Maggie1944 reads 2018 books

I am hoping to be able to do more reading this coming year. My eyes have not been very cooperative and am scheduled for some corrective surgery, so I'm hoping.

Currently, I am a part of a small real life book group which meets once a month and reads very eclectic lists of books. Also, my retirement cooperative, where I live, has a once a month discussion about books the group chooses. And I've re-subscribed to the New York Times so I have plenty of encouragement to read! We shall see.

Hoping your eyes cooperate and your book reading wishes come true! Happy 2018.

Happy reading in 2018!

Welcome back!

Glad you're going for corrective surgery...the idea of your eye trouble troubled me. Happy 2018 reading!

Sending lots of positive energy towards healing your eyes in 2018.

I hope that your corrective surgery is successful, Karen. Please keep us posted.

I hope you are able to get back to more reading in 2018, Karen.

Hi, Kimberly, >2 Berly:, thanks for the good wishes. I am also hoping this minor surgery makes the whole deal about reading go more smoothly. But, I also have to be honest and say that for years reading was for me a sublime and totally effective way to escape thinking about my life circumstances, which if I'd been honest I would have to admit was not going well.

A wonderful escape reading is! Wonderful. I could spend an entire week-end curled up in my big "easy" chair, eating popcorn, and reading a big fat book.

Today, being retired I have less need to escape from reality. Reality does interrupt my reading, plus my eyes have slowed me down. Results are fewer books read, but generally the books are better books. Less pure escapism, more thought provoking reading.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to think "out loud" so to speak.

>3 thornton37814:, thank you, Lori. I think there will be lots of happy reading!

>4 drneutron:, Jim, I so much appreciate your attention to details for this group. You do a great deal to keep it alive and thriving.

>5 richardderus:, Hi, Richard. Thanks, I'm taking your good wishes for me to my Dr. appt. this morning.

>6 witchyrichy:, thank you Karen, I need lots of healing energy. I accept your gift.

>7 kidzdoc: Darryl, thanks. I will keep you all posted as to progress.

>8 Familyhistorian: Meg, thank you.

Happy reading in 2018, Karen!

Thank you, Anita, (&Frank). Do you both post here, or were you just telling us the composition of your family, on your home page.

Happy reading to you, two, too!

Happy New Year! I wish you to read many good books in 2018.

Rachel, thank you for dropping by and leaving that fine looking pup to say Salut!

Happy Book Reading Year, to you, too!

>13 maggie1944: Anita is still the avid reader and LTer, although I do mark the books Frank has read on LT.

Happy New Year Karen!

I'm dropping off my star and sending warm wishes for a wonderful 2018, Karen!

Happy New Year
Happy New Group here
This place is full of friends
I hope it never ends
It brew of erudition and good cheer.

Hi Karen and best wishes for all good things in 2018!

I hope that the corrective surgery is successful.

A picture from a warmer day and a reminder that winter is great for reading and spring will come!

Karen, I saw your note on my last thread about "Victoria" -- it's also a favorite show of mine (I LOVE the music!!!). We're looking forward to season 2.

Happy New Year, my friend!

Hi and Happy New Year Karen. I send all good wishes that your corrective eye surgery will be successful. I hope 2018 is happy and healthy for you with lots of opportunity to do the things that you enjoy.

Wishing you a good 2018 and a successful eye surgery, Karen. Are audiobooks an option for you? They're not my favorite medium for books, but I think I could make myself get used to listening to books and develop a better ability to concentrate on them if I had to. Better that then not 'reading' at all.

Count me in as a fan of "Victoria" too. I only wish they'd do something about Albert's hair flopping over into his eyes all the time. I keep wanting to cut it, or gel it back.

Happy 2018, Karen!

I hope the eye surgery goes well for you, my friend.

>17 SandDune: >18 EBT1002:, >19 PaulCranswick:, >20 karenmarie:, >21 witchyrichy:, >22 EBT1002:, >23 Whisper1:, >24 cameling:, >25 jnwelch: and everyone else who wishes me a happy new year, back at you all! And I truly do wish we all read only books we truly appreciate, and enjoy when appropriate. Not all books can accurately be called enjoyable, so that is what I hope for this year: appreciation, and some enjoyment.

Still liking both "The Crown" about Queen Elizabeth, and "Victoria" about Queen Victoria.

Clarification on the eyes. A small tear in my retina has been repaired and should scar over and more serious developments avoided (detached retina). No surgery indicated at this time. Aggressive treatment for dry eye is suggested: drops, and a hot cloth over my eyes a couple of times each day. Those are my eyes, you know. I will take this advice seriously.

Advice for free for all who are aging: dry eyes are pretty common among "elderly" and less blinking when watching TV, doing computers, tables, smart phones, and when reading is one of the reasons. So if you are even a little bit tempted use artificial tears if your eyes feel tired and scratchy, do so.

>27 maggie1944: Thanks for the advice regarding dry eyes, Karen. I have been very reluctant about using artificial tears although my eye are often tired and scratchy, so I will have to change that.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year and that your surgery goes smoothly!

Stacia, you might try the other thing they recommend. Take a wash cloth, and make it wet with as water as hot as you can stand it, fold it and lay it over your eyes, and take a little break... until the wash cloth has cooled off.

It is a brief "nap" so to speak. I love it!

Happy New Year Karen! I hope your eye continues to improve. I've been told I have dry eyes, but til now I've kind of been ignoring the advice to use artificial tears. I better remedy that.

We just started binge watching The Crown, and love it too.

It used to be that when I was on my thread I could go to the address line above and find and copy the address to my thread. Now all I see up there is "librarything.com"

And that would not get people to here

Where's my address?

>31 maggie1944: I see your address it is: http://www.librarything.com/topic/279334

>29 maggie1944: Great idea, Karen - except I think they will frown on my doing that at work, lol

Hi Karen!

Since I had cataract surgery 3 years ago, I have had occasional spells of dry eyes. My optometrist recommended Systane Ultra lubricant eye drops.

Happy New Year, Karen!



>31 maggie1944: Same here; I only see "library thing.com" but if I click in the address line, it turns into the full address, which you can copy and paste (by double clicking).

>29 maggie1944: My eyes seem to do OK but the hot cloth sounds wonderful! I am going to give it a try.

Hot-cloth naps are a glory, I concur. A few quiet moments and an obvious physical barrier to being talked at! (Necessary with my roommate, whose reading habit I woke up...and now he wants me to share his reads blow by blow. No good deed goes unpunished.)

Hi Karen, I always enjoy reading your thread especially about your miniature schnauzers since we have one, ourselves! They are very brave, vocal little dogs. Our Amelia was a puppy mill dog, so it took a long time for her to trust people. Now, she completely runs our household!

Hi, Diane. Thank you for stopping by, and good reading for 2018 for us both!

I just took a quick peek at your Profile and saw a picture of three dogs. Do you still have all 3? I'd love to live in the country and have enough room for multiple rescued dogs. They are so grateful to you.

Gretchen, out of California, is a really interesting, smart pup. She's somewhere between 8 and 9 years old. She hates our rain here in the Seattle area, and I have to be very creative to find a dry spot for her to relieve herself because it rains here quite often. She also is very opinionated about other people. The other day we walked out our apt. building's front door just as the Letter carrier walked in. She went a few feet, and then decided she just wanted to go right back inside and have a little visit with the letter carrier woman. She just turned around and started pulling me back to the door. I laughed out loud, and we did have a nice visit with our postal lady.

She also barks very seldom and it usually means something very specific. She barks at people when she wants them to pay attention to her. On our way into the building to visit with the postal woman, she barked once, clearly at the woman.

My theory is she is looking for her California family. She was "surrendered" by an elderly man who's wife had just died, and who had a terminal condition himself. She left behind this couple and two siblings which I guess she'd been with her whole life. Who can blame her for looking for her old friends? But I am grateful to her that she has bonded with me, and seems to be very happy to hang out with me at my retirement community. All my neighbors love her as she is so cute and friendly.

Gretchen sounds like a wonderful companion! Our dogs are not particularly fond of going outside in the back yard when it rains or snows. But, if I get the leashes out, they would be happy to go trotting along in any manner of weather!

>39 maggie1944: Hi Karen, yes, we have all three of the pups showing on my profile. Amelia, the mini Schnauzer, Fiona, the Havenese and Jeffrey, the Bichon. All three rescued and super attached to each other! They never quarrel and if one is chewing on a bone, they don't even growl or get upset if one of the others wander over and take it. I've never seen dogs get along like these three!

I agree that the Mini Schnauzers are super smart and also have super hearing, Amelia can hear someone pull into our driveway and it's at least a quarter mile long! So, no one every sneaks up on us.

Happy New Year, Karen. I hope your surgery goes well.

Just to be clear: no surgery indicated at this time. Just treating for dry eye. I see a wee bit better but still have issues with reading. I'll go back to the doc this week.

Hi Karen - I'm late making the rounds this year.

I do so understand about the eye problems. It was a very scary year for me last year. And, I have slacked off on my eye care which includes all the dry eye suggestions you've mentioned. In the winter months all the humidity is frozen out of the Montana air; in the summer it is very low (with the fires it was horrendous). So thank you.

I'm glad to hear Miss Gretchen is doing well. I'm hoping this is the year I make it to a Seattle or Portland meetup.

>40 witchyrichy: Karen, indeed Gretchen is a very nice companion. She's friendly to all who meet her, and her only one bad habit is a tendency to let the pee/poop fly if I've not taken her outside quite often enough. The best side of that is she sees that pee is relegated to the bathroom, which I've papered with puppy pads, and so she is easy to clean up after. Usually it is a early morning issue, easily disposed.

She does also let me know when she wants to go outside whenever I look as if I'm headed out... she dances around and looks so happy, how can I deny her?

>41 Dianekeenoy: Diane, I think I am jealous but I imagine having 3 is a good deal of work. I imagine you have a lovely fenced yard, and they can go outside on their own. Walking them all as often as I walk Gretchen would result in my having no problem whatsoever in getting in those 10,000 recommended steps.

>42 BLBera:, Beth, thank you for your kind, good wishes. I go see the doctor again this week and I'm assuming it will be a good visit as I seem not to have too much trouble. My eyes continue to be dry and I'm only doing about 1/2 of what they suggest, so I better get on it.

>44 streamsong:, Janet, I hope you take very good care of your eyes, but I know it is hard to add these self care tasks to already busy days. I'm going to go put that warm cloth over my eyes right now.

bump

bump back!

Ow!

Hi Karen- What did your doctor say?

There are some signs of deterioration in both eyes retina which we will "watch". So I'm using artificial tears, rest my eyes for 5 minutes twice a day, and taking some Omega 3 supplements. I have not yet done the research to know if this is "serious", "very serious" or OMG I'm going blind serious. I think it is somewhat associated with "aging" (of course).

Dang. You are still not having an easy time with the eyes. Well, I still hope it improves soon. >9 maggie1944: Glad you are finding life easy enough not to seek total escape in your books, but to choose some thoughtful and interesting reads. Fun!

I have plunged into The Big Sky, by A. B. Guthrie, Jr., which is written very evocatively and I can revel in the descriptions of the time and the places. So far, a young man at about 17 years of age stands up to his brutal father, runs away from home, and is confronted with the beauty, challenge, and adventure of the west. Such an iconic story for the people of the USA. The "west" is no more, but we still look for new opportunities by moving, by leaving our problems behind.

What is the new myth of American opportunity. To where do we run in the twenty-first century?

Hi Karen - I'm sorry to hear about your eyes. Fingers and toes crossed that it is only 'serious' and not one of the other two. Is it what they call macular degeneration?

I've penciled in the Portland meetup the third week of June that Ellen is talking about on her thread.

Interesting question about the myth of American opportunity.

I do hear about more and more people wanting to life 'off the grid' - which basically means no electricity and subsistence style living. Definitely an escape, but I don't see much opportunity there.

On the other hand, I know several people who have turned to the internet. They are hoping their blogs or YouTube channels get enough followers that they can attract advertisers.

I did not hear anything, not even a hint, of "macular degeneration". It is bilateral deterioration of a lattice pattern. I am encouraged to rest my eyes behind a warm wash cloth 2X a day, and to use artificial tears, and to take some Omega 3s, which are allegedly good for eyes.

Short form: aging.

Ah, that's good. My mom had macular degeneration so that's what came to mind.

Janet, I appreciate your concern. No one wants to suffer from that, and we do have some folks here at my "55+ cooperative" who are dealing with it, and a few who are pretty near to blind even while otherwise being quite well.

Stopping by to say hello and wish you a good week ahead.

Take care of your eyes! A warm cloth sounds like something we could all benefit from.

I follow the Self Reliant School on Facebook. Jennifer Osuch is running a short course on self reliant living. I do a lot of what she discusses in terms of growing and preserving food. But she also has tips for having a second stream income including being a virtual assistant or running other kinds of online businesses.

Karen, that sounds really interesting. Once I finish being President of this board, and corporation, I might have the energy to do something like that!

Thanks for stopping by and keeping my thread "warm" while I thrash about on my reading life. I'm enjoying The Big Sky just now and am doing a little more reading that I've been averaging recently.

>56 streamsong: My Dad has macular degeneration in one eye, but it was excessive tearing that washed out the pigment. Fortunately he’s on medication that halted it but I understand that now, if you catch it early, it can be reversed. I could be wrong; it’s been a while.

One of the things about my "over 55, retirement cooperative residence" is that I have the benefit of learning from others about graceful aging, and I have the burden of having my friends lead me through the difficult challenge of having our bodies present less capabilities, and various dysfunctions. My next door neighbor who I love a lot, very like me with a sense of humor which makes us both laugh loudly and often, is suffering from congestive heart failure. She does the best she can to stay active, and then takes a day or two to recover. Yin and Yang, I guess.

Nina, it was good to hear that your father's eye issue could be treated. That always gives hope!

Well, forgive me, but I have another "bad news" which I need to report. Yesterday, I drove to Seattle to meet with a group of friends with whom I was very actively involved, in politics in Seattle. A very fun group. The bad news is that while I was visiting with them, someone stole my car with Gretchen in the car. This is the morning after, a first morning of many to come where there is not warm puppy at the end of my bed.

I can't help but imagine all the unfortunate, and tragic, things which might happen to her. The police said they had great record on recovering stolen cars, but of course none of us have any idea what the damn thieves will do with a little, old dog.

Sad.

No! I’m so sorry to hear that. I do hope you get her back, healthy and unharmed, and soon.

So sorry to hear that Karen. I hope that someone finds Gretchen.

Oh my goodness, Karen. So sad, and you must be going crazy worrying about her.

*hugs*

Wow, I'm so sorry this has happened.

OMG I'm so sorry. I hope they find her soon. In Montana, there are lots of 'lost pet' groups on FB, and I'm assuming that's so in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. If you have a post/poster made up with her photo, description and your car's description, I'll help you flood FB with them.

>62 maggie1944: Oh no, Karen, how terrible!
I hope Gretchen is unharmed and found soon.
(((hugs)))

>62 maggie1944: Oh Karen! I am SOOOOO sorry! How terrible! I hope they do find her. Sweet little Gretchen.

Damn. Sometimes I hate people.

Can I do anything to help?

A friend here at Silver Glen was very persistent and finally talked with a real person at the Animal Shelter. He said he had alerted all their officers to watch for her.

I still can't help but feel like it is a needle in a hay stack. Very depressed.

I'm so glad your friend persisted. I know it's a long shot but maybe she'll show up.

I'm just so sad along with you. My heart is breaking and I know that yours is!!!!

I appreciate your absence from LT right now, but please keep us updated if there's any news, hopefully good. Fingers crossed for you both.

I am amazed at so many friends, and friends of friends, who are pitching in to look for Gretchen. My niece's buddies are looking for the car. My friend here is contacting shelters. I am having a lot of support, but I still am afraid poor little Gretchen does not have much chance of finding me again. Even the lady from the rescue group who brought Gretchen to me from California, is contacting the agency who keeps the chip numbers. She says if they know the dog was stolen, they can react appropriately if anyone tries to change the chip's ownership.

I spent yesterday pretty much in bed due to a very sore shoulder (I feel down on Monday, while looking for the car) and am still sore today, but I think I need to get up and move around. I can not stay paralyzed although I certainly want to just stick my head under my pillow and sleep.

OK. Alls well that ends well. Dog and car are home and safe. Not much damage. Whew!

Karen, that's wonderful news. Especially about Gretchen!!!

>74 maggie1944: HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with Karen. I'm glad about the car but I'm SO SO SO glad sweet Gretchen is home with you.

I was wondering if she had a chip. When you are up for it, please share what you feel like sharing - I'm interested in how the two of them made it home.

What a relief.

Oh my goodness! That's great news, Karen. I'm so glad you and Gretchen are reunited! And the car's okay. Beautiful.

Oh, thank goodness your little Gretchen and your car are back. My heart skipped a beat when I read that someone stole your car with your little pup inside. What a nightmare for you. So happy you got her back (and your car, too!).

>74 maggie1944: THANK GOD that your car and Gretchen are back. When I read your post regarding Gretchen and the car, I put myself right smack in your emotions. You have been through too much already this year. I am so very happy that you can relax knowing a warm dog is by your side.

Great! I’m very happy to hear that!

She and I had a lovely night together, with her snoring at the foot of the bed. Now she's snoozing on the floor, on one of her blankets, waiting for me to get my lazy self up and out for a walk. Thank goodness.

Thank goodness indeed.

So happy to hear of the safe return of Gretchen and your car.

So very glad to hear that.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

>74 maggie1944: What a relief, Karen, I am so happy you and Gretchen are back together!!!

yup, and now I go back to reading The Big Sky.

Just caught up on your thread, and was so sorry to hear about your car and Gretchen being stolen, and THEN so thrilled that they were both recovered, especially Gretchen. I bet she has some stories to tell, if she could talk. I hope she hasn't been too traumatized (doesn't sound like it if she is snoring peacefully at night). Just curious, where was she located--was she still in the car?

Wow! I just stopped in to catch up, and got all the drama at once. So sorry you went through that and awfully glad Gretchen and the car are back safe and sound.

Car and Gretchen are no worse for the wear.

Thank goodness you got Gretchen back! That would have been so scary!

If you’re up to it Karen, can you tell us the details of her rescue? I love stories with happy endings :0)

It was scary for about a day and 1/2; luckily the police found the car, dog in it, and all ended well.

I do not want to tell the details but suffice it to say "it was my mistake". No theft, no damage. No harm, no foul.

I’m glad she’s safe and sound and back with you.

(((((Gretchen)))))

and

(((((Karen)))))

I am sorry for not posting often. I have been alternating with too much to do with my community responsibilities and some health challenges. I am feeling better although a bit weak, and need to run errands today after too many days "house bound". Sigh.

I have squeezed a bit of reading in between all this cascade of demands I do otherwise, and am enjoying The Big Sky. Sometimes it moves along slowly just as the boat floating into the far west would love slowly. Author spends a fair amount of time describing the "empty" environment and its flora and fauna. The behavior and description of the humans is less inspiring.

I'm also enjoying The Big Sky. Sorry you have been under the weather!

Thanks, Ellen. I'm doing better but not yet up to full "fighting fit".

Hope you keep improving right up to fighting fit, Karen. I'm glad Gretchen is there to help take care of you. :-)

Thanks, Joe. I miss having the energy and time to read and talk about reading, but I also do like my community and all its quirks. Busy place. I'm spending sometime helping the new manager and sometimes that feels burdensome, but he is making good progress and soon he'll not need my jumping in when something is being overlooked, or something brand new pops up.

I'm happy to have today, Saturday, when I have no scheduled commitments. Relaxing and reading is the order of the day.

Karen, I am so sorry that you are not feeling well. I really like the description of the community where you live.

I hope your Saturday affords some pleasant reading.

Yup! Hi, Linda. Thanks for stopping by. I just had a lovely long-ish soak in a warm bath and read a few pages. Planning on a lot of reading today.

Hi Karen!

Sorry to hear that you've been under the weather and hope that you're doing well and enjoying life, Gretchen, your community, and books.

I am hopelessly behind on posting...I hope all is well and you are enjoying a lovely weekend. I am relieved you found the car, and more relieved that you found Gretchen!

Be well.

Hi, Karen. You are not the "lone ranger" when it comes to being behind in posting. Me, too.

For some magic reason, I've been dealing with less than perfect health for longer than I can remember. One thing after another. Latest, was a dental infection which perhaps is threatening the viability of an implant. Boo!

But I did finish reading The Big Sky and immediately walked down the hall to lend it to a fellow history buff. I loved it. Language is unique and very descriptive, and evocative. Recommended to any who like historic fiction which rings true. The dialog was in some patois which captured the mixed backgrounds of the mountain men who trapped and hunted their way west.

>104 maggie1944: Ellen (EBT1002) just posted a review of Big Sky on her thread. Though you both make it sound wonderful, I'm avoiding a book bullet by sheltering behind my TBR mountain. :0)

Nina, thanks for letting me know that Ellen posted a review. I'll go hunt it up. I'm glad she also really enjoyed it.

You may not be able to hide forever you know. Each time you successfully read a book, your wall shrinks. Perhaps there will be a place for The Big Sky someday.

Sorry about the ongoing health issues. It is no fun at all. My mother says that getting old is not for sissies!

Adding The Big Sky to my TBR list. May not bee this year but at least it's there, right?

Hi, Karen. Your mother's comment is one I think of often here. I really appreciate living in a retirement community where we have reasons to get to know each other and as a result we are companions and witnesses to each other's challenges and well being. We have one seriously limited woman on our floor who wanders about and is often completely confused; her family is in denial as to the serious nature of her condition and we are hard pressed to encourage them to find a more appropriate location for her to live safely. We have another man down the other end of the hall who is suffering, as is his wife, from the progression of post polio syndrome. Both provide me context for my minor problems which do limit me but are not serious challenges, just annoyances.

Off today to a "class" on landscape photography for amateurs. I am both looking forward and dreading that I will find I've forgotten too much about my camera and may be very frustrated. It is good for me to make the effort! The day is advertised as being very nice, springtime! Sunshine, windy day, with blowing clouds in the sky. I'm thinking it could be a very good day!

Man, I haven't been here in forever!! Shame on me. So glad you managed to get your sweet doggie back -- how completely scary. I think it is a miracle you got both of them back. Phew. Hope your health is proving less pesky. How was the photography class?

Hi Karen. Just waving *hello*.

>109 Berly:, Hi, Kimberly. Yes, I'm a happy dog mom, and enjoy her every day. Health issues seem to have gone away, for now. I'm definitely feeling my 73 years, but it has not slowed me too much.

The photography class did not work for me. The presenter was giving more information about basic camera use than she was giving information on how to compose good landscape photographs, which is what I was looking for....

On Monday, there is a get together for all the photography committee people who wish to show photographs and have a gentle critique. I'll go and see what I can learn.

>110 humouress: Hi, Nina. Glad to see you dropping by, and waving.

I'm reading One Square Inch of Silence right now and it has given me a reminder to turn the TV off from time to time (I'm a bit of an addict), and also to listen more when I'm out walking the dog. I really like the book. Nonfiction. Written by an audio specialist.

Hi Karen!

I'm glad the health issues have receded somewhat and that you are a happy dog mom.

>112 maggie1944: Heh. Noise pollution. It's insidious, isn't it?

Karen, insidious, yes; and pervasive! Gordon Hampton in One Square Inch of Silence describes the "sounds" he experiences when near the OSI evocatively. He can actually perceive and describe the differences in the wind flowing through a cedar tree compared to a pine tree. He can hear the grunts of the elk as they flow past him. And then, suddenly, an airplane flies over the Olympic national park's deep center.

One piece that made me smile is that the Olympic National Park in Washington State's Olympic peninsula is very protected by the nearly 200 days each year when the sky is gray with clouds over head, and protected by the annual deluge of rain which makes it a rain forest. Not many people have the intention of braving the rain, the wet, and the rain forest to find OSI.

It is a very unique idea, and the book is fascinating to me.

Happy Easter!

Hey! Where'd you go? Hope all is well. : )

Karen, and Kimberly, thank you for keeping my thread "warm". I'm fine. Just so very busy. My retirement place is a cooperative of 123 "units" (apartments) with about 150-160 people living here. We have a Property Manager, Chef, Maintenance Lead, and a Maintenance "Tech" as paid employees. Hired and fired by our Management company with which we have a contract. A small but vital community. Being a cooperative everyone is encouraged to participate in some way. Some work in our landscape, some lead exercise groups, writing groups, a book group, etc. I am the "President" - meaning I run the Board meetings, meet with the on site manager and plan the Board meetings, try to stay ahead of disturbances, oversee the committees and groups, etc. So you can imagine I have many days when I'm walking about doing this and that, and not reading. My progress through books has slowed but I'm still reading. And buying books....

So, I'm reading The Natural History of the Pacific Northwest because of a "class" I"m taking at The Mountaineers (iconic group of hikers, mountain climbers, rock climbers, etc.). The class is a beginners class in identifying trees, ferns, flowers, birds, mammals when out and about. For a little old lady like me that means when I'm out on our 5 acres, or visiting an urban park.

Also, reading One Square Inch of Silence for my RL book group, and it inspired me to take the class. I love the idea of visiting a few spaces where I do not hear traffic, airplanes, TVs, etc. etc. etc.

I'm also buying books to encourage my getting out into nature.

My dog and I walk about the grounds about 3 times every day, and so I'm listening to the spring's bird concerts, watching the leaves bust out of the deciduous trees, and generally appreciating a newly installed gravel path.

OK. Ready for my second cup of coffee on a Saturday morning.

Sounds like you're busier than ever, Karen, though your walks do sound peaceful.

Once again, it is all about seeking balance. Reading about silence is a great way to remember to seek it in my day to day activities.

>117 maggie1944: I think it's great that everyone is expected to participate in the community. That means it is harder to complain, I hope, as you have a larger stake in the well being of the group.

Finding quiet spaces in nature is always a curative for me. I am reminded that I am part of something much larger than my daily stuff.

Karen, I wish it worked to make it harder to complain, but no.... we still have lots of complainers. It is a retirement community and so people have all sorts of challenges, and aches/pains, grief of losing friends and relatives to the great beyond, and often these challenges get projected onto complaining about heir cooperative.

It is tiresome, but I also am so grateful for the wonderful home I have here, so I can overlook most of the complaining.

>121 maggie1944: I spent a few days last week with my parents who moved into a retirement community over ten years ago. They are active in a variety of activities but also talk of the issues, too, so I understand those challenges. They observe that it can be hard to go from active professional lives to retirement and being with a bunch of "old people" and that it takes time for people to find their place. Sounds like you have and are making the best of it. Good for you!

As my 83-year-old mother often comments, "Getting old is not for sissies." They also have a saying that as you get older, you get "er." Whatever your tendencies in life (happy, sad, grumpy), those get more pronounced so you are happier, sadder or grumpier.

Yes, I knew a school nurse who used to tell me that my faults would distill as I grew older. It was kind of true in my last year of teaching. But I will say if anything has been amplified in my older years it is the best of me. I am a better friend, and a better participator in any number of things. Having time to choose what I want to do is great!

>123 maggie1944: I love that you are getting bett-er! I think the "er" does tend to go to the negative, we get more set in our ways. But we can escape that if we do focus on the best of us. Thanks for your insight!

I have felt liberated from any "have to" books and am reading The Year of Less: how I stopped shopping, gave away my belongings, and discovered life is worth more than anything you can buy in a store which I am surprised to be enjoying. I won't spoil the fun by even telling you a little bit about it, but it is kind of a niche book and will appeal to only a few. It is on my Kindle. Also, next to the bed is Gut which I've been dipping into from time to time; and So You Want to Talk About Race. We'll see.

I should be reading A Gentleman in Moscow but I don't know if I'll get to it any time soon.

Here's to liberated reading!

Have a lovely Sunday, Karen.

>126 PaulCranswick: I agree! I am back to structured reading for May but had fun just reading what I wanted to in April. I may do a two-month rotation: free reading followed by some planning.

Paul and Karen, clearly there is value in just reading whatever you want. And also in reading something you might never think of reading.

Don't you just love Library Thing!

Yay for liberated reading! I do think you'd enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow but I love that you are reading what strikes you at the moment. I also love your description of the spring symphony (bird concerts)... it's one of the things I will miss about Seattle. The magpies over here in Pullman have kind of a cute song, though. :-)

I remember magpies vividly from my stays in central Idaho when I was kid. I think those experiences of just wandering about in nature without any destination, or purpose, solidified by love of the outdoors.

>128 maggie1944: Yes, I do love Library Thing!

>129 EBT1002: I really enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow.

>130 maggie1944: Magpies were a favorite of ours when we toured the west because they were exotic to us east coasters.

Well, I've finished a book that I choose to read for no other reason than it appealed to me. The author spent a year trying to not go "shopping"; that is, she limited her expenditures to only that which she truly needed.

But it ended up being a book about so much more. Cait Flanders wrote the year of less: how I stopped shopping, gave away my belongings, and discovered life is worth more than anything you can buy in a store, c. 2018

She knew all about "quitting" addictive behavior. Her first quit was drinking which I share with her. Secondly, she quit eating for all the wrong reasons and began to eat to support her health; and then... ta da.... she decided to go beyond the fad of "decluttering" to the challenge of the economic system within which we all live. She stopped buying things and stuff which were based on "I want it"; she went straight to "do I really need this"?

Her book is very human, and she allows her vulnerabilities to shine through. She takes her readers along with some very sad time, some very challenging times, and yet, she did it! She saved a huge portion of her income, and she followed her best self into self employment, and saving to do what she loves - traveling. She makes a "good living" and she really knows why she works for money. She know why she spends what she spends.

I don't recommend this book for everyone, it may be too much of a "self help" book for some. But for me, I share much of the same psychology as the author, and I recognized myself in many parts of the book. I am not hunting for a new way to make money, nor do I spend my money traveling.

I want to spend less, and save more for the day when I am sufficiently old that I'll need help with daily chores. That kind of help is very expensive and right now I could not afford what I might need. So I need a fill my treasure chest.

I like the idea of buying only what I need, and saving most of the rest.

Book bullet with The Year of Spending Less. I've just requested it from the library.

Have you thought of going to Portland for the June 30th meetup?

No, have not thought about it. I could do that.... but I'm trying to save for a planned trip to Hawaii next January, as well as spending less.

To be clear the book's title is the year of less. I think you will enjoy it.

I have a favor to ask. Is there any one in this group who owns, or knows of, a good decibel meter app for an iPhone? I'm curious about the ambient noise here, and would like to search for a quiet place to walk. I want to test out how much noise I can tolerate and still call the place quiet.

You can either answer here or send me a PM. Thanks.

bump

I am writing from the Washington State Democratic Party State Convention, and I read the Platform of the party, to be adopted here today. How many of you know what is in the platform of the political party with whom you most closely identify. It is a good read!

Hi Karen. Just *waving*.

Also waving Hi!

I love those waves! Thanks, and I'll return with hugs and love, Karen

Sadly, my reading time has been reduced by my current infatuation with jig saw puzzles on my Kindle. I listen to public radio while I do the puzzles. I'll grow out of it, I'll bet.

Jigsaw puzzles on Kindle now?

I used to do them on the pc, but they're not as much fun as doing them in real life. Or as frustrating - I'm trying to get through one with my kids but they've given up because there only seem to be blue and black pieces left and the only strategy is trying them in each gap one by one.

It has been a long time since I received a book from the LT program....

Reading from the corner of the oval by beck dorey-stein

So far, I'm loving it. I'm an absolute politics addict and reading about this young woman's incredible luck at landing a stenographers job in the White House has been a very enjoyable, and fun, read. We'll see what I think when I finish it.

>137 maggie1944: That is so cool!!! (And I finally got your thread to load.)

From the Corner of the Oval sounds interesting!

Ellen, I left a longer comment on your personal page. But I did like that book, and read it within a day or two. But if you don't like politics, well it might be a little tedious.

Stopping by to say hello and wave!

I haven't read the book about spending less but somehow have gotten to a point of not needing much. I went shopping with my mother and sister last week and ended up not buying anything. There was a cute skirt and top but I just didn't need it. I may pick up the book to see how the author puts her personal spin on it.

She is pretty extreme partially because she is sort of an addict-sort, and shopping was out of control. She needed to corral her bad habit and save for retirement.

Boy, oh boy, am I an advocate for that. I'm OK for now but I can see a day in the future where all my well laid plans still do not deliver as much in resources as I might need.

Beautiful weather in the Seattle area today! I'm off little later to a Seattle Storm basketball game! (WNBA).

Thinking about going to buy Overstory today... but maybe since I've quit Comcast, and then decided to go back to the devil place and get just WiFi (cut the bill by more than 50%), so my Kindle is an option.

In any case, I finished reading Spinning Silver and liked it. I'm in the middle of Shattered which I like as I am a political junkie and without TV in my apt. now, I need something to replace MSNBC. I'm also reading Year of Living Danishly which I picked up from one of our little libraries here at Silver Glen.

*lurking along*

OK. I bought The Overstory on my Kindle; and picked up The Perfect Horse and becgan to read it! Wonderful. I do love history books, especially when they capture the bravery and foolishness of the people involved, up close. Excellent research, and beautify horses.

It has been a long time since I visited, Karen. It's good to see you busy and back into reading again. I hope you are having a good summer.

Meg, nice to see you stopping by. I am having a nice summer, also am planning two (2) trips to Hawai'i this coming winter. One in early November, and the other in mid-January. Retirement is the bomb!

I just finished reading The Perfect Horse which I enjoyed very much. It follows some well pedigreed horses through the end of WWII until a gutsy group of American GIs "rescued" them from the on coming Russians, who were rumored to be hungry and cared little about pedigrees. The famous white Lipizzaner Stallions from the Austrian riding school were high lighted. A devastating book about the destruction of European culture and infrastructure, and about the destruction of so many fine horses; but, also heart warming story of men who really loved horses and risked greatly to save them from destruction.

>151 maggie1944: Hawai'i? Envious? Me? Actually, yes. Enjoy your trips!

TWO trips to Hawaii?!?! You are living the good life! : ) The Overstory keeps popping up everywhere I turn. Hmmm....

Which two islands will you be visiting, Karen?

Maui and Kaua'i. Maui will be new to me and we'll spend 10 days there, and Kaua'i is my fav. and often visited. Only a week there. The two flights were necessitated by my having a "credit" from a previously cancelled trip, and a ton of points from starting a Hawai'i VISA card. They would not let me use them both on one flight. The Bastards!

>155 maggie1944: The Noyve!!! Well, you are just a trooper. : ) I loved Maui. I went years ago, but it was some of the best snorkeling ever and we enjoyed some fun boat rides. I am sure you will find something to fill your time!!

I am reading Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream, a nice introduction of what it is like to grow up American and Moslem, learning to wear a hijab in middle school, and so on. (carries on through becoming an Olympic class fencer). I stumbled across it by listening to an interview with her on public radio. She sounds very sensible and devoted in a way which strong Christians could recognize. And she sounds inspiring.

Not a challenging book, but a book a middle school student might like.

>155 maggie1944: Wonderful. I've never been to Maui but I LOVE Kaua'i. We've been there four times and I'm hankering to return. Shave Ice at Jo Jo's. Yes.

Yup! >158 EBT1002:, I am hankering for Kaua'i myself. Robin, my Hawaii vacation partner, found us a Vacation House By Owner (I think that is the name) for us very near the beach. She and I are big on going to the beach, sitting in the shade, and reading.... perfection!

I'm heading into the last four days of my "stay where you are vacation"... house and dogs sitting for a friend in Seattle. The house sits right on Lake Washington, just north of Magnuson Park, and is very sweet. It is a cottage which she and her contractor partner have up dated and it is perfect. The dogs are a wee bit smaller than Gretchen and all are friends, although when it comes to who is sitting on my lap, there is a competition. There also is a chicken coop with six ladies clucking and being happy to lay eggs on a regular basis. Gretchen loves to go look at those birds, and when it is not those birds, she likes to go the end of the dock and watch the geese. Boy! this is a hard job.

>159 maggie1944: Yes, it is a hard job, but someone's gotta do it!!!

>160 Berly: You are so right, Kim! I have from today until the evening of Thursday to work on getting it right!

I'm also reading a small, eclectic stack of real life books, not making too much progress in any one of them:

Digital Photography Outdoors, Running in the Family, Human Heart, Cosmic Heart, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat, The DASH Diet Action Plan, and Walking in This World and then, there are the Kindle books: The Hidden Life of Trees, How to Taste and The President is Missing.

So, now I have to ask myself which of these books keep popping up in my mind, and saying "come back, come back!". I think it is the Wohlleben book about trees. Its subtitle gives a clue to why I'm attracted: "What they feel, how they communicate". Oh, dear! First we have to "save the whales" and now I know we need to "save the trees", too.

It is going to be a quiet, grey, cooler day today; less need to go outside, so it should be a good reading day.

Dogs are all asleep now, so I'll go crack open the Kindle.

So, my "come back, come back" book for now is the graphic novel Fun Home. I found it in our little library which hangs out in the "elevator lobby" of the 1st floor where my apt. can be found. I walk by it multiple times during a day and so books sitting on those shelves have a good chance of capturing my attention.

I am also working on The Hidden Life of Trees for the Silver Glen book group, the discussion is scheduled for Oct. 3, and I doubt that I'll finish by then, but at least I'll know a wee bit about it.

There are other books hanging out on my shelf, or in my Kindle, waiting for me to get back to them. It is a good life.

OK, I finished Fun Home. A remarkable effort by this author, I'm told this was maybe the first memoir done in the style of "graphic novel". Well done! At one point in the book she contrasts the drama of her family life with her own cool approach to understanding it. And I think she hit the nail on the head, no drama in the book, but clearly there was drama in this family.

I recommend it highly.

>163 maggie1944: I don't know if it was the very first one but it was the first one I read and still the standard for the (sub)genre. Glad you liked it!

>162 maggie1944: How is The Hidden Life of Trees landing on you? I have a copy but haven't cracked it open yet. It's non-fiction, I know, but the themes are similar in The Overstory.

I'm glad you liked Fun Home, Karen. It's a special one. Like Ellen, I'm a fan of The Overstory. I look forward to hearing your reaction to The Hidden Life of Trees.

Hi, Joe. Thanks for stepping by my very dull, not much reading here, thread.

I'll post after the meeting this afternoon about The Hidden Life of Trees.

>163 maggie1944: I read Fun Home a few years ago and I recently saw the musical version in London with Mr SandDune, my sister and brother-in-law. It was excellent, and a lot better than Mr SandDune had imagined. I’d given him an outline of what happens, and before we went he was very dubious about the whole thing. But he ended up really enjoying it.

Rhian, that sounds like it was a great show. I think the book is quite remarkable! and I did like it a lot. Lucky for me someone at my "senior" retirement cooperative put it out in one of our many "little libraries". I was somewhat surprised because, as you know, senior people can be a bit conservative, and will read only what they are sure will please.

Thanks for stopping by! I like that you have a hobby of planning vacations.

Picturing you here:


Poipu Beach

Or here:


Salt Pond Beach Park

Oh, Karen! Hard life.

Enjoy your holidays.

>170 EBT1002: Exactly! We were there yesterday for a couple of hours, interrupted with a little rain shower which was just wet enough that we felt the need to go eat ice cream.

Today we will probably drive up to Hanalei and see if we can duck and bob enough to avoid the rain drops. I will of course be singing "Puff, the Magic Dragon" in my mind. Yesterday, Tropical Tantrum at the Mariott in Lihue was our highlight for the day, and our financial "down fall" (as my travel partner calls it). We both spent a bit too much money but I did get a very versatile "mumu" which will serve well for summer dinners, or just hanging out in too much heat. (Of course, this only happens 3-4 times every year, so my "mumu"s will last a long time. I'm still wearing one which I bought at the Fremont Street Fair many, many years ago.)

Generally, so far, and excellent vacation for late fall, early winter.

I'm reading a book about the Grove Farm Plantation, a Kaua'i super plantations featured in the history of the island, post arrival of "westerners". It is interesting, if dated.

Hurray for vacations!! Continue having fun. : )

While on Kaua'i, I have been reading Grove Farm Plantation by Bob Krauss. It is a dated, somewhat amusing history of the Grove Farm which George N. Wilcox and his descendants made into a successful sugar plantation. I have made it to chapter 10, and look forward to picking up my used copy waiting for me at home, thanks to Amazon.

It is an interesting history for a modern visitor to Kaua'i as the Island's economy was first based on sugar production, and now the the sugar industry is gone. The island has a great deal of "escaped" sugar cane which grows wild along side of wild grasses. I am guessing the current economy on Kaua'i is based largely on tourism, and I am leaving a bit of my resources here. Our week has been very pleasant and since my friend and I have visited here several times in the past we knew just where to go to dodge the rain. Yesterday, our dip in the pool was punctuated with a few refreshing rain drops.

Flying home tomorrow.

Finished reading Tiny House, Big Fix, a book advertised for children 14+. I read it quickly, enjoyed it, thought the plot was believable and touches on some difficult subjects. Here's the review I wrote: A quick read, set in modern times with themes surrounding divorce, housing shortages, women in nontraditional trades employment, and tiny houses. I enjoyed reading it. I would have recommended it to my 6th grade students when I was their teacher. I think the publisher recommends it for older students but I think Middle Schoolers could appreciate it.

I'm glad you had a good visit to our beloved Kauai. And that you left a few of your own resources there (how could you not?). Are you a fan of shave ice? I love it.

When we've been there, the defunct sugar plantations are so interesting. And all that red clay.

Have you read Sugar Money? It's about slavery and sugar plantations on Martinique.

nope, have not read Sugar Money but I might consider it after I finish reading Grove Farm Plantation.

I am struggling right now dealing with the reality of "high blood pressure" and the life style changes which are recommended, and which I am resisting....

74 I am now, beginning the day by day journey through my 75th year. Today, I'm not liking it, not one little bit.

I am reading The Red Collar and I recommend it, even though I've not yet finished it.

How fun that you were visiting Kaua'i! And reading a book about the sugar cane history. How very appropriate. ; )

Just checking in to say hello, my friend!

Hi, >181 Berly: and >182 EBT1002:, back at you, both.

Finished The Red Collar and loved it. Am snowed under just now with budget processes here at Silver Glen, and part time job in Bellevue Square at L'Occitane. Extra money for Christmas and return trip to Hawaii planned for January, 2019. oh my!

I hope holidays are filled with joy for all!

Yay for extra money and a return trip to Hawai’i.

We had been planning to head that way these holidays, but now we’re hoping it will be next year. It’s a fair distance from this part of the world.

Find the Light—Reflect the Light—Be the Light

Happy Yule 2018!

Wonderful full moon outside tonight, and great night for a short dog walk. It is cold. It is winter. It is solstice, and the days get longer next.... can't wait. Love the light of dawn.

Nice to see you posing here.

love. you. Richard.

Up early, before my last day of working at L'Occitane in Bellevue Square.... only 4 more hours. Received the nice fat pay check yesterday and it is the last one until next year, and I won't know until then if I really have the passion to do it again. It is nice to have a little extra money to make my way to a second trip to Hawaii. I can start packing now..... well, maybe that is a little premature, not leaving until 16 January 2019.

I'm reading, when I can, Michelle Obama's Becoming and am charmed by it.

(Or in other words, Happy Christmas, to you and yours!)

I'm so glad you loved The Red Collar. It was a sweet story, wasn't it?

Wishing you all the best this Christmas season.

And...

Thanks, Ellen. And my very best wishes to you, also; as you adjust to a new location, and new climate, may your feel the joy of satisfaction of a good life!

I am hopelessly behind on threads but didn't want to miss the change to wish you a wonderful season of peace and light and a magical new year!

Rhian, >188 SandDune:, I missed returning your greetings, but since it is not yet the day after Christmas I guess I'm still on time! Thanks for stopping by my relatively empty, boring book thread. I gave up entirely keeping track of what I have finished this year, but perhaps I'll try again next year. Wish you the best of happy holidays for the end of this year, and for the beginning of next year!

Karen, >192 witchyrichy:, you, too! Happy holidays. I hope to be here more regularly this coming year, and posting a bit more about what I'm reading.

Happy holidays, Karen

Paul, thank you, and the same good wishes are sent back to you and yours!

Seasons Greetings from Singapore! Wishing you and your family joy, peace, good fortune and good health now and in the coming year.

I caught you between trips, Karen. I hope that your next Hawaii trip is even better than your last one!

>197 Familyhistorian: Thank you. I am anticipating lots of relaxing in the sun and warmth. Reading.

>198 thornton37814: Thank you, and back to you. Let us all have a very happy new year!

Happy New Year's Eve!!

Happy New Year, Karen!

Dear Kimberly, and Joe, thank you for your kind wishes. I truly hope we all, all of us, everyone of us, has a satisfyingly good new year! Lots of books!

Are you going to have a thread again? Hint, hint. : )

I don’t see you in the 2019 group. Could you post a link here when you set up your thread please?

>203 Berly:, and >204 humouress:, I'm sorry but I am not going to start a thread in the 75 books group. I find that I have a hard time finding enough time to read, and I clearly do not have enough time to maintain and participate with more than one thread here on Library Thing. This continues to be my favorite place on the internet but I have other demands on my time these days.

Someday, perhaps, I'll go back to spending most of my time reading, and writing about reading!

Thanks for stopping by and asking about me.

True enough about time; I'm still trying to reach my first 75 books in a year.

If you tell me where you are maintaining a thread, I'll drop by.

I am occasionally updating a thread in The Green Dragon group. The title of the thread is Maggie, aka Karen, is baaack! Reading and searching for a doggie companion. I used to know how to drop a link here, but my previous method appears to not be functional today. Time moves along so quickly.!

Back to reading now.

I am still alive, although sometimes I wonder. Busy, busy, busy. Saw the eye doctor and my eye is removed well from last year's procedure and I do have better eye sight, too. Still pretty slow in the reading department. I've been reading Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur. She is one of my favorite TV reporters on all things Trump! Yikes. She had quite the adventure covering his campaign.

Hope all my friends here on 75 Books are well, and happy reading good books.

puzzles ! Sadly, I find doing the jig saw on my iPad and listening to public radio while in bed before sleep and that means: less reading!

Nonetheless, I have finished reading Operation Columba which was alternately a bit tedious, and an interesting picture of one obscure corner of the battles fought during WWII. Pigeons flying home from Belgium to the UK with messages for the Brits to use in fighting the German occupation forces. A appreciated knowing about this interesting story and relieved to have finished reading it, as it was an Early Reviewers book!

Today, I spent a few minutes being sure I'd lost my mind as I had been looking for my camera for about a day, and then was looking for my phone for a couple of hours. Lucky for me, I dropped it while walking the dog on our 5 acres, and it was picked up and when I called if from a friend's phone, I was able to discover it was meer feet away! Yay! And then I came home and just as I decided that if I could get my apt. cleaned of all the clutter, I could spend money to buy a new camera. Ha! Of course, that is when I found it in a black bag at the bottom of a closet, in the dark. I need some neon flags for the bag!

I did not lose my mind, my phone or my camera. All is good in my world.

Good to know you’re all present and correct. I take it the dog hunt was successful?

yes, the dog is home, and feeling fine! Went to the vet a dropped over $300 on a well dog check, plus toe nail clipping. Don't let anyone tell you dogs are cheap.

Discovered that already :0/ ;0)

And he's messy and he sprawls in the middle of the most commuted pathways. But he makes me smile just thinking about him.

ETA: Will you be in Hawai'i in December/ January?

We have our next Hawai'i trip planned for late Oct. - early Nov. Going to Kaui'i this time. My favorite island as it is not so overrun with tourists and money.

Missed your postings, Karen. I guess I need to go find your thread in the Green Dragon.

I'm glad life is busy and happy!

Well, thanks for finding me! I usually post in both places, more or less simultaneously. I have not picked up a book, or a magazine, since I finished reading Operation Columba. Puppy has a case of the "trots" and I've been busy trying to get her to feel a bit better. Running off to the grocery store just now to buy some pumpkin, which is famous for its ability to slow, or eliminate, diarrhea.