Morphy Moseys through 2013 - Year 5

Morphy Flashes the Camera While Parents Are Oblivious (Age five years)

This is my third 75 Books Challenge. I read about 250 books a year, so I'm not worried about meeting the challenge!

I mostly read fantasy, preferably urban, but also enjoy general and genre fiction, historical romance, classics, popular non-fiction, and will honestly try any genre at least once.

I prefer story over language and my favorite books are the ones I just want to hug after I'm done.

I don't so much review books as leave some sparse comments.

I have more challenges and lists than I know what to do with and am not going to list them here except as notes to the books I've completed.

Books Read in 2013: 196

My best books of 2013 are:

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

My best book of 2012 was:

The Fault in Our Stars by Green, John

My best books of 2011 were:

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by McKillip, Patricia
Bridge of Birds by Hughart, Barry
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Wells, Rebecca
Garden Spells by Allen, Sarah Addison
Soulless by Carriger, Gail
What I Eat by Menzel, Peter and D'Aluisio, Faith
Ready Player One by Cline, Ernest

My favorite books from the last five years are:

Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
The Stand by Stephen King
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Katherine by Anya Seton
Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Morphy's Mighty Monthly Reads for 2013 (Green Dragon Group Reads)

January (1001 Fantasy) - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

February (111 Science Fiction) - The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

March (50 Mystery) - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

April (111 Nonfiction) - The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

May (1001 Fantasy) - Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

June (111 Science Fiction) - A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

July (50 Mystery) - Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

August (111 Nonfiction) - The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

September (1001 Fantasy) - Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

October (111 Science Fiction) - The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

November (50 Mystery) - The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

December (111 Nonfiction) - Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Group Read Links: http://www.librarything.com/topic/146136

***

The LT Green Dragon Book Club's next meeting is at the Ridgedale Barnes & Noble on Saturday, July 20th at 2pm. We are reading Angel's Ink by Jocelyn Drake.

13 in 13 Challenge (44/91)

1. New to Me Minnesota Author (1/1) DONE
2. Complete Lois McMaster Bujold Bibliography (1/2)
3. Graphic Novels (3/3) DONE
4. Second Book in Series (4/4) DONE
5. Book to Movie (2/5)
6. Around the World (1/6)
7. 2011 TBR Code List (3/7)
8. Cover Color (5/8)
9. LT Recommended (8/9)
10. If You Like... (1/10)
11. Paranormal Creatures (9/11)
12. Green Dragon Lists (5/12)
13. LTers Choose from the Ultimate Reading List (1/13)

Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147584

I stole this from someone else at LT and tweaked the last few ratings. I can't give credit because I don't remember who I copied it from! Since I started using this I've noticed I've been handing out more 6's and less 7's.

My rating system:

10 stars - The book completely enthralled me. Could not put it down. Got something more out of it than just entertainment -- it enlightened or educated me in some way. Can definitely see myself reading it again. Will keep forever and never loan it out.

9 stars - Not quite perfect but almost so. I will actively push this book on my friends and family.

8 stars - A really great book in all respects with perhaps some minor flaws. Highly recommended.

7 stars - Better than average but with some flaws. Recommended.

6 stars - Average. An entertaining read but probably forgettable. Will not reread. Recommended for entertainment value to readers with similar interest.

5 stars - Slightly lower than average. Some aspects of the story, characters or writing troubled me. Probably will not recommend.

4 stars - Finished but did not like. Would not recommend.

3 stars - Had some redeeming qualities or else I couldn't have finished it. Nothing to recommend it though.

2 star - I can't believe I finished this book. What am I? A masochist?

1 star - No book ever gets this rating. If it's a 1, I can't finish it.

Places I've read through June 2013:


visited 16 states (7.11%)
Create your own visited map of The World


visited 33 states (66%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Talk to Me Tuesday

Have you been hospitalized?

I've had several skin infections. Once it was cysts that had to be opened up (6 inch long, 3 inch deep incision) and had to be packed (i.e. not sewn up). The rest were just IV antibiotics. I was getting infections every 7 to 11 months. I've been 20 months without an infection this time. Whoo hoo!

Also for many years I struggled with severe depression and a few times I was hospitalized for my safety while the medications kicked in. I still have depression but it isn't as severe.

Other than the ladies for childbirth, have you been hospitalized?

197. First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #27 (first line, first name - Denise), next in series, (add Monaco)

Summary: Denise has to stop a demon from killing her family and gets vampire, Spade, to help her

Opinion: I like Frost's world-building and plotting, but the romance doesn't work as well for me in this book. Spade is fine, it's totally understandable why Denise falls in love with him. He's sexy, kind and generous. But I can't see why he falls in love with her. She's in constant crisis, argumentative and impulsive. She doesn't think just reels from crisis to crisis. I didn't like her so found it hard to understand her appeal to him.

Rating: 6

I had my tonsils out when I was a kid, and got popsicles and ice cream in the middle of the night from the lovely nurses when I woke up from a bad nightmare. 5 years ago I had my gall bladder removed and so had an overnight stay in the hospital then, too. But other than the Charlieectomy, that's it so far, thank goodness!

ETA: Ohmygosh, I *love* your indecent photo up top - made me laugh right out loud!

I also had my tonsils (and adnoids) out when I was 5. The ice cream really disappointed me - it tasted terrible! I loved the orange juice, though - we had Tang at home. I was quite indignant that I was put in a crib, then angry when I drank the wonderful orange juice too quickly and couldn't get the crib side down fast enough to deal with the consequences. Otherwise, I've only had an outpatient procedure and emergency room visits - I'm quite fortunate.

{{{{Morphy}}}} and hugs to your brother, sister-in-law and their two children - that is a terrible situation.

When I am angry and bitter about medical care, I sometimes think an Etch-a-Sketch would be a less intrusive, less traumatic, more accurate diagnostic tool than the many used to supposedly locate and identify what has gone wrong in the human body. Fewer side effects, too.

Nice new thread here, Morphy! Talk to me Tueasday, huh? I have been hospitalized many times, but mostly when I was younger - I have pretty much had anything extra removed! Tonsils and adenoids, appendix, scar tissue from my knee, and once with pneumonia. Luckily, I have faired much better as an adult!

I had to go to emergency a few times as a small child because I had an insatiable curiosity, which often led me to ingest items which were not intended for consumption. I never actually had to stay overnight though.

As soon as I saw your picture, I thought, "Oops." It is a very nice picture, though, except for that little slip-up.

I was hospitalized at 4 for tonsils, still remember the scene in the operating room where Dr. Larry had me count to 10 as they lowered the anesthesia mask--I got ice cream afterwards too. Was in at college for a couple days my freshman year when I had a really bad upper respiratory infection, in grad school when I rear-ended a car completely stopped in the traffic lane and cut all the way through my chin into my mouth. I think everything else has been outpatient, including the broken wrist and the biopsy.

>8 scaifea: Amber, I know. It's such a great picture, except I'm showing everyone my goods. LOL.

>9 MDGentleReader: MD, my mother comments, "There is a reason they call it medical 'practice.'"

>10 Crazymamie: Mamie, I was the opposite. I didn't have any hospitalizations (ER visits excluded) until I was in my 30s.

>11 SylviaC: Sylvia, a nifty story about that picture - see the corner of the painting in the background? It's now hanging in my living room. It was a gift my father gave my mother for their first anniversary. The marriage didn't last but the painting got handed down. It's a lovely one of the California coast.

>12 ronincats: Roni, I had a broken wrist, too! Except I doubt you did what I did. I broke my wrist in my bedroom (tripped over telephone cord) but I was bound and determined to go on my roller-skating date. So I put on a long-sleeved shirt and headed off on my date. I told my mom about it later that evening. She wasn't really sure my wrist was broken so told me to call her at work when I woke the next morning.

"Mom? What does it mean when I have blue and orange stripes up my arm?"

"I'm on my way home."

***

Wacky Wednesday

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding;

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.

198. Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #27 (first line personal name - Rosemary Bliss)

Summary: When the Bliss parents leave, Rose is left in charge of a key to the room where the magical cookbook for the bakery is kept - chaos ensues.

Opinion: I thought it was a wonderful concept - a magical bakery. And I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention when I was told about it. I was expecting a romance not a children's book. But still... this was a boring book with cringe-worthy events, whiny, unpleasant children and an abrupt, unfulfilling ending. It left an unpleasant taste in my mouth when I was expecting something fun and satisfying like Garden Spells.

Rating: 4

Like your whacky wednesday sections Morphy - always raises a smile even if I have heard it before.

Congrats on your latest thread even though your opening photo shows us all rather more than expected! Btw Your mum was a stunningly good looking woman.

:) I liked your wacky wednesday. I've never been hospitalized. *knock on wood* I'm hoping to keep it that way.

Your wacky Wednesday was laugh out loud funny! I had to read it to my husband!

Hi Morph! Just passing through. Love the pic of your family up top, lol. It's not often we can honestly say, Thank goodness for leg chub.

>15 PaulCranswick: Paul, thank you. The women on the maternal side of my family are beautiful. My maternal grandmother even did some modeling.

>16 Kassilem: &17 Melis & Diane, glad you enjoyed it!

>18 UnrulySun: Kathy, leg chub. *snorts* Love it!

***

Tunes Thursday

Solid rock and rock. Good stuff and naughty, fun video.

Video trivia: The video, directed by David Fincher, features footage of Idol singing in large frames throughout an apartment. The director made the decision to film Idol from the waist up as he was unable to walk from a motorcycle accident that had happened in February 1990. (Wikipedia)

Cradle of Love by Billy Idol



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24FT3u-lhg4

If you tease me tonight
If you sleaze me all right
If you appease me tonight
And let me ease you
Cradle of love

Yes! Huge Billy Idol fan here.

Me thrreeeeee! I had a poster of Billy Idol in my bedroom when I was in high school. Would be cute, except it was 2005 so he was about 50 years old.

Got very behind, Morphy, but I'm all caught up now. However, I can't join in with the Billy Idol fangirls. ;)

New thread! Hi Morphy!

>20 scaifea: - 22 Amber, Nora & Mickey, I wouldn't say I'm a big Idol fan but I do like that song. And White Wedding.

>23 EBT1002: Hey, Ellen! *smooch*

***

Film Friday

There is just something about Pixar films that is irresistible.

Cars



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBJwWsvmxeQ

Lightning McQueen: Do I spy a little pinstriping tattoo back there?

Sally: gasps and backs away, knocking over a bunch of caution cones Oh, that. You saw that?

We're big Pixar fans here at Scaife Manor. My favorite line from Cars is, "We have too much surplus." *snork!*

Hi Morphy- Congrats on the new thread! Love the family photo. What a lovely family. Your Mother looks like Nicole Kidman in that shot.

ETA- Have you read the Cinder series? I am starting book 2. These are a lot of fun and not to "lite".

Mark: I thought the same Nicole Kidman thought when I looked that the photo! She certainly is lovely, Morphy.

>25 scaifea: Amber, I don't think there's been a bad Pixar movie. Although I heard Monsters University is getting mixed reviews.

>26 msf59: Mark, Cinder has been on Mount TBR for awhile but I just ordered it from the library and it's all your fault.

>27 scaifea: Amber, looking at that picture she certainly does, doesn't she! She used to be compared to Catherine Deneuve.

***

I watched The Lovely Bones Thursday night. Ugh. What's been happening with Peter Jackson? I was so bored. That happened with part of The Hobbit, too. His plots have been slow and tedious.

I too love the family photo up top, leg chub and all. I'm glad you have the over-the-sofa picture with a history.

We have the one that hung over my in-laws sofa for many, many years. It's quite dated but brings back so many happy memories that I don't care!

Am I the only one around here that has my tonsils? In fact, I have all my original body parts. Lol.

Morphy, I hope you and your husband have a good week end.

Agreed - I've loved every Pixar movie that I've seen so far (haven't watched Brave or the new Monsters yet, though); Wall-E is my favorite and is indeed one of my all-time favorite movies in general. I would tear up if I thought about that adorable little guy for too long. Sigh.

One of my officemates went to see Monsters University and she quite liked it. I'm also very fond of Pixar films. Even Up which, if you're in possession of a heart, will leave you sobbing in the first 10 minutes.

I have several books that I'm in the middle of that I have decided to quit. My new motto is, "I find the joy in every day" and I'm finding no joy in reading these books.

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian - I got about 200 pages into this and can go no farther. The language is inaccessible for me. I read a chapter and then realize I have no idea what I just read or what happened. (Renewed twice from library, returned and renewed again.)

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge - About the same number of pages. This was more about the lack of appealing characters and plodding, bleak plot. (Renewed twice from library.)

Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh - Read about 100 pages. A combination of all of the above - thick language, uninteresting characters, plodding plot, bleak storyline. (Trying to read for six months +)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon - Read about 100 pages. This is simply a matter of being bored with the plot. The characters are somewhat interesting but the story isn't keeping my interest. (Renewed twice from library, returned and renewed again.)

199. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #13 (Most Popular by TIOLI Challenge), 2011 TBR Codes (13 in 13 - Clarke)

Summary: Criminals have animals and magic powers. Zinzi has a sloth and the ability to find lost things. She is hired, against her better judgment, to find a lost singer and things go terribly wrong.

Opinion: Sort of a thriller urban fantasy grunge cyber noir plot. It sagged, had plot holes with unanswered questions and the writing was mediocre. Zinzi was hard to relate to - a murderer and spam crook without many redeeming qualities. There was enough appeal to the world-building, however, that I was able to give it an average rating.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
The Sapphire Rose by David and Leigh Eddings

On Deck:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Morning Morphy- " I just ordered it from the library and it's all your fault." Yes, I get that a lot! LOL. Have a great Sunday!

Morning Morphy! I am still making my way through Kavalier and Clay - I love the writing and I like the characters, but this one moves slowly for me. I think because the writing is so dense that you have to really pay attention, but there is not a lot of action. I will finish it, but I have no idea if it will be this month or not - I have to be in the right mood to read it.

I quite liked The Sapphire Rose when I read it many, many years ago. My husband is a huge fantasy fan, and so I read quite a few of his books when we first got married, trying the genre on for size. He wants me to read the Dresden files next, so that will be my latest foray into his bookshelves. I haven't read any of the others that you have on deck, but my oldest daughter, Rae, loves those Stiefvater books.

Wishing for you a Sunday full of fabulous!

I keep saying that I'll work on abandoning books more. There are a few that I'm really struggling with right now, and they end up reducing all my reading because slogging through is just unpleasant. But I'm so close to the end of a couple of them....

Just peeking in here, WOW! Got more than I bargained for! ;)

HA love the Britney-like photo! Cute

I was hospitalized when I was 14 overnight for a minor surgery on my ears and then I've been in for short periods with kidney problems. Thankfully nothing for a few years!

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

I agree with you about Zoo City. The worldbuilding was fantastic but the plot could not match up.

Sorry to hear that you didn't get on with Fire upon the deep, but you are right to quit and move on to something more enjoyable. Life is too short to read dull books.

>29 Donna828: Nope, Donna! I have all my body parts, too. Although I'm eventually going to lose my gallbladder. I've been told I have a "gall boulder" - a rather large gall stone - and eventually it will cause enough problems that the organ will have to come out.

>30 scaifea: I saw Brave, Amber, and it was awesome. I think Up is my current favorite Pixar.

>31 MickyFine: Micky, and Up does it without a word. Amazing.

>35 msf59: I did, Mark! We had rib eye steak, roasted potatoes, and mushrooms for dinner while watching Men in Black 3. Much fun!

>36 Crazymamie: Mamie, I wasn't too sure I was going to be able to read Shiver. It seemed too flowerly, teen-aged romance in the first chapter or two. But I'm half-done now and it's not too bad.

>37 _Zoe_: Zoe, that's why I decided to just quit those books. Slogging through unpleasant reading day-after-day was keeping me from reading books I would actually *enjoy*!

>38 MrsLee: MrsLee, thanks for stopping by deary! Love when you visit.

>39 ChelleBearss: Chelle, "Britney-like photo" HA! I'm sure I was wearing underwear though. My mother was of the "make sure you are wearing clean underwear camp."

***

Music Monday

I was speaking on Unruly's thread about how I have no room to talk since I also enjoy songs and videos that objectify women. And here's one of them!

My Humps by Black Eyed Peas



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEe_eraFWWs

What you gon' do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I'ma get, get, get, get you drunk
Get you love drunk off my hump

200. The Diamond Throne
201. The Ruby Knight
202. The Sapphire Rose by David and Leigh Eddings

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #21 (quest), reread

Rating: 7

203. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: Book Bingo (audiobook), reread

Rating: 6

>41 Morphidae:: Charlie's preschool teacher has a 2-year-old, and last Halloween they dressed up as the old man and the boy scout from Up: she was the boy scout and her 2yo was the old man. She made a walker out of pvc pipe and painted it silver and tied a bunch of balloons to it. They both looked hilarious.

>40 Sakerfalcon: Claire, usually I don't quit so many books at once, but I'm trying to find more joy in life and the books were just draining me.

>44 scaifea: Amber, I would love to have seen a picture of that!

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

I just saw the prices of baseball games on the news. Hundreds of dollars per seat. It's frickin' crazy. Neither MrMorphy nor I watch any sports. We both find them boring. And, in fact, professional sports and the salaries they engender anger me every time I think about them. There are so much more important things that money could be spent on. Don't even talk to me to about all the taxes I have to pay for stadiums. It's not something I am rational about by any means.

What about you? Do you watch professional sports? Do you root for a favorite team? Or are you like me and find the whole thing a waste of time and money?

I'm definitely not a big sports fan, although I can be talked into watching an occasional game with friends that I want to spend time with.

I took your advice and re-watched Funny Girl. Sweetly heartbreaking. I've added Funny Lady to my Netflix queue --although I remember that I didn't enjoy that one as much, but it's been years since I've seen it. Netflix also has one movie with the real Fanny Brice in it called "Be Yourself" which I thought would be fun to see.

I feel the same way about sports as you do. Especially having been on the "inside" as a member of the marching band for an ACC football team. It's RIDICULOUS. As corrupt and messed-up as you think it is, it's actually way worse.

However, I think minor-league sports are AWESOME. My city has a minor league baseball team and the tickets are super cheap and the games are just as much fun as major league. While there are some kids on the team who are trying to get attention from recruiters, a lot of the players are older people who have day jobs and are just looking to have some fun.

I agree about the ridiculous money spent on professional (and college) sports. Gah. We were discussing this at the library talk I gave last week on Pompeii: gladiators in the Roman empire were in some ways much like professional sports players now, in that they were wildly popular and had many many fans. However, very much unlike our modern sports, the gladiators did *not* get paid tons of money, or any money at all - they were slaves. And, of course, they played for their very lives. Interesting to think about, eh?

Hi Morphy!
I was just looking at Blue Jays tickets for my sister's birthday and the cheap seats were only $11! I was amazed at how cheap they are, like going to a movie! I'm sure the best seats in the house were around $100 though.

I'm not a huge sports fans and the only sport that Nate and I watch is baseball. I was really shocked and happy when I started dating Nate and found out that he never watched sports! After dating guys that would blow off parties and events with friends to stay home and watch hockey games it was a nice treat to date a guy that didn't care to ever watch sports!

Whenever I think about major league sports, I think of "bread and circuses". I tend to think the same way about the whole Hollywood machine. There is such a huge portion of the economy dedicated to entertaining the public. But I guess, given that there are so many people, they need to be kept entertained somehow.

I've never really understood sports, in the same way that I don't understand trigonometry or classical music—my brain just isn't wired that way.

I used to watch some sports with my Dad when I was growing up. For awhile we went to one live hockey game annually and we also saw some tennis live. I enjoyed the tennis, but have no desire to watch it now. I no longer have any interest in professional sports whatsover. I no longer even watch the Olympics. I have so many other interests that claim my time.

Funny thing, I've only dated one man who had any interest in sports at all. It wasn't intentional, it just worked out that way. My Sweetie would believe you if you told him the Super Bowl was in September. His lack of interest caused some stress growing up - his Dad played softball until he was in his 80s and then a bunch of 60-somethings joined the team and he no longer got any play time. His Dad and brother watch baseball and football pretty religiously and have season tickets to the local University's games.

So many people who rage about the high salaries but the expensive tickets and paraphernalia with sports team logos. THAT I don't understand. If you object to the prices, why not spend your money elsewhere?

Hey Morph. :)

I was never "into" sports as a kid, but did play basketball and ran track in school. (It was either play sports or do calisthenics with the gym teacher every day, and calisthenics are boring.)

In college my future-husband introduced me to the world of hockey. I was hooked and became a Devils fan. We had season tix to the local minor league team (Houston Aeros) and we got to see a lot of great hockey that way. Then they moved to a new stadium, prices went up, you had to pay for parking, and they changed leagues and affiliations. So we stopped going. We both played inline hockey for several years though, and that is something I'd like to do again.

Now, I watch the Super Bowl and sometimes the Stanley Cup finals, and otherwise I don't care a whit about sports. My husband has moved on to MLS.

I think my interest in sporting events really waned when I had kidlet. It's too frustrating trying to pay attention to sports when you have a kid that NEEDS something every moment because they're bored. Now that she's older, she'll sit still through it by playing a video game or reading, but I think that's a waste of money on a ticket. And when I don't keep up with the team or the players... It's hard to care what happens to them.

>46 streamsong: Funny Lady was panned badly, streamsong, so I'm reluctant to watch it. Especially since it doesn't have the strong songs that Funny Girl does. Don't Rain on My Parade is classic Streisand.

>47 norabelle414: Nora, yeah, I'm talking about professional sports. Though kids sports have their own issues too. Mostly the parents!

>48 scaifea: Amber, the more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?

>49 ChelleBearss: Chelle, my guy isn't into sports either. However he *will* blow off parties to play on the computer! They all have something, I guess.

>50 SylviaC: Sylvia, I guess I don't get so angry with movie entertainers because they don't make tons of money then come tax ME so they can continue to make tons more money. I'm paying for TWO stadiums even though I never will step foot in either one of them and hate professional sports and I have no choice in the matter. Every time I pay for groceries or medicine or dog food, I'm putting money in millionaires' pockets and it infuriates me.

>51 MDGentleReader: MD, I like watching Olympic opening ceremonies and Super Bowl commercials. They are entertaining.

>52 UnrulySun: Kathy, I think unless you "get" the rooting for the team mindset, you just don't get sports. I'm certainly in that category. Maybe it's upbringing, too. None of my family was into sports either.

***

Wacky Wednesday

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, but the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother, we never say methren.

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant or ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? We ship by truck but send cargo by ship. We have noses that run and feet that smell. We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway. And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

So if Father is Pop, how come Mother isn't Mop?

And that is just the beginning--even though this is the end!!

LOL laugh your daily themes Morphy. Especially, your whacky Wednesday stories.

Nope, I don't watch sports as I hardly ever watch television anyway. I don't even own one. However, if I am asked to go and see life sports somewhere with friends I wouldn't necessary say no. :)

Morphy I found you on Sparks.com and hopefully friended you :)

Loving your Wacky Wednesday entry!

>54 drachenbraut23: Bianca, I'm still not finding you on SparkPeople or getting your friend request. Very frustrating!

>55 EBT1002: Ellen, it makes me happy that people are enjoying them!

***

Tunes Thursday

One of my favorite Billy Joel tunes. Other than the obvious Piano Man, of course. The video is so ridiculously 80s, it makes me laugh.

Keeping the Faith by Billy Joel



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7oZnBH05s

We wore old matador boots
Only Flagg Brothers had them with a Cuban heel
Iridescent socks with the same color shirt
And a tight pair of chinos
Oh
I put on my shark skin jacket
You know the kind with the velvet collar
And ditty-bop shades
Oh yeah
I took a fresh pack of Luckies
And a mint called Sen-Sen
My old man's Trojans
And his Old Spice after shave
Oh
Combed my hair in a pompadour
Like the rest of the Romeos wore
A permanent wave, Yeah
We were keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith

204. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA

Notes: TIOLI #26 (lyrics), GoodReads Popular (12 in 12)

Summary: Grace was bitten by wolves but has never changed. Meanwhile, one wolf has haunted the woods outside her parents home for years.

Opinion: Decently written YA werewolf romance. Nice in that there is little of the supernatural and I liked the different, more nature-oriented, take on it. They are either wolves or human. Fairly obvious that I'm not the audience for this though as the plot was rather simplistic and the teen romance was the core of it.

Rating: 6

I liked Stiefvater's take on werewolf lore (the temperature-based changing) but found the characters too angsty and the romance too dominant. I did, however, read the rest of the trilogy so she must have done something right!

So, decently written? good to know as that's one of the books sitting on my TBR and still hasn't be touched.

Have you read Delirium by Lauren Oliver? I am on the second book now Pandemonium which is quite decent YA, dystopian with an interesting concept.

Morphy

Late to the answering of your question regarding hospitalization, my answer is yes, many times, too many to count.

I have a high regard for nurses.

Love your wacky Wednesday! So true!

Oh, I hope you like Cinder, Morphy. I thought both it and the next one, Scarlet, were very good.

Just dropping by to say hi, Morphy! (as I stroke my mustache)

>58 Sakerfalcon: Claire, yeah, it was a bit angsty, but not overly so for me. And I'm usually the first one to say "too angsty"!

>59 drachenbraut23: Bianca, no, but I do have Liesl & Po on Mount TBR.

>60 Whisper1: Linda, just for the next or for other things, too?

>61 ChelleBearss: Chelle, I love the park on a driveway and drive on a parkway!

>62 jnwelch: Joe, it's in my hot little hands now. Not sure when I'll get to it but it should be in the next week or so with any luck.

>63 ronincats: Roni, you know they have bleach and stuff for that. :D

***

I'll be meeting up with The_Hibernator and eeblue at Barnes & Noble today for our monthly book group. We'll be discussing Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake. Then Sunday I'm doing NOTHING. It's been an exhausting week and I'm tired!

Monday I visited my therapist and nutritionist. Tuesday was binge eating disorder group. Wednesday was a nerve test for my hand and arm. Thursday was the senior center and Friday morning was volunteer work (church receptionist.)

Also got my nerve test results and they were negative. Not the results I was hoping for to be honest. It means physical therapy rather than a simple surgery to fix it. And the physical therapy didn't work for me last time (ten years ago).

That sounds like a very full week. I'm sorry about your nerve test results. :(

Quite behind after a supremely busy working week.

I am an avid sports fan.
Leeds United is my soccer club.
Yorkshire is my county at all sports but notably cricket
Wakefield Trinity (now Wildcats) my Rugby League club
Leeds Carnegie my Rugby Union club
Chicago Bears my American Football team (to support Marky)
Chicago Cubs are my baseball team as I have a penchant for glorious failures
I was a member of Coventry Olympic Road Cycling Club and VC Rennais many, many moons ago.

Well done indeed for rampaging past 200 books already. Have a great weekend.

>65 Kassilem: Melis, isn't it funny? I'm annoyed that the results came back negative!

>66 PaulCranswick: Paul, you like sports. I don't. We don't even like the same books. Amazing we are friends. But we are! :D

Today is a stay-at-home and read and veg day. I'm pooped.

Sunday Sillies

My blog got mentioned again at Reddit and at first it got hit with all the nasty people. I can't believe how cruel people can be. I was told I was disgusting, that I shouldn't live, that I was what wrong with America, that I was delusional, etc. There is one specific post about the difficulties of hygiene when super obese that I made four years ago that continues to get this type of comment. I deleted the stupid thing and said why in my blog. That one generated a ton of supportive posts, including many apologetic ones from others at Reddit that have made me feel much better.

***

Music Monday

More of a rock pop than I usually listen to but I like it. Was introduced to it via the Charlie's Angels movie!

All the Small Things by blink-182



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ht5RZpzPqw

Late night, come home
Work sucks, I know
She left me roses by the stairs
Surprises let me know she cares

205. Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates

Genre: Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #16 (Summary: Stream of consciousness from the mind of a serial killer

Opinion: Wild. Not something I'd usually read, especially the more stream of consciousness style but it was surprisingly readable. It really made me think. What would *I* be capable of? We each have that dark shadow. The character's feelings of total rationality when he was doing the most horrific acts was disturbing.

Rating: 7

>68 Morphidae: In my experience most of the vocal people on Reddit are terrible and I stay away from there as much as possible. I'm sorry you got hit with that and glad that some not-terrible people came out to support you.

My first boyfriend (circa 2001) wanted to be just like Mark Hopper from Blink-182 so badly! It was adorable. Blink-182 will forever remind me of him.

>69 Morphidae: I read them by Joyce Carol Oats in high school and I did not care for it at all, but Zombie sounds very interesting so maybe I will give her another try.

That song makes me think of the American Pie movies, which Tomm and I love.

((Morphy)) WTF is wrong with people?! Stupid little shits.

I came in here to wish you a happy Monday! So... smile a little for me today, mkay?

There are far more nice people than jerks in the world. The trouble is the jerks make more noise to call attention to themselves.

You're one of my favourite people, Morphy.

>70 norabelle414: Nora, well, at the worst, and you don't care for Zombie either, it's short!

>71 scaifea: Amber, I haven't seen them. I usually don't care for that type of gross, teen-aged humor.

>72 UnrulySun: Kathy, your post certainly made me smile, if I hadn't before!

>73 SylviaC: Sylvia, I've had 46 lovely, supportive posts to my blog. They far out numbered the nasty posts.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

Let's forget about the cruelty of others. What's the kindest thing a non-family member has done for you?

Mine is easy. The amazing response to the medical fund raiser here was jaw-dropping. I can't tell you how many times I was in tears of joy of gratitude. I will never forget the generosity of the people of LibraryThing. No one else responded - not the people at the senior center I go to every week, not my church, not even my family. Just the people here.

What about you? Have you been blessed by the generosity of others?

206. Hunted by Kevin Hearne

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #4 (last book in series), next in series, Book Bingo (makes me laugh)

Summary: Continuing adventures of Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon on the run from the various pantheons and paranormals out to kill them

Opinion: SPOILERS - While I love the characters and adore the humor, the ongoing running for their lives plot gets old and the ending was frustrating. Nothing was resolved. Some throw away enemies were killed and oh, it really wasn't them, it was this OTHER enemy - who got away. This is the third book with the same plot and you *still* have no idea who is out to get them.

Rating: 7

207. The World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #16 (Summary: A space race to get to the bad thing before the evil alien does

Opinion: Too much of a kitchen sink. Telepathic alien. Space race. Civil unrest between Earth and the Asteroid Belt. Intelligent dolphins. Population restrictions. Too many ideas were thrown in the pot and it made for no coherent plot. Niven's first novel and it shows.

Rating: 4

Sorry to hear about the cruel people from Reddit. People think they can say whatever they want on the Internet and that it won't hurt someone's feelings. I think we forget that real people exist behind the username. :(

Have a happy Tuesday!

Today is Tuesday and, therefore, it's Binge Eating Disorder group day. I have a *lovely* pick up time - 1:20pm - for a 3:30pm appointment time. Two hours for a thirty minute drive. *grumble* While I appreciate MetroMobility because it gets me out of the house, I heartedly dislike the less than ideal pick up times. I guess I'll get some reading time in! I'm currently reading Gorky Park by Smith (slow plot), A Fine Balance by Mistry (depressing) and Moloka'i by Brennert (quite good).

Bigots. Screw em all. Don't let the bastards grind you down.

Quite right Morphy we don't see eye to eye on many a thing but you figure high on my list of LT buddies for sure. x

Hi, Morphy. Life's a bit busy for me at the moment, as you know; thanks for coming by my place, in the meantime and I appreciate your caring comments.

I'm slowly catching up on LT, so just skimming through quickly.

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday and enjoy your reading time!

68> Someday, I am going to give at LEAST equal weight to supportive comments as to negative ones. I am quite clear that nasty comments say much more about the person making the comment than the one being commented on, but they nasty remarks still hurt. Another someday, when I am ALMOST perfect - I will not give power to those whose values I do not share.

Meanwhile

{{{{{Morphy}}}}}

You do know that you are a very brave, honest, kind, special person, don't you? At least IMO and I am clearly not alone in that opinion :-)

74> Honestly, a smile, a small kindness from a stranger can do so much for me. Never, ever, underestimate what a small kindness can do for someone else.

Having grown up in a "special needs" household, kindnesses from friends and strangers were very much a part of my life.

Hey there, Morphy. Ignore the bozos on Reddit, or whatever it is.

Sorry, I'm a serious sports fan, though I don't spend much money on them (don't have it to spend) and think some of the prices & salaries are ridiculous. (It's only the big-name pro athletes that get that kind of dough, though.) The rationale behind the stadium subsidies is what they do for the local economy (jobs for vendors, workers in restaurants and such nearby, etc. An area speedway closed, and a slew of businesses closed nearby, and others are struggling mightily.) It's worth noting that non-readers often complain about subsidies for libraries! But I love that when we toured the Indianapolis Speedway. they were quite proud that they've never taken a dime of taxpayer money.

I see school sports helping kids to stay fit and healthy (if they can avoid the temptation to mess with steroids and such). My son has been named sports editor of the school newspaper, and the assignment has seriously helped him to progress in his social and communications skills related to his autism. Talking sports has given him something to say in awkward social situations where he'd otherwise be lost.

BTW, as far as kindnesses, I can't begin to name all the folks who have been kind and helpful in dealing with my son's autism and helping him to progress.

Wow, am I behind with your thread! Love the thread opener - what a great family shot!

Going way back up to post #13 - Absolutely love the Wacky Wednesday joke!

Everything by Pixar gets my vote!

I am enjoying your YA reviews. For the most part, I don't gravitate to YA books that hold my attention and I tend to get frustrated with the story.... but I am hopeful to getting back to reading some good ones!

The online world brings out the good and the bad so I am happy to read that your Reddit experience when from bad to good! I am not a fan of the bad seeds that have left their mark in the online world, so ignore them. They have no swagger or strength when removed from their safe 'you can't touch me' online presence. They are nothing more than the school yard bullies that never grew up.

Speaking of kindness, my four year old is settling into a new school in a 'new' country in the middle of the year, and though he's a pretty easy going child, I can see that it's a bit tough for him. Fortunately, he's been invited to a birthday party next week, by a classmate whose brother was in my older child's class when we were here before. The formal invitations had already gone out, so he got a verbal invitation when her mum recognised me. But I'm hoping that will help him to make better friends, and you know how it is to be or not be part of a group in school.

It was a sweet gesture on her part, but it could make a huge difference to us. I have resolved - provided I remember! - to try and invite new kids to our kids' parties; though their birthdays are actually after the school year ends, so I doubt there'll be many new kids at that point.

The problem with lousy little shits in the world is, no matter how much you know you should just ignore 'em, their meanness still hurts. Virtual hug, Morphs, virtual hug from here!

>77 RosyLibrarian: Marie, or sometimes I think they just don't care.

>79 PaulCranswick: Paul, I copied a beautiful compliment you gave me some time ago and re-read it when I feel badly about myself. You are a treasure yourself.

>80 humouress: So glad you took a minute to stop by, humouress.

>81 ChelleBearss: Chelle, I had a great Tuesday. Hope yours was equally pleasant!

>82 MDGentleReader: & 83 MD, you like me! You really like me!

Seriously though, I got ten times the number of supportive comments but it's the negative ones that are affecting me more. They hurt so much and make me feel badly about myself. I know I shouldn't let what other people say bother me, especially idiots like that, but I do. Probably because it reflects feelings I have about myself.

>84 SylviaC: Sylvia, an elderly friend of mine is giving me a plant today just because I told her about how I wanted a plant I couldn't kill and didn't know what to get. She went out special to find me one. This lady is 84 years old. It warms my heart.

>85 tymfos: Terri, I consider kids' sports a totally different animal than professional sports. While I could wish it could be handle better (some of those parents!!!), I feel it's a good thing for kids to be physically active.

>86 lkernagh: Lori, huh, I never thought of them as grown up school yard bullies. I always was vulnerable to them and thought I finally grew out of having to deal with them! Something to think about.

>87 humouress: That's was a nice gesture, humouress, and wonderful that you want to pass it on.

>88 PrueGallagher: So true, Prue. I appreciate you coming out of lurkdom for the support. Every bit helps chip away at that hurt!

***

Wacky Wednesday

(Dear lord, I couldn't remember how to spell Wednesday. Sheesh.)

1. The reason Santa Claus is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

2. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

3. If a deaf boy swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

4. Is there another word for synonym?

5. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

6. If a parsley farmer is sued, do they garnish his wages?

7. Is a fly without wings called a walk?

8. When the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

9. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?

10. How do they get deer to cross the road at those yellow road signs?

11. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

12. One nice thing about egotists: They don't talk about other people.

13. Should the Little Mermaid wear an algebra?

14. How can there be a civil war?

15. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?

16. If you eat both the pasta and the antipasto, will you still be hungry?

17. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

18. Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in "lisp?"

19. Might it be more accurate to refer to hemorrhoids as "assteroids"?

20. Why call it tourist season when you still can't shoot at them?

21. Why put an expiration date on sour cream?

22. If you spin an Asian man three times does he become disoriented?

23. Should an atheist get insurance against acts of God?

(Dear lord, I couldn't remember how to spell Wednesday. Sheesh.)
I have moments like that more and more, Morphy!

Love the Wacky Wednesday today!!

I will argue that kids are inspired to get active in sports by watching the pros play and wanting to emulate them. Unfortunately, some of the pros engage in other activities I wouldn't want kids to emulate. But many of them do a whole lot of charitable good -- including many lesser-known ones whose salaries don't make headlines.

86They have no swagger or strength when removed from their safe 'you can't touch me' online presence. They are nothing more than the school yard bullies that never grew up.
Amen!

My cousin told me last January that I must read Zombie and I have not yet been able to get my hands on a copy. It sounds interesting and a bit disconcerting.

Oh Morph - I think your mother is a dead ringer for Elizabeth Montgomery - of 'Bewitched' fame.

>92 PrueGallagher:: Exactly what I thought.

Of course, Nicole Kidman acted in the 'Bewitched' film, and they did a good job of making her look like Elizabeth Montgomery as 'Samantha'.

>90 tymfos: Terri, but I'm too young (48) for memory problems! *whines* Mine (I'm hoping) is mostly from a medication whose nickname is "Dope-omax" for the short-term memory fog it causes. Or at least, that's what I blame!

>91 EBT1002: Ellen, Zombie is quiet disconcerting. It had me wondering just what I could be capable of and going to MrMorphy for reassurance that I wasn't a monster just because I thought about ... stuff.

>92 PrueGallagher: Prue & humouress, she would be tickled pink to hear it. I think I vaguely recall her being compared to Montgomery when I was younger.

***

Tunes Thursday

I love the video. I think it's so fun that they got the stars of Romancing the Stone to "sing" back up.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Going by Billy Ocean



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n3sUWR4FV4

Well I'm gonna get myself 'cross the river
That's the price I'm willing to pay
I'm gonna make you stand and deliver
And give me love in the old-fashion way

I think it's so fun that they got the stars of Romancing the Stone to "sing" back up.

I always liked that, too. I saw it last month, on one of the music programmes, coincidently.

>95 humouress: The movie or the video, humouress?

***

Film Friday

I know I'll be fussed at for this but I've watched both the original and the Peter Jackson version and I much prefer Jackson's! This clip alone will take your breath away.

King Kong



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYZsJYZVt5g

Carl Denham: I'll give you another thousand if we leave right now.

Captain Englehorn: You haven't given me the first thousand yet.

Tomorrow is MrMorphy's "free" day. Once a month we hire a personal care attendant to come in for a couple hours on a Saturday to help me with the stuff he normally does so he gets a break. Basically, I pretend I don't have a husband for day. So tonight he's getting the grocery shopping done and will get things set up so I can mostly take care of myself - microwave meals and such - and Maia - pre-dish out her food. Stuff like that. The PCA is an absolutely lovely lady and often charges me for only half the time she spends here. She comes in for an "hour" in the morning to help me with my shower and then in the evening for my bedtime routine. She'll also do some light house work, take Maia for a walk, trim my toe nails, etc. It's much needed relief for MrMorphy and a nice change in routine and a bit of company for me.

>96 Morphidae:: I'll make even more people irritated by saying that I like the 1976 version, with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, the best.

>97 Morphidae:
I hope you both enjoy your change of routine.

>96 Morphidae:: The video.

Hope you both enjoy your respective days!

I know most of the King Kong versions and like you I like the Jackson version best. I remember when I saw the movie the first time, I was absolutely awed.

So, glad that you could work something wonderful as the "once a month" Mr Morphy's free day. I might even guess that it is nice for you as well to have someone else helping you for a change. :)

Speaking of kindness - I very much appreciated the support of my friends whilst I was so unwell over the past couple of month. Aside from going to appointments with me, they also went shopping with me, brought me cooked food when I couldn't provide for myself and just generally provided a fantastic emotional support when I needed it most. I am very grateful to my friends for just being my friends in such a wonderful way.

I wish you and Mr. Morphy a fab weekend :)

>98 scaifea: Amber, I saw that one too but it was so long ago, I can't really remember it. I saw the other two in the last couple of years.

>99 SylviaC: & 100 Sylvia & humouress, I'm sure we will! It's been pleasant before. We've already been teasing each other today.

Me: "So you're making me eggs & bacon for breakfast, right?"
MrMorphy: "What are these voices I hear? I'm a bachelor today."
M: "Voices?"
MM: "Yes, voices from above."
M: "I don't think that's the direction they are coming from."
MM: "Crap. I need an exorcist."

>101 drachenbraut23: Bianca, it's especially nice as MrMorphy needs a stress-free day as he goes to Mayo on Monday for his four-month check up for his eye (choroidal melanoma). With any luck, there will be no change again and he won't have to go back for eight more months.

***

Tomorrow we go to MrMorphy's parents for dinner. It won't be an exciting evening by any means but it will be nice. They are lovely people - quiet, reserved, exceedingly generous. However they are in their late 70s, getting frail and are emotionally constipated (gotta love those Lutherans*.) They really don't go anywhere or do anything, so we don't have much to talk about. They putter around the house, watch TV and read. We bring Maia along for entertainment value or I'm afraid we'd fall asleep. The food is always good though! Last time we had ribs and green beans.

* Not that they're big church-goers, it's more of a stereotype: Midwestern Scandinavian Lutherans = emotional range of a rock

208. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

Genre: Mystery

Notes: GD Lists (13 in 13 - 50 Mysteries)

Summary: A chief inspector in Moscow must solve a triple murder

Opinion: SPOILER: I was going to give this five stars - lower than average but still readable then got to the grisly, miserable ever after ending and decided I just didn't like this book. The inspector was more a victim than a hero and the female protagonist was mysterious to the point of being two-dimensional. I didn't like either of them and I'm not sure you are meant to. The plot was slow and there were far too many confusing tangents. About the only thing I did like was the peek in Russian Culture.

Rating: 4

209. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #13 (Most Popular by TIOLI Challenge)

Summary: A poor ethnic girl is teased and the repercussions

Opinion: Not my cup of tea. I found it preachy and the issue left unresolved. Just "thinking" that next time she wouldn't tease isn't enough for me. She had to show some action to back up her words. No emotionally immediacy or impact. Didn't even like the illustrations.

Rating: 5

Too bad about Gorky Park. I've got library copies of both the book and movie sitting here on my shelf and I'll (hopefully) get it read and watched in August.

I've taken the GD challenge not to acquire any new books in August to see if I can get caught up on the library books. I am soooooo far behind with group reads. My next book up will be Till We Have Faces so you see how behind I am.

But my exception to 'no new books' were the Maus books. I've ordered Maus I, Maus II and MetaMaus through the library.

Good luck to MM and give him an extra hug from me! I'm betting he's worried. Three and a half years after my cancer, the worries still kick in pre-checkups.

>103 Morphidae:

You're not having much luck with your monthly reads, are you. Hopefully they start to pick up for the rest of the year.

Best wishes to MrMorphy for his appointment on Monday. I hope all is well.

Morphy> I see now that the Hundred Dresses to which you referred is not the one we got at the library. We got The Hundred Dresses by Erin McKean. I'm sure both books are interesting. I know flipping through the McKean book brought back memories for me.

Putting Zombie on hold at the library. It just seems that I must read it.

>105 streamsong: Maybe I'll like the movie better, streamsong. The plot has to be more streamlined and straightforward for movie-goers. I had a bit of a struggle finding The Complete Maus at the library. I finally had to call in and have a librarian specially order it from WorldCat. MrMorphy has said he doesn't feel worried but I have to wonder if he isn't subconsciously concerned because he's had insomnia for the last three or four weeks.

>106 SylviaC: Sylvia, my luck has turned. I'm reading a very good book now called Moloka'i now. The premise is sad - lepers in Hawaii at the turn of the century - and there is lots of grief, but there is lots of joy and hope, too.

>107 thornton37814: Lori, yours looks much more interesting than mine was!

>108 EBT1002: Ellen, I'm eagerly awaiting your comparison of Zombie and The Wasp Factory.

***

Sunday Sillies

Ha! I hope you didn't read the Estes because of me... Either way, I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

Tomm's parents are Lutheran, and yep, not a lot of outward emotion, although MIL is *very* good at passive/aggressive guilting. Sigh.

>110 scaifea: Ha! Yes! I did! It's all your fault. Amber. You said, "but this book is phenomenal on so many levels that I really do think that everyone - and I mean everyone - should read it." So I went right out and got it from the library. I guess kid's books just don't do it for me for the most part.

I'm lucky in that both my in-laws are very nice people even though they have the emotions of an amoeba. :D

I take full responsibility. Apologies. *sigh*

>112 scaifea: A thousand lashes with a wet noodle!

Honestly though. No apologies necessary. It's not like it took me a long time to read. LOL!

Ha! True.

And it's not like you made me read something truly awful like say, A Canticle for Leibowitz. Dear lord, how you got through that thing. And you loved it? *shudder*

>110 scaifea:-115: I'll just enjoy the banter from the sidelines; and probably avoid the books! :0)

ETA - hoping MrM's check-up goes well. We all worry - the number of times I've thought something wasn't bad, and then it hung around, and finally I decided to get it checked at the doctor's and started panicking and making provisions for looking after the kids on the way in ... only to find it was a mild sprain or something, and not a broken bone.

Morphy/Amber - I suppose that there are worse things to get a thousand lashes from than a wet noodle.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>116 humouress: Oh this is definitely something, humoress. But luckily so far it's a dormant something. We'll just hope it continues to just sit there. He's off to Mayo this morning. I sent him off with a smile on my face and didn't let him know just how much I worry since he doesn't seem all that concerned himself. He was more aggravated about the two hour drive. But he has his music, snacks, coffee and a phone. All is good! (I'll keep telling myself this, right?)

>117 PaulCranswick: Paul, yeah, a thousand lashes with a DRY noodle. Hate those pasta splinters...

***

Music Monday

Sorry, had to have one Britney and at least this one makes fun of herself.

Piece of Me by Britney Spears



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4FF6MpcsRw

I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. she's too big now she's too thin
(You want a piece of me)

Today I'm off to see my nutritionist and therapist. I think this will be the last visit with the nutritionist. I'm not connecting with her and I'm not getting any real help. I've actually gotten some of my best food/nutrition ideas from group and my therapist. Also, the nutritionist keeps asking me "what kind of help do you want from me?" Isn't it her job to tell me what she can do for me?

118: I have to admit, I love that Britney song. So sassy!

Sorry to hear about your nutritionist, but you should be working with someone who you feel is really working with you, so maybe it is for the best.

210. Molokai' by Alan Brennert

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #8 (women and healthcare), Book Bingo (flower on cover)

Summary: A Hawaiian girl is sent to a leper colony in the late 1800s

Opinion: This is a wonderful book. While it deals with a brutal subject and unpleasant setting, there is joy and hope. It is a saga that follows the girl all her life and you meet her family and friends, enemies and allies. You get Hawaiian history and myth, discussion of Christianity versus Paganism, belief, grief, friendship, greed, love, motherhood, discrimination, family. Just everything and nothing was heavy-handed. I was sad when the book was over.

Rating: 9

>103 Morphidae:: I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Gorky Park, but kind of relieved too - everyone else really seemed to love it and I thought I was going to be the only one with a negative response to it. I agree that the picture of life in the Soviet Union was the best aspect of the book. Let's hope Maus is as good as reported!

Wow! You don't give out 9s so often.

Morphy - I agree with you on A canticle for Leibowitz, the only good thing about reading it is that you never have to do it again.

Hi Morphy!
Sorry that you are not connecting with your nutritionist. Will you be looking for a new one or going without?

I might have to add Molokai' to my TBR. :)

I put Molokai' on my wishlist once ages ago and then forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder!

Hi Morphy - hope all goes well with your husband's visit to the Mayo - positive vibes going your way..

>120 RosyLibrarian: Marie, after talking with my therapist, I decided to call my case manager and will be switching nutritionists. We're just not connecting.

>122 Sakerfalcon: Claire, well, the subject matter is going to be a downer. But we can hope it will be a well-done downer!

>123 PaulCranswick: Paul, no I don't. It is a rare book that engenders such emotion that I have to give it 9 or an even rarer 10.

>124 avatiakh: Kerry, I read it so long ago, I can't remember why I didn't like it. Just that it was enough that I'll never touch it again.

>125 ChelleBearss: Chelle, I'll definitely give another one a try. I'll take all the support I can get on this weight loss journey.

>126 Kassilem: & 127 Melis & Zoe, please do. I think you will enjoy it!

>128 PrueGallagher: Prue, we are all clear for another 10 months! There has been no growth. It's such a relief!

(We have no insurance and each time he goes the cost of tests and the doctor is $1500 to $2000 but thanks to the fund-raiser we are able to handle it. Thank you all!)

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

What's the worst book you finished reading?

I've had several that got 2 stars. No book I've finished has gotten 1 star. A couple months ago The Last Llanelli Train got it mostly because the main character was horrible. Tao Te Ching was nonsense to me. Perhaps because of cultural clash. The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis got it because I hated the ending. The Druids by Piggott was the driest book I've ever finished.

But the book that came closest to getting a 1 has to be Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

"It was awful. I have no idea how I finished this. As it is, a quarter of it I skimmed. Too much description of an awful city. No, I don't need pages of cable being laid down. Nor of character's walks from dreary place to ugly place. Awful things happen to the characters. There is not one speck of hope or good. There are pages of philosophy, math and "science" that make no sense. Author wrote with a thesaurus in hand. Only reason I could stand it was the races were interesting and I wanted to see how the monsters were taken care of. I could have saved myself some time. They ate themselves to death? Really? That's how you kill big nasties? That's the best you could do? Half the races you couldn't understand what they were thinking or saying. I supposed the author was trying to be clever. Instead it was unreadable nonsense. You couldn't pay me to read anything else by Mieville. YUCK PTOOEY."

Worst book I've finished: Ulysses, hands down. And I never leave a book unfinished. So, yes, this is the worst book I've ever read. Followed very closely by The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. I find that Stein can take being pretentious and annoying to higher heights than any other author I've read.

Well, can't say I blame you on the Mieville. That one takes a certain determination to see it through...

The worst I've ever finished was Any Given Doomsday, an ER by Lori Handeland. After the fourth or so rape of the main character, I just shut down, bulled through and wrote a scathing review. Frankly, that one turned me off urban fantasy in general for a while and I've had to push myself to try other, known better, books of the genre.

Mostly I don't finish them if I don't like them, so my worst reading experience goes back to required reading in high school. The prize goes to The Catcher in the Rye. Lots of people love it, but I just didn't get it.

I think the worst book I've read is a toss up between The Perfect Storm and The Inheritance of Loss. I found both of them very hard to finish.

I'm so glad to hear the good news about Mr. Morphy, Morphy! That's great. I'm sure you both are very relieved.

>130 scaifea: Amber, I have no desire to even attempt Ulysses. It's on several of my lists but it's going to stay there - unread.

>131 drneutron: Jim, I didn't rate Any Given Doomsday quite as badly as you - I gave it 5 stars. But yeah, it was pretty bad.

My review, "I was putting off reading this book because of all the bad reviews, but I finally sat myself down and got it done. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting it, but it certainly isn't best-selling or even B-list writing. The story was interesting enough until about 2/3 the way through. I mean, really, harem pants? What is this - a teenage boy's wet dream? It read too much like porn. The writing was simplistic and the Mary Sue heroine was such an idiot about men. I did like seeing some different types of monsters."

>132 SylviaC: Sylvia, I didn't mind The Catcher in the Rye - I gave it 7 stars. But didn't love it either.

>133 ChelleBearss: Chelle, was it the subject matter or the writing style for those books?

>134 ronincats: Roni, thanks. Yes, very relieved. Now just one more hurdle - getting him hired on permanently at his new job and then we can relax. He should have "the meeting" tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed! He'll have INSURANCE!

***

Wacky Wednesday

Stephen Fry Rants on Language Pedants



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY

"But do they bubble and froth and slobber and cream with joy at language?

211. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction/YA

Notes: LT Recommended (12 in 12)

Summary: Retelling of Cinderella - where Cinderella is a cyborg in a futuristic Beijing

Opinion: A little bleaker than I like but overall a solid good read. I've already placed a reserve for the next book, Scarlet, and have to admit I'm disappointed I have to wait a year for each of the next two books. Sometimes with the YA genre I find the pace is too fast. But that was not the case with Cinder. There was enough time for reflection and some character development before running headlong again.

ETA: The cover is annoying. At no time does Cinder wear a heel like that nor is her cyborg foot like that. She's a tomboy mechanic. It's sheer marketing to get girls to buy the book.

Rating: 7

I think the worst book I've ever read is Accordion Crimes. One grim story about nasty people after another. Someone should have buried that damn accordion because it seemed to curse everyone that touched it. I know the immigrant experience is not easy, but really, every single family has to suffer hideously and grotesquely? Gah.

And yay for MrMorphy's good news! Holding my thumbs for him to get that permanent post.

Hooray for MrMorphy's check-up results!! That is just so great! And I am crossing my fingers that he gets offered a full-time position.

I like your query about the worst book we have ever read. Let's see...what immediately comes to mind is Freedom by Jonathan Frazen. I really did not like that one. Also To Have and Have Not by Hemingway, but that is probably because I saw the movie first, and I LOVE that movie - the book is awful.

So glad you liked Cinder. Scarlet is just as good, in fact, I liked it a tiny bit better.

I'm reading The Grand Sophy and while the story is amusing, I'm rather disturbed by the romance between first cousins. I know it was "done" back then, but we now better know. It's skeeving me out.

I had trouble with that, too!

#139 I'm rather disturbed by the romance between first cousins Funny, The Grand Sophy is one of my favourite Heyer's and that had never ever occurred to me. But in the UK there are no restrictions on cousin marriage although it is unusual (except in some Asian communities I think), whereas I think it is different in the US?

I can't say I ever thought about it. In the books I grew up reading, it wasn't an uncommon occurrence.

I liked your review of Moloka'i and have added this to my obese wish list.

I read The Grand Sophy too and that was one thing I picked up as well, the romance between first cousins. I thought even then they didn't do first cousin marriages, but only second cousins as the closest link.

I'm glad you liked Cinder, Morphy. As Mamie says, Scarlet is as good, and might even be better. Hard to wait for the ones after, as you say, but the signs are that it'll be worth it.

stereotype: Midwestern Scandinavian Lutherans = emotional range of a rock

A Lutheran musician friend told the story of when he led a visiting choir at a Midwestern Scandinavian Lutheran congregation, and the outwardly stoic response of the congregation. Afterwards, someone told him, "Ah, yes, it was good -- my toes were tapping inside my boots!"

I'm not sure I can say what the worst book I've finished was (maybe Fresh Tracks by Georgia Beers), but I love your final comments in your review of Perdido Street Station.

Speaking as a biologist, there's no problem at all with cousin marriage, unless it happens repeatedly over ensuing generations. :)

As someone who never leaves a book unfinished, I've struggled my way through some stinkers over the years, but off the top of my head I'm inclined to say my most painful experience was The English Rogue - four volumes ( approx. 1000 pages) of illicit sex, venereal disease, lies, cheats, betrayal, and scatological humour.

The upside is that, after that, I can face almost anything with equanimity!

Hi Morphy- So you won't be joining me on any Mieville Group Reads? Actually, I liked Perdido Street Station but I did not love it. I'll be reading more of his work, but he is not for everyone.
I just saw that the 3rd book in Lunar Chronicles will be released in Feb '14. I think it will be called Cress.

>135 Morphidae:: That's not wacky, that's the gospel truth!

>137 Sakerfalcon: Claire, with any luck we'll find out today. He says he's not worried but he's been in a depressed mood for days. We'll see how it and his mood goes.

>138 Crazymamie: & 140 Mamie, have you read anything else by Frazen? I haven't tried anything by him yet. Scarlet is already in transit from the library! As much as I'm enjoying The Grand Sophy it's going to lose a star just for the first cousin thing because I find it so distracting.

>141 SandDune: Rhian, I think from what my husband told me, only six states allow marriage between first cousins.

>142 SylviaC: Sylvia, whereas for me, it's just one step away from siblings marrying.

>143 cameling: Caro, ha! Got ya with a book bullet. POW!

>144 jnwelch: Joe, I need another series like I need a shot to the head! But it was a good book and Scarlet is on it's way.

>145 tymfos: Terri, I showed that to MrMorphy and he chuckled in rueful recognition. While he grew up with those stoic parents, exposure to twenty-five years of my exuberance has loosened him up considerably.

>146 EBT1002: Ellen, I actually have a collection called "Quit, Yuck, Ptooey." :D

>147 lyzard: Liz, biology, schmiology, it's yucky. LOL! Why would you force yourself through four volumes of such stuff?

>148 msf59: Mark, uh, no. No Mieville group reads. :P Yep, Cress is book three and Winter is book four.

>149 scaifea: Amber, truth, yes, but oh so amusing and wacky in presentation!

***

Tunes Thursday

Love the beat to this. And you gotta love the size of that afro. My word! It was the first musical performance ever on Saturday Night Live.

Nothing from Nothing by Billy Preston



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DV54ddNHE

I'm not tryin' to be your hero
'Cause that zero is too cold for me, Brrr
I'm not tryin' to be your highness
'Cause that minus is too low to see, yeah

Good luck to MrMorphy with his job! It would be great for you guys to have the security and the benefits.

Sending all good wishes to Mr. Morphy!!!!

Regarding your question of surgeries, all toll I think I've had eight-nine. But, I'm very glad to live in a time when technology is available to aid doctors in performing what is an amazing feat.

I have high regard for the medical field. I've had a few bumps with neurosurgeons. They seem to be an arrogant, haughty bunch and I don't relate well to that type of personality. Plus, I ask questions and they don't seem to like to share information.

I think of you and send sunshine.

>>#150

It was for my blog project, Morphy. Sad as it is to reflect, The English Rogue was an important work in the development of the English novel - perhaps the first "popular novel" (at a time when the word "novel" was only just coming into usage) and the first English novel to be a success in translation; so I pretty much had to read it.

Good wishes to MrMorphy!

I was going to ask, do you have trouble reading about the pharaohs of Egypt due to their sibling marriages? It wasn't that uncommon at the time and place (Regency England) to marry a first cousin. In fact, there are lots of plots where the dastardly first cousin is trying to marry the heiress to keep the money in the family. I never let it get in the way of my enjoyment of the story.

Hope Mr. Morphy gets the good word today.

>151 SylviaC: Sylvia, whoo hoo! He has benefits! Paid sick time and vacation and health and vision and dental, oh my!

>152 Whisper1: Whoa, Linda. Eighty-nine? Do you keep track? Is that like, a Guinness record somewhere?

>153 lyzard: Liz, I'm sorry. No one should have to go through that!

>154 ronincats: Roni, I've never read about the pharaohs of Egypt, oddly enough. I've lots of other Regency romances and this is the first time I've come across this. Unless the cousin was a "bad guy" and then it was okay to feel squicky about the dastardy man anyway.

Meanwhile, I am just loving The Grand Sophy, so I'm able to get past the cousin thing.

***

Film Friday

Sheer fun of two married assassins out to get each other.

Mr & Mrs. Smith



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hybPMR6VJR8

John Smith: (during a car chase) I never told you, but I was married once before.

Jane Smith: (slams on the brakes)

John Smith: What's wrong with you?

Jane Smith: (hitting John) You're what's wrong with me John.

John Smith: It was just a drunken Vegas thing.

Jane Smith: Oh, that's better. That's *much* better.

(pause)

Jane Smith: What's her name and social security number?

John Smith: No, you're not gonna kill her.

Hooray for MrMorphy!!!

I'm glad you got past the cousin thing, because The Grand Sophy is a wonderful book.

I'm glad you're enjoying Sophy!

I think modern writers of Regencies tend to shy away from cousin romances, but you do find them in Georgette Heyer both because of her historical accuracy and the much earlier time she was writing. Of course, it's a common thing in 18th and 19th century literature because it was a common thing in the 18th and 19th centuries. It's worth noting that it's something that died away not so much because the perception of it changed, but because women got more control over their lives and who they married; a lot of cousin marriages were arranged as a way of keeping money and property in the family.

It's been interesting all this cousin debate. We've been catching up with Arrested Development on Netflix recently (I don't know if you've seen it Morphy, but one cousin has a crush on another cousin) and I've now realised that there is a whole subtext to the cousin thing that I just wasn't picking up on. I think although it's unusual in the UK, and there has been some debate in the media recently about whether repeated cousin marriages in certain Asian communities cause more inherited birth defects, we don't really have a 'yuck' response when thinking about it, so I think I'd missed it completely.

I honestly couldn't tell you what "the" opinion is here because I've never heard the subject raised.

Growing up reading mostly English books I never thought twice about it. It was only fairly recently when I noticed how often the issue comes up in American TV, particularly comedies, that I realised anyone thought there was an issue. :)

>156 SylviaC: Sylvia, it really is. I'll get my review up today.

>157 lyzard: & 159 Liz, I haven't read much of that literature except Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. That type of thing. Probably why I haven't come across it. Funny how in the UK the upper class did it a lot because in the US a particular type of comedy makes fun of "white trash" that marries cousins. It shows how "low class" you are because only "hicks" don't "know better."

>158 SandDune: Rhian, yes, must be more of a US thing. Any of my US cohorts want to chime in?

Morning Morphy- Hope you have a nice day of R & R planned. I know I do.

*going off to find out what The Grand Sophy is..... *

From a purely genetic standpoint (not a social one), cousin-breeding isn't that bad as long as it's a one-off thing. But if you have a culture in which cousin-breeding happens more often than rarely, the chances are higher of parents being too related to each other. (Such as European royalty pre-20th century.)

Socially, I think we think it's funny because it has less ick-factor than sibling-breeding, but just enough ick to be uncomfortable. There is also the whole hillbilly stereotype, which comes from the fact that hillbillies live in isolated communities and don't have access to people outside their community.

>161 msf59: Mark, yes, had a quiet day at home. MrMorphy even came out of his cave in the evening to sit on the couch with his netbook for a few hours to keep me company!

>162 EBT1002: Ellen, it's a Regency romance written in 1950 by Georgette Heyer with a fabulous sense of humor.

***

Music Monday

Wow, just noticed I've had no Christina! Can't have Britney and not have any Christina! This is my favorite Aguilera - naughty, fun and with a good beat. It was inspired by Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by The Andrews Sisters.

Candyman by Christina Aguilera



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ScjucUV8v0

Well, by now I'm getting all bothered and hot
When he kissed my mouth it really hit the spot
He had lips like sugarcane
Good things come for boys who wait

I've got these bug bites that are kind of freaking me out. They are right over my sternum. Two of them. They *blistered*, broke open and now there is a big welt about 4 inches long and about 1 inch wide. The sores are pretty small. Ones about the size of a pin head, the other about the size of a small eraser. They don't itch very much. Just hurts a bit. I've never had bug bites act like this before.

I've had what the doctor said were spider bites that size and shape, but they didn't blister and break open. Mine were a few inches lower - I felt very vulnerable. The 4 inch by 1 inch bit was visible for months, although the center small, redder, raised bit went away more quickly. I was VERY alarmed the first time it happened. Mine didn't itch either, just hurt some.

212. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

Genre: Romance

Notes: TIOLI #1 (ends in Y), Reading Romance (12 in 12), LTers Choose from the Ultimate Reading List (ronincats - 13 in 13)

Summary: Sophy is left with her aunt in London when her diplomat father heads off to Brazil. Chaos and hijinks ensue.

Opinion: What a lot of fun. Much more than I was expecting. Once I got past the squick factor of the first cousin romance, I had a very good time and I laughed and smiled throughout this romantic romp. Sophy pushes all the boundaries in this Regency with aplomb and wit.

Rating: 7

213. Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #2 (blurry sky cover), Around the World in 80 Sleuths (12 in 12)

Summary: The body of a young woman is found outside a bar in Oxford

Opinion: The suspects and their stories were more interesting than the inspector or his sidekick. In fact, I can't say I cared for either. I was often confused with the police work, wondering where the inspector was going with his train of thought and didn't like the way he treated Lewis or other people. The romance angle was unlikely. I won't continue with this series.

Rating: 5

Glad you enjoyed the Heyer, Morphy. I haven't read that one yet but I'll get to it eventually. :)

>164 Morphidae:: I *love* that song. Love it. "Ain't No Other Man" from the same album is also excellent.

I have a little less than one month left on my Book Bingo challenge that scaifea gave me. Thought I'd give an update. I thought I'd do a graphic but MrMorphy never got around to it.

Read a book from the new book shelves at your local library. Steadfast by Mercedes Lackey
Read a book by an author with the same last initial as you. Sanctuary by Mercedes Lackey
Read a magazine cover to cover. Mental Floss
Read a memoir or biography. Kosher Chinese by Michael Levy
*Read a newspaper that you don’t normally read.

*Read a book set in the present.
*Read a graphic novel.
Read a book about how to do something. Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott
Read a book longer than 300 pages. Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher
Read a book that mentions Minnesota or Vikings. Embroidered Truths by Monica Ferris

Watch a movie with the subtitles on. A Cat in Paris
*Read a book with an ‘underground’ setting.
Read a book and watch the movie. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Read a book set in the future. Battle Circle by Piers Anthony
Read a book with a farm, ranch or garden in it. The Pillars of the World by Anne Bishop

Listen to an audiobook. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
Read a book with a plant or flower on the cover. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Read a book in a series. Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
Read a book set in the past. Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux
Read a book set somewhere besides Earth. The Spell Sword by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Read a book that makes you laugh. Hunted by Kevin Hearne
Read a non-fiction book. The Great Influenza by John Barry
Read a book written before you were born. Menagerie Manor by Gerald Durrell
Read a book with a mystery. Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris
Read a book that you keep ‘meaning to get around to.' Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink

On Deck:
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Fortress of Frost and Fire by Mercedes Lackey
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

Hello Morph! So very glad to hear that MrMorph got the all-clear and also the perks of full-employee. Fantastic! Sorry that you didn't enjoy the Colin Dexter - I have a read a few of them, but admit that was after seeing the very excellent BBC series of the books, just called 'Morse' I think. John Thaw did a wonderful job of making Morse and his prickly personality seem very poignant. Georgette Heyer is such a hoot, I think. Michael Dirda, the literary critic, also has a real fondness for her work. Worst book I ever read? What springs to mind immediately is The DaVinci Code - very poorly written in MHO and sold by the squillions. Also the whole idea was stolen from elsewhere. Ugh. When you think of all the deserving writers struggling to make ends meet.....

Sounds like The Grand Sophy was a fun read Morphy, and I am always up for a fun read! Great news regarding Mr. Morphy and 'Yikes' on the bug bite... here is hoping that it heals soon.

>166 MDGentleReader: MD, did the doctor do anything or have you treat them in any way? The sores are slightly bigger this morning.

>169 MickyFine: Micky, from what I've heard The Grand Sophy is a favorite Heyer, so you should enjoy it.

>170 scaifea: Amber, I also like that song. Not quite as much, but it comes close!

>173 PrueGallagher: Prue, what a hoot. I love The DaVinci Code. In fact, I got the illustrated version just so I could see the visuals to go with it. We all enjoy different things!

>174 lkernagh: Lori, I certainly hope so. Right now, it seems to continue to get worse.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

My darned dog is having house-breaking issues. Maia's almost seven years old. What's the deal? We thought it was because MrMorphy had let the lawn get too long and she's a little dog. But the lawn is mowed and she just pooped in the dining room again. She gets three outs in the morning. How many more does she need?

So tell me about your pet frustrations today.

Rory Pond yowls at me to feed him a good half hour before I'm scheduled to wake up :-(

Our dog, Tuppence, barks and runs around and just flips out in general whenever anyone starts counting out loud. It was pretty annoying when Charlie was learning to count...

>171 Morphidae:: I only have 6.5 more books to read and then I'll be finished with the *whole* list (47 items long)!

175> The doctor wasn't concerned at all. I seem to recall he recommended some over the counter medicine for the itching, but that's it. It totally freaked me out the first time. When did the bite show up?

That's wonderful that MrMorphy has the perks of the full-time employee and fantastic about the news from the Mayo clinic.

I love Georgette Heyer. I believe I have all of her Regencies now. I lack two of her historicals and lost interest in her mysteries. But those Regencies - she invented the genre and I've never found anyone else who comes close. The Grand Sophy is a personal favorite of mine. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Mycroft will randomly take it into his head to attack my feet and try and chew on my toes. Le sigh.

Morphy, I hope you like A Fine Balance as much as I did, but I'm afraid that you will find it despressing. One thing is for certain, you will tell us what you really think. I like that. I tend to be a little too nice on some books I didn't like. It's funny because I don't get my feelings hurt if someone doesn't like the same books that I do. When you did your worst books read question upthread, I saw some of my liked books there. We are all so different in our tastes around here.

I'll add my congratulations on Mr. Morphy's good news x2.

Pet frustrations? Lucky barks when he knows people are coming over. How does he know? Perhaps the frenzied cleaning gives it away. He parks himself in the front window and barks at anything from people walking by on the street to leaves blowing in the wind.

>180 MickyFine: Rory does that too. When I'm sleeping.

>182 norabelle414: Under blankets, I get. But sitting barefoot, cross-legged on the couch? *head shake*

My biggest doggie frustration is grooming. She is long haired with a thick undercoat. All summer long, I brush and brush and brush whichever bits she'll stay still enough for me to reach. The fur comes out in handfuls, yet it never decreases. And she won't ever let the brush near her hips or rear legs, so the only way I can get the mats from there is by working them loose with my fingers—a difficult process with an active dog.

Last night was spent at binge eating group then urgent care. The bites are infected and I'm on antibiotics. Oh. yay. So it was a late night and now I'm off to church. They have a huge annual rummage sale and I'm on the front desk for the next two days from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Add on the MetroMobility rides and it's going to be some long days!

Morning Morphy- Hope A Fine Balance doesn't drag you down to much. Try to focus on his beautiful writing and those wonderful characters. Glad you are finally getting to Maus. It's a monumental work.

Sorry to hear those bites are infected—it sounds rather unpleasant. I hope they clear up quickly.

My biggest pet frustration right now is that Chiquita will go outside sometimes at 6 or 7 in the morning and wander around the yard barking at nothing to announce her presence to the neighborhood. She won't stop until you pick her up and bring her in. Luckily she only weighs about 25 lbs.

Stopping by to hear of news regarding Mr. Morphy and I am very glad the news is good, actually the news is great!!!!!

All good wishes to both you and he!

inge...Our Shetland Sheep dog Lilly loves to bark. It is a trait of the breed. Luckily, we have understanding neighbors. Her quest last summer and this, is to try to run faster than the very heavy ground hogs that are in our yard.

She hasn't won yet and has attempted this feat approximately ten times a day. Running after them is always accompanied by loud, persistent barking.

Hi Morphy! I have just found your wonderful thread and will be dropping off a star so I can follow along. I love your themed discussions and the recent cousin debate!! My only comment is ick. Very intelligent response, I know.

>168 Morphidae: I have loved, loved, loved the Masterpiece Mystery series "Morse" and it's spinoffs, "Inspector Lewis" and "Endeavor." The characters are based on those from the novels by Colin Dexter and a while back I sought them out. No luck. Maybe it's just as well. :-|

I hope the bites will now heal up without further complication, Morphy. :-(

Off to another day of volunteering. It will probably be tomorrow before I can respond to posts. See you then!

Hope today goes quickly for you, Morphy.

>176 norabelle414: Nora, I'm grateful that Maia is very good. She is in her "sleeping kennel" in the bedroom with us and nary is peep is heard from her all night.

>177 scaifea:/178 Amber, that makes me smile. Maia freaks out at the sound of the Parmesan bottle being opened and closed. I don't know if I'll finish the entire list you gave me. Mostly because I don't read newspapers! I may try to grab one when I'm at the Barnes & Noble on the 17th. I'm also stumped on the "underground" one.

>179 MDGentleReader: MD, the bite first showed up on Saturday. Today is the first day it hasn't grown and has shown some signs of healing instead of getting worse. It's starting to "dry" around the edges.

>180 MickyFine: Micky, Maia is territorial about the ottoman. If I don't keep her out from under it, when I do shoo her out, she'll zoom out and attack feet. My right foot to be exact. It's the only time she shows any sign of aggression.

>181 Donna828: Donna, I finished A Fine Balance and will be posting my micro-review shortly! I think you will not be surprised by it!

>182 norabelle414:/183 Nora/Micky, you have attack cats?

>184 SylviaC: Sylvia, I'm so lucky that a) Maia doesn't shed much and b) that she lets me groom her! What type of dog do you have? Maia is a Shih Tzu/Pomeranian.

>186 msf59: Mark, I immediately dove into an old comfort read after A Fine Balance to counter the depression!

>187 SylviaC: Sylvia, thanks. The antibiotic seems to be working well.

>188 inge87: Jennifer, ah, yes. The "hello, I'm here" bark. And let me guess. It's that really high pitched bark, too! Yip! Yip! Yip!

>189 Whisper1: Linda, we're lucky in that Maia isn't a big barker. We just get annoyed with her when it's that high pitched, ear piercing yipping bark that she does when we're doing something she doesn't like such as collecting garbage or getting ready to leave.

>190 TinaV95: Tina, welcome and thanks for stopping by!

>191 EBT1002: Ellen, I'm kind of getting the impression that in this case the show is much better than the books.

>192 ronincats: Roni, I think they finally are. I was a little worried last night as I had the chills which sometimes presages a fever and a massive hospital-visit type skin infection. But it must have just been that I was very tired. The redness is fading and I think the sores are finally turning the corner and are starting to get better rather than worse. This has been the weirdest thing ever!

>194 Crazymamie: Mamie, thankfully, it did. It was a "half day" in comparison. And now I'm home and not going anywhere until Monday. My butt is on the couch and it is staying here!

214. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

Genre: Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #5 (letter sequence - ABC, EF)

Summary: Four people of different backgrounds come together during "The Emergency" in 1970s India

Opinion: For the writing, which is exceptional, I give this book a solid 9 stars. This book is a door-stop yet I flipped through the pages like a beach read. Mistry is an amazing story teller. You get invested in the characters and their stories. But the book is so very bleak, brutal and depressing, I was nauseated at times. I had to give the enjoyment factor only 5 stars.

Rating: 7

Morphy-

I am so glad that the antibiotic is helping. Getting the chills on top of having those sores must have been pretty scary, particularly in light of that leading to a hospital visit for you in the past.

Hugs and healing mojo heading your way.

Enjoy your couch time, it seems to me that you've earned it.

214> "But the book is so very bleak, brutal and depressing, I was nauseated at times." I do appreciate you giving me a reason to avoid a book instead of a book bullet. I don't deal well with that type of book at any time, but even less so when under a lot of stress as I am now. My Sweetie describes the books I like as cavorting bunny books.

>197 MDGentleReader:
Hooray for cavorting bunny books!

>195 Morphidae:: For the "underground" one, I read Anne Frank's diary... Something about the Underground Railroad, maybe?

>197 MDGentleReader: MD, ooooh, have you read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen?

>195 Morphidae:, 199: Morphy, if you haven't read Watership Down, it might be a good choice for an underground book. A bonus would be some cavorting bunnies! I am so playing Book Bingo next summer if Amber will supply us with the categories!

Donna: Oooh, that's an *excellent* suggestion for the underground category! And I'll definitely supply the list again next summer if the library produces another Bingo Challenge.

How about Wool for your underground challenge? I've read some intriguing reviews. Someday, someday I will read it. (After I'm done using my incredible planet-shrinking ray gun on Planet TBR which is threatening to take over a galaxy or two. Bet you didn't know that planets could go supernova.)

>197 MDGentleReader: MD, and I'd love a list, maybe of your top 5 cavorting bunny books. I love that type.

>198 SylviaC: Sylvia, and a list from you too!

>199 scaifea: Amber, hmm, I'm about to read The Complete Maus. I wonder if there's something undergroundish about it? Wait, I'm using it for the graphic novel.

>201 Donna828: Donna, I've read Watership Down already else it would definitely fit!

>202 scaifea: Amber, I'd do it again too!

>203 streamsong: Great idea, streamsong. I got it ordered from the library. I'm first in line for the next available.

***

For the book bingo, that leaves The Complete Maus for the graphic novel. Inferno by Brown for present day. Wool for underground. And a newspaper.

200> Yes, Morphy, I have read Garden Spells - charming. Might be time for a re-read. What did you think of it? Have you read any of her others?

204> A list of cavorting bunny books. Hmm. I'll give it a shot. I guess, it really boils down to comfort reads and I find that I am having trouble picking between some author's books.

1. Mrs. Tim series by D E Stevenson. Mrs. Tim of the Regiment and Mrs. Tim Carries On exchange places for 1st place - last one I've read wins. Mrs. Tim Gets a Job has actual cavorting bunnies (well, March hares). Mrs. Tim of the Regiment was recently reprinted.

2. Any of Georgette Heyer's romances, with the exception of Cousin Kate. The Grand Sophy is a favorite, a collection of others is like the Mrs. Tim series, depends upon which one I read last. Last read and current second favorite is Frederica. Each of her romances has a different plot. They all have some witty repartee, some keen observation of human behavior and some silliness in different proportions depending upon the book. She invented the Regency romance and, in my opinion, has never been equalled in the genre.

3. Any of the Penderwicks books by Jeanne Birdsall. The Penderwicks is the first. I believe that the Penderwicks will prove to be another family like the Melendys and enjoyed by multiple generations.

4. Thale's Folly by Dorothy Gilman. People might recognize her for her Mrs. Pollifax series, which is a not-quite cozy mystery series. Thale's Folly is has a similar charm to Garden of Spells.

5. These High, Green Hills. I am pretty sure that you are responsible for my latest read of this, Morphy. Thanks! Since I know you've read These High, Green Hills, I'll add Anne's House of Dreams, one of the Anne of Green Gables series. Sentimental, idealistic, but I've enjoyed it for a long time and it has evaded the dreaded Suck Fairy for me.

This was a tough list to compose. I meant to put My Friends George and Tom on it, but it is just as well that I left it off, it is very difficult (and expensive to obtain). I suspect it of having more limited appeal than the ones listed above, anyway. Then there is Winter Solstice...

* moves away from the keyboard before going way over the 5 requested *

> 205 Hey! I was planning to do Winter Solstice!

Here's my cavorting bunny list:

1. Elizabeth Cadell. My favourite is The Corner Shop. A strong-minded heroine and a most unlikely hero. (Although this one has a mystery to it, so maybe it doesn't quite qualify.)

2. I have to include D. E. Stevenson, too, so I'll go for The Four Graces.

3. Suds in Your Eye by Mary Lasswell. Three elderly ladies who know how to live.

4. Rose Cottage by MaryStewart. A young widow returns to her childhood home.

5. Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys. Humorous letters about day-to-day life in WWII.

I also second everything on MDGentleReader's list. Our tastes are uncannily similar.

I would have recommended Elswyth Thane’s Williamsburg series, but I know how you feel about cousins marrying. It's crawling with them.

206> And I second SylviaC's list. Henrietta's War should totally have been on my list. I considered The Corner Shop, too. I don't think that the mystery disqualifies it as a cavorting bunny book or a romance, for that matter. And I read Rose Cottage for the first time while they were cutting cancer out of my Dad a few months ago. It was a wonderful distraction. I didn't consider for my list because I've only read it once. I fully intend to get my own copy someday, though and wouldn't be at all surprised to see it on my cavorting bunny list.

Sylvia- Is Winter Solstice your favorite Rosamunde Pilcher? I think that Elfrida is my favorite character in her books.

Morphy - Thought that I should mention that SylviaC has excellent taste in her reading material :-).

>207 MDGentleReader: MDGentleReader, oddly enough, I read Thale's Folly under exactly the same circumstances that you read Rose Cottage (except it was my mother). I only started reading Pilcher recently, but Winter Solstice is my favourite of the six and a half that I've read so far. Elfrida is one of the best characters I've ever encountered. I would love to be friends with a real Elfrida.

Morphy, you shouldn't encourage us. We've been known to take over innocent threads with our cavorting bunnies.

>205 MDGentleReader: - 208 MD & Sylvia, excellent. I've added a bunch of books to Mount TBR. (Or maybe it should be, oh dear lord, you got me with SEVEN book bullets!)

Mrs. Tim of the Regiment
The Penderwicks
Thale's Folly
The Corner Shop
Suds in Your Eye
Rose Cottage
Henrietta's War

Didn't add Frederica because a certain LTer is sending me a copy. :D

Didn't add Anne's House of Dreams because I like to read series in order and I've only read the first one. I didn't add My Friends George and Tom as it would be too hard to find at my library I think. Winter Solstice doesn't appeal to me. I read the reviews and there seems to be adultery and DUI accepted as okay and that's just not my cup of tea right now. I didn't add The Four Graces as I'm only adding one book per author for now.

>209 Morphidae:

Don't worry, you probably won't be able to find most of them. :)

In defence of Winter Solstice, I have to say that the review that mentions adultery and DUI is doing the book an injustice. A huge plot point early in the book hinges on drunk driving, and it is NOT portrayed positively. As for the adultery, well, context matters.

Well, the first three shouldn't be too difficult and henrietta's War I have in Kindle format.

I second Sylvia's defense of Winter solstice. I generally avoid books about drunk driving or adultery and I've re-read this one several times, and do consider that Sylvia and I both categorize it as a
cavorting bunny book. I do understand and respect your hesitation, though.

* replaces book bullet gun into holster and struts, just a little, while walking away *

>210 SylviaC: & 211 Syvlia & MD, actually, I found all of them at the library. And only one will be Interlibrary Loan. Also, I'll give Winter Solstice a try though I wasn't all that impressed with Pilcher when I read The Shell Seekers.

Wow! I want your library system! Mine wouldn't have more than two of them, and that's an optimistic estimate. And don't worry, Winter Solstice is not at all like The Shell Seekers.

212> I was already impressed with your library system, now I am in awe. I do hope you enjoy them.

Congratulations to MrM!

And absolutely, that Anne girl goes on my list of ... er ... cavorting bunnies.

Hiya Morphy! Just a drive by... complete with air kisses and the royal wave.

>213 SylviaC: & 214 Sylvia & MD, it really is an amazing system. And I recently found another way to order. If I call, I can ask a librarian to order from out of state libraries as well!

>215 humouress: I read the first cavorting bunny Anne, humouress. I'll get to the others... eventually.

>216 UnrulySun: Oooh, Kathy! Air kisses! *returns psychic hugs!*

Music Monday

A low, deep sexy song with a great beat. I heard it for the first time on So You Think You Can Dance and loved it.

Mercy by Duffy



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ZEVA5dy-Y

Now you think that I
Will be somethin' on the side
But you got to understand
that I need a man who can take my hand
Yes I do

HI Morphy!
Yet again I am incredibly behind in the world of LT!
I hope your bites have healed up! I might have missed it but do you know what bit you?

Has your pup stopped going in the house yet? My cat has been going to the bathroom 5 feet from her litter box. We have an automated litter cleaner and when Nate was working in the basement he needed the plug and of course he forgot to plug it in. It was only unplugged for a couple days but ever since then she has been weird about going in it. I've placed a little box in the spot that she started going in and it seems to be working. Hopefully she switches back soon!

#218 What is an automated litter cleaner?

I saw a dog in pretty striped socks the other day which I was amazed at, but when I googled them I discovered that you can buy every variety of dog socks! I feel there's a whole world of pet accessories that's passing me by!

>218 ChelleBearss: Chelle, no, but I've talked to the vet. We're thinking she might be constipated and eating "gets things moving" as she'll poop right after she eats. So we're going to try giving her canned pumpkin for fiber. The novelty of the pumpkin will get her to eat right away and MrMorphy will zip her outside right after.

>219 SandDune: Rhian, amazing what they'll come up with next, eh?

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

Do you loan your books? Why or why not?

I don't loan books any more. I used to. I would sometimes be rather generous in fact and would send people off with a half dozen books. But I got tired of never getting books back. After the third time of having to repurchase a old favorite (Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey), I put my foot down and stopped. I'll GIVE books but won't lend them.

Lending my books is a non-issue, because I don't know anyone locally who would want to read my books. The only people I lend them to are my children, and reclaiming those books is just a matter of yelling, "Where's my book?!?"

Morning, Morphy! I love that Duffy song - actually anything that Duffy sings is fine by me. And what a great question you've posed for today! I sometimes lend books. I always give people the chance to borrow from me once, but if I don't get the book back, that's it because, like you, I have learned that some people are not good borrowers. I also have rules for borrowed books - no writing in them, no dog earring the pages, and no broken spines. I do have certain books that I will not lend because I cannot replace them. And I cheat - I have loaner copies of my very favorite books that I like to recommend to others. I pick up the copies at library sales or used bookstores.

I'm lucky in that the friends I have who want to borrow my books are all book lovers and would never damage them. Also, they lend me their books too, so if necessary I can hold their book hostage until mine is returned!

I used to loan out books, but they never came back looking beat up, so I stopped. It's not really an issue anymore, because no one really asks me to borrow personal books here. But I'm not sure I'd start lending out again if my situation changed, because I'm so particular about my books' condition.

215. Domes of Fire
216. The Shining Ones
217. The Hidden City by David and Leigh Eddings

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #19 (comfort read), reread

Rating: 7

>221 SylviaC: Sylvia, that made me laugh!

>222 Crazymamie: Mamie, I never had an issue with books that got returned. They always seemed in fine condition. My problem was books often didn't get returned at all!

>223 Sakerfalcon: Claire, I'm so glad you have fabulous book-lending friends! Oddly, I rarely had anyone lend *me* books and when I did, I was always very careful with them.

>224 inge87: Jennifer, I did recently make an exception to my non-book lending to an elderly friend of mine. I knew that she would take tender care of it and return it promptly. She's a "proper English" lady and is just mannerly that way.

***

Wacky Wednesday

More puns...

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? (He's all right now).

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

OR, about the woman who backed into a plane propeller? (DisAster)

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A backward poet writes inverse.

If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.

Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.

A calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

"The short fortune teller who escaped from prison " was my favorite joke when I was in middle school. Along with:

If you're American outside the bathroom, what are you inside the bathroom?
You're a-peein'

#266 - chuckle and groan!

Love the wordplay Morphy. The marriage ones reminds me of my "best" man's speech at my brother's wedding. Flying in for the event (back end of 96) I was slaying 'em right up to the end when I asked the honoured guests to raise a glass to the happy couple - Peter and Beverley.
Problem of course being that the bride's name was Nicola! To compound the folly Peter's long term girlfriend had been called....yep....Beverley. His pals thought it part of the act and were raucous in the extreme; the wife's family didn't much speak to me afterwards.

I love those puns, Morphy! And my kids loved them, too! I stole them and posted them over on Cee's thread to give her a laugh. I gave you full credit, though, and explained Wacky Wednesday to her.

>227 norabelle414: Nora *groans*

>228 PrueGallagher: Prue, glad you enjoyed them!

>229 PaulCranswick: Paul, are they speaking to you yet? LOL

>230 Crazymamie: Mamie, okay, who is Cee? I need user names to keep track of people!

***

Tunes Thursday

I liked that they used this for the theme for the mini-series of The Stand by Stephen King.

Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUO_5EALZoM

From Wikipedia: In addition to appearing in several films, most notably 1978's Halloween, the song was memorialized in the April 2000 Saturday Night Live comedy sketch 'More cowbell". The six-minute sketch presents a fictionalized version of the recording of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" on an episode of VH1's "Behind the Music." Will Ferrell wrote the sketch and played Gene Frenkle, an overweight cowbell player. "Legendary" producer Bruce Dickinson, played by Christopher Walken, asked Frenkle to "really explore the studio space" and up the ante on his cowbell playing. The rest of the band are visibly annoyed by Frenkle, but Dickinson tells everyone, "I got a fever, and the only prescription--is more cowbell!" Buck Dharma thought the sketch was fantastic and said he never tired of it.

I had no idea this is where the joke, "More cowbell!" came from!

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
We can be like they are

Okay, I LOVE that song, Morphy! Good pick! And Cee is bahzah, aka Claudia.

Yep, love that song, too. And the SNL skit. The song always reminds me of the movie The Frighteners, for which it was used very nicely (plus, the movie is excellent - Peter Jackson's pre-LotR hilari-horror is great stuff).

>232 Crazymamie: Mamie, ah, okay. I'm not familiar with her.

>233 scaifea: Amber, I'm not familiar with the skit just the phrase, "More cowbell!" It always makes me giggle.

***

Film Friday

It's cheesy and overwrought and I love it anyway. It's a gorgeous movie, lush and beautiful with fabulous music.

Phantom of the Opera



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwoLNtUuCVk

The Phantom: Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour. Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light - and listen to the music of the night!

Oh, Morphy, I highly suggest that you look it up on youtube - you'll love it!

Loved that movie. :)

>235 scaifea: Amber, I was talking with MrMorphy last night and he thought the "more cowbell" thing was a real story about the song and not a skit. LOL!

>236 Kassilem: Melis, I'm thinking about watching it again for the ntheenth time. It's just so much fun!

***

I've started journaling so I think I'm going to post selected entries here to share more about me:

I didn't like my eating today. I had it planned so I stayed within my calories but then the cheese soup was sour and I ended up having just a few bites. So instead I ended up eating a full portion of cheese bread instead of just one piece and then afterwards I had some zucchini. I suppose there are worse things but I wasn't hungry. I was just twitchy because my eating plans got disturbed. And I just realized I forgot to wait ten minutes before making a decision on what I was going to do. Nice going. So I'm feeling overly full and ashamed.

I'm going to ask MrMorphy to help me when plans change. Though with his history of saying he'll help and then him not following through, I don't hold out a lot of hope. Maybe if I stick with specifics this time, just for the weekend? That way he'll be less likely to "forget."

*hugs* We all forget upon occasion so no need to feel ashamed. Just one day at a time, Morphy!

218. The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

Genre: Graphic Novel

Notes: TIOLI #5 (letter sequence - LM, OP, STU), GD Lists (13 in 13 - Nonfiction), Book Bingo (graphic novel)

Summary: Graphical tale of author's father during the Holocaust

Opinion: It was okay. I might have liked it more if I hadn't just come off reading something equally depressing (A Fine Balance).

It was certainly well written and moving especially when it came to the relationship between the artist and his father. I found it interesting to read about the Holocaust from a wealthy family's perspective. In the end, it ended up the same, but the beginnings were different from say, Anne Frank's story. I also liked that the father was shown flaws and all. He was no tragic hero. However, I was unimpressed with the graphics. Most of the time, I couldn't tell one character from another except from the dialogue. And in general found it blocky and uninspiring.

Rating: 6

219. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Genre: Steampunk

Notes: TIOLI #8 (author name verb), LT Recommended (13 in 13), Reading Romance (12 in 12)

Summary: Teens with super powers in Victorian England save the day

Opinion: Even with a simplistic plot and somewhat flat secondary characters, this book grabbed me. I had fun with it. And to be honest, enjoyment is more important to me than "literary quality." I like the era and the costumes and the machinery and the powers and...well, the second book is already on hold at the library!

Rating: 7

220. Animal Wise by Virginia Morell

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: TIOLI #7 (acquired first 6 months), Early Reviewer, Off the Shelf (12 in 12)

Summary: The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures

Opinion: I was hoping for something a bit more entertaining and a bit less dry, but overall an enjoyable read about studies on how various animals think from ants to parrots to dolphins. I can see how the author wanted to make it clear that there are scientific foundations for animal thought and emotions, but I would have liked a more approachable style with more stories about the animals and people rather than studies. By the end I felt hammered over the head with the message of "Yes, animals think and feel even though past scientists say they didn't!"

Rating: 6

221. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction/YA

Notes: TIOLI #13 (dedicated to parents)

Summary: Loose retelling of Red Riding Hood on a futuristic Earth

Opinion: Another one where the plot is overly simplistic (plot, what plot?) but I zoomed through and enjoyed it anyway. Perhaps because I like the characters so much and the world-building is interesting. My library doesn't have the next book ordered yet but I do have the author on my watch list so as soon as it is, I'll be one of the first in line.

Rating: 6

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink
The Funhouse by Dean Koontz
Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy

On Deck:
Inferno by Dan Brown
Wool by Hugh Howey
Fortress of Frost and Fire by Mercedes Lackey

Heya Morphy! General ((hugs)) and lots of positive energy sent in your direction today!

It's funny you posted that tune on Thursday (and that I saw it today). We were just talking about repainting kidlet's room (I don't want to-- ugh!) and I was remembering the first time we painted it, when she was still yet to be. I had a CD of 70's hits, and Don't Fear the Reaper was one track that I played over and over. That, and Hollaback Girl was on the radio every five minutes. :p

Paul-- funny! Whoops!

Interesting looking books you've finished. :) Also I just heard today how good Inferno is. Hope you like it when you get to it

Hi Morphy. I just love the way you review books --- for example, separating out the exquisite writing in A Fine Balance from the "enjoyment factor." It makes total sense.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

>238 jillmwo: Jill, thanks. Shame is a heavy, deep part of my eating issues and I carry it with me every day. I hope writing about it will help.

>244 UnrulySun: Kathy, I was going to ask how old the kidlet was but Hollaback Girl sort of nails it!

>245 Kassilem: Melis, I just finished the first chapter of Inferno moments ago! I've enjoyed Brown's other books so I'm looking forward to this one.

>246 EBT1002: Ellen, thanks! The opposite can also hold true. The writing isn't all that great, but I enjoy it anyway.

***

Sunday Sillies



***

From Journal:

8/14

"Today I went to the GC, the senior center. I was feeling affectionate so gave hugs to E, L, S, B and M. E is an old German woman with a strong accent even though she's been in the US for decades. She's a little stern, but mostly kind. She taught me to knit but I told her today that knitting wasn't for me. I find it annoying and confusing. I can knit but if I make a mistake I can't figure out what the problem is. She usually has some crafting project in progress for the shop. I'll be having lunch with her at SB's on Monday.

L runs the second hand shop at GC. She's a Chinese-American. She has no accent. I think she either came over very young or she is a second generation. I can't remember which. She never sits still and gets distracted very easily. But she is generous with her time and energies. S is Japanese and is sometimes difficult to understand. She has an amazing sense of service and goes out of her way to do for others. She helps out at the shop and serves at lunch time. She's also a knitter and takes B home after lunch.

B is the one who introduced me to all the ladies at the shop. She's an eighty-something woman who came over here from England after World War II. She married an American GI. I met B while working as a dispatcher for WeCAB. When I would call her about her ride requests, we would speak for half an hour or more. Finally, she invited me to the senior center for lunch. The ladies said I should come down to the shop each week and when I said I wasn't a senior, they said it didn't matter. I've been going about once a week since last summer or fall (2012.)

M is another woman I know from WeCAB. She volunteers at the front desk and gets her ride there from WeCAB. She and I have been teasing each other at lunch lately. She has a great sense of humor.

There are other ladies at the shop - M, L, K, L. But I don't know them as well and some I don't care for. There is one annoying woman who has a high pitched, nasal voice that has driven B away on certain days with her constant aggravating chatter. Another woman has very conservative viewpoints and is aggressive about putting them forth. Mostly I ignore them but they can get on one's nerves.

222. Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #15 (murder in its heart), Minnesota author (13 in 13)

Summary: A killer is mimicking a computer game

Opinion: I typically don't enjoy mysteries this much. It almost got 9 stars! Only reason it didn't was because of the violence, but what can you expect from a book about a serial killer? The characters were multi-dimensional and likable, there was a sense of humor, the intensity level wasn't too high with a nice blend of action and quiet scenes, and there was a nice build up to who did it. Well done!

Rating: 8

> 47 - Awe, that is just the sweetest picture, kitty reading!!!

Stopping by to wish you a lovely Sunday, Morphy!

237> Just stopping by with some hugs.

{{{{{Morphy}}}}}

Can you give yourself credit for not finishing up with {insert favorite binge food here}? For me, cookies, garlic Parmesan pretzel thins, dark chocolate covered ginger...

{{{{{Morphy}}}}}

I don't react well to changes in plans either, especially when I've got my heart set on a particular food to eat. I was just about ready to cry today when I didn't think I'd be able to get a made from scratch lemonade that I craved to satisfy my thirst this afternoon. Water would have been better for me anyway. My sweetie would have enjoyed looking for something new to try, not me. I would have somewhat sullenly drunk some water.

Morphy, I feel like a sneak reading your journal! Just kidding. I know there won't be any nasty rants about boyfriends, etc. Remember those little diaries with the keys? Or maybe you're too young. Anyway, I used to hide my key in the weirdest places, but I don't know what I was trying to hide. Nothing exciting for sure. I think journaling is an excellent idea. I used to write quite a bit but now I'm consumed with books and writing reviews is about all the writing I do these days.

I really like a good pun and the list is posted upthread has a lot of laughs in it. Thanks for sharing.

Morphy- Hope you had a good weekend! I am waiting for the 3rd Lunar book too! I don't think it comes out until early next year. Looking forward to your thoughts on Wool.

>249 lkernagh: Lori. thank you. It was. I hope you had a lovely weekend as well!

>250 MDGentleReader: MD, true! I mean, I did (sort of) binge. I ate when I wasn't hungry and there was an out of control element to it. But, come on, it was... zucchini! LOL.

>251 Donna828: Donna. Oh no. I remember those diaries and had one! As usual, I wrote in a few pages then it got put aside. I have tons of journals to this day that have a few pages written in them. I'm trying a few things different this time. First, I'm typing into journaling software and second, MrMorphy comes out with his netbook each evening and writes for a time as well (he writes fiction.)

>252 msf59: Mark, MrMorphy is picking Wool up from the library this evening and I'll be diving in as soon as I finish Inferno.

***

Music Monday

Neither the song nor the video have any redeeming qualities other than a good beat and it makes me smile because it's so silly, colorful and fun.

Fergalicious by Fergie



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T0utQ-XWGY

Delicious (so delicious)
But I ain't promiscuous
And if you were suspicious
All that shit is fictitious
I blow kisses (mmmwwahhh)
That puts them boys on rock, rock
And they be lining down the block just to watch what I got (got, got, got)

***

Journal: TMI with bodily functions and ugly emotions so skipping it!

**Just passing through, waving and blowing kisses!!!**

Morning Morphy! Nice reviews! I'm glad to see that you enjoyed The Girl in the Steel Corset as I have that one in the stacks. I also have really enjoyed reading The Lunar Chronicles. The next book is called Cress and comes out on February 4th.

>254 SylviaC: Sylvia! *catches a kiss, sticks it in her pocket and returns one!*

>255 Crazymamie: Mamie, I know! The library doesn't have Cress on order yet. I have the author on watch though. As soon as the book is ordered, I'll get an email so I'll be one of the first in line to reserve it. And there is another book after that, Winter!