OT: The Tea Room (& other stuffs) part two

Per ZoeyEve's request!

Ugh, I have discovered that my bank thinks logging in from a different state should require asking multiple security questions, and I set them up so long ago that I genuinely cannot for the life of me remember the answer to one of them. Of course, I'm glad they do ask and I do understand why, but ARGH. I won't even be home for at least another week!

On the plus side, I've gotten to see relatives aged 22 months to 90 years, this portion of my trip has had some internet access available, and the plan to only bring books from my Belladonna1975 pile is turning out quite well so far!

1> I like the sound of that plan! I am glad that your trip is going well even with the frustrating bank thing!

1> I'm glad your vacation is going well, along with your reading.

I have two boxes of books to mail out this weekend, along with another package. We are also moving a family member 3 hours away, and because its spring break this past week ALL my family and friends are home and want to visit, which is fantastic. It's going to be a very busy weekend.

But, of course, after having a fantastically warm, dry winter so far, this is the one weekend where it is supposed to blizzard. 10-15cm of snow is forecast along with 60km/h winds. Figures. lol If I didn't have so many plans it would be a pj's, tea & books weekend. As it is, I'm wondering about my sanity for making as many plans as I have.

>1 chelonianmobile: I hate when the bank/vendor doesn't let you choose your own security questions because they usually give you ones that are subject to change, like "what's your favorite book?" or just totally ridiculous. There was one site, I forget which, where one of the security question options was, "If you could be any height, what height would you be?" Even if, for whatever reason, you had an answer to that question that you would remember in the first place, you'd also have to remember how you typed it. Was it 5 feet 8, five foot eight, 5'8", 5 feet eight inches? It's just asking for trouble. Who thought this question was a good idea?!

I also have the problem where I handle all of my boss's accounts for work, so I have to try to remember what he might have said once about his maternal grandmother's middle name (yes, one site had that as a non-alterable question). It gets to be unnecessarily crazy, like the time he called me up on a weekend to ask me what his maternal grandmother's middle name was...

>1 chelonianmobile:

Hm - maybe you should call them and tell them that you are going to different states? When I was opening my account, there was a specific question if I travel in the States and abroad and so far had never had issues logging in from anywhere...

>4 macsbrains:

Yeah - some of those questions are weird sometimes :) And I hate sites where the answers are case sensitive - if it is name, fine to some extent. But Favorite food/drink/whatever?

*sets out some yummy sugar cookies*

We're in the middle of moving... with at least one more move in the near future, possibly several more. Having an 11-month-old makes it a lot harder.

Speaking of Eddie, he wanted to say hi to everyone and to let you all know he got his first hair cut last week.

omg I totally love that car seat thing! That's so cute!

>7 rainbowgirl28:

Isn't he a cutie :)

Yeah I had to go with a ridiculous kid's hair cutting place for his first haircut :)

Someone please tell me I'm not allowed to go to the Book Corner at the Free Library of Philadelphia. I already went to two bookstores yesterday and spent a stupid amount of money. Plus, it's two buses and about forty minutes of transport each way.

No tea for me today, I just passed my last exam and need something stronger (hence the drunk posting :-))

In other news, I managed to walk into a bookstore today and bought only the university sweatshirt I had gone there for, left without a single book.

I managed to walk into a bookstore today ... left without a single book.

"The Force is strong with this one." :P

The Force is very strong for Conachair!

Had to share a funny story: my husband is a PhD student, went to the university library to work, and fell asleep (standard - and I imagine annoying for other library users, as he snores). Woke up to find a phone number on a slip of paper tucked under his elbow.

Who hits on a guy who's ASLEEP in the library??

14: That's funny. But I've also discovered that the university library can be an amazing treasure trove of single men, especially around midterm/finals time. :)

The service I've been receiving at my local Chapters has left a lot to be desired over the past year or two. Today, again, I went hoping to find a whole list of books. Surprise, surprise they were once again showing as 'in store' with multiple copies, but nowhere on the shelves. However, unlike previous experiences, we had two wonderful ladies helping us out, hunting down the books, checking the back & returns, and basically running around the store in a vain attempt to find these multiple copies. What an amazing change considering the majority of the staff still run the other way when you attempt to make eye contact or ask for help. I *so* wish there were other local options.

Proving that I am capable of getting lost anywhere, it just took me over half an hour (in the rain) to get to the post office near my sister's apartment. It's maybe a quarter of a mile! It only took four minutes to get back.

Belladonna1975, you are going to enjoy those books OR ELSE. (Just kidding, I actually had several other things to mail.)

I'm just dropping in for some virtual chocolate. It's been one of those Mondays. I'm beginning to feel a bit like Garfield- always getting the pie in the face on Monday mornings!

Marie, have as much virtual chocolate as you wish (it's calorie-free, after all) and hope it cheers you up that I posted off your angel books today via airmail!

All this chocolate!

At work, one of our new tenants is a chocolate store where they make their own ridiculously expensive handmade chocolates. Price aside, they will be the death of me, those raspberry bonbons...

Thanks Sophie! It's so nice to get those 'sent' notifications, they always cheer me up. I got home, had supper and a glass of wine and promptly fell asleep last night. Not the most productive of evenings, but it felt amazing!

Sure it was productive - productive of relaxation and feeling-better-in-the-morning. These are valuable results!

I am offering up fudge with Heath bits -- yours unfortunately is virtual, but mine isn't! Of course, that means my calories are real, too. :-(

I needed something to keep me going on the taxes. Gotta get 'em done early this year so I can go to South Dakota in April to visit my Dad. Yay!

I finally have internet at home! We just moved. A former tenant told us they had DSL there. I didn't even think to see if cable was available, since our last place it was not.

So I sign us up for DSL and we move in. The next day, I can't find the pone jack anywhere! Turns out, they are remodeling the house, and it got taken out! But cable is available here now, so I went with that instead. Finally got it installed today! Updating Bookmooch from my cell phone was a pain!

23: Internet is a wonderful thing that I completely take advantage of when it is available. It's only when it's broken or missing that I realize just how much I love it.

(Our ISP at work decided to "upgrade" their IP addresses on Tues and deleted one of the ones we used on our server. It took 2 days of IT ppl to get everything running again. I'm still catching up.)

OMG! The Macarons!

So very dainty!

I think everyone here has heard me mention over time that we have been doing renovations in our basement. It's taken about 6 months longer than expected, but by next weekend I should be starting to unpack my books and put them on my new bookcases! I'm hoping to have everything moved in by the end of the month, but I will be THRILLED to even begin getting my books out of the 50+ boxes I have spread out around the house. The only books in my entire collection that are not boxed up are the ones that are in my tbr pile, which is jammed onto one bookcase.

Sadly, I don't think that this project will be completed in whole by the end of the month, but at the very least, I'll have a good start at unpacking and sorting.

And back to painting... and painting... and painting... :)

*noms them*

>28 Mareofthesea: There are few joys equal to filling up brand new bookshelves. :)

While a enjoyed the lovely walk in the sunshine (which we have had precious little of) the $60 it cost to mail the last batch of books reminds me why I have reduced my Bookmooch activity so severely. My spring break is coming to a close and I have to go back to work on Monday (sigh). I made some inroads on my TBR piles but I really think that life would be better if I didn't have all those hours of work interfering with my reading time. Having a lovely afternoon cup of tea and maybe a little chocolate to celebrate the (temporary) arrival of spring. Rain again next week.

Oooo Skittles.. how did you know Macaroons are my weakness? How?? The green ones at the bottom are pistachio. They are also mine.

@ Carod; I am glad you had a walk in the sunshine. I am sorry that the Canadian Post office makes swapping books so unaffordable. I will join you for that cup of tea and totally get not working gives time to read. I am very blessed and thankful in this economy to have a job after being laid off my last company but I do miss those days of reading hours on end :)

i have a friend who is retired and now spends at least 6 hours a day reading. Her problem is she swaps books as quickly as she reads so there is no dent in her TBR pile this year :)

Want some cake?

awwww so CUTE!

I had an appointment with an OB/GYN this week to get the best information I can regarding my health problems, medications, age, and my ability to get pregnant. It went okay, but now I have to see my specialist about my meds and see if the benefits outweigh the risks for both pregnancy in breastfeeding. I'm hoping that the spouse and I can start trying very soon.

Good luck, I hope that goes well for you!

37, Thank you! I'm getting really excited (and anxious).

good luck!

38: Good luck!

I've spent the last week moving, organizing and sorting stuff out. It's far more work than I want to be doing, but it feels so good to get stuff done. If I'm not on here much in the next few weeks, it's because now that I've started this nightmare of a project, I want to finish it.

Le sigh.

Thank you, Heather and Mare. I'm also organizing and sorting stuff- and throwing lots of stuff away. I had tons of stuff stored at my Mom's and I've been avoiding going through it since she died, but I need to organize my basement and get stuff ready for a huge yard sale this summer. Oh, and I'm trying to clear out the former spare bedroom because my baby is going to need a room!

More tea anyone?
scones? finger sandwiches?
sweets?



and there's more on the other table...

*picks up some chocolate stuff*

I've been woe-ing about my ex lately. The ex from FIVE years ago, who broke my heart. I miss her. A lot.

We had a fire at work and spent over an hour out on the field with all the children until we could get them picked up. I *so* need chocolate!

*gives carod an assortment of chocolates* I hope everyone was okay!

Seems to be a few people having the after effects of smoke ( I had a headache all day Thursday and developed a cough but not sure if that is smoke related or not). No other injuries and the children were all amazing! No major damage and the school opened as usual (if a little stinky) the next day. I'm more worried about the unhappy little boy who started this, and an earlier, fire.

CURRENTLY HYPERVENTILATING FROM SHEER JOY

Um so I finally managed to get my hands on a NON-Pinnacle books edition of this one Doctor Who episode novelization (I HATE PINNACLE I HATE THEM SO MUCH) and it's in amazing condition for something from the 70s and I opened it up to check something and . . . it's autographed by Tom Baker.

The only sad thing is that the likelihood of this particular book being given up for any other reason than the owner having died is pretty slim. :(

47! *thud*

>47 chelonianmobile: Sad, maybe, but I prefer to think of how the book has found its way into another loving home. It's a cause for celebration! Yay, happy book adoption! :)

>48 Belladonna1975: I KNOW, RIGHT?

>49 macsbrains: As I have occasionally pondered what I would write in my will re: my Doctor Who books, I do feel a little glow of happiness at carrying on the Whovian tradition. Many thanks, unknown Becky to whom the book is inscribed.

The package also contained three other episode novelizations that I didn't have (!!!) and the first two Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane omnibuses (aka the entire McKeever run) and pretty much it was just a little box of joy from Powell's.

>50 chelonianmobile: I am heading down to Vancouver WA/Portland OR this summer for a few days and am scheduling a long afternoon at Powell's as part of my trip. I will be constrained by how many books I can carry home (I am taking the train) unless I mail some to myself? hmmm

51: The last time I was in the states, I mailed home two large flat-rate boxes of books. I say go for it!

>51 carod: and it US to Canada postage which is usually pretty affordable. I say go for it :) and enjoy your vacation this summer. I hope the days are full of sunshine and I don't mean the liquid sunshine type :)

wohoo we finally have some sun here!! Time to drink iced tea and read on the balcony :)

*gives Bcteagirl ALL THE SUN*

It's been 110+ degrees lately. I hate the sun right now.

In other news, I've been struggling with money issues, trying to scrape together an extra $500 to go to a concert in August. Making only juuust enough to pay bills, it doesn't look like it will happen.... But I'm trying.

How IS everyone??

Low on funds, but enjoying the summer. Took over 80%of the derlict gardens at my apt. building, planted almost enough potatoes and onions to get through the winter. Radishes and lettuce slowly coming in (Planted them last). Working on reading mount TBR mostly from the bottom :P

Happy to have sun now as well. I have started my summer off sick. Finally went to the clinic and got antibiotics and an inhaler. I am hoping to be feeling better soon so I can enjoy the arrival of summer! Reading lots. One of my projects for this week is to go through the TBR mountains (which toppled over recently) and wean out a few to post on Bookmooch or take to the used book store.

Sorry to hear you are sick! I hope you recover quickly. :)

I have been weaning a few books out as well. Sort of a freeing feeling when you allow yourself to skip some books :P

Feel better soon carod!

*curls up in the Tea Room and hides from Real Life* So I'm talking to my ex through Facebook. The ex I haven't talked to since we broke up 4 years ago. The ex who a part of me still very much loves. Why did I think it was a good idea to contact her??

I'm also going through my books and getting rid of stuff I don't think I will read. Plus, I'm clearing my whole house of clutter.

In other news, I'm finally trying for a baby and may already be pregnant. Woo!

Congratulations, Quaisor! Babies are so wonderful. And even when they're full-grown, they are still your babies...

Thank you, I won't know for sure for a few weeks yet and then I'll have to go for tons of tests because of my age and my health.

Wishing you the best of luck then! {{Hugs}}

*Crosses fingers* Hope it is great news! :)

Good luck Quaisior!

Good luck Quaisior!

Thanks everyone, I'm not pregnant yet, but I'll apply the good wishes for the months ahead. ;-)

Okay, where's the chocolate?? I have had the most frustrating couple of days. I discovered this year that although I thought I was Canadian I am, apparently, also American and although I have lived in Canada and payed Canadian taxes all my life I have to file American income tax forms and declare all my bank accounts and RRSPs (including giving my bank addresses, account numbers and account balances). I have been wrestling with incomprehensible forms, trying to track down 5 years worth of financial records and dealing with computer incompatibilities and printer issues. And of course, as a tax paying Canadian, I don't owe the IRS anything, nor will I ever owe the IRS anything. So some IRS employee is going to have to wade through all this paperwork (at the U.S. taxpayer's expense). Multiply that by the millions of us Canadians in the same boat and does this make any sense???

Okay rant over. Now for something cold, frothy and chocolaty...

Ouch - what a nightmare! Hope it gets sorted out eventually ... :-)

>69 Sophie236: thanks Sophie. Getting the forms in the mail ($7.40) helped as did the mocha frappuccino I made myself. Until next year anyway.

>carod - that sounds AWFUL. All I can say is good luck. Official financial forms are the worst (and I say that as an accountant...)

Awful week at work -lots of termoil this week. Twice I tried to sign in to LT with my username and password from work. Probably going to continue for a few weeks too. Brought in 2 bags of chocloates to share with co-workers; this is so going to be a chocolate week.

72: Ugh. Here too. I'm sitting here thinking that a psychologist would have a field day with this office. There is SO much unnecessary drama going on. It makes me so very tired.

After a wonderful trip to Portland and Powell's books (in which I found some wishlisted books as well as some new finds, and spent a lovely afternoon) I came home to discover I had accidentally bought the 3rd book of the trilogy that I have been trying to complete for years rather than the 2nd book which is the one I am missing. Darn. One of the reasons I am trying to update my wishlist on Bookmooch. I need a usable copy to take with me to used bookstores and thrift stores. Then yesterday my Mom phoned and said that my Dad was visiting and wanted to go to some thrift stores in town and she wasn't willing to take him (he's not allowed to drive anymore due to vision problems). So, dutiful daughter that I am, I put down the book I was enjoying (sigh) and bestirred myself to pick him and and take him to the thrift stores. I found 3 wishlisted books including the 2nd book from the aforementioned trilogy in almost new condition! Karma in action;) *happy dance*

Excellent! Congratulations.

I discovered today that yet another of my favourite used bookstores has closed. That's 2 more in the last couple of months. It's so sad that independent booksellers can't seem to make a go of it anymore.

*bump!*

Hi everyone! Just thought I'd say hi since I haven't been around lately. Hope you all are doing well!

I'm still struggling with my bipolar, the medication changes don't seem to be helping yet and I've been having a LOT of "hate the world" days.

Thanks for checking in Heather. I hope the medication starts working out better for you soon.

I'm exhausted. First week with my new responsibilities at school. I think I will enjoy the classes I will be working with, but I feel torn in that resources are strained and there are 3 or 4 other students who I know need more help and there is no extra time for them.

Well it certainly is quiet around here. Perhaps a shortage of chocolate?

Um... well, I certainly didn't go into the chocolate store around the corner today to buy a bag of handmade dark chocolate almond toffee, nosiree, and I certainly didn't do that instead of having a real lunch... What? chocolate is a food group, didn't you hear? On the new food pyramid. It's right there above ice cream and peanut butter.

Peanut butter is a food group now?! *nomnomnomnoms*

We have unmade brownie mix that really should be made. Like, soon.

Peanut butter is most definitely a food group in my world!

When I was a kid, on some of those lazy summer days I would sometimes just sit on the couch with a spoon and a jar of peanut butter and savor the spoonfuls while I watched cartoons. Nowadays I use a bowl and mix a tablespoon or two of fruit preserves into it before putting it in the microwave. Every time I am astonished anew at how divinely delicious it is. Every time. Totally astonished.

There are some young girls at my dance school who are allergic to peanuts and always ask me what it tastes like and I don't know how to describe it to them. (It comes up often because I have to remember to not have any in my possession the days they are there which usually means I am frantically consuming my supply as I walk through the door)

I'm on a chocolate milk kick right now. I have to have a big cup of chocolate milk in the morning to take my pills with, and then another big cup after work, and then usually another cup later in the evening. .... We are buying 3 gallon-jugs at a time, now. lol

*leaves hugs!*

macsbrains I've often felt that peanut butter tastes a lot like toasted sesame seeds...if they've ever had a sesame spread (which I hear they make) it should taste a bit like that. I love toasted sesame seed bagles just because it tastes like peanut butter without having it. Most schools are now nut free so I've given up peanut butter during the school year.

Eddie has an announcement...

WOOOT! Congrats, rainbowgirl!!

And I am sure Eddie will be a great big brother!

Congrats Rainbowgirl! (BTW, I'm currently waiting a few days to take a pregnancy test of my own).

Congratulations!

Thanks everyone, and good luck Quaisior!

I met Peter S. Beagle at New York Comic Con today! and had a complete and total fangasm of epic proportions! Asdfjkl; I was grinning like an idiot, but he was so nice and didn't seem to mind. He signed a bunch of my books that I brought from home and I bought the remaining few that I was missing, then we chatted a little bit about his work and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (because of my Buffy bag). He is a Spike fan, wouldn't you know?

I missed him last year because he was in the Artist's Alley which I usually don't go to, so I made sure to check again this year. I'm also going to try to see Catherynne M. Valente at a bookstore downtown later this month and go fangirl at her to sign my books.

asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl; FANGIRLING


That is the first day freebies haul. (Well, mostly freebies. Three books & 1 DVD were bought, and there are 3 doubles in there which my partner nabbed for my sister.) The little pile on the side is sampler chapters.

Just kinda need to rant and update about stuff.

Yesterday my (stupididiot) doctor added Antisocial Personality Disorder to my list of diagnoses. I have since looked it up online, and according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, I definitely do NOT meet the criteria for that diagnosis (http://www.macalester.edu/academics/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/serialkillers/dsm_antisocial.html). I have been very upset about this, because it makes me sound like a totally different person then who I am. I will be fighting this.

In other news: *puts out a big bowl of assorted chocolates* Halloween! Yay!

Heather, wow, what a diagnosis to be socked with. Good for you for fighting it, and I wish you strength!

And thank you for the Halloween candy. *chomp chomp*

I have had some pretty epic experiences at the post office lately! I posted them to the PaperBackSwap forums, sometime when I am a little less busy I will have to post here.

I miss my old single employee PO. It's so much easier dealing with one person that knows you. Because we're moving so much, I share a PO Box with my mom at a large busy post office. The clerks there just plain suck, for the most part. Some are rude and some just have a poor grasp of USPS regulations. They have an APC and a package window, so I rarely need to go to the counter, thank goodness, but sometimes the APC breaks...

That's too bad. And they wonder why no one wants to use them? I have 2 POs to choose from about equidistant from where i live and the people at each are pretty nice even if they are busy.

Hello everyone. *hugs all around* *also gives chocolates all around*

http://bookmooch.com/m/bio/heather19

The bold part at the top, does it sound alright? It doesn't come out sounding too... whiny or excuse-y, does it? It's true, but I don't want it to sound like I'm just noting it as an excuse....

Sounds good to me - very straightforward. You will, of course, get at least one person cancelling because you took too long... funny how a website (theoretically) full of readers gets so many who don't read the stuff in red on the mooch page!

Hope this year is going better for you Heather!

And I hope Eddie likes being a big brother!

Yeegs I am behind.

Break out the tea and goodies though! Mint Nanimo bars anybody? I just this Friday submitted a final version of my thesis, and they are finding an external examiner for my PhD defense!! (Hence my being AWOL for half a year).

Am also in the process of pairing down books for moving (*sigh*). I have come to the conclusion that there were still be far to many books, no matter where I end up going.

Oh yes, this happened:


Her name is Linnea.

Awww... such a cutie!

beautiful;)

Stunning little girl! :)

Awwww she's adorable! And I love the name.
*giggles over "this happened"*

I'm doing amazingly better. Like, haven't been this stable with my depression in *years* type of better. Anxiety is still a bit of a problem, but not so I can't handle it.

I would love to be able to say something like "and I met the love of my life!" but... nope. lol However, I am in the middle of writing a novel (for Camp NaNoWriMo) where the MC mets the love of *her* life, and the MC is really a barely-disguised me, so... Meh.

I miss you guys!! I miss BookMooch in general, I've gotten one mooch request in the last three months. *sigh*

Except for a few books that I posted here first, I haven't had any in a long time either. But on the other hand, my inventory is low and I haven't been adding books I know would be mooched because I want to reduce the points I have. It's space that is my big problem. So I've only been mooching sporadically too.

Recommended book:

Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant.

and, yes, I needed the book recently.

HRH went to Cat Heaven, peacefully and knowing he was loved.

Awwww...sorry to hear that skittles. {{hugs}}

*sends tons of hugs to skittles!*

Thank you so much!!

Your words and hugs are much appreciated.

*resurrects an old dead thread 'cause in need of BM-friends support*

*waves* I still log on to BM at least once a week, but my inventory hasn't moved in forever. I think I've gotten 1 wishlist hit in the past 6 months. I miss you guys, though, and remember how you were all so good to me when I was having hard times.

Well, I've been on a medical leave from work for over 2 months (I'm very stubborn about maintaining an "emergency savings", *only* way we've gotten by). My depression is so low it's difficult to do anything at all... I've described it as feeling like a robot. Nothing keeps my interest. I'm self-harming a lot more often, and worse, and have had 3 days over the past month where I had suicidal thoughts. Meds are being changed around... I have other friends online and such, but I'm sorta at a point where I feel like I need all the support I can possibly get, and you guys are so sweet and kind...

/emotional ramble

Heather, do you read Hyperbole and a Half? She writes a blog with cartoons (and has a book just out). She also suffers from depression, and has blogged about it - the clearest representation of what it feels like from the inside I've ever seen. It sounds very much like what you just wrote.

I don't know if it would be helpful to see what someone else went through - and got through - or if it would make things worse. That's your call. But I've found that just knowing I wasn't unique in feeling/experiencing something often makes it much easier to handle.

Major {{hugs}} to Heather. Hope things get better...

Hugs Heather. I too recommend Hyperbole and a Half. I just read the book recently and it helped me deal with a lot of the emotional crap I've been going through this year (miscarriage, another family death in December, infertility, I could go on and on). Like jjmcgaffey said, for me, it helps to know I'm not alone, plus many of the blog entries and the sections of the book are hilarious so maybe they can make you laugh (although I know how hard that is during a major depressive phase). I hope you find something that comforts you.

Ironic two people mentioned Hyperbole and a Half, I've been following that blog *forever* and have the depression entries bookmarked. Also ordered the book for Christmas.

*HUGS Quaisior!* That's a lot to go through in one year!

:) Yay for more Hyperbole and a Half fans.

Thanks Heather. I'm trying to hang in there, but years like 2010/11 and 2013 make it really difficult. I hope 2014 is better.

*puts out a plate of virtual shortbread* I hope everyone has a peaceful holiday season, whatever you celebrate;) and many wonderful books to read.

We need to pass around a virtual box of Godiva chocolates, don't we? I'll start...mmmmm...raspberry creme!

*hugs* Heather. I hope you turn the corner soon and that each day is a little better than the last.

Happy New Year everyone with many happy hours curled up with a good book. New Years Resolution: Two books out for every one book in! I've got to get control of the TBR.

Good luck with that, carod! I would make the same resolution, but I know I'll never manage to keep it!

How is everyone doing? My kids are 3.5 and 1.5 now, time flies!

Reviving an old thread 'cause, well, 'cause I miss BookMooch peoples.

I haven't been around in a long time, I know. I actually closed my BM account awhile back: I hadn't gotten any requests or wishlist hits in months and really really couldn't afford Post Office trips anymore. I kinda miss it, but yeah.

Since my last post here I've gone to a mental hospital (November 2014), had many ups and downs at work (went from 4 hours a day to 1, for a few months. I'm now at 3 hours a day). I recently accidentally destroyed my laptop with a very unfortunate soda spill, and had to use every cent of my saved money in order to get a new one. OH, I got a doggie! I was dogsitting for a friend who was out of town, and I fell in love with the dog, and yeah, I now have a wonderful, trained, calm dog. Very different then the last dog I had.

How IS everyone?! Life updates?

*sets out different kinds of chocolates*

Hi Heather, congrats on the canine addition to your family and the new laptop (even though the circumstances of getting it were unfortunate).

I just had my first (and most likely only) baby last month- at the age of 41! Her name is Jocelyn and being her mom is a fulltime job, so I haven't gotten to read much lately or do much mooching, although I mooched a ton of board books just before I gave birth.

Congrats Heather on new dog and Quaisior on new baby. I have been mooching a little this summer, posted a few books and got a few from a new member who would send to Canada. But far fewer of the books I posted got mooched than the last time I posted any and since I will now only mooch rarer or bigger books (mass market paperbacks are "cheaper" than 3 points at used book stores) I'm not finding much to mooch these days.

Thanks for the chocolate, anyone feel like an iced coffee?

I am waiting for a book from the Philippines- the sender has to get it to the US- so it will take a while. Other than that - not much happening.

I make an iced tea.

I need hot chocolate! Friday and Saturday were soooo hot and today, it was rainy and only in the 50s. Such is weather at my Dad's farm in South Dakota this time of year.

I was able to mooch a few books for my husband this summer, but other than that, very little action. I only post on PaperBackSwap nowadays unless the book is not clean enough. I don't want any more points I'll never use. PBS has been pretty slow, though, too. I am finding many of my wishlisted books on Scribd.

Nice to hear from everybody!