bowen Sorry to be so vague, I found it while I was tapping the remote.

I may get a vicarious turkey sandwich today. Thanks for the idea Ginny. I look forward to the looks on the shop assistant when I ask for a "vicarious turkey sandwich".

Today is a big day for me. I am picking up my Sony Touch EReader. I have been checking out free ebook sites but feel i am just scratching the surface of what is available. Any recommendations?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3094 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:44:07 AM »

Roshanarose - I think you should make a celebration of it and have a glass of (non-virtual) champagne too

The Llewellyn Bowens are a well known TV couple here - he is a very flamboyant interior designer, way over the top for me, but I think he is a nice person, they do a lot of charity work. My husband viewed a flat just last Sunday, and reported back that it was very "Llewellyn Bowen" - if I can find the link I will send you the pictures.

Have fun with your Reader and let us know how it goes - I can't recommend anything because I haven't got one, but I'm beginning to be interested. Was trying to read the hardback copy of "Framed" in bed last night - the novel is absolutely brilliant but it was so heavy; I remember my mother complaining about this very thing a few years ago, and my thinking "how ridiculous" - well, it's caught up with me now and serves me right!

R

Gumtree · « **Reply #3095 on:** November 24, 2010, 05:19:14 AM »

Roshanarose & Rosemary - I watched the same show about the Llewellyn-Bowen family last night too. I'm glad to know they do a lot of charity work - that must be their redeeming virtue. That and the fact that he must read as he appeared to have a good collection of classic Penguins. I wonder does he always air his knowledge of French like that - dropping a few words into the conversation whenever he could - is that pretentious or am I being rather hard on him? - in real life I think it could become a trifle tiresome. And what was it with the guy's shirtsleeves ... fashion statement ? I rather liked the old house although I couldn't understand why anyone would buy a house without first looking around the neighbourhood as well. How old would you guess the daughters to be? I'd better not start on 'Madam'

Let's know about whatever EReader you decide upon - I haven't entered that particular minefield as yet.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3096 on:** November 24, 2010, 05:42:57 AM »

Gumtree - much as I find the Llewellyn Bowens just as annoying as you do, I do think it is probably mostly an act. They are apparently very nice if you meet them off screen! Bit I didn't see the programme, so perhaps they were on particularly irritating form in that - I must say I wouldn't rush to watch anything they were in.

Yes, the world of e-readers does feel like a miinefield, doesn't it? But I am starting to feel like that about a lot of things - TVs, computers, houses, shampoo

- there's just too much choice.

salan · « **Reply #3097 on:** November 24, 2010, 06:20:59 AM »

Rosemarykaye, I had to smile when you talked about too many choices. Yesterday, when I was at the grocery store-picking up last minute items for our Thanksgiving feast; an older man was standing in front of the apples in the produce section. He had a helpless look on his face. Finally, he turned to me and asked if I could help him. His wife had sent him to the store to get some apples to stuff inside the turkey and there were so many choices that he had no idea what kind to get!
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #3098 on:** November 24, 2010, 06:21:54 AM »

Rosemary, I am going to take a tour that will last 12 days. The company is CIE and it sounds safe and nice for a single to take. No extras, no free dining types. This will be the first big trip since my husband died and I want it to be as different as I can make it.. Hence, no tours by myself, no independent anything. Having said that, way forward when I get the schedule, possibly we could meet in Edinburgh for lunch?? It is always fun to meet the seniorlearn and seniornet people in real life.
I have never been fond of bus tours. We loved the river tours or independent touring together, but I am trying to learn to continue my beloved travel and not miss him quite so much.
I love my IPAD.. I can read, but also email, facebook, etc and play some really fun games.
The tour will be next September. I am still not ready to face the nonsense of flying just yet.

Babi · « **Reply #3099 on:** November 24, 2010, 08:47:41 AM »

Quote

'...the nonsense of flying"

? I don't think I've ever heard that view of flying
expressed before, STEPH.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3100 on:** November 24, 2010, 09:41:28 AM »

But how apt - the security, the endless waiting, the ridiculous shops that try to get you to buy - out of sheer boredom - the sort of stuff you would never go within a mile of normally, the overpriced cafes, the being squashed in with people you've never met, the airlines' pretence of feeding you, then at the other end, tortuous and expensive transport into town.

Last time went to London we went on the train. it starts from here so no rush to find your seats, and it ends there, so no rush to get off. it takes 7 hours, but if you go prepared with books, games, etc it is great - and when you get there you are right in central London, not in some airport calling itself London but really half way to Birmingham.

Steph, your trip sounds great, and good on you for booking it. Let me know nearer the time and we can try to fix up a nice place to meet for lunch (good excuse to do some research into that...).

Rosemary

pedln · « **Reply #3101 on:** November 24, 2010, 12:05:33 PM »

Steph, I understand "the nonsense of flying" very well, and after reading all the hoopla about body scan protests in the Washington Post I'm glad I drove 900 miles to get here. But going to Seattle in December is a different matter, and I hope the protesting idiots don't cause problems for those of us who for medical reasons need the pat-downs in lieu of screening.

Your upcoming trip to Scotland sounds great and you'll do fine with a bus tour. It would really be neat if you and Rosemary could get together .

(I was going to say "if you could hook up" but my children and grandchildren have informed me that that is not a proper word, not nice. I hope our language isn't changing so fast that it makes one afraid to open her mouth.)()

PatH · « **Reply #3102 on:** November 24, 2010, 08:06:38 PM »

"Nonsense" is a good description of some of the stuff they make us do. Since my metal hip always sets off the metal detectors, I'm a pro about body scanners and pat downs, including the new, more intimate pat downs. One look at me and they are very respectful, almost timid, and it's always been tolerable. But if I were young and beautiful, I might be pretty upset by the whole thing.

The real worry is the times when they put some new requirement in place, or a protest as has been planned, and you get held up so long that you miss the plane.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3103 on:** November 25, 2010, 02:18:25 PM »

The turkey's cooking, so i'm tootaling arnd in my ipad, just found this interesting list of one person's Best Historical Novel's of 2009

http://www.historicalnovels.info/Best-Historical-Novels.html

There are other links to historical novel sites and blogs.......jean

winsummm · « **Reply #3104 on:** November 25, 2010, 11:04:50 PM »

xmas carols and lights are exciting for me. presents get sent to important people from the internet since I'm not p to shopping or making anymore. My kids send me stuff one in a care box and the other something special from on line. either way. I like it fine. thanks giving today I got a special gift from my chiropractor who kept our usual thursday house call even though it was a holiday. . .most unexpected and appreciated. my back stopped hurting.

roshanarose · « **Reply #3105 on:** November 26, 2010, 12:20:56 AM »

Jean - Thanks for that link - some very good books to add to the TBR file.

I would love to have an IPad but the smallest one in Australia is $600+. Eeeeeekkkk!

kiwilady · « **Reply #3106 on:** November 26, 2010, 03:20:22 AM »

Yes Kiwi prices sky high too! No IPad for me.

I have begun listening to AS Byatts "Possession". I have the book but could never get into it but I am really enjoying the audio book. It must be something to do with my fibromyalgia and the brain fog but the written word in large doses seems to be extremely hard for me to take in nowdays. Classics scholars would really like this book which has lots of references to the Classics. Its toted as a romance. If anyone bought it purely to read a romance they would be extremely bewildered. Its very scholarly. I see very old ladies take home piles of Romances including Mills and Boons from our library. If they took this one home they would not get past the first few pages.

Carolyn

Gumtree · « **Reply #3107 on:** November 26, 2010, 06:01:28 AM »

HI Kiwilady - I just love Possession - one of my favourite reads - a real paper chase with lots of literary and classical allusions. I read it first when it came out and then again for the discussion here last June (I think). The discussion was led by Ginny who was in her element and everyone else raised lots of fascinating stuff as well. I think it would adapt to audiobook very well although I think I would want to have the hard copy by my side to read through some of the poetry and letters etc myself.... if you're interested the discussion is in the archives.

Our news is full of the horror mining disaster at Greymouth. I wonder will they be able to get any bodies out or even if there are any bodies left to find. My hope is that the men were overcome by the gases before the explosions.

roshanarose · « **Reply #3108 on:** November 26, 2010, 07:51:35 AM »

I wish for that too, Gumtree. It must be such a horrific experience for those whose loved ones are down in that mine every time there is an explosion. We can only offer support, no hope.

ALF43 · « **Reply #3109 on:** November 26, 2010, 09:13:55 AM »

Thank you Jean for the link to the historical novels. Two of them I have read and have bookmarked the site for future reference. I've got a secret! (Santa Claus is bringing me a Nook reader.) I am so excited, i feel like a kid at Christmas. We will be north in NY for Christmas and I CAN NOT WAIT!!! (she shouts.)

It will be a crazy December as Bill and I are going out of our comfort zone and taking a bus trip, arranged thru AAA to the Smokey Mountains for 6 days. I love the Biltmore house at Christmas and we will have a dinner near there. When we return from the Smokeys with a stop over at Dollyworld, I only have one day to get ready for the 10 day Christmas trip to NY. Most of my shopping wil be done up there with the teenagers.

Babi · « **Reply #3110 on:** November 26, 2010, 09:16:32 AM »

Sounds wonderful, ROSEMARY. Too bad there are no trains to London from where I live.

Ah, thanks to PEDLN, I now understand what STEPH was saying about the 'nonsense' of
flying. It's all the nonsense involved before one can even get on the plane. I realize
that security is most important, but the whole thing does seem excessive.
Did you hear about the woman who avoided the pat-down by the simple expedient of
wearing nothing but a bikini under her coat? Obviously not hiding anything there!

Changes in language can have odd results, PEDLN. I am thinking of a dear friend, now
deceased, whose name was Gay. How would you like to have your name acquire such new
and significant meanings?

I had not heard about the Greymouth mine explosion. Such a terrible thing to happen, made
worse by the helplessness to do anything.

maryz · « **Reply #3111 on:** November 26, 2010, 11:10:13 AM »

Christmas at Biltmore is fantastic. We've been several times, too.

I knew about the NZ mine explosion, but didn't realize it was at Greymouth. That's one of the places we went through when we were there. It's a sad time for that community and all NZ.

kiwilady · « **Reply #3112 on:** November 26, 2010, 01:39:27 PM »

My personal opinion is that we lost the miners in the first blast. The air would have been toxic from day one. The levels of gas were huge. That is why they never got in after the first blast.

Also my personal opinion is that our labour force is not valued like they once were. I hope the Inquiries which are to be held are not a whitewash. We need to know what happened and why.

I feel so sad for the families. What an awful Christmas this will be. It will be so hard for those with children on Christmas day. We always say Christmas day is for the kids. Their mothers will still be in that numb stage of grief and will be feeling detached from the world. The older kids will be so sad and the little ones will be wondering where dad is.

Carolyn

Steph · « **Reply #3113 on:** November 26, 2010, 08:45:35 PM »

Inquiring minds.. I just heard of and have sent away for informaton on a place called Kendal. There are six in the US.. They are lifecare facilities, but seem to come from a different place. They are based on quaker answers to life and that is what drew me. There are none close to me, so I sent away for the one in Lexington, Va.. Does anyone know them?? They have cottages, apartments, rooms, and houses.. Animals permitted. and quite a few different meal type options.. I am healthy, etc, so would want independent living, but the idea of having a central place to settle and see one another. Besides, they are blocks from VMI, etc. The college is an integral part of the community. So.. I am listening to all of you if you know anything.

maryz · « **Reply #3114 on:** November 26, 2010, 09:39:20 PM »

That looks really interesting Steph - I hadn't heard of them before. I like the idea of a university connection. None in our area, though.

Steph · « **Reply #3115 on:** November 27, 2010, 06:05:21 AM »

I really love the idea of living close to a college now. It would be so much fun to be able to take a few classes.. Use a world class library, not our local, which has more films than books.. I find as a widow, the idea of communal living is interesting.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3116 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:17:21 AM »

Steph, I think it would be great to live near a college - not only for the opportunity to take classes, but because you would be among such an interesting mix of people. Much more stimulating than most retirement communities I should imagine (having never been to one, so what do I know?)

One of my friends did a PhD in Ancient Greek at Berkeley many years ago - I went to visit her there and loved the atmosphere - as well as the beautiful setting. I remember walking up to the botanical gardens and seeing my very first humming bird, just inches away from me - what a moment.

I think my house is finally sold, though I am now struggling to get Madeleine into a school for next Easter - they are all bursting at the seams in her year - so I could be stuck up here till June. At any rate, we can at last say goodbye to the tidying up - I might even start to find all the thing I've put away and lost

Rosemary

Babi · « **Reply #3117 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:57:46 AM »

The Kendal does sound lovely; I'll probably google it just out of curiousity. I am fortunate to
have my younger daughter living with me and I'm not expecting any changes there. Neither of
us could make it alone, so we're very thankful for one another. But I've always admired the
Quaker values of peace and quiet contemplation, as well as firm social action, so I'll go satisfy
my curiousity.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3118 on:** November 27, 2010, 01:24:45 PM »

Steph - the place where i am going to present the 6 sessions on women's history next spring is a Quaker managed retirement community here in south Jersey, Medford Leas. They have what they call Medford University on the site, alovely natural setting w/ the same kind of living spaces that you mentioned at Kendal. They have Roadscholar programs also. They make decisions in the traditional Quaker way of concensus, even to what classes they will present......my women's history idea had to be presented to the committee....fortunately their were some people who had heard me do presentations and they championed my idea and me.

I would imagine that would be happening in many Quaker facilities, so even if there is not a college near by, you may still have much to keep you intellectually stimulated, so ypur choices may be wider than you have tho't.......jean

MaryPage · « **Reply #3119 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:58:12 PM »

VMI is situated about in the middle of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley; you could not find a more lovely place. That being said, I confess to not having been there for about 20 years, but at that time it was not what you would normally think of as a "college town." The emphasis is on military and it is rather off to itself, or was, and isolated. That valley is my home valley, and I love it to pieces; but I would not have any yearnings to be "near VMI."

I know nothing about that set of Senior communities, but they sure are building a lot of them up and down the valley. I do know there is a most excellent one in Harrisonburg, Virginia (also in the valley) which can be said to be "near James Madison University" and is truly a college town with all the amenities you expect from such cultured places. I believe it is called Sunnyside, but I am not sure.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2086595 times)