Author Topic: The Library (Read 2330848 times)

PatH · « **Reply #9640 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:45:31 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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PatH · « **Reply #9641 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:46:39 PM »

It's good you're getting your flu shot, Steph, there have already been a few cases, so it may be a bad year.

When I am out doing yard work, I wear a pair of thick-soled boots, which make me more sure-footed.

ANNIE · « **Reply #9642 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:25:29 PM »

Gettin' old ain't for sissies!! Is it! You are all so special sharing your balance problems with me. And your prayers! How lucky I feel just knowing you are here. Did you ever think you would have so many friends added to your life as you grew older??? We are so lucky!

I must admit that I spent time today on the Mayo Clinic Vertigo site and their symptoms-for-diseases site. So I see my dr tonight at 6pm. They have evening hours 4 nights a week plus half of Saturday. And they are very well known and loved by patients and other drs.

maryz · « **Reply #9643 on:** October 23, 2012, 07:32:26 PM »

We'll be waiting to hear what you find out, Annie.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #9644 on:** October 23, 2012, 10:37:24 PM »

Is anybody watching The Men Who Built America, on the History Channel? It's really good! They are talking about the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Rockefellers, Frick, etc, not the people who made the railroads, steel, did the carpentry, brickwork, etc. and they do mean MEN! There is so much testosterone flowing in these guys, so much competition, so much greed. And they have MEN like Donald Trump, Donny Deutsche (sp?), Steve Winn, Mark Cuban, etc commenting. Oh boy!

There's a piece about the Johnstown flood and the Homestead Strike and Carnegie building Carnegie Hall to salve his conscience.

It s very well done. Check it out ondemand if you've missed it, or online Historychannel.com

Jean

Frybabe · « **Reply #9645 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:25:27 AM »

Darn, I had to drop back on my cable subscription to save a little money so I don't get OnDemand any more. They are sure to rerun it though, so I will watch for it.

Steph · « **Reply #9646 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:50:52 AM »

Trying to catch up with the dust all over the house.. finding an appraiser,, finding a real estate broker,, deciding where to look for another house.. and all the doctors appointments, This has been a really difficult 10 days. Had a broker here yesterday, but will not use her. All she did was bring me print outs from short sales and bank repos.. I said,, I own this, it is not a distress sale and they are not helpful, but she really did not listen at all.. So... off the list.. I am brutal on this, but I have bought and sold a lot of houses and your listing realtor needs to listen to you.

pedln · « **Reply #9647 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:05:30 AM »

MaryZ, is tomorrow the big day for you? Shoulder surgery? We'll be thinking about you and wishing you speedy recovery.

Babi · « **Reply #9648 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:09:18 AM »

I assume so, FRYBABE. As far as I know, that's where our center of balance is located. I
wish, MARYZ, but my problem is not post-traumatic. Like you, I just try to be careful.

Would you believe, STEPH, I once took my house off the market (at a bad time, I later
discovered) because I was so put out at the behavior of a realtor? A young man had come
to discuss the sale of the house with me, a brought a new member of the firm who was
learning the ropes. Well, he introduced her as a trainee, or something like that, and she
immediately took umbrage. She insisted she was a fully qualified realtor, and would not
let the matter drop no matter what the young man said to appease her. He was very
embarassed, but I finally had enough, got up, declared the house off the market, and
showed them the door. Very unprofessional behavior on her part, and a waste of my time.

ANNIE · « **Reply #9649 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:33:38 AM »

Well, I was checked out and the dr is trying to get me an appointment with a neurologist and talking MRI plus an ENT dr. My symptoms are not leaning strongly toward vertigo, (maybe mild vertigo) but there is something else involved. I'm just not sure what. I have a phone call into him this morning because Ralph is saying that the other symptoms don't seem to point to vertigo. He was not in the examining room but should have been. My fault! He offered to take me to the office and said he would read in the waiting room. What was I thinking? Good grief! I just toddled away when the nurse called my name. Neither Ralph or I were thinking clearly.

jane · « **Reply #9650 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:52:25 AM »

Interesting article on reading in the US in the Chicago Tribune on 10/22....and it amazed and thrilled me.

Some excerpts:

WASHINGTON - The most likely book readers in the United States are high-school students, college-age adults and people in their 30s, with e-book use highest among 30-somethings, a survey released on Tuesday showed.
...
Seventy-eight percent of Americans had read at least one book in the previous 12 months, with the rate 83 percent among those aged between 16 and 29, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project.

...
The lowest percentage of readers was among people older than 65, at 68 percent. The survey covered books in print, in electronic formats and audiobooks.

Entire article (ads are in between some paragraphs, so be aware):

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-22/business/chi-ebook-usage-20121023_1_e-book-reader-library-survey-phone-survey

jane · « **Reply #9651 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:55:06 AM »

Also, amazing to me, is that Apple has TWO new Ipads out...the IPAD mini that was sort of expected...and the IPAD 4 which will replace the IPAD 3 just introduced last March.

More info and a comparison here: http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-ipad-mini-vs-ipad-4-which-to-buy/240009585

maryz · « **Reply #9652 on:** October 24, 2012, 03:26:06 PM »

Thanks for all the good wishes. I'll have my phone and my iPad3 with me in the hospital. I'm ready to get this over with.

Good luck with your next appointments, Annie. I'll be checking up on you when I can.

JoanP · « **Reply #9653 on:** October 24, 2012, 03:28:31 PM »

Glad you have that ipad , Mary. I hope you're in and out in no time!

Jane, that's an incredible statistic - the Pew study asked about one book - a year! And folks over 65 came in last? Really surprised. I wonder if it had anything to do with declining eyesight...

On another note - for those of us whose hearing is still good, this should duo on Britain's Got Talent should open your eyes! ...another Susan Boyle moment...

http://biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=33967qq

JoanK · « **Reply #9654 on:** October 24, 2012, 03:57:51 PM »

Oh, my! That brought tears to my eyes. He's definitely an opera talent: I can see him doing Wagner in a few years.

And she is very good. I see her having a career, too.

I guess it's for moments like this that people watch the show.

Steph · « **Reply #9655 on:** October 25, 2012, 10:17:46 AM »

Weird., Iwent to the doctor for my six month check this morning. All blood work normal( hooray), talked about my numb fingers when I first wake up, she said.. possibly Carpal Tunnel.. try b-6... So I bought some..We talked about what I was doing and when I said I started the knitting. She said.. probably that and I could buy some sort of wrist support if it started to hurt. Wild..
MaryZ.. take care, I know you will come out like a champ

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #9656 on:** October 25, 2012, 12:52:16 PM »

Maryz, After reading all the posts on this site for so long, I feel like I know some of you. I've just gotten over a frozen shoulder, so I can only imagine what you've been going through. Hope everything goes well for you today. Feel better soon.

PatH · « **Reply #9657 on:** October 25, 2012, 01:10:33 PM »

Carol, anytime you feel chatty, come talk to us and we'll feel like we know you too.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #9658 on:** October 25, 2012, 01:23:46 PM »

Good luck Mary, Annie and Steph, hope you all will soon be better.

Jean

jane · « **Reply #9659 on:** October 25, 2012, 03:39:58 PM »

Re: Maryz.... I had an email from her husband this morning. She was out of surgery, in recovery, and the surgeon had told him everything went well. She may even be home earlier than first thought.

jane

maryz · « **Reply #9660 on:** October 25, 2012, 03:45:25 PM »

Thanks, all. Nerve block is still working, so no pain ...yet. iPad is great , I can at least do a little . Maybe even read.

jane · « **Reply #9661 on:** October 25, 2012, 03:52:19 PM »

Holy Cow....I just post that she's doing fine...and TA DA!! There is the lady herself...fresh from morning surgery!! WOW!!

Good to see you posting, Mary!

Frybabe · « **Reply #9662 on:** October 25, 2012, 04:06:26 PM »

Hi MaryZ. Glad everything went well. Hope you recover quickly.

WinchesterLady, glad to hear that you have recovered from frozen shoulder. I remember how painful that is.

JeanneP · « **Reply #9663 on:** October 25, 2012, 04:09:43 PM »

Well Mary. You now have another thing behind you. Sounds like things went well. Soon have you swinging hammer again. Hope you get to come home early. Get no rest in Hospitals.

MaryPage · « **Reply #9664 on:** October 25, 2012, 08:06:00 PM »

Mary, I just said how great I think you are in another forum.

Steph, I feel deep sympathy for you and all you are going through at this time.

JoanK · « **Reply #9665 on:** October 25, 2012, 10:38:02 PM »

MaryZ: great that you're doing so well. Keep us posted.

Steph: hope it gets better. Could it be the knitting?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #9666 on:** October 25, 2012, 11:00:11 PM »

Wow Mary Z - fabulous - hope you continue to rapidly improve

Steph there is much stress in your life just now - you're back to the house you till recently shared and trying to ready the house for sale - those memories have to be just under the surface - be kind to yourself - get a message - it helps - stress can temporarily spike blood pressure which shows itself as numb fingers and then an hour later you are fine.

As to an agent remember what you want is one thing and what you need is another -

Like it or not, buyers think there are deals to be made with foreclosures and so to them you are not as exciting a potential seller since the buyer has to put a face to their negotiating rather than, a guy in an office with a pile of folders that they think they can more easily wangle a good deal - unfortunately that is your competition

A tip - if you ask a broker for a recommendation you know they will tell you who ever in the office closes lots of deals with little fuss with no clue how that agent does business - where as, if you go to where the closings take place - here it is a Title Company - and ask, of those they work with who would be a better match and then tell them what you are looking for in an agent they may be able to make a suggestion.

Babi · « **Reply #9667 on:** October 26, 2012, 08:52:38 AM »

I think you will find that more and more true, CAROL. I feel like some of my dearest and closest friends are right here
'visiting' every day.

That's a great tip, BARB. I wish I had known that back when I was selling my house.

Steph · « **Reply #9668 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:00:40 AM »

MaryZ..... now take it easy.. Got two emails and sounds as if all is well, but go slow.. You and I share the same impatience to make everything better yesterday.
My fingers do not hurt, just are number and only when I wak in the middle of the night. I do wonder if it is carpal tunnel or something else.
My 3rd realtor will be here today and the appraiser was here yesterday, so I am close to decision. I do agree that there are a lot of bank stuff out there, but I also know here in our small townhouse development, there is not a single bank owned that is intact. They have stolen every appliance, fan, light fixture before they left.
There are only three owner full price houses here, but all of us are proud homeowners,, keep everything up and make sure the house is in perfect condition.. So I will hope that in the end , after the low ballers go away, that someone will want a full lakefront, end unit in very very good conditioni.. We will see. I am taking a huge loss, but not a robbery.

maryz · « **Reply #9669 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:04:50 AM »

Steph, the night problem might be solved by getting a wrist brace and wearing it at night. Keeps your wrist in a neutral position. I've done that and it helped.

ginny · « **Reply #9670 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:06:05 AM »

Mary! How exciting to see you back already!

I hope your convalescence continues at this rapid pace, this is wonderful. Thank you for letting us know, Jane, our Mary is astounding!

I'm reading a wonderful book called The King's Speech, so you know what it's about, it's marvelous. It's non fiction and full of photos and letters from George VI and is by one of the descendents of Lionel Logue, the King's speech therapist, and is really a good read. It's full of things that I didn't know, like Logue himself was so glad the King had written apparently an outstanding letter of friendship and praise, and Logue said he was so happy to have that left for his descendents to have, but now, despite all the letters and photos and newspaper clippings the family DID save, that particular letter is gone. Isn't that life, tho?

Logue was very handsome, himself, almost movie star quality, and it's fascinating to read about Elocution and how important it was at that time, and it's also fascinating to read the behind the scenes stuff of the Coronation. For instance, I had no idea that royal coronations and state occasions are full of disasters, little things going wrong. They look so practiced, maybe that's why they DO practice (if you've ever seen those films on Queen Elizabeth's staff telling her what will happen in an event), in order to try to eliminate the crazy gaffes and how they happen anyway.

And there were lots of them in the Coronation of George VI. That's as far as I've gotten, but it's really fun to read.

I really did think in the movie that Geoffrey Rush, who played Lionel Logue should have gotten an Oscar, or a nomination at the least, I thought he was good.

Now I want to read more about Australia and the history of Australia, as the book which is really about Lionel Logue, has taken us to a chapter about Adelaide in the 1880's and the photos are very interesting, looks like sort of a Western town in one of our cowboy movies, I'd like to read more about it.

Wasn't there a book a couple of years ago that was about Australia, the history, that everybody was reading and recommending?

Babi · « **Reply #9671 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:18:53 AM »

Early Australia has been compared often to our western settlements. The climate and topography in some parts is
noticeably similar to Texas and the SW United States. Ranches and herders, tho' of sheep more than cattle, and a lot of
very independent, self-sufficient (occasionally wild) people.

CubFan · « **Reply #9672 on:** October 26, 2012, 10:06:52 AM »

Steph -

I'm so glad you have real estate background so you can take care of yourself. Years ago when my girls and I put our house on the market we naively trusted our agent and ended up so misused that we ended up taking the house off the market. A year later I took a real estate course, not to sell myself, but so I would know how they operate and could protect myself. It was interesting in the class because I met our local county planner who was taking the course because he thought he could better represent the county if he understood the process. Every time the instructor said - don't tell the client this - or don't let the client found out this - Len & I took notes furiously. When we decided to try again - first I hired a good real estate lawyer - and then between us we got through it. In the end I bought the house I am in and I told the girls I will die in this house, as I will never go through the experience of selling and buying a house again.

Mary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #9673 on:** October 26, 2012, 10:35:42 AM »

Mary that may have been a long time ago before disclosure was the name of the game - today everything must be disclosed about a property and we are obligated to help a seller rack their brain and disclose everything that has happened and every repair or insurance claim since they have lived in the property.

Also, for years since the early 80s we must disclose, even in an Ad everything about the details of a loan or else we could not suggest there was a note that could be assumed. The rate, the terms, the adjusted annual rate, the remaining balance, any due date clauses, on and on. That is why you do not see information about a loan in an Ad. Agents cannot afford the size of the Ad that would be required.

What we do not disclose are any details about the seller or why they are selling. A seller can give permission for us to disclose why they are selling but only after we receive written permission - the same for suggesting they are in a hurry which can mean to a buyer to offer less than the asking price. It is a house being sold not a seller's vulnerabilities.

Today's buyers are smart, educated and do not want an agent who is controlling. Our biggest concern is not being sued and our E&O insurance is more demanding each year. How we perform is considered submitting recent contracts and in some cases even our work diary when we are offered our rate.

CubFan · « **Reply #9674 on:** October 26, 2012, 02:37:30 PM »

BartStAubrey -

Our problems weren't disclosure, they were not knowing the need to keep checking on the agent. He told us our house was sold & he'd taken care of the paper work & our house wasn't sold. And we had paid the deposit on a new house & he had not given the money to the selling agent. We found out the house had been sold to another party when the bank officer noticed another loan application for the same property. The second time around we had an excellent agent representing us, but the agent representing the other seller was not. My lawyer finally got it through my head, the agent is not representing you, they are representing themselves. Lesson learned, first get a good real estate lawyer. The class instructor was pushing the concept of keeping control.

Mary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #9675 on:** October 26, 2012, 05:00:56 PM »

As I say Mary lots of things have changed plus it sounds like you happened on a bad situation all around both in the agent and that particular class - from what you describe he would have lost his license then if reported as he would now - and unfortunate that the instructor you found was into control - in my over 30 years since 1980 I had not experienced a class that talked of controlling the clients - and I take a lot of classes - not only the 5 we need to renew our license every 2 years but during the year I still take at minimum 6 classes a year so your experience seems out of the ordinary. Too bad but I can see how you feel. And yes, a Real Estate Attorney is such a great asset to work with - there are many situations where we recommend this approach because of various circumstances - it is a must if there was a will not recorded.

JeanneP · « **Reply #9676 on:** October 26, 2012, 05:44:53 PM »

There are just to many people taking the Realty Course now. Then the Companies hire way to many also. Was reading that only the top 3 people in a company made a average income. Years ago I think they were better trained. Some make you laugh with the things they say to you. (I have never tried to sell property but been with many friends who both buying and selling). Getting sort of like the Used Car Salesmen anymore. Or even the New Cars. These I have bought plenty of last 40 years. JUst tell them not to look at me as a Women who knows nothing.I never trade a car into them or need a loan just tell them I have a check here for what I am going to pay. Last 3 cars I took. Time now to start looking at another. Some of the new young salesmen run out but I just deal with any that have been selling as long as I have been buying.

Frybabe · « **Reply #9677 on:** October 26, 2012, 06:45:32 PM »

Not looking forward to the beginning of the week. Looks like the hurricane is heading directly toward Central PA according to the current weather maps. The utilities, county and state emergency are gearing up. My sister says folks are already packing the stores to stock up. My thoughts are with those living in low lying areas or along the coast and bay.

PatH · « **Reply #9678 on:** October 26, 2012, 07:00:37 PM »

Same here, Frybabe. If no one hears from me after Monday, that's probably why. They are already calling it "Frankenstorm". Given the record of our power company, if I lose power, it'll be out for days. I have everything I really need except paper towels, and will try to fill in early tomorrow.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #9679 on:** October 26, 2012, 07:17:23 PM »

Good luck - it sounds ominous - I've been trying to talk my sister to drive inland to my daughter's in western NC - my sister is right on the beach in Corolla NC which is on the outer banks. Warm water sea surges is bad enough but icy cold sea surges is another matter.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2330848 times)