Shelley (jessibud2) Will Read Anywhere, chapter 4

This isn't Theo but if he were an outdoor cat, and if there were such a statue nearby, he'd be right there. A lap is a lap...

I am posting this one again because autumn is my favourite season and seems to last about a minute. I LOVE this weather (and I love alphabet books, or, abecedarians)

I am Shelley, a retired special education teacher, living in Toronto, Canada with my 2 newest challenges, um, rescue cats, Hurricane Theo and Owen, who is slowing coming out of his shell.

I read fiction (especially historical fiction), a lot of non-fiction (bio/memoir, science, history, nature, and whatever else strikes my fancy). I have enjoyed several GNs (both of the fiction and non-fiction variety) and I also love illustrated children's books. Maybe I was a frustrated artist in a previous life. I try to follow the NF challenge each year but I am very much a mood reader so it doesn't always work out as planned for me.

A long stressful year continues and as the covid rates slowly drop in my province, I continue to follow cautiously. Very cautiously, skeptic that I am. But I am fully vaccinated and so are the people in my life who matter most, so there is that. But I won't be ditching my masks any time soon... ;-)

Reading continues in fits and starts and though I may not reach 75 this year, who knows, maybe I will.

Current tally: 80 (trackers haven't worked for me this year so this is where I will keep score)

When I used to work in a bookstore, many moons ago, this was a common dilemma:

No new thread would be complete without Theo and Owen. So here are my boys, as they learn to get along. I know I posted these last thread but they just make me smile:

Open for business, and welcome!

Hi Shelley! Happy new thread.

HAppy new one!

>7 richardderus: - You are first, Richard! You get to select a red book! (see >4 jessibud2:) ;-)

>8 figsfromthistle: - Thanks, Anita

Happy new thread, Shelley!

>4 jessibud2: One of the chapters in I'd Rather Be Reading mentions this issue. If you have not read that small book, I would recommend it to you.

Happy new one!

>10 alcottacre: - That title sounds familiar but I just checked my shelf and the one I have is called Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading. I guess I need the one you mentioned! ;-)

>11 drneutron: - Thanks, Jim!

>12 jessibud2: It is only about 150 pages long, Shelley, so you should be able to breeze through it fairly quickly. The book is authored by Anne Bogel.

>9 jessibud2: *chuckle*

The ways people are clueless....

>13 alcottacre: - Just snagged it through Thriftbooks, Stasia, thanks!

>14 richardderus: - Ain't that the truth! But it always made us laugh!

Happy new thread, Shelley.

>4 jessibud2: Your picture reminded me of a Two Ronnies comedy sketch - The Library Sketch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYxmPHLU9oA

>17 PaulCranswick: - LOL! Yep, that about sums it up, Paul!

Happy new thread, Shelley! Love the topper. And the re-posting of your kitties' photos.

Happy new thread Shelley. Your boys are beauties!

>19 ronincats: - Thanks, Roni. I have many more but for the moment, those are my current favourites.

>20 mdoris: - Thanks, Mary. I agree! ;-)

Nice cat portraits!

Happy New Thread, Shelley. I love fall too but spring still gets the edge for me. Our weather has been lovely. Love the kitty photos too.

Happy new one!! Glad the kitties made the toppers one more time. : )

>1 jessibud2: Cute.

>4 jessibud2: Ha, yup we've all experienced that one from either side of the fence Shelley.

>5 jessibud2: Your thread wouldn't be the same without them.

Happy new thread, Shelley.
I love your topper, even showed it to Frank.
Still happy that Theo and Owen finally accepted eachother, and I love how they both have matching colored eyes to their coat.

Hi Shelley my dear, happy new thread.

>22 torontoc: - Hi Cyrel. Thanks!

>23 msf59: - Hi Mark, thanks. I like spring, too but autumn has always been my #1.

>24 Berly: - Thanks, Kim. There will be more, you can count on it!

>25 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks, Caroline. See note to Kim, ;-)

>26 FAMeulstee: - It's a great pic, isn't it, Anita? I loved that picture! Funny you should mention the eyes. Many years ago when I was still teaching, we had guinea pigs in our class as pets. I took them home every Easter and Christmas break and most summer vacations, except for the years when the parents of some students agreed to take them. It was completely unplanned but the first time I took them home, I had to laugh because the 2 guinea pigs matched my 2 cats in the colouring of their fur. If I can find a picture, I will add it here. It was really funny.

>27 johnsimpson: - Hi John, thanks!

Ok, what I am about to say might be LT blasphemy but so be it. I am not a fan of thrillers or mystery. That said, I heard an interview today that might cause me to make an exception. As you may or may not know, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, once commander of the space station and the first Canadian to walk in space, has written a number of non-fiction books, and even a lovely book for kids. He has now just published his first fiction novel, called The Apollo Murders. He was interviewed this morning on CBC radio and wow, it sounds like a really good book. If you have 20 minutes to spare, this is an interview worth your time.

Not a spoiler because I haven't read it yet and he talks about this in the interview, but he weaves a lot of real people and real events, including some based on his own experiences, into his narrative and I know I do like that in a book. He talks about why he did that, too. You can just tell how much fun he had writing this!

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-50-q/clip/15873001-astronauts-thrillseeke...

>29 jessibud2: ...not...a...fan...

>30 richardderus: - We all have our flaws, Richard. We are a flawed species.

I guess I shouldn't add that I also don't drink (or like) coffee....

Remarkably, I still have friends who love me despite this! ;-)

>15 jessibud2: Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it.

Switching gears completely. This is a public service announcement and a warning for anyone who might be vulnerable to scams. This landed in one of my 2 yahoo inboxes (oddly, not in the second one) this afternoon. Look at the *sender*.
Then read the content. Since when is yahoo a financial institution?
They must think I'm an idiot.
It went directly to spam. I clicked on nothing:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Email Service

Tue., Oct. 19 at 3:44 p.m.

YAHOO!!!

Dear User

Your email password is set to Expire today, 19th of October, 2021 at 10:15 PM

Please keep the same password below to continue using the same password.

Keep The Same Password

Protecting your information is important to us and we work continuously to strengthen the threats targeting our Financial Institution.

Sincerely,
The Yahoo Mail Secure Team.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Especially if you know any seniors or others not savvy in this type of thing, please warn them to do NOTHING if they get something like this, except send it to spam and delete that. It sure looked official but mousing over the sender will often show it and when it has nothing to do with the subject line, beware. The words *Keep the Same Password* were a hyper link that is meant for the recipient to click on. Just no, no, NO!

Man, this sort of crap makes me angry.

>31 jessibud2: ...not...like...

...even Big Ang from Mob Wives can't process that!

>34 richardderus: - And I don't have netflix....!

>35 jessibud2: Heh

No need, you'd've *hated* that show. *I* hated that show, except Big Ang (rest in peace) was a cracker of character. I've known ladies like her so it was more, um, nostalgia than aesthetics.

>33 jessibud2: I was contacted today by 5 separate phone numbers from 3 different states letting me know that I was under some sort of legal investigation and to not hang up, which of course I promptly did.

>29 jessibud2: & >31 jessibud2: Thrillers I can overlook but coffee?!!!

>30 richardderus: & >34 richardderus: Hahaha

Hani had similar calls recently and one regarding unpaid company fines leading to a court fine which was so well thought out that she almost fell for it - lucky I was at home at the time.

>36 richardderus: - Okey-dokey.

>37 Berly: - Those phone calls are the worst. For a very long time the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) had robo calls telling us that there was a lawsuit against us and unless we called a certain number immediately, we could go to jail, or something like that. It of course was not really the CRA but it said it was. It scared a lot of people and was all over the news for awhile. I still get the occasional calls. I just hang up but it's truly so annoying. The good thing about the phone is that I don't have to answer. If the call ID doesn't show a name (or one I don't recognize) or a number, I just leave it. Once in awhile, I answer, just to see if there's really anyone there. Often, it's dead air, no one at all. If I don't answer, no message is left. Makes me wonder what is the point of the calls anyhow? Ask me if I care...

>38 PaulCranswick: - Nope, Paul, not even the smell. Sorry ;-)

>33 jessibud2: I get them all the time from scammers purporting to be Paypal. "Your account has been restricted. Please contact us immediately." Those kinds of things. Because, you know, I cannot figure out that the email address they are using, which has no relation to Paypal whatsover, is incorrect.

Happy Wednesday, Shelley!

>40 jessibud2: ...not...smell...

Well. You appear not to have done anything *truly* anti-social, though of course there is still time.

>42 richardderus: - I am also the only lefty in my family on either side that I know of as far back as I can trace. So, it appears you would believe in my brother's theory, that I must have been dropped on my head as a baby...

There's one in every family, RD ;-)

>41 alcottacre: - Oh, Stasia, don't get me started on paypal. I deleted my account a year ago and I am STILL getting those emails telling me my (non-existent) account has been restricted/suspended/compromised. Blah, blah, blah. I gave up trying to deal with them after they messed up a fraud claim I made last year when my credit card WAS actually compromised through paypal. Long story but I'm done with them and anything smelling of paypal goes straight to my spam folder, then deleted.

Thriftbooks has notified me that the book has shipped. I'll keep you posted when I get it and read it!

>5 jessibud2: What a lovely photo. It looks like they really are getting along. I wish I could have a cat, but a Shetland Sheep dog nine years old, and a ferret that my grand daughter asked to purchase as her high school graduation present, takes a lot of time.

Kayla works 20 hours a week as well as attending a local college. She helps me, and is overnight a few nights a week. But, when she isn't here, I am in charge of the ferret with boundless energy, pounds of excitement of new things, and because of both of these traits, he gets in trouble a lot. Recently, as he grows, he finds ways to get into areas that he previously could not. He now gets into the downstairs tub, and he found a way to get out by jumpting on the shampoo bottles, which fly in the tub as he jumps over them.

>45 Whisper1: - Hi Linda. Please just be careful with your energy. Is is possible to confine the ferret to a single room when Kayla is not around? I would hate for you to do something that might jeopardize your treatment plan.

Today my handyman was over to re-cover the scratching post that the cats have literally shredded to pieces over the year they have been here. Don't get me wrong, I love that they are using it so excessively. Better that than my sofa but it was practically down to the bare bones. So, a few years ago I had him rip out the carpeting in my living room and dining area to put down new floors and I had a nice sized piece of good leftover carpet rolled up in the garage. He removed the carpet covering of the post, and measured and cut a new covering and stapled it onto the old post. Voila! Like new! Theo sat at the front screen door watching as Glen worked outside, and supervised the whole operation. It was quite funny. I will upload a pic later when I get it off my phone. Like your ferret, he is full of energy, all the time. Except when he flops down and snoozes.

>40 jessibud2: I'm with you, Shelley. Not even the smell. But I do love most tea. Happy new thread and am loving >2 jessibud2: and >4 jessibud2:.

>47 kac522: - Hi Kathy. Thanks and yes, I love my tea (and hot chocolate!) too. But only in cold weather. I rarely drink hot anything in summer. Another quirk? Shhh, don't tell Richard...

...not...summer...I...

>48 jessibud2: I can drink hot in summer. My quirk is not liking ANYthing coffee-flavored, like coffee ice cream--why ruin perfectly good ice cream with coffee? Appalling.

Hi Shelley, and happy new thread!

>1 jessibud2: That looks like one happy kitty.

>4 jessibud2: I love all the red covers.

>5 jessibud2: The sweet boys! I’m so happy things are settling down with them.

>28 jessibud2: I’d love to see that photo of the matching kitties/guinea pigs.

>29 jessibud2: Not blasphemy, even though most of what I read are thrillers and mystery. The joy of the 75ers is the variety and scope of our reading.

>31 jessibud2: More coffee for us coffee lovers…

>40 jessibud2: My daughter won’t drink coffee but loves the smell of a freshly-opened bag of beans.

>26 FAMeulstee:, >51 karenmarie: - Anita, and Karen, I found some really old photos of Mia and Lexi with our class guinea pigs, Gizmo (aka Gizzie) and Hopscotch. No, I did not name them, the students did, ;-)

Mia and Gizzie, in the first pic, had very similar colouring and Lexi and Hoppie did, as well though in the pic, it's hard to see Lexi's light fur as reddish brown, thanks to a crappy camera back then, but it was. But neither Lexi nor Hoppie had any white.

>52 jessibud2: Thank for finding and sharing these pictures, Shelley!
Both Mia and Gizmo, and Lexi and Hopscotch are adorable together. Very special that they all are multi-colored.

Happy new thread and thanks for all the kitty pictures.

Thanks, Anita and Rhonda.

Well, my reading has taken a big hit lately. Between drowning in the paperwork re my *curatorship*/guardianship for my mum, and tending the garden, I have just been too tired to get much decent reading in.

Yesterday and today were great weather for getting the garden ready for the winter and with rain supposedly moving in later today (though the skies look pretty clear to me), I knew it had to get done now. I spent a good chunk of yesterday and the last 2 and a half hours today, cutting back, tossing out dead stuff, aerating soil and mulching. A tad back-breaking but that's why I broke it up over 2 days.

I had a nice surprise with my raspberry plant. I had bought it this earlier in the spring but kept it in the pot. It did ok, overall; I got a few raspberries, not a lot, but the ones I got were yummy. As I lifted the pot to move it, the roots system had grown out the bottom and had established itself quite firmly into the ground. I picked up my phone and called the garden centre to ask if this might be a perennial, that would come back next year and if so, if it was too late at this late date, to put it into the ground. The lady I spoke to said for sure, put it in the ground and yes, they will keep coming back! What a lovely surprise!

I was also so sure I had bought 4 bags of mulch a couple of weeks ago but I just, over the last 2 days, used 3 bags and if I bought 4, I can't remember using that last one or maybe it's somewhere in the garage I am not seeing. No matter because I think I am done and won't need more till spring.

So, I had to give back 2 books to the library yesterday that I couldn't renew because there were requests for them but I should be able to finish the one I have still, not due till next week. It's Unreconciled by Jesse Wente, a writer, broadcaster and arts and cultural guy, also formerly at the Toronto International Film Festival. I have always enjoyed his weekly columns on CBC radio and am eager to read this, his first book. Part memoir, part statement, here is part of the blurb on the inside cover: "Passionate, incisive, and galvanizing, *Unreconciled* is an eye-opening look at the modern Indigenous life and a clarion call to address the gulf between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians." So far, it's very good.

One of the books I had to return was another along similar lines, Indian in the Cabinet, by Jody Wilson-Raybould. I really want to read that one and will request it again, or purchase it. I followed along when she was involved in the mess in government a few years ago and I unreservedly believe HER and not the prime minister and other politicians. She is a woman of such integrity - her appointment to the federal government as Attorney General and Minister of Justice in 2015, held such promise for the newly elected Trudeau cabinet at the time - that when things began to unravel and she stood firm in the face of political spin coming at her from all sides, until she ultimately resigned, well, I could not look away. We so need people like her in government but sadly, those in power were not prepared to live up to their promises and the truth. What else is new.

Those last 2 books I mention are rather Canada-centric but there are enough Canadians here that I'm sure someone will at least know who I am talking about and, maybe have read them. I think Sandy said she read Wilson-Raybould's book.

Yes, Shelley I want to read Indian in the Cabinet.

Hi Mary. I will get back to it, soon, I hope. I am about half way through Jesse Wente's Unreconciled and it is very good so far. Having listened to his weekly pieces on CBC radio for years, I can *hear* his voice as I read and that's always a nice perk.

So, I just got off the phone with the guy at the Curateur's office. I am hoping to be able to finish up the paperwork and get it into the mail by the end of the week. I plan to go to Mtl next week or so and I need this to be out of my hair and off my shoulders before I leave. I will definitely celebrate that moment! Thankfully, the guy I have been speaking to is very patient with all my questions, not something one might expect from a bureaucrat in such a situation. His tagline, after his name in his email reads *agent de conformite*. Sounds like something out of Orwell's 1984. lol! But he was great and told me not to hesitate to call him back if I had more questions. And he even speaks English rather well, again, not something to be taken for granted when dealing with anyone from Quebec, I can assure you!

So, it's raining cats and dogs, and I will shortly be on my way to replenish Mother Hubbard's cupboard, as it's the final Tuesday of the month and that is senior's day at the pet food store. :-)

I can't remember where I first found this but I have discovered the *Five Things I've Learned* series and it's quite interesting. I have watched 2 talks so far (both about Leonard Cohen) but there are many in the archives and happening all the time. I did need to purchase a ticket for the first one I watched but 2 others in that 4-part series were then offered to me as freebies. I missed one tonight on Buddhism, which I know nothing about but would have been interested in learning a bit about, and I am not sure all of them are ticketed; some may well be free.

In any case, if anyone is interested, here is a link to the site:

https://myfivethings.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=A%20personal%20invit...

>55 jessibud2: I love fresh raspberries. Lucky you!

Happy new thread, Shelley. >57 jessibud2: I laughed out loud at *agent de conformite*. How like Quebec. I almost felt a bit of nostalgia there for a minute.

>58 jessibud2: Thanks for sharing that link, Shelley. I am a huge admirer of the songwriting of Bob Dylan and thought to buy a ticket to watch the one by Timothy Hampton about him but $40 did give me a little pause and when I saw that it would clash with a work meeting at 8 am on Friday morning, I won't be able to watch it.

Hi Shelley!

>52 jessibud2: What wonderful photos, and such a clever juxtaposition. Thanks for finding and sharing.

>57 jessibud2: Good to hear that you'll be able to get the paperwork done by the end of the week before you to go to Montreal.

>59 alcottacre: - Stasia, I used to have a large tree in my backyard that prevented me for years from growing anything that required sun. But after 3 basement floods in under 2 years, it was discovered that the root system of the tree had cracked my foundation so the tree was removed. Sad to see it go but suddenly, I have sun and last summer was the summer to see what would grow and what wouldn't. This summer, I grew tomatoes for the first time! And raspberries! I may expand my veggies next summer, too.

>60 Familyhistorian: - I know, Meg, right? I did a big eye roll at that, myself!

>61 PaulCranswick: - I did a splurge on the one ticket I purchased, for that same $40. I was pleasantly surprised, however, that 3 of the remaining 4 in that particular series, were offered up as freebies, shortly after. I was only able to take in one, but still, in theory, that brought down the price of the ticket. At least, that's how I justified it. I don't know if they do that for all the series as I decided that for that price, this might well be a one-off for me. But we'll see...

>62 karenmarie: - Hi Karen. The pics were buried deep in my computer photo files. I still crack up at how Gizzie (the guinea pig) looks almost larger than Mia but of course, she wasn't. It was just the weird angle I took the shot from.

Well, it's the end of the week and I am not yet finished the paperwork. Closer to the end but still not there yet. I will now give myself till Sunday, the end of the month. I just want this out of my house and my life. I hate numbers, hate paperwork, hate deadlines! How on earth did I ever manage to write reports and evaluations for school??!

I also have to finish a library book before Monday, when it's due back, then pick up another. Between the books and the paperwork, can you guess where my priority lies? Sadly, not where it should. Sigh...I am the Queen of procrastination. I used to say, when reports were dues, that my house was never so clean, plants never so healthy, as when I had a deadline to meet... some (bad) habits never die, apparently.

>63 jessibud2: I would love to get into gardening but as even cacti die under my care, I have a feeling it would not go well. Congratulations on the tomatoes and raspberries!

Have a wonderful weekend, Shelley!

>10 alcottacre: - Stasia, the book has arrived! It's in pristine condition, too and looks lovely! I will take it with me on the train when I go to Montreal in a week or so.

>65 jessibud2: Wonderful! Enjoy it.

Happy Sunday, Shelley. ^This is not my photo but I love the image. I am glad to hear you have your feeders back up. Looking forward to reports. I had a pair of juncos back at the feeders today.

Hi Mark. No juncos here yet and so far today, no one else, either. Only Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal arrived at the dinner hour, as per usual, last night. They are always the first of the day and the last of the day but I didn't see them this morning. But they know we are back in business so I fully expect a return!

Thanks for the adorable blue jay!

Happy conformité-ing! May it all get to where it needs to be when it needs to be there.

>69 richardderus: - I am working on it, Richard. I can't tell you how much stress this is causing me, though. Have I mentioned lately how much I HATE MATH? Paperwork? Deadlines?

The good news is that after this first year of this, I won't have to submit all the paperwork each year, just fill out the 2 page report.

PS - How do you get the accent over the e?

>70 jessibud2: & e acute ;

Close up the spaces and slot it, unspaced, into the word where it needs to be.

I AM FINISHED!! The damn paperwork is done! 115+ pages of paperwork attached to a 3 page form. I will be the first one at the door of the post office tomorrow morning to get this wretched thing out of my life. Weeks I will never get back. I know there are a couple of mistakes, items that didn't quite match up, but I am hoping that the guy who has the pleasure of going over it all just misses those. I certainly am not going to point them out. And, at this point, well, ask me if I care...

I will now spend the rest of my evening finishing up my now-overdue library book which I hope to drop off on my way home from the post office tomorrow. And when I get home, I am hoping that it's not too short notice to book the pet sitter and reserve a seat on the train for Friday. I really don't want to go on the weekend as they shut down parts of the subway on the weekends for maintenance and I need the subway to get downtown to the train station. I really would like to avoid having to lug a suitcase on and off the train and shuttle bus a few times if I can go on Friday and only have the one train ride down.

Ok, over and out.

Yay, congratulations Shelley.

Did you manage to book your Friday travel.

>72 jessibud2: What a relief! I'm actually fine with paperwork (normally), but 115 pages is NOT normal. Hope you reward yourself in some way!

By the way, I started Timothy Snyder's Our Malady, and it is unreal. What a system we have. I spent 48 hours in the hospital in May, and fortunately my experience was not that bad. There were a few sketchy parts, but for the most part, everything went as best as can be expected.

Re: 84, Charing Cross Road--I have two links for you:

--This is one of my favorite booktubers, Miranda Mills, discussing 84, Charing Cross Road with her Mum. It's about an hour long, but just a lovely conversation, with bits from other viewers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGo8GAkThc

--And Miranda has a link to this conversation with Helene Hanff from 1981 on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mtfv (hit the "Download" button)

Miranda and her mum read from Hanff's book Q's Legacy--have you read that one?

>72 jessibud2: What a giant relief. Congratulations!

Enjoy, as best you can, the trip to Mtl.

>73 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks, Caroline. Yes, Friday train is booked, Theo is booked into his favourite Hotel Vet, and just waiting on news from the other pet sitter. She is unavailable for the final 2 mornings and the agency is trying to find someone else for those times. Worst case scenario, I will ask her to leave extra food for Owen. I always worry about things like this. But somehow, it will work out. (I hope).

>74 kac522: - Hi Kathy. Yes, Snyder's book is rather grim, especially for someone like me, who lives in Canada, where things and the health care system is not perfect but is way better than the American one. Oh, and thanks so much for those links. I will check them out later tonight! I have read Q's Legacy, and several other non-Charing Cross-related books by Hanff. I would love to see her in an interview! Did you get a chance to see the film made of the Charing Cross books yet? Such terrific casting and a real joy to watch.

>75 richardderus: - Thanks, Richard. My mum was very excited when I called her and told her to save Friday for me! ;-)

And I did reward myself today by getting my hair cut. It was somewhat overdue and feels much better.

>72 jessibud2: Congrats! What a relief you must be feeling now.

>55 jessibud2: Yes I did (read Indian in the Cabinet).
I slogged through some and skimmed some. TBH she had an important message, but I believe it could have been more succinctly presented in less than 400 p. The last 1/4 was really well-informed.

I so support that woman as best I can from here. Funny thing, I discovered she spent much of her childhood on Cape Mudge (near Quathiaski Cove), Quadra Is. BC, east of Campbell River. So did I, in the summertime, but probably a generation earlier. Strange connection to run across. I was very appreciative of her stories from her grandmother's kitchen.

>78 SandyAMcPherson: Oh I look forward to reading Indian in the Cabinet Quadra Island is beautiful and look forward to reading about that too! i have had a few get-aways with pals there and always great fun and memories to be had.

>77 figsfromthistle: - Yes, Anita, I feel lighter, almost as if I've lost weight. Ha! I wish!

>78 SandyAMcPherson: - Hi Sandy! Welcome back! I will finish Jess Wente's book, Unreconciled tonight and drop it back at the library on my way to dropping Theo off at Hotel Vet in the morning. I then make my way downtown to catch the train for yet another trip to Montreal. The book is 2 days overdue and can't be renewed but since I was so close to the end and late fines have been suspended, I decided to just finish it. I will try to write up a review tonight. I will have to get back to Wilson-Raybould's book at a later time.

I will be taking 3 books with me this trip: the brand new memoir by Ron Howard and his brother Clint, called The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family. I'm looking forward to that one. Also, I am taking another memoir, this time by Judi Dench, called And Furthermore, which I will be reading together with Paul. Also, one more, a small book, a BB from Stasia, which I found on Thriftbooks, called I'd Rather Be Reading. It remains to be seen how much I will get read but I will try. Two 5-hour train rides should help.

>79 mdoris: - Hi, Mary! :-)

>80 jessibud2: I'd Rather Be Reading ~ a potential BB for me.
Best wishes for the train ride and reading. Also, for the care you give to your mother.

Unreconciled. Jesse Wente is a Canadian film reviewer and arts and culture journalist. For over 10 years he had a weekly column on the CBC radio morning show I always listen to so reading this book, I could actually *hear* his familiar voice. He is Anishnaabe Ojibway and he brings his passion and unique perspective to his work. He is/was the first and often the only Indigenous person in the work he does as a voice for his people and I believe his mission is to be the first but not the last. He also spares nothing when expressing the truth about Canada and Canadian *history*.

Canada's real history is often at odds with the face we present to the world. Canada has a history of racism and appropriation towards its Indigenous population and Wente exposes it for what it is and was. In recent years, there has been an attempt at *Truth and Reconciliation* that Wente believes is a beginning but only a beginning. His premise is that reconciliation is only real when trying to repair a relationship. Canada and its Indigenous peoples never really had a sincere relationship so perspectives must change in order for it to be accomplished. Thus the title *Unreconciled*.

This memoir is very personal, emotional, at times very angry but also focused. At times repetitive, but necessarily so. Among topics he discusses are defunding police, inequalities in taxation and education, cultural appropriation. There is raw emotion, and anger, but also hope and creativity. His opinions on these topics are not necessarily what one might expect them to be, either.

- pgs 169/70 - story of Canada - "This country is a colonial settler state. Its origins lie in a massive resource extraction project - the exploitation of the land's natural bounty in order to enrich Europeans - that was often both illegal and murderous. In order to justify all that selfishness, greed, and violence, Canada used storytelling to craft an alternative history and identity. In this version, settlers arrived to find no *real* people here, only primitive groups situated somewhere between human and animal. It nevertheless dealt with these groups humanely, purchasing their land fair and square, elevating their societies toward a European ideal, educating their children, and just generally doing anything it could think of to help them become Canadians.

This is the story Canada can live with, the one in which it did nothing wrong and everything right, the one in which it remains, to this day, a nation of immense natural beauty and overwhelming politeness. It's not the story Indigenous people tell, of course, because we tell the truth. We are simply not given the space to speak.
This is why so many Canadians have grown up knowing so little of Indigenous life. In all my time travelling and speaking across this land, it's one of the most consistent responses my talks elicit: "I just didn't know"

And this is so true. Growing up, there was NOTHING in our history text books that exposed us to our own people, our own real history. One of the reasons is that we were taught only about the explorers, dates of who landed when, etc. Nothing of the Indigenous peoples who had been here forever.

- pg 182 - "I've always believed that since colonization is largely a destructive process - an extraction that gives nothing back - one of the simplest ways to decolonize is to create. Given the tools to tell their own stories the way they want, and to market and sell those stories, Indigenous communities can generate economic opportunity where currently none exists, without in the process taking anything from the land beyond the room to think. They can reshape our perception of what Canada can be. And they can do so not only by reimagining the relationship between the Canadian government and Indigenous peoples, though that reimagining is desperately needed, but also by introducing new possibilities for our relationships with nature, family, community, spirituality and ourselves."

He spares no one, including Trudeau, who, despite his first election promises, has really done nothing to ensure that Indigenous communities are provided with the basic necessities of life, such as clean drinking water and decent housing and education. To this day, there are many communities that lack these. How is this possible? (rhetorical question, shamefully)

Wente has 2 kids of his own and for them, he remains hopeful. This wasn't an easy read but a very necessary one and I am very glad to have read it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

BB from Stasia. Complete switching of gears after some heavy recent reads. This delightful little volume speaks to the essence of LT readers: who we are as readers, and how our brains and lives revolve around our reading. Many different styles, flavours and quirks, but we are bonded and joined by that love we all share. A quick and fun read.

And now, I have started the memoir by Judi Dench, which, in fact, isn't a memoir but a continuation of her life story as told to John Miller (whoever he is). I have always loved her as an actress but in fact knew nothing of her background. Shared read with Paul but he will likely finish it long before I do because he is a fast reader and I'm not, lol.

>82 jessibud2: Excellent review. Immediate BB for me.

There is quite a bit of Canadian history that has surprised me ( in a bad way). None of which was taught in school.

Relocation of certain ethnic groups seems to be an old go to- not only for Indigenous peoples but also later, of immigrants coming to Canada to build a new life ( Chinese and Italian internment camps for example).

As Canadians, we are able to provide clean drinking water to those all around the world via the ROWPU portable water treatment system so why can't that be used to provide a temporary solution until permanent infrastructure can be built? It's mind baffling to say the least.

Unreconciled will be an essential read for me.

>83 figsfromthistle: - Exactly, Anita. The water issue is one of the ones I find most appalling. It's 2021, for crying out loud. How is this still an issue?!

And it's true, about other *relocations*, too. If you have ever read David Suzuki's first memoir, Metamorphosis: Stages in a Life, or Obasan by Joy Kogawa, you will know about the Japanese internment camps, as well. I remember how shocked I was when I learned about that ugly chapter of Canada's history. Apparently not the *only* shameful skeleton in the closet...

>82 jessibud2: It is sadly the same everywhere, Shelley. Colonising is never pretty, how far some would like to hide the truth.

Morning, Shelley. Any junco sightings? I have been seeing one or two at or under my feeders just about every day. I have been meaning to read I'd Rather Be Reading since it came out. Thanks for the reminder.

No juncos yet but the traffic is picking up a bit as there have been 2 or 3 red-breasted nuthatches who have returned (as well as the cardinals). I was so happy to see them again as they were among my most frequent visitors in the pre-pigeon days. I took the feeder in again when I left for Montreal on Friday (and felt so guilty!) but will put it back out when I get home tomorrow.

So the wind that touched down in Vancouver was confirmed as a tornado, Shelley. I hope you are still enjoying balmy weather in Montreal.

>5 jessibud2: I love their identical expressions!

Glad you are finally through with the paperwork. It is a very hard job being responsible for another person's affairs, and I can sympathize. I hope things go smoothly from here on.

>88 Familyhistorian: - I did hear that, Meg! The weather in Montreal remained glorious for the whole time I was there but when I arrived home this afternoon, it was raining here in Toronto.

>89 laytonwoman3rd: - Thanks, Linda. I wish I knew how to post a video. I have a great short clip of the grooming session where Theo tucks his head under Owen's chin at the end and it's hilarious (and precious). It's on my phone, though I can't get it off there; I even tried emailing it to myself and it won't allow me to. I am getting increasingly more fed up with this cell phone. I think a call to the company is in my immediate future, as in, this week.

Tonight I am attending an author talk (virtually) with Susan Orlean, about her new book, On Animals. It's through my Hot Docs theatre. They always host great author talks. I haven't read the book yet but I know I will, at some point. It's at 7:30 so I will have to forfeit watching Jeopardy for this one! ;-)

By the way, I am currently reading Ron and brother Clint Howard's new memoir, The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family and it is very good. As I mentioned to Paul in our shared read of what I thought was a memoir of Judi Dench's book And Furthermore, that one reads more like a CV of who she acted with in every play she ever acted in, many, if not most, of them I am unfamiliar with. I got about halfway through and put it aside for the Howard book, since this one is a library book I won't be able to renew. This one is also much more interesting to me, at this point. I will pick up the Obama/Springsteen book, Renegades: Born in the USA from the library later this week, too.

>82 jessibud2: Glad that you enjoyed I'd Rather Be Reading, Shelley. I hate when I recommend books and then the other person hates them :)

Homecoming orisons, Shelley!

>91 alcottacre: - It was actually the right book at the right time for me, Stasia. I need something lighter and shorter after a few heavy reads.

>92 richardderus: - Thank you, Richard. Sleeping in my own bed is always the best.

Great article from Literary Hub, about Bill Waterson and his wonderful world of Calvin and Hobbes:

https://lithub.com/why-calvin-and-hobbes-is-great-literature/

I love this comic strip.

>94 jessibud2: I am a huge fan of Calvin and Hobbes. Thanks for the link, Shelley!

Thanks for the Calvin and Hobbes link, Shelley. It's my favourite comic. Maybe time to reread one of the Calvin and Hobbes books on my shelves.

You're welcome, Stasia and Meg. I'm also a big C&H fan.

Some very beautiful photos here:

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/photography/featured-galleries/photos-of-the-d...

I am partial to the 2 owl pics, in particular.

>98 jessibud2: I am partial to the 2 owl pics, in particular.

That is because owls are the best birds ever :)

>98 jessibud2: I love these photos, Shelley. I have seen many of these birds and several I would love to see. I was hoping to see a barred owl yesterday.

Did you read On Animals? I have that one saved as an audio pick.

Y'all need to read Chouette, Shelley and Stasia.

>101 richardderus: Noted and added to the BlackHole, RD. Thanks for the recommendation!

>100 msf59: - Haven't read it yet, Mark, but I listened to an author talk with Orlean last week, talking about the book and other things.

>101 richardderus: - Oh! I have not heard of this book or author, Richard, but you have me curious now!

>94 jessibud2: Wonderful backstory. I'm a Hobbes fan, for sure.

Hi Shelley!

It's Line in the Sand Friday! I'll try to start keeping up posting-wise again. Have a wonderful weekend.

>104 SandyAMcPherson: - Thanks, Sandy. I knew I'd find fellow C&H fans here!
>105 karenmarie: - So good to see you out and about, Karen! Have a relaxing weekend, you too.

Well, no news here but you know I am no techy. So I was especially proud of myself this afternoon when I managed to figure out how to listen to a brand new podcast. It's actually a new audiobook, in the form of, and available only as, a podcast. It's called Miracle and Wonder, by Malcolm Gladwell. Over 30 hours of conversation with Paul Simon. I adore the minds and works of both these guys and the moment the announcement landed in my inbox (via Gladwell's newsletter), I knew I had to have it. A gift to myself. I have listened to most of Gladwell's books as audiobooks because he narrates and I find his voice soothing and easy to listen to. Gladwell says this isn't a biography, per se, but rather a kind of musical biography. Just conversations they had over several meetings, over several months, about music, about inspiration, about the creative process. Also included are other people like Sting, and Roseanne Cash, talking about how Simon's music informed their lives.

As *books* go, audio or otherwise, this is something I would prefer to have physically in my hands. But (so far, anyhow), it's only available as this podcast so that's the way I will listen. Simon talks but also plays, sings, tells stories, and sounds like he's having a ball.

At $14.99, it's a bargain and I am quite excited to listen to the whole thing. I have already listened to the prologue.

To listen to some preview snippets, scroll down to the bottom of this link:
https://www.pushkin.fm/audiobook/miracle-and-wonder-conversations-with-paul-simo...

Oh my. I can't stop listening to Miracle and Wonder. It is soooo good! Simon is full of stories, not just about specific songs, and his background, but also of the creative process. Also lots of anecdotes, some of which were hilarious! If you have ever read anything by Gladwell, you will know that he often starts with a premise, then goes off on tangents and then ties everything up neatly, connecting all the dots. I love his style. And he can be funny, too. So can Simon! He plays parts of interviews when Simon was on the tv show Dick Cavett. Gladwell comments how unusual and casual yet serious Simon was. He said he couldn't think of any other singer/songwriter would be like that. He said Neil Young would just be grumpy, Mick Jagger would be too busy preening, etc. So funny.

Lots of music, too. And lots of in-depth questions, and responses.

As a podcast, I thought I'd dip in and out. Well, so much for that. I can't stop, can't turn it off. I am giving it top marks even now and I won't be done for a few more hours yet....

>107 jessibud2: Oooh! That one sounds marvelous! Off to check it out...

>109 Berly: - It IS, Kim! I did take a break to eat dinner but I am happy that there is still plenty ahead of me. I may wait for tomorrow, though, and not binge it all tonight. Something to look forward to!

I believe that if you are a paying subscriber to Spotify, then the podcast is already there and no need to purchase it the way I did. That's what my friend's husband told me, as he is a subscriber. I just have the free version of Spotify and so, had to purchase the audiobook. But no complaints!

Miracle and Wonder sounds great! I like Simon, and Gladwell.

Hi Shelley! I was talking to Bookgirrl yesterday on the Bookcrossing Zoom meetup, and she told everyone in my group how much you were raving about Malcolm Gladwell. Word gets around. Leave it to her. LOL!!

>111 banjo123: - It is, Rhonda!

>112 SqueakyChu: - Ha! Well, she sure didn't waste any time! I emailed her and Mike because I know Mike would be interested. I am pissed at myself for missing the zoom meeting! I wish she had reminded me! Next time!

I haven't listened at all today because I have been working on a card for my cousin, whose daughter and son-in-law just had their first baby yesterday. I have already delivered my gift to them (to my cousin, that is, with instructions not to give it to them till the baby is born and I make a card). The gift? A bag of books, mostly board books! :-)

I am not cut out to be creative, it seems. I am too indecisive (which paper, which background, which layout orientation of paper, which alphabet letters), and too perfectionist. Thank goodness I never had to make my living being creative! lol

>113 jessibud2: Wonderful gifts! I'm still enjoying the books you gave me for Eli. Some I sent home with his parents in the past; the others I still have here to share with his little sister. :D

Be sure to join us for the December BC Zoom meetup because we play the "First Line Game". Watch the Bookcrossing forum for more information. The date for the meetup will be Sunday, December 19th, at 1pm. Put it on your calendar so we can say hi to you in virtual person. :)

I love designing things. I found some old tempura paints I used to paint with Eli. I thought they were dried out, but some of them were still moist so Isabel and I had a fun time painting this past week. I made a creative painting called "Isabel's Garden". I sent it to you by email because I'm too lazy to upload it here now! :D

>114 SqueakyChu: - I just looked and it's wonderful! You are talented, my friend!

I will be in Montreal that weekend but I do have a laptop at my mum's so should be able to join you! I just wrote it in my book so I don't forget! :-)

>115 jessibud2: Have your mum stop by to say hi. I know Bookgirrl's mum, but I never met yours (...yet!).

Happy Sunday, Shelley!

>116 SqueakyChu: - I can probably convince her to say hi! :-) Thanks. My laptop will be on her kitchen table, after all. ;-)

>117 alcottacre: - Hi Stasia. Our Sunday is winding down: pitch dark and quite rainy out there now. Have a good week ahead!

>118 jessibud2: We are going to get storms of our own this next week, I hear. I hope yours are not too severe!

No, so far, here in Toronto, it hasn't really felt much like winter (though that's about to change). It's the west coast whose storms and weather-related floods and mudslides are causing real tragedy. I will stop before I go into full-blown rant mode re climate change and politicians (everywhere, not just ours) who are too chicken to do the right thing because they are afraid of voter disapproval on *their watch*. Better weasel around till it becomes someone else's problem... >:-(

Well, I finished Miracle and Wonder last night and the only issue I had with it (besides it being finished; I really didn't want it to end!), was that chapter 10 was actually missing! The notes on the screen said it was chapter 10 and gave a brief intro to what to expect but in fact, it was just a repeat of the Prologue! So odd. I did send off an email to let them know and ask if that can somehow be rectified.

In the final section of the audiobook, the Afterword, Simon and Gladwell discuss one of my personal favourite Simon songs, An American Tune. Simon said that he sings it differently now, even though when he wrote it, at age 30 (50 years ago!!), he was mostly talking about being *weary to the bone* of things going on at the time, like Vietnam, Nixon, and so on. Yet today, without naming anyone or anything specifically in the song, or getting political, he said the weariness feels so very contemporary and relevant: Iraq, trump, covid, the protests. It's really amazing, almost startling, yet somehow, not really, that Simon's lyrics can transcend time that way. *I can't help but wonder what's gone wrong.* As Gladwell says, the song is not an artifact, but it still has resonance, 2 generations later....

Paul Simon is 80 years old. His vocal quality is still strong, more mature but still as characteristically melodic as ever. Beneath his brilliant and insightful lyrics, is intent, precision. Gladwell calls it genius. I agree.

Gladwell is pretty insightful, himself, in the way he frames his questions and gets Simon to look at his own work. At one point, Simon says that he did not write one particular song (Tenderness) *that way* but now that Gladwell mentions this, maybe, in fact, that is exactly what he was doing. He comments that Gladwell's insight was better than his.

I have a feeling I will be re-listening to this one in the not-too-distant future. I still wish and hope there will be a print version of the conversations.

Morning, Shelley. Wow! You sure sold Miracle and Wonder. Sounds fantastic and it really helps that I LOVE Paul Simon, especially his solo career. Audible has an edition but it is only 5 hours long. Is this correct?

BTW- How is the feeders doing? Any nasty pigeon sightings?

Hi Mark. I just went back to Spotify to check the times on each section but they are gone, only a green check mark that indicates I have listened to it. But for sure it's longer than 5 hours. Gladwell says he had over 30 hours of conversation which was obviously edited down to make the audiobook. For me, it went by in a flash and I didn't want it to end.

Have you ever read anything by Gladwell, Mark? The one I like best so far is Outliers but I have read several by him, as many as I can on audio, since he narrates.

No pigeons in the last few days! Maybe my intimidation by pebbles plan is working! As I said, I have no intention of hitting or hurting them, just want to make them nervous and make them think this isn't a safe place for them to hang out. Ha! Maybe I can't outsmart the squirrels but pigeons are dumber than squirrels so maybe I have a chance here, lol!

I have read Gladwell but it has been a long time. I remember also really enjoying Outliers. Hooray for the absence of pigeons. May that blessing continue.

Oh dear. It's been ages since I requested an ER book. Just too much going on and really, I wasn't all that impressed with the few offerings available to Canada. Last month, though, I requested 2 and was awarded one. It was called Peace in Passing and looked to be a child's book on the passing of pets.

It arrived on Friday. The size (physical size and only 50 pages long), shape and design on the cover confirmed my belief that it was written for young kids. I was wrong.

Honestly, 50 pages and I couldn't finish it. On page 2, the author begins to talk about quantum physics, then goes on to talk about reincarnation, and *talking* to departed animals and relaying messages from them to their bereaved owners. Case study after case study of messages departed pets relay, through the author to their owners.

I don't want to criticize, and I am sure there are many who take comfort in this sort of spirituality, but I am not one of them. The write-up blurb on LT hinted at none of this. I would never have requested such a book if it had. I have had and loved pets most of my life. But maybe because I am not a religious person, I don't know, but this is just a step too far for me. Not quite sure what to say when I write an official *review* but this was a disappointment for me, to be honest.

>125 jessibud2: Oh dear goddesses. What a Major Fail in the inform-the-reader department.

Other than that, I hope the week's reads meet and exceed your expectations.

>125 jessibud2: Heh! I'll be waiting to read what you write in your review.

>126 richardderus: - Yes, it was, Richard!

>127 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, pal! ;-) This will call on my best teacher skills at writing diplomatically...

>128 jessibud2: Haha! I’m only laughing because I had to do the same thing twice. One time it was a poet who gave me a signed copy of his book at the BookCrossing booth of a book festival. Silly me told him I’d read it and review it online. It was the worst poetry I’d ever read. After you post your review, I’ll tell you how I handled it. I also remember this happening to one book I had to review for Early Reviewers here in LT. I’ll also share that review with you later. :D.

Good luck with the review!! LOL

>125 jessibud2: Wow, sounds like you have your work cut out for you writing a review of that one, Shelley!

Happy Tuesday!

Ok, the deed is done. I did not assign any stars to my review. I think one star would feel too negative. I'd rather give several stars to books I really like and just avoid stars for books I don't, letting my review stand on its own. And if I'm honest, I am not fond of adding books to my library that I don't enjoy. But it appears that's the only way to post a review so, that's it. I also noticed that there were a few ER books I received pre-covid that I don't have reviews for. I haven't read them yet so I am thinking I had better go find them and get to them! Bad Shelley!

Your review isn't showing up on the book page yet, but if it warns other readers that this work is not what it seems to be, you will have done a good service. You might want to take a quick look at the author's website for further "enlightenment"!

>132 jessibud2: That star thing. It's a conundrum. If you add stars to books you don't like, you bring down the rating, thereby insulting the author and publisher. If you don't add those few stars, you are giving the book a higher mean rating than it deserves. I've omitted stars in the past. Now I think I give the fewest stars I can to books I don't like without embarrassing myself or causing undue hardship to the author as well as maintaining my honesty and objectivity in reviews.

The more books you review for ER, the better chance the algorithm will award you books in the future...so go find those books (says I...who still have a few too many unreviewed ER books). What happened with those was that I started them, they didn't hold my interest very long, and I put them down (forever?) to read something more interesting.

Haha! I went back to see some of what I said about books I disliked. Here are some of those reviews. I apologize to the authors who worked very hard on these books, but they simply did not work for me. I hope they did find other appreciative readers. I refuse to be snarky or petty in my reviews of books I don't like. I think that is rude. I think the way to avoid this is by writing the review as if you are writing to the author himself or herself.

With that said, I said in past reviews...

1. Re: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
https://www.librarything.com/work/19751569/reviews/109439916

I refused to read any other book by this author after reading this book. He is a very popular author from North Carolina, a U.S. state I like very much.

2. Re: Beauty by Christina Chiu
https://www.librarything.com/work/24072586/reviews/179158664

I felt bad for not liking this book because I was doing a review for Andrew Gifford, an author and indie publisher (sfwp.com) who sends me ARCS of some of his soon-to-be released books. I know him in person so I don't like to write poor reviews of books by his authors, but I feel I have to be honest about how I feel. Most books he publishes I feel are superb. This book was loved by others. I am not into high fashion so this book was going to be a lose-lose either way for me.

3. Re: Cool Jew by Lisa Alcalay Klug
https://www.librarything.com/work/5303940/reviews/32735443

This was indeed an Early Reviewer book. I try now to be very, very careful about the books I choose in hopes that I don't actually choose a book I *might* dislike. I want to do honest reviews, but I'd rather read something great, than something terrible.

I can't find that book of poetry review I mentioned in a previous post. If I find it, I'll post the link.

I also do not see your review of that book posted (so you cannot yet have ER credit for posting it). Make sure after you post your "review" on the "edit your book" page of that work, that you remember to save the review by clicking on the green "save" button which can be found both at the top and the bottom of that "edit your book" page.

Found it!

4. Vocare - Ron Ames
https://www.librarything.com/work/9858981/reviews/59280528

I had a problem with too much airy-fairy stuff with this book, although sometimes I find that kind of writing interesting. In this case, I did not. 'Nuff said.

I try to review most every book I read as a memory jogger simply because I cannot remember so much of what I read. I particularly like to make note of books I find extra special, but sometimes I have to write down why I felt that way at the time! LOL!

ETA: I see that I gave this book NO stars!

Well, that is just weird. I wrote my review. I saved it. I went to look at the page via my original link in >125 jessibud2: and it's not there. So I went to my profile page, and clicked on *your books*. I saw it there, clicked save again and it still isn't appearing. Yet, when I first saved it, I saw it. I was the second review.

Maybe the sub-atomic particles are creating bad karma and blocking my less than ideal review.

>133 laytonwoman3rd:. Thanks, Linda. I know there are tons of *alternate* therapies and approaches to all aspects of life and I have nothing against them, in general. I just don't buy into a lot of them, myself, if they are too *out there*. I think what bothers me most is that this book looks like a children's book. If I end up donating it to Value Village, or some other used book store, I will have to tape a prominent note to the cover to indicate that this is NOT a child's book and to place it in the Spirituality section or something.

>136 jessibud2: Did you add this book to your library first? If not, you cannot save a review of it.

>134 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, Madeline. For the third book you reviewed, how did you get the tag *This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.* at the top of your review? Is there a dedicated ER review page I should be using? I am pretty clueless when it comes to this. I usually write my reviews after adding a book to my page. But in all honesty, it's been awhile. Quite awhile...

>136 jessibud2: I see your review there!
https://www.librarything.com/work/27322290/book/208832787

>140 SqueakyChu: - The LT gremlins are out to get me today. I am glad you saw my review. I clicked on your link in >140 SqueakyChu: and guess what? No review. So I clicked on the *2* under the heading *reviews* and there it was in a box, waiting for me to save it again. Which I did. For the last time! If it disappears again, may it rest in peace!

;-p

>139 jessibud2: I guess LT put that there at the time.

On that review I also saw this note:
"This review also appears on FingerFlow.com, a site for review and discussion of creative works."

I clicked on that link to find this message:
"The Domain Name FingerFlow.com May Be For Sale!"

LOL!

Once your review is posted, there is nothing else to do to be part of LT's algorithm...except for reviewing another book! :D

>141 jessibud2: So much for that book. Such trouble. LOL!

I posted bad links, but I have corrected them. They should work now.

Well, I am moving on. I currently own 3 bios of Paul Simon and after the wonderful audiobook I just finished, I decided to read the thinnest (and oldest) of them, published in 1988. I am choosing only thin books now as I am closing in on 75 and intend to get there before the year is out! ;-)

I will be travelling to Montreal again in a few weeks so I am already scouting my shelves to see what to bring with me.

>144 jessibud2: By the way, that was indeed a good review of the book you disliked.

*high five*

>136 jessibud2: It's definitely there, I thumbed it Shelley.

>144 jessibud2: I'm glad you're strategically reading, Shelley! Get to that goal...there's a satisfaction in achieving it that's worth a lot.

Happy Humpday! *smooch*

>144 jessibud2: Just at the end of second reading of House of Rougeaux - it has many mentions of Montreal.

I am so very grateful for my friends here on LT, and amongst them.

I wish you (and yours) happiness and health on this day of Thanksgiving. And cookies. : )

>145 SqueakyChu:, >146 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks, Madeline and Caroline.

>147 richardderus: - I have a wealth of choice on the shelves, Richard and in truth, no doubt I will reach the goal. I am already at 71 and there is more than a month left. My problem (as always) is, WHAT to choose...!

>148 m.belljackson: - I have not heard of that one, Marianne but it sounds interesting. I will have to seek it out from the library. Thanks!

>149 Berly: - Our Thanksgiving is in October, Kim but those cookies are so pretty, that I'll just be grateful and gracious and say *thanks*! :-)

Happy Friday, Shelley! I hope the LT gremlins leave you be today.

>139 jessibud2:, >142 SqueakyChu: When you post a review of a book you received through the ER program, LT automatically tops it with that notice.

I have thumbed your review of Peace in Passing also, Shelley. I think the problem with it not showing is that there are two entries for this title. The touchstone takes you to a page that shows no reviews at all. Madeline's link in >140 SqueakyChu: takes you to another page that does have reviews, including yours, on it. I will see if I can combine them.

>152 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks!

>150 jessibud2: I knew that and forgot to change it to MY Thanksgiving day. Well, at least the cookies were good. ; )

>151 alcottacre: - Thank you, Stasia

>152 laytonwoman3rd: - Thanks for trying, Linda. Madeline's link in >140 SqueakyChu: takes me to a page where I do not see the review but if I am honest, I think this book is getting more attention on my thread than it merits, lol! I have moved on. Thanks for thumbing it, though ;-)

>154 Berly: - No worries. They were delish! ;-)

>155 jessibud2: I think this book is getting more attention on my thread than it merits

LOL!

>152 laytonwoman3rd: >155 jessibud2: I combined the two, Peace in Passing now goes to the right place.
Sorry for even more attention, thumbed your review ;-)

Miracle and Wonder sounds like a good one, Shelley. Is it only in audio? I've read a couple of Gladwell's books and find him an interesting writer.

>157 FAMeulstee: - Even your link, Anita, via the title, takes me to a place of no reviews, unless I click on the number under *reviews*. Weird.

>158 Familyhistorian: - Yes, Meg, it is called an audiobook but is, in fact, a podcast. Well worth the effort, I might add. I really should add my review to the one there, which, like what happened with the previous book I mentioned, I can only see when I click on the numeral beneath the word *reviews*, after clicking on the title. I will add my review and see what happens but something seems to be wonky for me lately with reviews.
Whatever. It was by far one of the best, if not the best, book I have read all year.

Ok, I have added my reviews for the last 2 books I have read and even then, even when I click on the *Your Books* heading at the top, or the title of the book here in the thread, it takes me to a page where no reviews show unless I click on the numeral. What the hell am I doing wrong? I always used to be able to click on a title mentioned in anyone's thread and see reviews. Except, apparently, not mine any more.

>159 jessibud2: Same as me Shelley, I have to click on the review number too to see the reviews.

Have a good weekend while we are figuring this out.

>159 jessibud2: >160 PaulCranswick: I can see the reviews when I go there.
Can it be you accidentally clicked the reviews away? At "Member reviews" the little triangle is pointing to the right instead of down.

>161 FAMeulstee: - Anita, where is that? Across the top, I see *members* and *reviews* but separately. When I click on the numeral under *reviews*, I see the box where I wrote my review, as if it still needs to be saved (which I did originally) yet the review is visible below. The only little triangle I see anywhere is at the very bottom, under the thumb, and it points up. When I click it, the thumb disappears and the triangle points down.
I am truly confused why this has happened. I didn't do anything differently (that I am aware of) for these last 3 reviews than I have ever done when logging reviews.

>162 jessibud2: This is what I see, the screencapture is a bit blurred.
The tiny triangle is in each bar, so you can personalise your view. The one marking the member reviews is next to the red arrow. I hope this helps.

"Oh dear. It's been ages since I requested an ER book." I think most of us feel this way. I wonder what happened? In the early LT days, I would win several notable books. I am not sure I requested more than 2 or 3 this year and these were not stellar titles.

Happy Saturday, Shelley. How are your feeders doing? House sparrows and doves are pretty much decimating my feeders, greedy buggers. And of course, I can't punish the other birds by holding back. Sighs...

>165 msf59: - Thank you, Anita! That worked! I fixed that arrow so it points the right way. How it got messed up, I have no idea. If I did it, it was accidental and I never noticed but it seems to be working just fine now. How on earth do you know these things? You are brilliant!

>164 msf59: - Ha, I think I will be more careful from now on, Mark! In truth, there aren't that many great titles available for Canada and I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of books here in the house. I really should just remove myself from the ER program altogether in order to avoid temptation. But somehow, I don't...

>165 msf59: - As for the feeder, I had a couple of downy woodpeckers the other day and the juncos and chickadees have returned in full force, after being absent the last few years, for some reason. My nuthatches, house finches and cardinals (and mourning doves) are my reliable regulars. haven't seen any goldfinches though, :-(
I did see a pigeon the other day but I told him off and he hasn't been back (yet).

>166 jessibud2: You are very welcome, Shelley. Either the default has changed, or you accidently clicked on the bar.
How on earth do you know these things?
In first years here on LT, I went all over the site, trying all kind of features.

I have some small birds who have taken up residence in the big round bushes at the front of my house. They come out and sit on the front window ledge and porch sometimes. Food is available at my neighbour's bird feeder.

>168 FAMeulstee: - See, that's the difference between someone who is not afraid of technology and me. LOL

>169 torontoc: - Too bad you don't have a cat, Cyrel. Birds on the window ledge would make for excellent cat-tv!

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year, shortlist. Some truly magnificent photos here:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/wildlife-photography-peoples-choice-2021-scli...

>171 jessibud2: Great photos. I am a sucker for orangutans.

>171 jessibud2: Thanks for sharing these great pictures, Shelley. I loved the Arctic fox en the zebra's.

Renegades by Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen. Based on their excellent podcast, this coffee table book expands on their conversations and includes lots of photos, copies of some of Obama's speeches, Springsteen's lyrics and reproductions of archival documents and ephemera. I loved the podcast and this book was a great adjunct to it but I have to be honest: it weighs a ton and isn't easy to hold and read in bed.

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years by Patrick Humphries. After recently listening to Malcolm Gladwell's superb audiobook/podcast of his conversations with Simon, I decided to pull down one of the 3 bios I have on my shelf and read it. I started with the oldest (published in 1988). I have to say, this wasn't particularly well-written and I found it a bit of a slog. There were some typos and repetitions and the author seemed to enjoy using the titles and lyrics of Simon's songs for more than just his chapter titles. I am hoping that the 2 newer bios (by different authors) will be better.

And with that, I am about to begin book #75, a small one, by design: The Pedant in the Kitchen by Julian Barnes. It's under 200 pages so I hope to have it done in the next few days.

Hi Shelley.
Delurking to say I caught up on your thread.
I was a Simon & Garfunkel fan from waaay back. Still have the old vinyl albums.
Ha. In great shape, too. I wanted to seel my vinyl but thi is not the time, with a pandemic.
The hubs has an entire Dylan set of vinyl. I wanted to declutter all the vinyl since we don't have that type of sound system and the records just sit in our storage in the basement. He won't consider it, of course.
Sorry, got off topic.

Happy St. Nicholas' Eve. It's a big festival time in The Netherlands and our grandkids (born there) still set out shoes for Sinterklaas, although they've moved back to Canada now.

Hi Sandy. Good to see you out and about again.

I still have all my old vinyl as well as some of my father's vinyl records. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, my mother got rid of much of his collection after he died without consulting me! I was able to get to what was left before it all disappeared, though. He loved records and his collection was the bedtime soundtrack of my childhood (on the old hi-fi!). I was probably one of the few 6 and 7 year olds who knew all the words to the songs of Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Marty Robbins, Bobby Darin, Ruby and the Romantics, The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters and on and on. His taste was eclectic. I still do have a turntable which I bought a few years ago though in truth, I listen more to cds than records these days. My dad also bought me my first Gordon Lightfoot album. :-)

No such thing as *off topic* here. Just *tangents*... ;-)

Happy St. Nicholas' Eve to you! it's raining/snowing/sleeting here at the moment. The pretty first snowfall of last Sunday is long gone and the mess begins now, I guess.

>171 jessibud2: Fabulous - Hani would probably choose the Italian lake photo as she tends to take similar stuff but my shortlisted five would have been:

1) The lions in the downpour.
2) The bear in the Yukon
3) The tangle of zebras
4) The barracudas in Palau
5) The Iberian lynx.

I would probably choose the lions so long as you don't ask me to go and present the prize to them in "person"!

>175 SandyAMcPherson: & >176 jessibud2: When I left for Malaysia in 1994 I kept my 1,000 plus vinyl collection with my then girlfriend for safe keeping. It was intended she would join me in Malaysia after three months but - of course it didn't happen and we broke up. A short while thereafter she disposed of my collection without the slightest reference to me. :(

I have all of Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel on CD (I have more than 4,000 CDs) but recently started adding some vinyl again to my house. I have a small collection of about 50 or so and bought a decent Linn turntable for the pleasure of listening. I will slowly add to my collection as the listening experience is definitely different to CD or Spotify.

Ha! Not that this would ever be any of us!

https://myjetpack.tumblr.com/post/669724699881799680/apologies-to-any-sensitive-...

>179 jessibud2: I saw that and it made me smile Shelley.

>178 PaulCranswick: CDs have never equalled vinyl and a top-of-the-line needle/turn table for the sound quality. I think that's why we've hung onto our old Dual player and vinyl. No amp or speakers though.

We have a Bose which is compact and can take 4 CDs at a time. Convenience in place of music quality. It was a trade-off at the time.

>179 jessibud2: Huh, I have books used as a doorstop in my place. To be fair they are textbooks (hefty ones) and I used them to prop open a door when it was over 40 C, just haven't removed them yet.

>159 jessibud2: I'm not very good at listening to things so don't do audio books or podcasts either so I'll pass on this.

>179 jessibud2: Good one!

No books today but I watched 2 book-related documentary films and both were very good. The first was The Secret Life of Trees based on the book by Peter Wohlleben, featuring and narrated by him. So interesting and visually beautiful. The time-lapse photography sequences in particular were gorgeous.

trailer - Hot Docs - https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=160441~fff311b7-cd...; (I hope this link works)

The second doc I watched was called Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir -

trailer: https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=153927~fff311b7-cd...;


This film was also so well done. I had no idea what a difficult life she had: her brother and father died within months of each other of brain tumours when she was young, she had lyme disease as an adult, her mother's traumatic life before marrying Amy's father, which Amy only discovered when she was an adult. Wow. It was also a visually lovely film, too. Other authors such as Kevin Kwon and Isabel Allende also spoke about her influence on them and on writing.

But lest you think this was a downer of a film, be assured, it isn't. She has a fun side, too. She was part of a rock band made up of authors called the Rock Bottom Remainders, which included such names as Dave Barry, Mitch Albom, Stephen King. What a hoot! Tan is also a musician (piano) and a very accomplished artist, particularly of birds. Beautiful work!

I hope the trailer links work.

I remember reading her The Joy Luck Club when it first came out. This film reminded me that I have never seen the movie version adapted from the book. I just requested the dvd from my library!. I also read and loved The Bonesetter's Daughter but wasn't able to get through a few of her other novels. I would like to read her 2 non-fiction memoirs, though.

Hi Shelley! My unwanted social-media break is over. I'm fully wifi-d up and back to post my congratulations when you finish the Barnes.

*smooch*

>184 jessibud2: Looking forward to both, but especially the Wohlleben, I have the book in my winter reading pile. Thanks for posting the trailers Shelley.

Sweet Thursday, Shelley. I hope you can track down Get Back. You will LOVE IT.

I did start Miracle & Wonder on Spotify but it was just a teaser, (about 20-30 min). I could go no further without purchasing it. Did you have to pay for it? It sounds like I may have to pay for it through Audible.

>187 msf59: - I purchased it through Gladwell's site. It was $15, still a bargain if you consider the cost of audiobooks. I was able to listen to it there as well as on Spotify, where I only have a free basic account. My friend's husband told me, though, that he could listen for free on Spotify, as he has a paid account. I'm too cheap to get a paid account there as I don't listen to much in the way of music or podcasts through Spotify.

I have no idea what audible costs but if you want the link to Gladwell's site, here it is:

https://www.pushkin.fm/audiobook/miracle-and-wonder-conversations-with-paul-simo...

Worth every penny. Did I mention that after I finished it, I listened all over again, from the beginning? :-)

>185 richardderus: - Hi Richard. The Barnes is quite fun. I should be done by tomorrow. He makes me laugh out loud!

>186 Caroline_McElwee: - I am glad the trailers work, Caroline. I have quite a lineup of films to watch through Hot Docs. Some I purchased tickets for, some were freebies (free for members). I will report in after a few more.

>188 jessibud2: I really liked the portion I heard. I have an Audible credit that I could use. That is about 15 bucks but I also just received a free one. I just wish it was longer than 5 hours.

>190 msf59: - Miracle and Wonder is just a tad over 5 hours of listening, Mark. I thought it was more (and wish it had been!) but I added up the numbers and it's just over 5.

>184 jessibud2: Oooh! Great doc recommendations.

Hope you have a great Friday ahead!

Thanks, Anita. One errand to run once the laundry is finished then I plan to hunker down for the day with books, films, and wait for the torrential rain and epic wind that they say is expected tonight into tomorrow. It's unseasonably warm today which would be enjoyable if it weren't wet....

I have some really good docs lined up and will report back anon...

HI Shelley, We have forecast for huge wind and rain too. Hope it gets rid of all the snow and ice from the last storm! Stay warm and cozy! An afternoon of reading sounds like a good plan. I'm reading Susan Orlean's new book On Animals and really enjoying it!

>171 jessibud2: Love the photos, Shelley. Thanks for sharing them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

>193 jessibud2: Same here in Chicago, Shelley...raining this afternoon and rain/snow mix for tomorrow. Definitely a book or movie night.

Hi Mary, Stasia and Kathy. The rain arrived overnight and the winds that accompanied it were fierce enough to wake me several times. But this morning, the sun is (sort of) out and it was calm enough to put the feeder out. I am keeping a close watch though because when it gets too windy, it tends to blow off the hook and every time that happens, it damages it when it falls. We shall see.

A book and a film:

The Pedant in the Kitchen - Julian Barnes - This was a delight and at times, a real hoot! I will admit that I have not read any Barnes before though I do have a few of his books on my shelves. Is he always this funny? He refers to himself in the third person throughout the book as The Pedant and to his wife as She For Whom (the Pedant cooks). The book is a collection of short essays. He has his favourite chefs/cooks whose books he reveres and he also refers to them more than a few times. Here are a few of the funnier morsels:

- "I am a late-onset cook. In my childhood, the usual genteel protectionism surrounded activities in the voting booth, the marital bed and the pew. I failed to notice a fourth secret place - secret, at least, from boys - in the English middle class home: the kitchen. Meals and my mother emerged from it but neither my father, brother or I enquired, or were encouraged to enquire, about the transformational process....And as with sex, politics and religion, so with cooking; by the time I began finding out about it for myself, it was too late to ask my parents. They had failed to instruct me and I would punish them by not asking now."

- "...To the point, Pedant. How did it taste? Bloody marvelous, actually, though I say so myself - and do so only because I was responsible for the less crucial parts of the preparation. So it didn't matter in the end? No, not really. Then why all this fuss? Because, well, that's what cooking's about, isn't it? It's practically a dictionary definition. Cooking is the transformation of uncertainty (the recipe) into certainty (the dish) via fuss."

- (after describing an elegant and complicated menu): "Does that make you feel bracingly challenged or hideously inadequate? Do your salivary glands throb and your feet make pawing gestures in the direction of the kitchen, or do you find yourself musing on the attractive blue neon signs of Pizza Express?"

- "In the Pedant's kitchen there is the usual drawer for knives and peelers and prodders...But then there is the other drawer - the one where items of sporadic usefulness live, the one where everything is tangled up and furtive...When did I last empty it? Ten years ago? It seemed time to take inventory...."

Here he goes on to describe what the drawer dispensed. It is hilarious but long and I think I will stop quoting now. This was a quick, and often laugh-out-loud read.

Oh. Did I mention that this is book #75? :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book, Paper, Scissors - (documentary film)

(the blurb): As a book designer, 75-year old Kikuchi Nobuyoshi has drafted more than 15,000 covers by hand throughout his decades-long career. With careful, philosophical consideration of every aspect of the process, Kikuchi also chooses the paper and ink to best represent the essence of each book. Filmed over three years, this passion project from Hirokazu Kore-eda protegé Nanako Hirose (whose late father was also a book designer) matches Kikuchi’s contemplative and considerate approach to his craft, offering a thoroughly measured portrait of the pursuit of perfection—and 94 minutes of pure bliss for design enthusiasts and bibliophiles.

trailer: https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=160908~fff311b7-cd...;

I really wanted to love this doc. And, in many ways, it was fascinating. But I think it was too long. The pace was extremely slow, but that is probably saying more about my own Western sensibilities than the Japanese mindset of telling a story. The opening shows a very Rube Goldberg-like setup of how a book is put together, the machines and the process and I loved that! But after that, the pace really slowed. There were far too many silences between the story-telling and frankly, I found the camera person rather amateur, with shots and angles that just felt more like home movies than a professional film. There were also some shots (a few of a cat out the window, and a few in a coffee shop) that felt irrelevant and completely unrelated to the story at all. The story itself, though, was fascinating. The hand-crafted covers this man made revealed a rather OCD approach to design which I think is bound to disappear as new generations emerge and his generation disappears. The film was completely in Japanese with English subtitles so I really needed to stay alert to follow along. Still, it was an interesting look into as aspect of book design that was new to me.

Another film or 2 today, hopefully....

>198 jessibud2: Julian Barnes The Noise of Time rated 4 stars from me, while Something to Declare got barely 3,
but, then, I don't much like Henry James, except for his travel writings.

>198 jessibud2: Adding the Barnes book to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Shelley.




Congratulations on hitting 75!

Yes, congratulations!

>199 m.belljackson:, >200 alcottacre: I'll second both of these!

I've read 2 books by Barnes: I loved The Noise of Time, which is a thinly-veiled fictionalized book about a period in the life of composer Dmitri Shostakovich. I love Shostakovich and find him such an interesting character, so the book worked for me. I don't recall it being especially funny, however. I also read The Sense of an Ending, which I enjoyed, except for the ending (which apparently is a common complaint). But that didn't spoil the book for me. I have England, England on the shelf, and I think that's supposed to be a farce of sorts.

And Well Done! on reaching Numero 75!

>197 jessibud2: And we got the same--some rain and very windy overnight (woke me up, too), but they sky had cleared up by noon. Still windy, though--the groceries nearly flew out of the cart on the way to the car.

>198 jessibud2: Congratulations on reaching 75, Shelley!

Congratulations on the 75, Shelley!!!

>198 jessibud2: Oh that sounds like a good one. On to the list it goes. i have read 5 of his books but now can't remember much about them except I liked them! Drats the library does not have it!

>199 m.belljackson: - I haven't heard of those 2, Marianne.

>200 alcottacre:, >201 torontoc: - Thanks Stasia and Cyrel.

>202 kac522: - You know, Kathy, I have read The Sense of an Ending and now that you mention it, though I remember liking it, I also have a vague memory of the ending bothering me. LOL

It was incredibly windy here earlier this afternoon. Thankfully, I had brought in the bird feeder before it had a chance to blow off the hook. I did that when 5 bloody pigeons arrived! Sheesh. It was a balmy day here, felt almost spring-like. Maybe that's why they come. 5!! Anyhow, I saw a neighbour's garbage bag rolling down the street like a tumbleweed in an old western film! Garbage pickup day isn't even until Tuesday so why it was out there today is beyond me. I sure hope he goes out tomorrow to pick it all up.

>204 FAMeulstee:, >205 banjo123:, >206 mdoris: - Thanks, Anita, Rhonda and Mary. I thought you might enjoy this one, Mary. It isn't new. maybe you can find it in some used bookstore.

>207 jessibud2: I will keep my eyes peeled! I have about 6 cookbooks out from the library right now but just wish my cooking improved with the numbers I lug home from the library!

Congrats on reaching the magic number!

>198 jessibud2: Congratulations on hitting 75 Shelley.

>202 kac522: I really enjoyed The Noise of Time too Kathy.

>209 figsfromthistle:, >210 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks Anita and Caroline. I know I have Barnes' England, England on my shelf and at least one other. I remember the first Barnes I ever purchased, A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters. I got it home only to discover a chunk of pages missing from the middle of the book. I brought it back to the bookstore and they must have given me another copy but I never did get around to reading it. I wonder if it's in one of the boxes in the basement....

I will admit that I have not read anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez though I have Love in the Time of Cholera on the shelves. But yesterday I watched a fascinating documentary on him, called *Gabo* and now I am inspired to go find and read it.

The blurb: "Experience the incredible story of Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, author of deservedly celebrated classics including 100 Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. A law-school dropout and political journalist who grew up in the poverty and violence of northern Colombia, García Márquez became globally celebrated for his sensual, magical and epic work. Former US president Bill Clinton, former Colombian president César Gaviria and more celebrate his legacy in this breathtaking doc. “What matters in life is not what happens to you,” said García Márquez, “But what you remember and how you remember it.”

There isn't a trailer for this one, unfortunately.

On tap today: Ailey, about the dancer/choreographer Alvin Ailey. Trailer:

https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=161994~fff311b7-cd...;

Hi Shelley. Delurking to say congrats on reaching the 75th book read.
I've not been posting much on LT. Except in a rather sporadic manner, as I seem to be so tardy with all the seasonal things I "should do". And here it is, almost the middle of December.

Congratulations on reaching 75 books, Shelley! I won't tell you what my 2021 book count is so far. I could probably start a whole new group for people who read fewer and fewer books each year! LOL!

Re: Love in the Time of Cholera, that is my all-time favorite love story (and I usually am not particularly fond of love stories). I highly recommend it. In addition, my dear late Israeli aunt Emma said that Gabriel Garcia Marquez was her favorite author. Her favorite book of his was One Hundred Years of Solitude.

I hope to see you and your mum on Sunday on Zoom! Don't forget the Bookcrossing meetup next weekend!!

Congrats!

>213 SandyAMcPherson: - No *shoulds* here, Sandy. Always good to see you.

>214 SqueakyChu: - Already penciled in, Madeline! :-) And I will find that Garcia Marquez book and put into the rotation for the new year!

>215 drneutron: - Thanks, Jim.

>216 jessibud2: Yay! I also told Bookgirrl to remind you. :D

>217 SqueakyChu: - Hehe. I will have to ask her if there is something she wants to tell me/remind me about, since she hasn't yet... ;-)

Hi, Shelley. Congrats on 75! Yah!! I did snag Miracle and Wonder from Audible and I am all ready more than halfway. It has been excellent. I appreciate the nudge on this one and like we mentioned earlier, I wish it were twice as long.

>219 msf59: - Excellent, Mark. (your touchstone goes to a different place...)

I managed to get myself on 2 separate waiting lists for the covid booster shot. Still trying to get onto the booking site for another pharmacy chain. Their site seems to be broken at the moment. I had hoped to be able to get the shot before leaving for Mtl on Thursday but that's looking highly unlikely. Oh well, whenever. As long as they don't call me during the 4 days I'll be away. Then I'd likely lose my spot in line!

Good luck on getting the booster.

Oh gosh! It's been so long that I have dropped in that I missed your 75th!

Yay for you!

>222 weird_O: - Today was the first day that booking is open to the over-50 crowd (that would be me, of course) and I heard on the news that the government booking site also crashed. I didn't bother trying that one. You'd think that almost 2 years into the pandemic and almost a year since vaccines, they might have fixed a few glitches and got this right by now. I guess I'll get it when I get it...

>221 jessibud2: - Thanks, Richard! I'm almost finished #76 already, lol!

Have a terrific week, Shelley! I hope you can get the booster soon.

Congrats on reading 75, Shelley. You are ahead of us on booster shots. They're still on 70s and over crowd here. I hope everything works out for saving your place in line.

>225 alcottacre: - Thanks, Stasia. Me too!

>226 Familyhistorian: - It was 70 and over until yesterday. Today was the first day for 50+. Ontario is experiencing a huge surge in numbers, and especially in Omicron and I am a bit nervous about maybe not being allowed to go visit my mum. I am not going to ask, though, I will just go. They (the managers of her place) know I am coming because I am taking her to an appointment on Friday. My mum had her third shot a few weeks ago so at her end, that's good. I don't have a good feeling about the latest surges and increases in numbers. Especially not with the holidays coming. People are just not going to want to take a step back and cancel anything. And that can only make things worse. Already on the news, they are hinting at re-implementing some restrictions.

P.S. If you haven't tried it yet- try the Guardian Drugs site for the booster shot. Their website was easy to navigate.

>228 torontoc: - I tried, without much success, Cyrel. I leave for Montreal shortly, as soon as I drop Theo off at Hotel Vet. I will have to try again once I get home on Monday. A friend told me last night that she walked into a pharmacy last week and simply waited in line for 40 minutes and got her booster. She is over 70, though and last week, that was the limit, before they dropped the age eligibility down to over 18, which I heard it is already today. I know of one walk-in vaccine site this weekend but I won't be here so I will just have to be patient and hope that by next week, both supply and locations are on the increase.

I love having the laptop here in Montreal. Even if I can't get the mouse to work. I am getting used to the centre pad thingie, even though I don't love that.

Anyhow, I just watched one of the documentaries I had cued up from Hot Docs. I watched with my mum and was pleased that she was totally engaged and alert the whole time. She does tend to nap a lot so this was a good activity for us. The doc I chose was a good one, called *On Broadway*. Here is the trailer (I hope it works):

https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=162898~fff311b7-cd...;

I will probably end up watching the one on choreographer Alvin Ailey myself as I never did get to it last week. Not sure this would interest her.

Her appointment went well yesterday. The 2 sessions of radiation in October appear to have done the job and the lesions they were zapping look completely healed. The radiation oncologist was pleased. She reminded us that though radiation is not a cure, because my mother's breast cancer was surface, not deep, it may not recur ever or it could take 10 years for it to recur. I didn't say it out loud in front of my mother, of course, but, having just turned 88, if she has 10 left in her, I'd take it! There are also times I am almost grateful for her memory loss. I had to remind her 3 times where we were going and why. If she has no pain, then why the heck be plagued by the knowledge and anxiety of having cancer? Anyhow, no need for anything further unless something changes. The nurse at her residence will monitor, to watch for it. Sure makes the rest of the weekend good.

It was supposed to snow here today but so far, no precip at all. Just very cold temps. But we don't care as we are not venturing out anywhere.

>230 jessibud2: Great news on the health front for your mom Shelley, and for you of course. Hopefully the year ahead will be less stressful.

I'm hopeless on those laptop pads. I need a mouse.

Our Curzon cinemas do a lot of documentaries. I watch them on their home cinema platform.

>231 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks, Caroline. Hoping for less stress next year for sure. We shall see...

Hot Docs is a truly wonderful dedicated documentary cinema. It used to be part of a chain of repertory cinemas but some years back got reinvented as a doc cinema, with a membership component to it, as well. Anyone can go to it but there are perks for members, such as, depending on what tier of membership, less expensive tickets as well as occasional freebies and, in pre-covid days, free popcorns, too. :-)

They pivoted quite well to the online format when covid hit and in some ways, it probably worked out better for them as people from across Canada (and elsewhere) could purchase tickets and watch movies from home. Now that their in-person theatre has slowly reopened, they have managed to keep the online component but not all the films showing in theatre are licensed for the online format. They did send out a survey/questionnaire, asking if we were comfortable going back to in-person. I, personally, am not so I am truly grateful that online remains an option. Though, who knows what's going to happen, going forward now that omicron is rearing its ugly head. New restrictions seem to be announced daily so it's hard to say if they will remain open to in-person viewings.

Good news about your mother. I, too , have a Hot Docs membership but want to view films online for the present.

Congrats on 75!

>233 torontoc: - Thanks, Cyrel. I am glad I didn't rush to start going inside anywhere a few months ago, even when things were looking better and safer then. It just seemed logical that as winter came, numbers might climb again, even without omicron. I am just not a risk-taker by nature.

>234 banjo123: - Thanks, Rhonda.

I'm glad you can relax a bit about your Mom's health, Shelley. The memory loss thing can be a small blessing at times. You're so right not to bother her about the cancer since IT isn't bothering her now.

Good news about your mom Shelley. She sure is lucky to have you there caring for her and for you to make those trips to Montreal so often.

Happy Sunday, Shelley. I finally posted a mini-review of Miracle and Wonder. Once again, thanks for the nudge. A joyous experience. We did make it out to see West Side Story too. We both really liked it.

>230 jessibud2: That is absolutely wonderful news about Mom. What a relief! And yes, not being burdened with the anxiety of knowing one might face cancer is the only good thing I can conjur from her current cognitive state...for you, as well, since less anxiety = less trouble.

*smooch*

That was fun..meeting your mum today. Have an enjoyable visit and a safe trip home! Andy’s cat reminded me of your Theo! :D

Hi! First visit to your thread at the end of the year (yes, late again, King Friday) but not the last.

>230 jessibud2: Wonderful news about your mom! What a relief that must be.

>238 msf59: I'm going straight over to Audible to pick up a copy of Miracles and Wonder. Love Paul Simon. (Now the song is playing in my head and I don't mind at all.)

>236 laytonwoman3rd:, >237 mdoris: - Thanks, Linda and Mary.

>238 msf59: - Thanks, Mark. I knew you'd love it. I did see an interview with Rita Moreno and maybe one day I will see this film. I do remember the original!

>239 richardderus: - Thanks, Richard. Pessimist and worrier that I am, I'm sure there will be something to replace the worry this cancer bout gave me but for now, I am relieved and grateful and happy, not least for the fact of her state of oblivion about it all!

>240 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, Madeline. My mum used to be a big reader but since the dementia invaded her brain, she can't really concentrate. I still have the Saturday newspaper delivered to her because that was always a routine she enjoyed and she still does. Whether she actually *reads* it is questionable and whether she retains anything is doubtful but that's ok. Routine is also important and anything that keeps her awake and alert and engaged in something other than napping, is a plus, in my opinion.

>241 Storeetllr: - Hi, Mary and welcome. It's never too late! :-)

That's good news about your mum's health, Shelley. I now have an appointment for my booster shot. I like our province's registration system which sounds more organized than having to find a place that has the vaccine. I saw a news flash on my phone that more places in Ontario have been closed. We have heightened restrictions here too.

>230 jessibud2: One less thing you have to worry about during the holiday season. Glad to see that all went well with mum.

>244 Familyhistorian: - Booster rollout here is still a mess, Meg. I've been busy today so haven't really checked but just from listening to the news, it doesn't sound great. Other than a small dinner with 2 friends on Thursday, I have no plans to go anywhere except to get a shot, should that opportunity arise. I'm not holding my breath.

And apparently, I got out of Montreal just on time (yesterday). They have declared a state of emergency there, just today. The mayor herself now has the virus and apparently, so do far too many more people. My brother had been planning to drive up next week just for the day, to spend a few hours with my mother but that is now off the schedule. Sigh...

https://globalnews.ca/news/8465618/covid-19-montreal-brings-back-state-of-emerge...

>245 alcottacre: - Thanks, Stasia. One day at a time...

>246 jessibud2: Here in the US, covid cases are ramping up greatly. My daughter-in-law's dad (who was boosted with Moderna) just got it. So did Maryland's mayor, Larry Hogan. I am staying home. Jose and I are both boosted with Moderna, but I don't want it! Our percentage rate in Maryland from yesterday's stats was 11.64%. That's double what it was about two weeks ago. Yesterday, Maryland had 6,218 NEW cases of covid. Two weeks ago, it was running about 800 new cases a day.

I hope 2022 is a year with special moments Shelley.

>247 SqueakyChu: - It's never a good time for a new strain to break out but holidays, when so many people are likely to say screw it and just keep going, is a real case of bad timing.

>248 Caroline_McElwee: - Thanks, Caroline, and yours as well!

>246 jessibud2: I know what you mean about the booster. I booked mine last week. My appointment is not until mid January. Apparently I was lucky. Some are getting time slots for March. There was also a fiasco about a fake website that looked real enough for booking. The covid numbers have really risen and to make matters worse hospital workers who have tested positive are told to continue working because they are so understaffed.

Anyhow, I wish you a safe and Happy Christmas!

Sweet Thursday, Shelley! How are the feeders doing? The pigeons staying away?

Happy Holidays to you, my friend! Great to see LT going strong into 2022.

>250 figsfromthistle: - I spent quite a bit of time yesterday, trying to book an appointment or at least, get myself on more waiting lists. I succeeded in the latter so I am now on a total of 5 waiting lists. I have decided not to go to a pop-up clinic because the lineups for those are insane. I mean, it sort of defeats the purpose to stand in line with hundreds of people to get a shot. At one little mall I went to, I was told that they had a pop-up clinic last weekend, and they had to shut it down because people were being idiots and a fist fight broke out. That mall is no longer holding such clinics. *eye roll*...

>251 msf59: - Hi, Mark. In fact, one day, before I went to Montreal, I woke up to find 5 pigeons on the lawn so in came the feeder and it stayed in till I got home. It's back out now, of course, and so far, so good. I've had a downy woodpecker visit for a few days in a row, which was nice! Still, the other regulars are coming: nuthatch, chickadees, house finches, cardinals though I haven't seen any juncos in recent days. Maybe they have moved on.

Happy - and SAFE - holidays to all my LT friends. May 2022 be better than the last 2! And maybe your holidays be filled with good friends and good books!

Agreed! We all need a Safe holiday! And good books have been a life saver

>250 figsfromthistle: >252 jessibud2: That's unconscionable! With the new variation wreaking havoc everywhere, they should be providing it at every doctor's office, clinic, health center, hospital! I tried for about a week to find a vax site that was close to where I lived so I could get boosted. Finally got in at my regular health clinic, which told me they have to wait for supplies to reach them. There should be a better distribution system. BTW, I had a really hard time finding a place to get my first jab back in Feb./March 2020. I finally stayed up late and checked at a minute past midnight. Lots of slots were open then. By the time I set up my appointments (for 1st and 2nd jabs) 10 minutes later, only a few slots were left.

>255 Storeetllr: - I suspect supply is the problem, Mary. I am sticking close to home until I can get boosted and will just have to be patient.

And now, a little break. I wanted to submit a photo of my own to this contest but had trouble with the site before the deadline. Just as well, as my photo doesn't come close to the quality of these!! Just WOW! Enjoy:

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/photography/featured-galleries/top-instagram-p...

https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/d5/a2/d5a2ada47f63cf66369376c7a674368422f7345_v5.jpg 3x">

>256 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Absolutely beautiful pictures. Would be very hard to compete with them.

I hope you manage to get that booster soon. It’s the same here, people struggling to get a place. Sigh. I managed to get mine, though I was nearly sent packing, through some administrative ado.

Great, those docs you are watching! I would love to see the Peter Wohlleben one. But the sit doesn’t work from here.

Best wishes to you Shelley in 2022! Happy reading......

Too bad about your brother not being able to visit your mom for Christmas, Shelley. I hope you are able to get your booster soon. Here we only need to book one appointment because there is a central registration system.

In the city where I live the only venue is a drive through vaccination clinic. I wasn't comfortable with that so I chose to drive to the next city over where I can go to a pharmacy for the shot. I'm really glad I did because as I was walking along the highway yesterday there was a line up at the drive through. They must have opened testing at that vaccination clinic as well. The traffic was blocking the highway and I would imagine it would be impossible to get in for your appointed time if you were going for a vaccination.

Dear Shelley

Many thanks for all your lovely messages of support during 2021. I look forward to being more present on your thread in 2022. In the meantime, here is an illustration from Gennedy Spirin, one of my favorite illustrators.

Many your holiday be filled with love and laughter!

Hi Shelley!

Second line in the sand. Sigh.

Have a lovely holiday, Shelley.

These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for your holiday and here's to next year!!

Yikes, I have been majorly AWOL on my own thread! Thank you, John, Ella, Mary, Meg, Linda, Karen, Roni, Jeff, Paul and Kim.

I still have not yet managed to get my booster shot but I am now on 5 (instead of the initial 2 I got myself on a couple of weeks ago) waiting lists and one pharmacy told me to phone first thing Tuesday morning so maybe I will get lucky. I will only go where I can get an appointment. The covid numbers are rising so quickly here that there is not a chance in you know what that I am going to stand in line with hundreds of others. Anyhow, I'm ok with that. I'm not going anywhere so waiting at home for an appointment is fine with me.

As the final week of this godforsaken year begins (and ends), I wish for all of you - all of us! - a New year that turns the corner on the stress and illness of these last two years. It's enough, already!

Happy New Year to you, Shelley, and fingers crossed for the booster!

Last year, I read a book called The Journey that Saved Curious George, the story of the little monkey's creators. It was a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the couple, German Jews who fled from the Nazis on bicycles, and lived in France, Argentina, and Portugal before finally arriving in the USA, where *Curious George* finally began his life and the Reys lived out the rest of theirs. The book was visually engaging as well, combining text with photos, reprinted documents and journal entries.

Fast forward to Friday. I watched a documentary film made of this very story, called Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George's Creators. It basically told the same story, but in more depth and detail. It included short interviews with former neighbours, friends and others who worked with the Reys. The live action in the film blended seamlessly and quite brilliantly with animated sequences and was a visual delight to watch.

>269 jessibud2: What a fascinating review Shelley. I have mostly lurked on the threads this month and as always, enjoy your commentary and the saga of cats, your Mom and the bird feeders as well as the book reviews.

Thanks for your kind new year's greeting. Leaving my best wishes here for a healthy, bookish year to come.

>269 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, I read that book too and wonderful for you to see a doc that dovetailed. I always love reading about your doc experiences as you view great gems! Happy New Year to you!

Ok, here is tech question I should probably be embarrassed to even pose here but since you all know how dim I am when it comes to this, I will just go ahead.

I want to create a spreadsheet for a challenge I want to do. The thing is, I did it once before but it has to be at least 10 years ago and that is apparently beyond what my little pea brain is capable of remembering. On Bookcrossing, there was a challenge called the 666 Challenge. You read 6 books from 6 countries across 6 continents. I managed all but 3 of the 36 possibilities when I did it then. Of course, I could simply draw the chart myself, by hand, but dammit, I want to do the spreadsheet so it looks good and I can pretend to be smart.

The chart has the 6 continents listed across the top, the numbers 1 to 6 down the left side and I fill in the countries as I read the books, in the boxes under each continent.

I am very much a step-by-step learner. If anyone has any spare patience, and can tell me where on my computer to find how to do this, I would be forever grateful. I could even copy and paste your instructions into a note to myself so next time I want to do this, I won't have to ask again!

Thank you! :-)

>272 jessibud2: Unfortunately, I no longer have access to Excel so I cannot walk you through it. I would have to do it by first walking myself through it! Sorry, Shelley.

Happy holidays! I hope you can get your booster soon.

I am kind of inept myself and need my brother's tech assistance. But I have made charts using a Word document and then going to " Table" and inserting a table. I am asked for the number of columns and rows- I guess as if I need more rows or columns I can add. Does that help?

>274 torontoc: - Maybe. I did a search on my computer for the last one I made (which I had printed out but wanted to see if I still had it on my computer). I do have it and it does appear to be a Word document. Now, all I have to do is see if I can figure out how I created it. I have to look more closely at the headings and see if I can find *table* or some such. Thanks for pointing me in that direction, Cyrel. If I can't, I can always call my computer guy but I like to try to see if I can figure things out on my own before calling him (usually, I can't, hehe). I also know I could probably use the template I saved on my computer and just delete the info in each box and add new info for this year but in truth, I want to know how to create it from scratch.

I will give it a try over the next few days and see if I can have any success.

>273 alcottacre: - Thanks, Stasia. I am supposed to phone one of the pharmacies first thing tomorrow morning so fingers crossed that I can get an appointment.

Have you tried " Vaccine Hunters Canada"- they are supposed to be able to help find appointments. check their website

>277 torontoc: - Thanks, Cyrel. Just did that now. Guess what? "No appointments available or coming up in my area", within a 75km radius. I did register with them, though so I guess I am now officially on yet another wait list.

I think that by the time I get an appointment, there will be a new variant and a 4th shot required. ;-p

>275 jessibud2: Open a blank Word document, go to "Insert", then "Table". A window will pop open that will let you select how many rows and columns you need. Be sure to include room for any column or row headers you want to include. You can always add rows or columns afterward too.

>279 drneutron: - Oh, yes, this is what I need. Thank you!

Ok, so I have opened a Word doc, done the *insert*, *table*. I selected 7 rows and 7 columns. So far, so good. But as I try to adjust the spacing so the 36 boxes are more or less the same size (after making the top row for headings and the left column for numbers smaller, the horizontal lines are suddenly disappearing so that I now have only 5 rows. What happened, what did I do and I guess, more importantly, how can I draw 2 more horizontal lines back into it so I have my required number of boxes back? I got out of it completely and started over from scratch but the same thing happened. I feel I am close to achieving what I am looking for but I am stuck here and can't figure out the next step.

>280 jessibud2: I'm guessing that you made one of the rows zero height by dragging it, which made it disappear. Here's another way to adjust to that shouldn't happen.

First, if you don't have the ribbon at the top of the document window, select "View", then "Ribbon". This will add a bunch of tool icons to the top of your document window.

Next, highlight the cells in your table you want to adjust and select "Layout" on the ribbon at the top of your document. In the middle of the ribbon should be two boxes with numbers for row height and column width. You can just type new numbers in those to change the dimensions.

Hopefully that will work! If not, let's take it to PMs and I'll see if I can help you with more detailed steps.

Just sent you a file back with a couple of sample tables. Hope that helps!

>282 drneutron: - A million thanks, Jim! For your patience and expertise

My pleasure!

>272 jessibud2: Good luck with the spreadsheet. Looks like Doc has you covered. ; )

>283 jessibud2: Isn't Doc a gem? I am so grateful to him for the 75 books group and all the work he does on that. I'm so happy he helped you with your spreadsheet. Have fun with it.

Well, I FINALLY managed to book an appointment for my booster shot! I have spent so much time online both yesterday and over the last several weeks, trying to find somewhere in the city that was booking appointments. Everywhere I checked they were fully booked and not booking more than 2 weeks in advance. I did get myself on more than half a dozen waiting lists, mostly in various pharmacies, but that's just until more bookings open up. Thank to Cyrel for helping try to locate places in the city.

For some reason, I decided to try the government website yesterday. I had initially tried that first and their site was down when I did and I hadn't remembered to circle back and keep trying. Well, I got lucky and now have an appointment for mid-January, which is only around 2 weeks away, Some other places I checked were booking into the end of February and one place, showed nothing until May! Obviously, I will not remove myself from any wait lists until the shot is in my arm but it's just a relief to know that it's coming. The numbers here are bad and getting worse, it seems. Montreal is re-imposing its nightly curfew again, starting tomorrow. And apparently, winter break is being extended by a week for kids, who were supposed to go back to school next week. I guess that's better than having to go back to online learning, which no one wants.

I was on a zoom call this afternoon with a few high school friends. We have reunited over the past few months. One is a doctor in the States, at the Mayo Clinic and she deals with covid cases. She says, realistically, she doesn't think covid will go away completely but hopefully, will just become something we learn to live and deal with like the flu. Maybe if enough people continue to get and stay vaccinated, that will happen. But frankly, because it's a global virus, that would have to mean countries where there is little vaccine, would have to have better access to the vaccine in order top bring them up to the same level that we in the wealthier countries enjoy (if *enjoy* is the right word). Anyhow, I guess we just have to carry on carrying on and continue to mask, wash hands, distance and not be stupid about things.

Here's to a better 2022!

>287 jessibud2: Hurray for booking the booster shot! It is necessary if you want your body to be able to fight omicron at all.

The stats for covid here in Maryland are horrible. The postivity rate jumped suddenly up to 20%, with 14,000 new cases in my state in one day alone! Over the past two weeks, I know of two people who have contracted covid. One had mild cold-like symptoms; the other was a neighbor of my younger son. She just delivered food to them on Thursday, and now my son's unvaccinated three-year-old daughter has a sore throat so they won't be coming to Shabbat dinner. I told Barbara not to come down for New Year's either as she has had lingering cold symptoms and has been unable to find any testing site with openings and cannot find any rapid tests to buy. I think she has a cold, but I don't want anyone in my house with any respiratory symptoms due to my husband's lung issues.

I started wearing an N95 mask into grocery stores, covered by a fabric mask Jose made as I'll have to reuse the N95. Since it's vented, we just bought some Niosh N95 unvented masks online from a website suggested and used by my neighbor who is a virologist so I trust her recommendation.

Isn't this all so crazy? I told my older son to still come to Shabbat dinners because, if we go into any kind of isolation/lockdown again, he would be totally alone. I want to keep him in our bubble even though he does go to work, but I think his interactions with others are minimal. I suggested he start wearing an N95 mask to work, but he says they are too uncomfortable to wear all day. He might look to buy some KN95 masks.

Let's read! :D

>287 jessibud2: Yes! I am very glad you finally managed to get a booster appointment, Shelley!

Here it went good, we booked our appointments two weeks ago, two days apart, as we don't have the same year of birth. Frank went the 29th, I went yesterday, so we both are boostered now.

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Shelley.