Author Topic: The Library (Read 2089619 times)

Babi · « **Reply #5840 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:14:22 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!

*Suggestion Box for Future Discussions
*SeniorLearn's Archives

GINNY, that definitely makes sense. I went back and re-read the verse from Pope and I believe you are right. Okay...with that in mind, I think it may be true. A person would surely be sincere and committed to their 'ruling passion'.
Also true, that the readers of a poem so often attribute meanings to it that never
occurred to the poet!

Judy Laird · « **Reply #5841 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:48:41 PM »

I am traveling tommorow (that is about as far as I am going toget) Going to Wallingford and picking up Pedlin and spending the day with her. Almost didn't happen and tommorow is her last day so YEAH I get too see Pedln.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5842 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:28:27 PM »

Have a lovely time Judy!

Rosemary

JoanK · « **Reply #5843 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:11:55 PM »

JUDY and PEDLIN: have a wonderful visit!

We were just talking about Thoomas jefferson's library. Can you imagine -- in order to get a book, he had to write to Europe, transported on a slow ship which might sink, get the book back by same -- it might take a year to get a book,. And the cost was part of why he died deep in debt, and his estate had to sell his slaves to pay his debts instead of freeing them.

salan · « **Reply #5844 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:42:11 PM »

The coldest I have ever been was in Salisbury one March. The wind was blowing and it was raining as we made our way to the cathedral. We were in England for 2 weeks and we didn't warm up until we got to Texas. We also went to The Cob that trip; but it was too cold for me to get out and walk along it as I had planned (French Lt.'s Woman, anyone??).
Then, again, another trip we took there in March was absolutely beautiful and when we got back to TX it was snowing!! Go figure~

Babi, what part of Houston are you in. I plan to visit my sister there this fall. She lives in the nw part of Houston. Maybe we could meet somewhere for lunch.
Sally

PatH · « **Reply #5845 on:** July 31, 2011, 08:09:51 PM »

Here's the latest update on Eloise, not good unfortunately, from Don.

"Forgive me if I am presumptuous in posting this email from Isabel, but I have the feeling that perhaps she isn't up to posting in S&F right now. Isabelle has asked for our prayers which I use as the reason for posting this.

Thank you Don,
We thought we were going to loose Maman this weekend but she came back. She is loosing ground rapidly. I thank you for your prayers. Please pray that i find the strength to let her go in Peace... I just love her so much .
Blessings"

kiwilady · « **Reply #5846 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:23:09 PM »

Please give my love to Isabel and I can't believe that Eloise will leave us. It is just too sad for words. I know how hard it is to let go. Its the hardest thing in the world to let the people we love go.

Carolyn

roshanarose · « **Reply #5847 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:29:37 PM »

Gum - Yes I know about sustainability etc. The notion of the reason for expensive books here is that given by Australian publishers and book sellers. As a single pensioner I just buy what I can afford.

I actually sent an email to an American author yesterday, Michael Gruber, telling him how much I enjoyed two of his books. I got a reply from his this morning telling me that he had recently visited Australia and had been shocked by the price of books here. I hadn't mentioned anything about the prices we had to pay, so I guess I am not the only one to notice. He said that he had mentioned the expense of books to the Australian relatives he was staying with, and that they replied that the government had decided that in order not to make its voting public too smart that they had upped the price of books. He told me that he hoped that they were joking. I guess it is one theory.

kiwilady · « **Reply #5848 on:** August 01, 2011, 01:42:38 AM »

Books are an even higher price than Australia here in NZ. I think we are ripped off. My sister however works for a book importer and he has a retail outlet where he sells books at quite reasonable prices. You cannot get every best seller however. I guess he has to barter for the prices he gets the books for.

Carolyn

Babi · « **Reply #5849 on:** August 01, 2011, 09:09:25 AM »

I don't live in Houston,SALLY, but on the outskirts in a small town called Deer Park. It lies on the SE edge, directly opposite your sisters part of town. I would love to meet you in person, but I can't make future commitments, darn it!

My health status is erratic in the extreme and wholly unpredictable. I don't expect to be able to attend my granddaughter's wedding next January, unless a miracle happens before then.

Steph · « **Reply #5850 on:** August 01, 2011, 09:59:11 AM »

I will think of Pedlin and Judy laughing and talking the day away.. Wish I could be with them.They are both funny outgoing people.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5851 on:** August 01, 2011, 12:17:24 PM »

Steph,
Makes me wish we were all at Isle of Palms again. Pedl'n, Judy and Eloise and you and me were all there. How the world changes in just a few years.

Bon Voyage, Eloise! We love you!

MaryPage · « **Reply #5852 on:** August 02, 2011, 09:12:45 AM »

Roshanarose, how lovely that you heard from Gruber. I have a bunch of his books, and am about to embark on Tropic of Night, just as soon as I finish reading the last 2 issues of THE NATION. Unless some other published material gets in the queue.

I, too, am tickled at the thought of Judy and Pedlin.

The beautiful Eloise. Was musing last night as to what It is all about. We get ever wiser as we age. Life is a Learning Process. Why then did one of my babes die before even being born? Cord around the neck; has happened hundreds of thousands, if not millions of times. No special finger pointed at me, albeit the pain tears my gut 62 years later! What are we all about? Perhaps it is not about the individual at all, but about the Species? Perhaps it is not about the species at all, but about the Ecology? The Environment? The whole envelope containing this planet and its atmosphere and its moon? Perhaps it is each sun/star with its rotating planets, if any, that is a lab experiment or a work of art in the home of some god or goddess or clutch of gods? A work of art to be paused in front of while contemplating that the blue marble rotating around this rather middling star/sun carries a life form that is destroying its own habitat?

I do remember Eloise. Beautiful of face, body and spirit. She was lively and fun. Her light is expiring. God Speed, Lovely Lady. You are cradled in Love.

Steph · « **Reply #5853 on:** August 02, 2011, 09:23:35 AM »

Ah MaryPage, I have asked myself over and over why he died and I lived in the same accident. I still have no answers. I know that many do not agree, but I think that life is quite random.. My very first baby died before he had a chance to breathe.. Broke my heart at the time, but I went on to have two more that lived and thrived.. Random.. \
Eloise,, happy, laughing, making us bean soup... Such a lovely memory.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5854 on:** August 02, 2011, 10:38:01 AM »

Well, looks like some of us had the same experience with our first babies. When our little girl was born, she had had many strokes. She would have been a cerebral palsied child and probably wouldn't have able to speak due to the lack of oxygen during the birthing process. That was 57 years ago but it still puzzles. She was a beautiful baby--7lbs4oz. But she died three days later. We lived in Austin, TX, at the time so my FIL flew there from Indianapolis so that he could take Janie back to be buried alongside my parents. It was sad time, as you know.

kiwilady · « **Reply #5855 on:** August 02, 2011, 05:44:21 PM »

Mary P I cannot believe Eloise is going to leave us.

I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. Its unimaginable. We had some close calls with Nicky from 0-5 so I know the fear of losing a child but to actually lose one I have no idea of that pain.
It must be excrutiating.

Carolyn

maryz · « **Reply #5856 on:** August 02, 2011, 11:06:05 PM »

Hi Folks - I fell on my face on my driveway this morning. No broken bones, but stitches in my chin and SteriStrips on my forehead, plus other abrasions. The whole story and photos are on my blog. The black eye is well on its way.

JoanP · « **Reply #5857 on:** August 02, 2011, 11:12:31 PM »

Oh my goodness - Maryz! Poor thing! Are you in pain? How on earth did that happen? Don't answer that - it will only make it hurt more. Time will heal ...just take it easy! We're thinking of you.

kiwilady · « **Reply #5858 on:** August 03, 2011, 02:03:38 AM »

Oh Mary! Glad you were not too seriously hurt!

Carolyn

maryz · « **Reply #5859 on:** August 03, 2011, 08:16:21 AM »

Thanks for the good thoughts. Lots of aches and pains, but fortunately nothing that won't heal eventually.

Frybabe · « **Reply #5860 on:** August 03, 2011, 08:36:23 AM »

Happy to hear you weren't badly hurt, MaryZ.

ginny · « **Reply #5861 on:** August 03, 2011, 08:43:39 AM »

Oh Mary, I am so sorry to hear you fell! On your FACE! I am glad nothing is broken, tho, jeepers. Hope you soon will feel better. I hate falling.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5862 on:** August 03, 2011, 09:33:54 AM »

Sending you hugs, Mary; with a tall glass of mint iced tea and a large piece of 7-layer caramel cake.

maryz · « **Reply #5863 on:** August 03, 2011, 10:49:28 AM »

Ohhh, MaryPage - I love, love, LOVE anything with caramel! I feel better already.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5864 on:** August 03, 2011, 02:25:33 PM »

I'll send a steak for that eye - or if you just want to eat it and savor it.

Glad you were't hurt badly and didn't break anything, especially in your face.

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #5865 on:** August 03, 2011, 03:23:06 PM »

Mary: soooo glad your all right. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

pedln · « **Reply #5866 on:** August 03, 2011, 10:29:06 PM »

Oh MaryZ, thank goodness you didn't break any bones. And the rest should heal up in time. You are one funny lady -- show and tell, huh. You sound like a good sport to me. But then, we all knew that anyway. Take care, and heal quickly.

Judy Laird and I had a real good time Tuesday, my last day in Seattle. She picked me up at my daughter's, then we spent time just hanging out in Fremont, the neighborhood right next to my daughter's. It's a real funky place, lot of interesting shops, etc. That's where they have a huge troll under the bridge, and also a statue of "waiting for the interurban." We poked around in a lot of places and she found a garden spot that she said she could spend a couple of hours in. It was a good day and I'm so glad we had a chance to get together.

roshanarose · « **Reply #5867 on:** August 03, 2011, 11:24:13 PM »

MaryZ - I fell on my face on a bitumen road once. Broke my glasses in two. I still bear a scar on my top lip from it. There was a hidden tree branch protruding from the otherwise flat road. I got a great shiner from it too. We were on holiday and a lot of people gave my poor husband dirty looks. I hope your recovery is swift and no scars.

Pedln - How wonderful for you to be able to spend such a lovely day with Judy. It sounds like a magic place.

Jean - Of course in US folklore I have heard about the steak on the shiner, but does it really work? Pawpaw is good for that sort of thing here as well. Guess you call it papaya in the States.

Steph · « **Reply #5868 on:** August 04, 2011, 06:01:32 AM »

I loved the troll when we were in
Seattle. He just seems to fit where he is.. There are marvelous neighborhoods there.. and the flowers, I did love them.. The constant drizzle however would drive me nuts. Glad you and Judy got to enjoy some time together..
MaryZ.. I fell flat whe n out in the rv in Kansas City. Like you, nothing broken, but the black eye, bruised nose, etc caused our neighbors in the rv park to look at MDH with some suspicion.

maryz · « **Reply #5869 on:** August 04, 2011, 09:40:19 AM »

Thanks again for all the kind words (and the caramel cake and the steak). I don't hurt quite as much today (pain meds are my friends), and the eye is looking worse. Actually, the other eye is black, too - just not quite as much. And gravity is, of course, taking the bruising farther down my face. John says he will take me to get our haircuts today - knowing that our haircutter will abuse him terribly (she's been cutting both of us for years). Back to the hat and sunglasses.

Loved Seattle when we visited there. We'd both love to get back to the Pacific Northwest sometime. We are going to try to get to the Canadian Rockies next spring.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5870 on:** August 04, 2011, 11:53:31 AM »

Have only just got some wi-fi (thanks to the local library) since we moved house on Sunday, so am trying to catch up.

MaryZ, you have my sympathies and i hope you will feel better soon. My MIL also fell recently and my FIL refused to go out with her until her black eyes healed up as he knew he would look like a wife beater

And last week I went into the Co-Op with one of my daughters and in the process of my handing a bag to her we somehow fell over one another's feet and I ended up flat on my face. I was lucky and didn't end up with black eyes, but I bashed my ribs and shoulder - told husband this meant I couldn't lug boxes about, but as ever that was water off a duck's back

One of the girls in my first NCT class, Hilary, lost her baby very late in the pregnancy. It was a terrible thing. In my second pregnancy I had a near-detached placenta and started haemmorhaging at 34 weeks. I was very lucky as Anna was delivered by emergency section and we both survived, but it made me think a lot about Hilary, and wonder why we had been spared whilst she, who was the loveliest, gentlest, person, had not. She did go on to have two more, beautiful, babies, but why these things happen is a mystery.

Better get back to the packing boxes.

Rosemary

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5871 on:** August 04, 2011, 12:42:14 PM »

Rose - there's nothing about steak on the eye that is curative - i think the myth came from the idea of putting a frozen steak on it to inhibit the bruising - a bag of peas or an actual ice pack would work better

. Altho i can't imagine who thought of the idea of using a steak for that purpose. Maybe it came from the movies, a steak is sexier than a bag of peas and maybe we all just picked up on it.

Jean

maryz · « **Reply #5872 on:** August 04, 2011, 02:19:50 PM »

The folks at the ER told me to put rice in a zipper bag and put it in the freezer (or just use a bag of rice) - that that was a more comfortable ice pack than a bag of ice cubes. I have made rice-in-tube-sock bags to heat in the microwave for warm packs, but hadn't thought of using them cold. For my face, the zipper bag of rice is best - not as heavy and conforms to the shape. The swelling is starting to go down (but not the color). At a friend's suggestion, I have called my eye doctor and he wants to see me next week, when the swelling is mostly gone - so now that's on the calendar.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5873 on:** August 04, 2011, 02:28:42 PM »

Mary, darlin', hope your eye turns out to be okay. I took one look at the latest picture on your blog, and said to myself "looks like somebody from "The Sopranos" mugged her!" I know the situation is not funny. Keep chillin' the bruised places! My doctor, at my last physical, especially cautioned me about keeping alert to things that could cause a fall. I told her I observe all those cautions, but you never know when you will just "oopsy-daisy". I'm a great one for running into walls with my shoulder, making turns too quick I guess. Currently have a bruise on each upper arm! The armoire in the bedroom sometimes reaches out and grabs me, too! LOL

JoanK · « **Reply #5874 on:** August 04, 2011, 02:45:47 PM »

A few yeas ago, I fell, and in trying to save myself, accidently pushed a table through the plate glass window in my complex. It made a huge noise, and all my neighbors came running. My apartment was soon full of well-meaning, but intrusive people, some of whom I didn't even know. I was more embarrassed than hurt. I asked for a bag of frozen vegetables to use as an ice pack. I forgot to say "peas" and they brought me brussel sprouts. Trust me: they don't work very well.

Luckily for him (not me) my son wasn't home, so they couldn't possibly accuse him.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5875 on:** August 04, 2011, 07:44:47 PM »

I don't know about others
But given my druthers
I'll take the cake
Over the steak!

Frybabe · « **Reply #5876 on:** August 04, 2011, 08:32:27 PM »

kiwilady · « **Reply #5877 on:** August 04, 2011, 10:46:29 PM »

You made me laugh because of your brussel sprouts encounter. I laughed out loud. Thanks!

Carolyn

roshanarose · « **Reply #5878 on:** August 04, 2011, 11:24:09 PM »

lol @ Jean - Yep. That's probably where I have seen it, or in Dagwood comix to which I was devoted as a youngster. Give me a Lime Key Pie anyway, but not to put on my eye ;-)

roshanarose · « **Reply #5879 on:** August 04, 2011, 11:26:01 PM »

Tomereader - Liked the bit about your armoire. An aprocryphal story from Australian insurance companies is "A stationary car hit me".

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2089619 times)