Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088511 times)

Frybabe · « **Reply #4920 on:** April 29, 2011, 01:48:39 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!

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Caught a little of the wedding before classes. Got in just as they were arriving at Buckingham. The Queen looked wonderful in her yellow outfit. Charles was looking a little old.

bellemere · « **Reply #4921 on:** April 29, 2011, 03:07:07 PM »

yes, John took students to Provence last year to see Roman ruins. This year he tookhis French class to Paris . sounds ideal, but it is really work One student had a serious asthma attack, ended up in a Paris hospital, and John sat with her all night.
she recovered nicely.
Just for nostalgia sake, I put Ethan Frome on my Nook , for only 99 cents. What a story! The new England winter landscape is almost another character. Edith Wharton wrote longer books but she never wrote a better one, IMHO\
Also ordered The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, just on a hunch. It takes place in old Japan, a
dutchman who lived there, had a (forbidden) love affair.

Steph · « **Reply #4922 on:** April 30, 2011, 06:17:07 AM »

I did laugh. I really have only seen snippets of the whole wedding. I had gotten up, walked the dogs, walked myself, came in at 6:45 to settle in to watch what was happening and.... the electricity went off.
Did not come back until 9:15. And I discovered to my fury, that my garage door opener will not open without electric(of course, dummy).. Glad I did not walk the mile to a place with coffee. When I went out later, discovered the outage was very widespread and the place was closed as well as the supermarket.. So my day was a play catch up sort of day.
But my little widow dinner party went well.. We all laughed and ate and they stayed until 11:30pm.. Late for all of us, but fun.

Babi · « **Reply #4923 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:51:01 AM »

Sounds lovely, STEPH. (The dinner party, not the electric outage!) I watched
some of the early filming of the wedding, but found it rather boring just watching
people in their nice clothes filing in. Later, I watched the wedding itself, and that
was a pleasure. To see that lovely young woman, and realize that one day, God
willing, she will be Queen Catherine of England. History in the making.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4924 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:51:55 AM »

Look at your PBS channel listing for today. Ours shows the whole shebang all over again today; 5 hours worth!

I watched it all day yesterday and way into the night last night. Got my fix, but won't live to see the next king or queen to be tie the knot. Sure enjoyed this one. Thought it was perfect. Good on them!

marjifay · « **Reply #4925 on:** April 30, 2011, 01:05:55 PM »

I wasn't going to bother watching the wedding, but my son turned it on and woke me up when they all started coming in to the church. (I've been in that church and it's overwhelming)

My favorite person is Queen Elizabeth. I have watched her over the years ever since she married the handsome Prince Philip. I admired her so much for her serious attention to her duties, and felt sorry for her when sad things happened in the royal family. I watched the film, THE QUEEN, yesterday with Helen Mirren and James Cromwell (from the film with Babe, the pig). Wanted to see it because I'd been reading about Tony Blair and why he was not invited to Prince William's wedding. (the film did not answer that) The movie was so good --shows the behind-the-scenes machinations of the royal family after the death of Diana. I thought Queen Elizabeth was lovely in her yellow outfit yesterday.

I was fascinated with some of the crazy hats some guests wore to the wedding. Time Magazine (online) has a story of the wedding and some interesting pictures of the hats.

And I loved the picture of that cute little 3-year-old bridesmaid on the balcony frowning and covering her ears as William and Catherine kissed.

Marj

Frybabe · « **Reply #4926 on:** April 30, 2011, 01:12:21 PM »

Noisey kisses?

MaryPage · « **Reply #4927 on:** April 30, 2011, 03:22:18 PM »

Only the current Prime Minister was invited; none of the previous ones were.

maryz · « **Reply #4928 on:** April 30, 2011, 05:32:52 PM »

I've been out of town since last Sunday - just back last night. We live in Chattanooga - the towns in North GA that were flattened are within 10-20 minutes of our house. It's really just terrible. We had none of the tornado damage at our house per se, but the high winds knocked a large tree over onto our back porch, poking through the roof of our screened room. Nothing into our house itself, fortunately. The worst part was that the tree blocked access to our cars, and John was stuck at home for 3 days until someone could come to cut up the tree. This, however, is piddling compared to all the loss of life and the terrible property destruction that is all around us.

On a lighter note, I've just posted this on the Technophobe page...
Disaster has happened! I left my Kindle on the first leg of a two-flight trip yesterday. (Moral: do NOT put your Kindle in the pocket of the seat in front of you!)

I realized the loss when I looked for it at the beginning of the second flight, and knew exactly where I had left it. I asked the flight attendant if there was a form I could fill out. She told me that I needed to go to the Southwest baggage claim office at my final destination to file a report. I did this, and fortunately, even remembered which seat I had been in.

The next step was to contact Amazon and put a "stop" on any purchases from the Kindle itself. I did that as soon as I got home. It took three e-mails (mostly for ME to understand what information they needed), but by this morning, the device had been disabled. If it is ever returned to me, I can have it reactivated. In the meantime, I can read my books on my Droid phone (not my favorite, but doable). I'll give it a while to see if it comes back home before I think about getting a new e-reader.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4929 on:** April 30, 2011, 06:52:48 PM »

MaryZ, I am so glad the tornado missed you. Of course, I wish it had missed everyone. Sorry to hear that you had some damage nevertheless.

It's a real shame about your Kindle. I'd be surprised if it shows up.

My BIL just got a Kindle. On mine, I have to tell it if I want the display portrait or landscape. He only has to turn it for it to flip. I am going over tomorrow, so I can show him some of the free ebook sites and how to drop them into the Kindle without going through Amazon if they don't have what he is looking for. He is a musician, so I am looking forward to showing him how to get to the free sheet music on Project Gutenberg.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4930 on:** April 30, 2011, 07:43:26 PM »

What a lesson the hard way about carrying a reading device - can't treat it like a book that we often put in our seat pocket - Thanks goodness Mary the damage to your house was no greater - sounds like a fixable repair that does not stop you from living in the house.

So many natural disasters this year - I wish someone with some real knowledge and without a political agenda could tell us if this is about global warming or if it is another phenomenon. I do not think the earth's plates moving that caused the earthquake and tsunami are as a result of Global warming and there have been serious tornadoes in the past. I wonder, is there reasons for weather to create that many top level tornadoes - Katrina, although an accident waiting to happen because of man made decisions to build on barrier islands and not reinforce properly the levies was a more serious hurricane because of the warmer ocean waters. Just playing the tapes in my head trying to figure it out...

This is a lovely interview with Penny Chenery, Owner of Secretariat.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/95583F1B-57CD-4F7B-A716-E318D03F4333

MaryPage · « **Reply #4931 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:02:41 PM »

Climate change IS the cause of the violent storms. It must have been, oh, 10 years or more ago I first read articles by climatologists predicting this coming. They said we were coming to the end of an approximately 150 year (this is as I remember what I read, and not to be taken as scientific fact, as I am not a scientist, but rather an accountant who is an avid reader) period of relatively benign weather and would, because the earth is warming up, begin to experience more and more violent storms. You are, of course, correct: this has nothing to do with earthquakes, and the earthquakes cause the tsunamis. The main argument that does not as yet seem to have been resolved by proof, and which, to my great dismay, does seem to also involve political leanings one way or another (I am not being political here, and have no wish to be other than a seeker of truth) is the question of whether or not this global warming which is bringing about great climate change is caused by things human beings are doing. That being said, the fact that climate change is happening cannot be and is not disputed by certified climatologists anywhere in the world. Read "Field Notes from a Catastrophe"by Elizabeth Kolbert for proof of this.

http://climatechangeeducation.org/science/books.html

http://www.savingtheearth.net/climate.htm

JoanP · « **Reply #4932 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:54:40 PM »

Breaking news....

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Kristin Lavransdatter Vol I - Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset

Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig

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If you are not familiar with the titles, please read the reviews - the titles in the Suggestion Box Heading are linked to reviews.

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The Ballot Box is open - in the Suggestion Box heading.[/url]

marjifay · « **Reply #4933 on:** May 01, 2011, 12:30:03 AM »

Noisey kisses?

No, Frybabe. LOL. I think they said it was all the noise the crowd was making that was causing that little girl to cover her ears and frown. (Besides, that kiss was too quick to make any sound!)

Marj

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4934 on:** May 01, 2011, 05:53:47 AM »

Remember this from your childhood...
http://www.youtube.com/v/rTLTyeGVdBg?version=3

Steph · « **Reply #4935 on:** May 01, 2011, 06:25:08 AM »

Went to see the movie on Mary Surratt yesterday. Robert Redford was in back of it. Robin Wright ( used to be Penn) was wonderful. There was always a lot of discussion about her involvement in the assasination.. This one left it up in the air as well.. Good movie..
Was unhappy about Andrews daughters.. Someone needs to care about those girls. They looked dreadful, giggled all the time and generally acted like small children with bad manners. Sarah obviously is not good at raising children either.

maryz · « **Reply #4936 on:** May 01, 2011, 11:20:50 AM »

Barb, we have Fantasia on our Netflix queue.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4937 on:** May 01, 2011, 12:46:49 PM »

From what I have read, I do not believe Sarah Ferguson has been very hands on at raising children, and that is no doubt part of the problem. Have you noticed that while Eugenie looks in both coloring and face exactly like Andrew, she is built just like Fergie?

Meow! I don't usually do this.

BUT, if you had no clue as to who was whom; had never seen a picture or one of these persons, but were shown a photo of 4 young women and told that 2 of them were princesses, which 2 would you instantly pick out as the princesses?

Beatrix, Eugenie, Kate and Pippa.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4938 on:** May 01, 2011, 03:25:50 PM »

looks to me like they both shared the upbringing of those two girls - the oldest was 8 when they divorced and then Fergie and Prince Andrew lived in the same house in separate quarters upstairs and down stairs until Beatrice was 14 - then he moved and the lodge he moved into had a major fire and they then lived next door to each other in London starting when Beatrice was 19- neither parent seems to have had the same concern for the two girls as Diana had for her boys - their life was in constant upheaval all the juice of gossip in the press - there may have been a lot of pain between them that the never got help to heal and as a result were only able to give the girls what they had left of themselves.

We learned this weekend that Charles has his toothpaste put on his brush for him every morning and so can we expect that Andrew was any better prepared to live as say William is today - who knows who really raised the girls and how all the newspaper headlines affected them.

ANNIE · « **Reply #4939 on:** May 01, 2011, 07:53:42 PM »

Steph,
What the title for the Mary Surrat movie? I didn't know that they had made recently. Would love to see it!

When Andrew's children were mentioned, I thought you all were talking about small children not adults! I kept thinking that they have to be close in age to Harry and Will. Does anyone know how old they are?

jane · « **Reply #4940 on:** May 01, 2011, 08:14:27 PM »

Wikipedia gives the following info:

Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena of York (pronounced /ˈjuːʒəni/;[2] born 23 March 1990) is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. As such she is sixth, and the second female, in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 Commonwealth realm states.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Eugenie_of_York

Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York (born 8 August 1988) is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Beatrice_of_York

ANNIE · « **Reply #4941 on:** May 01, 2011, 08:16:34 PM »

Thanks, Jane. So they are 21 and 23 yrs of age.

serenesheila · « **Reply #4942 on:** May 01, 2011, 09:15:43 PM »

On Friday, I learned from his attorney, that my father died on April 15th. My oldest daughter is his executor, and she has been estranged from me, and her 3 siblings for more than 20 years. She did not let any of us know of his death. It is very hurtful for me, to learn of his death from his attorney. I never had the chance to say goodbye. It is hurtful, too, not to hear the news directly from a family member.

I think I am in shock.

Sheila

Jonathan · « **Reply #4943 on:** May 01, 2011, 09:19:47 PM »

Only one throne awaits the successor to Queen Elizabeth II.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4944 on:** May 01, 2011, 10:00:48 PM »

Such things are deeply painful, Sheila. Just know that you are not alone in experiencing family estrangements and unexpected death. I feel for you and send you hope for healing blessings.

roshanarose · « **Reply #4945 on:** May 01, 2011, 10:03:06 PM »

Sheila - I am thinking of you in your pain. Why are people so cruel? Rise above them, if you can - take care!

PatH · « **Reply #4946 on:** May 01, 2011, 10:05:30 PM »

Good heavens, Shiela, of course you are in shock. I don't know if circumstances would have made it possible for you to have said goodbye, but there is NO EXCUSE for leaving the family in the dark about a death for two weeks, and leaving it for an attorney to tell you.

My condolences on your father's death. {{{{{hugs}}}}}

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4947 on:** May 01, 2011, 10:24:01 PM »

OH Shelia - oh, oh, oh I know - it is hard when children do not grow up as we had hoped and there is such pain with no communication -

I still cannot get past not being there after my oldest was found - it was difficult and there were my grandboys who I was visiting to consider since it was two days before Christmas - but at least I had the call from the Sheriff when he was found and not weeks later as is your experience -. I also had my sister keep from me when my godmother, my mother's cousin died - also out-of-state - but her need to be special as the only one having the information - yes, it is a loss that hurts - I remember them and set aside how it was handled - there was nothing I could do for them in death - at least I have my memories and that is what I have held on to. Hope you can construct a series of memories about your father separate from the pain that is probably more than that you were called by an attorney.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4948 on:** May 01, 2011, 11:07:19 PM »

We got Osama Bin Laden. Good show!

maryz · « **Reply #4949 on:** May 01, 2011, 11:14:11 PM »

Oh, Sheila - I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional hurt that has gone along with it.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4950 on:** May 01, 2011, 11:54:53 PM »

Mary Page I heard the President and still cannot figure out what it means that Ben Laden is dead. Had he been captured or killed 5 years ago maybe then it would have made sense and maybe brought the war in Iraq to a close - but the war in Iraq wound down without his death or capture and is now an operation similar to Korea with most of the troops in Afghanistan - his death does not slow down theTaliban and Al-Qaeda we learned are many, many individual units that operate independently so his death does not affect that group - I do not feel gleeful that the wicked witch is dead because the feeling of being assaulted by 9/11 has muffled with time - it was 10 years ago - so again, I do not understand what difference this make.

marcie · « **Reply #4951 on:** May 02, 2011, 01:15:53 AM »

Sheila, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Steph · « **Reply #4952 on:** May 02, 2011, 06:08:21 AM »

O h Sheila, I am so sorry. One of my Uncles died and noone let me know until weeks later. Then when I asked why, they said well you live far away.. Not sure what that had to do with it..
News to me this am is that Ben Laden is dead. He seems to have not been that involved for a long long time. I actually believe that the Taliban is just as bad if not worse. They seem to actively hate women.
Ado Annie.. my mind is a blank.. The Mary Surrat movie was directed by Robert Redford and should be playing everywhere locally..Robin Wright plays her and does a splendid job indeed. She was a beautiful young woman and now has the strength of mind in her face and is truly adult. NOw to remember the title..

MaryPage · « **Reply #4953 on:** May 02, 2011, 07:16:12 AM »

The Conspirator?

Babi · « **Reply #4954 on:** May 02, 2011, 09:02:37 AM »

My younger daughter sent me this. I don't have an attribution, but I believe it will be timely.

This is my wish for you:

“Comfort on difficult days, Smiles when sadness intrudes, Rainbows to follow
the clouds, Laughter to kiss your lips, Sunsets to warm your heart, Hugs when
spirits sag, Beauty for your eyes to see, Friendships to brighten your being,
Faith so that you can believe, Confidence for when you doubt, Courage to know
yourself, Patience to accept the truth, and Love to complete your life.”

Steph · « **Reply #4955 on:** May 02, 2011, 10:05:33 AM »

YES... The Conspirator. I just got back from the gym, looked up the movie and came back to tell you, But Mary Page got it first.. Thanks.. It is a movie for grownups.. Tilted, but then she was always considered questionable as guilty, but Seward was out for blood. and Johnson was not very brave.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4956 on:** May 02, 2011, 10:26:44 AM »

Sheila, I am so sorry for your loss.

Treat yourself kindly; we all think we should just soldier on, but sometimes I do think we need to take time to recover.

Very best wishes

Rosemary

MaryPage · « **Reply #4957 on:** May 02, 2011, 10:53:02 AM »

Steph, it was a relative of mine who presided over the hanging. Not the trial, but, under orders of course, over the hanging. Our family has always felt very bad about that, the hanging of a woman seeming somehow more heinous than that of a man. I have no idea why, both being a feminist myself and being against the death penalty period; but I think it was part of the overall feelings of protection of the "gentler sex." General Hancock was my great great grandfather's brother.

ginny · « **Reply #4958 on:** May 02, 2011, 11:33:44 AM »

Shelia, I am very sorry to hear of the death of your father. My condolences in your great loss.

JoanP · « **Reply #4959 on:** May 02, 2011, 12:33:36 PM »

I am so sorry, Sheila. The fact that your daughter was the executor who withheld the information from you makes it more difficult for you . It is my prayer that you will come to understand her motives in time. Hopefully this will lead to a dialogue and some sort of understanding between the two of you.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088511 times)