The Kitchen, super deluxe Mark V edition

Discussie75 Books Challenge for 2010

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The Kitchen, super deluxe Mark V edition

Dit onderwerp is gemarkeerd als "slapend"—het laatste bericht is van meer dan 90 dagen geleden. Je kan het activeren door een een bericht toe te voegen.

1richardderus
Bewerkt: apr 9, 2010, 1:03 pm

Since we're over 260 posts over there, it seemed an opportune moment to start a new thread.

2alcottacre
Bewerkt: apr 9, 2010, 1:12 pm

Quote for the day from The Bloomsbury Group by John Keith Johnstone:

"Friendship was the basis of the society; friendship had drawn its members together; and Bloomsbury depended on family feeling for its continued existence. Friendship made possible a frank exchange of views, which, Bloomsbury found, enlarged the individual. For this, conversation was necessary; and because Bloomsbury loved beauty, and found conversation to be of great value, conversation became an art in its midst and was more important than it had been, perhaps, since the days of Dr. Johnson."

Maybe next year we should rename the 75 Books Challenge group to the 'LT Version of Bloomsbury' Group?

Posted to my thread too

(For some reason the correct Touchstone will not load here, but it did on my thread)

3richardderus
apr 9, 2010, 2:40 pm

Hmmm...unwieldy but accurate...

4mckait
apr 9, 2010, 7:27 pm

starred etc

5TadAD
apr 10, 2010, 8:29 am

Ok, Thursday I was walking around in shorts, T-shirt, sandals and still had my tongue hanging out like my dogs. Today I'm sitting with long pants, flannel shirt and fleece.

Hey, Mother Nature, winter is over! Let's get back to balmy temperatures!

The kids have informed me that they want "the Duke chicken" (Ms. Childs' Suprêmes de Volaille Archiduc) and pumpkin pie for dinner. Perhaps getting the oven going early will warm up this place...I hate to turn the furnace back on.

6mckait
apr 10, 2010, 9:40 am

Stasia.. I like it!

7alcottacre
apr 10, 2010, 9:53 am

#6: I am glad!

8richardderus
apr 10, 2010, 12:12 pm

It's **perfect** here...60F, sunshiney, breezy, and the garden is really crankin' up the bloomy things. No choking miasma of lily of the valley or Stargazers yet, thank goodness, but hyacinths and quinces and pears and bleeding hearts and forsythias (kind of anemic this year, the forsythias); tulips budded; redbuds about to spring (!) open; dogwoods arfin' to get busy!

And I get to sit on the patio and read amid this glory, dog and gin at my side. I have a sweet, sweet life.

9mckait
apr 10, 2010, 12:58 pm

IS there anyone on LT whose posts you simply cannot read?
Or perhaps red x a thread because that person was the last poster :P

I just did that..

Okay..

stress is starting to take hold. I don't freak out during crisis. I do fall apart at some time after. What with Dan being on midnight for a month and shouting at me at every opportunity that he "IS ON MIDNIGHT" so I guess it is okay for him to be nasty?

Then Cory came home to help, and ...... he means well, but help is not the word I would use. On top of this the Duncan thing, the work thing..

I am fearing that I am going the ranks of those @ work who just don't care.
It may be they are that way as a method of self preservation.

I am feeling

stressed

10AMQS
apr 10, 2010, 1:14 pm

Kath, I am sorry! That awful stressful life situation is so tough on everyone. I've been way there more than I'd like to be this year, barely keeping everything together. Why endure more stress? Red x-ing is way better than adding to it! I hope things improve for you soon.

11alcottacre
apr 10, 2010, 1:48 pm

#9: Kath, I am sorry you are stressing so much. I wish there were something I could do to help!

12mckait
apr 10, 2010, 3:28 pm

Never mind... tiredness talking.. I have had a nap..
Need another :P
but it was just a rant. bleh

I am reading Angelology .. or trying to . It is a really good book.
I picked it up and fell asleep ..
Now I will have another go at it with a cup of coffee and a cookie.
Sugar and caffeine should boost my energy :)

I suspect that there will be a sequel to it, but I am not really far enough into it to know..I can already say that I hope there will be a sequel !

ignore my ravings.. carry on.

13cameling
apr 10, 2010, 4:04 pm

I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed, Kath ...... read something fluffy and nap alot ... everyone else in the house ... go fend for yourselves! (except Duncan, but he's recovering, right?)

A friend made a delicious double chocolate heath bar cookie with dark chocolate chips and gave me 2 to sample yesterday. Sadly .... they're now all gone. :-( They were absolutely delicious ... and I'm not even a big chocolate fan.

We had a miserable rainy day yesterday, but the sun's out today and I can't believe how beautiful my yard looks ... all the trees seem to have sprouted baby leaves overnight and the bursts of green after the long stark winter is a welcome sight.

14mckait
apr 10, 2010, 4:30 pm

I am eating a white choc macadamia nut cookie and coffee.
Duncan is begging more from me.. the first begging since surgery, but I just had to hand feed and beg to get his dinner into him.
sigh

And his dinner was chopped roast beef and chicken.. people food..not dog food.

I am trying to understand the meaning of I'm not even a big chocolate fan
but it doesn't grok.

ditto leaves..

15scarpettajunkie
apr 10, 2010, 4:33 pm

My father in law sent an e-mail that was titled just when you thought all the good ideas were gone. There was a picture of a coffe cup that had a shelf built underneath to slide cookies. How's that for clever?!! Your cookie and coffee break reminded me of this.

16mckait
apr 10, 2010, 4:35 pm

sounds brilliant!!!

17cameling
apr 10, 2010, 4:43 pm

ooh..where can we get that cup? Sounds like something we all could use.

roast beef and chicken? if i sat on my hind legs and and woofed abit, would I get hand fed? I won't even need you to beg me to eat. All I've had for a late breakfast was bread, cheese and pate ..... roast beef and chicken sounds great

18ronincats
apr 10, 2010, 5:21 pm

>13 cameling: Caroline, GET the recipe!!! Sounds wonderful!

19cameling
apr 10, 2010, 5:32 pm

I'm trying to pry the recipe away from her cold dead hands ... she says she'll be dead before she gives that recipe away. It's apparently an experiment gone right and she's considering selling it to the highest bidder.

20richardderus
apr 10, 2010, 6:21 pm

Triple chocolate cookies---takes about 15min

1 stick salted butter, soft
1/2 C dark brown sugar
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/4 C corn oil (NOT vegetable or canola or anything else, the taste is important)
1 large egg
1/2 t vanilla extract, cheap (the expensive stuff tastes too strong)
1 C King Arthur flour (others work, but there's a texture difference)
1/4 C cocoa powder
~2/3 C chopped dark chocolate (70% cocoa is best, but this ISN'T baking chocolate)
~2/3 C Heath chunks
chopped pecans for garnish, if ya want

Oven 350

Mash up the butter and the sugars just to combine, not cream or anything. Add the oil, the vanilla, and the egg, then beat the glop until it's nice and creamy.

Whisk the flour and cocoa powder together with maybe a little pinch of salt. When a uniform color, add to the wet stuff and mix until uniform.

Stir in chocolate and Heath chunks manually, distributing through the whole bowl of batter. Scoop tablespoons of batter onto ungreased cookie sheet, about 1 doz per sheet; sprinkle with pecans if ya want; bake ~10-12min, depending on your oven (I go 15min, but my oven stinks); slide off cookie sheets ASAP so they can cool on a rack and get a little bit crispity on the bottom. Attempt to fend off chocoholics without causing grievous bodily harm until desired serving time arrives. Should make 2 cookie sheets. **DO NOT reuse cookie sheets to make larger batches without washing first. That way disaster lies.**

21Copperskye
apr 10, 2010, 6:30 pm

What a wonderful surprise to drop in and find the closest thing to an actual cookie possible over the internets!

And dang, I have everything (even, amazingly, the Heath pieces) except the corn oil. Next time I'm at the store I'll pick up a bottle. These sound yummy - thanks Richard!

22mckait
apr 10, 2010, 6:35 pm

Oh dear rd....

oh dearie me.....

and dearie you too!

23Whisper1
apr 10, 2010, 7:16 pm

HUGS...to you Kath!

24mckait
apr 10, 2010, 8:20 pm

Back to you Linda.. and thank you!

25ejj1955
apr 10, 2010, 11:49 pm

Those cookies sound divine . . . and dangerous.

26alcottacre
apr 10, 2010, 11:51 pm

I can safely skip those cookies. Way too much chocolate for me.

27richardderus
apr 11, 2010, 8:31 am

Y'all're welcome for the recipe, and enjoy!

>26 alcottacre: Stasia, I don't eat 'em, I just make 'em. I think they're icky.

28alcottacre
apr 11, 2010, 8:35 am

#27: Nice to have someone on my side for a change!

29TadAD
apr 11, 2010, 9:06 am

Nope, I'm with Stasia on those that they're too much chocolate in a cookie, too much going on there. I like the simple cookies: Tollhouse (though made with Ghirardelli instead of Nestles chips), my mother's Ginger Cookies, a good homemade shortbread cookie.

30alcottacre
apr 11, 2010, 9:37 am

#29: Actually, any chocolate in a cookie is too much for me, but I would take the Ginger and shortbread cookies in a heartbeat!

31Carmenere
apr 11, 2010, 9:40 am

Too much chocolate in a cookie makes my jaw lock, seriously! Champagne has the same effect on me, go figure.

32richardderus
apr 11, 2010, 10:40 am

>29 TadAD: Tad, I looove ginger...cookies a plus...share the recipe?

>30 alcottacre: Soul Sister and I are in agreement!

>31 Carmenere: Lynda, since I don't like chocolate I don't think of that as a loss, but CHAMPAGNE...! Oh my dear, poor, sweet Lynda! How ghastly for you!

33alcottacre
apr 11, 2010, 10:43 am

#32: Oo, I have a Soul Brother!!

34tiffin
apr 11, 2010, 10:43 am

I make ginger shortbreads for my f-in-l every Christmas.

35richardderus
apr 11, 2010, 10:46 am

>33 alcottacre: Uh-huh. Was there a question? I think not.

>34 tiffin: Tui, I make shortbread with cinnamon, ginger, and a hint of nutmeg, then frost heavily with maple-cream cheese icing. I have to keep sharp objects to hand because The Divine Miss, not a sweets eater, loves maple and spice flavors. Fingers get swatted every time I do this recipe.

36alcottacre
apr 11, 2010, 10:49 am

I am with the Divine Miss - I love maple and spice flavors too. Around you, I would end up typing with nubs I think.

37tapestry100
apr 11, 2010, 4:05 pm

**sneaking into the thread**

Stasia mentioned that I should stop by and post this video, so I am. It was posted up last night on Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon, and I just had to share it everywhere!

Enjoy! =)

38TadAD
Bewerkt: apr 11, 2010, 4:37 pm

>32 richardderus:: Well, Richard, there were actually two. My grandmother and my grandmother's good friend (Mrs. Free) used to argue about the "correct" cookie. My mom grew up eating and loving both. So, she would make both types occasionally and eaters could pick out whichever we felt in the mood for (I'm a Mrs. Free fan 'cause I like the crisp kind of ginger cookie). I now make them and my kids are split between them.

Ruth's Ginger Cookies
1 c. butter
½ c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. molasses
1 egg

Melt and mix and cool.

Mix in gently:
2¼ c. flour
2 tsp. ginger
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. cloves
pinch of nutmeg
2 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
½ c. light brown sugar

Make balls of batter and roll in some extra granulated sugar.
Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes. They should inflate and then deflate but you don't want them to crisp too much.

Mrs. Free's Ginger Cookies
1 c. shortening or butter
1 c. molasses
1 c. light brown sugar
3 c. flour
1 tsp. ginger (must be fresh powder, old loses flavor fast)
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
tiny dash cloves
coarse granulated sugar for sprinkling

1) Melt shortening and molasses together and cool until can be handled.
2) Add brown sugar.
3) Sift in other ingredients except granulated sugar.
4) Make balls and flatten on greased cookie sheet with fork until pretty thin, maybe ¼"...I just do it by eye since I know what they're "supposed" to look like.
5) Bake 350 for 7 minutes...ovens vary, but cookie should be crisp when cool
6) While hot, sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Store tightly covered as these are quite hydrophilic and will soften if left to absorb humidity.

39cameling
apr 11, 2010, 7:32 pm

Oh my ...... thanks Richard... that sounds delicious. i'm definitely going to try this recipe out. That's great ... and just in time for a potluck I'm going to next weekend.

hmmm... while we're on a recipe sharing here, anyone have a good recipe for brandy snaps? I like the thin ones that have a good snap but still with a bit of chewiness - if that makes any sense

40alcottacre
apr 12, 2010, 12:36 am

#38: I like the crisp ones too, so I will give Mrs. Free's cookies a shot. Thanks for passing along the recipes, Tad.

41klobrien2
apr 13, 2010, 1:38 pm

Ooh, I just had what the St. Paul paper (Pioneer Press) Bulletin Board feature calls a "Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon" (BM, for short). Brandy snaps! I never heard of them before (very suprising) but "brandy snap" was an answer in a crossword puzzle I just did, and here is the term again, just a few hours apart in my experience.

If I had heard of brandy snaps before, this experience would be a "Joy of Juxtaposition" but I think I had a true BM!

Karen O.

42richardderus
apr 13, 2010, 1:46 pm

I made Mrs. Free's and they were a hit, Tad! I ate about half, and grudgingly allowed others to eat the other half, but none lasted to be stored...so that should tell you something.

43alcottacre
apr 14, 2010, 1:57 am

Quote for the day from The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams:

"Morgenes was rattling about his workshop, deeply engaged in a search for a missing book. He waved Simon permission to find a cage for the young birds, then went back to his hunt, toppling piles of manuscripts and folios like a blind giant in a city of fragile towers."

I can so relate!

44TadAD
apr 14, 2010, 2:09 pm

>42 richardderus:: I'm glad, Richard.

45cameling
apr 14, 2010, 7:29 pm

A few people asked for my cheesey mac & cheese recipe, so here goes:

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup Emmenthaler cheese
1 cup Gruyere cheese
1 cup Danish blue cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)

1 lb macaroni
1 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
3 tbsp butter (melted)
1/2 cup gruyere cheese

Pre-heat oven : 350F

Bring a large pot of salted water with a few drops of olive oil to a boil for the pasta.

Pour cream into a large saute pan and place it over medium heat, watch carefully and don't let it boil over.
Bring cream to a simmer and reduce by about a quarter. Add the cheeses and stir while cheese melts.

Cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain well.

Add the pasta to the creamy cheese mixture and toss well. Add pepper.

In a separate bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter and 1/2 cup of Gruyere. Mix thoroughly.

Pour pasta mixture and all the cheese sauce into a casserole dish. Spread the breadcrumbs all over the top. Dot with a bit more pats of butter.

Put casserole dish into the oven and leave until the topping browns and forms a bit of a crust.

You can always put out bowls of different garnishes, depending on what everyone likes. I usually put out the following:
sour cream with chopped chives
crisp bacon bits
small shrimp marinated with a cajun rub and garlic, grilled in olive oil
roasted tomatoes, chopped and tossed with olive oil and chopped parsley

46jasmyn9
apr 14, 2010, 7:34 pm

That sounds scrumptious. Copying to my book now.

47suslyn
apr 14, 2010, 7:41 pm

Wowsers. looks great! Thx Cam!

48mckait
apr 14, 2010, 8:11 pm

yum! looks fab!

49torontoc
apr 14, 2010, 8:53 pm

oh, my! that reads delicious!Have to try it.

50richardderus
apr 14, 2010, 9:25 pm

I've just gained back 20lb of the 27 I've lost. And that was just *reading* the recipe.

51jasmyn9
apr 14, 2010, 9:31 pm

I think it sounds great for those friend/family dinners as a dish to pass. I plan on trying it out next time I have people over. With all those different types of cheeses it sounds sooo rich.

52alcottacre
apr 14, 2010, 11:20 pm

#50: I know exactly what you mean, Richard! Wow, what a recipe.

53Chatterbox
apr 15, 2010, 1:40 am

Looks great, but I loathe blue cheese... any suggestions for a substitution??

54ejj1955
apr 15, 2010, 2:38 am

I also loathe blue cheese, but I'd bet you could substitute almost any cheese you like as long as it melts well. Good ol' cheddar, for example.

55alcottacre
apr 15, 2010, 3:17 am

Quote for the day from The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian by Nirad C. Chaudhuri:

"There was nothing wrong with my understanding of the nature of systematic and fruitful study. I could draw up plans which, if executed with steadfastness, would have given me not only success at examinations, but also a solid grounding in the subjects I was having to learn. . .I gave myself up to my immediate impulses and read only what I was momentarily interested in, and the more I read about it the more interested and bogged in its details did I become for the time being. Thus, although I came to acquire a deep knowledge of certain aspects of certain subjects . . .I did not succeed in having an even grounding in any subject."

That sounds so like me, lol!

Posted to my thread too

56cyderry
Bewerkt: apr 15, 2010, 4:53 pm

Caroline

When are you making this again? You need to give us enough notice so we can make our reservations to be there. It sounds too good to pass up!

Boy am I glad Tim put in that new fangled Favorite post marker. Now I won't lose that recipe. Yum..Yum

57cameling
apr 15, 2010, 5:27 pm

Suz : You need a creamy cheese as a substitute, so you could use goat cheese, a good brie, Port Salut or even ricotta. If you don't like those, harvati or jarlsberg would also work. ejj1955's right though, any meltable cheese is ok. I just like the more creamy ones as one of the cheeses because it makes the cheese sauce richer.

#55: Stasia - that sounds like me too.. haha

#56 :Cheli - What post marker? Sounds useful. I probably won't make this again for a while ... I kinda ODed on it the last time I made it. It's very more-ish .... you eat a bit and keep going back for more .. at least I do because I'm just a mac & cheese freak.

58Chatterbox
apr 15, 2010, 6:02 pm

Port Salut would be ideal; I tend to keep some of that on hand to nosh on with slices of apple and pear (a great snack).
Omigod, I'm drooling...

59richardderus
apr 15, 2010, 6:05 pm

Port Salut; one sliced Bosc pear; 1/4lb prosciutto; horseradish sauce spread on a sourdough roll, lightly heated. *Homer drool*

60ejj1955
apr 15, 2010, 7:08 pm

>57 cameling: I had the same question and went looking, because I knew I had heard that mentioned before--to mark a post as a favorite, click on the message number in the pink bar and a popup will allow you to mark it as a favorite. Woot!

61Chatterbox
apr 15, 2010, 7:12 pm

horseradish sauce?? *ptui*

62cameling
apr 15, 2010, 8:28 pm

#60 : Thank you ... now I can bookmark at will. :-)

#61 : hmmm... what's wrong with horseradish, then Suz?

63richardderus
apr 15, 2010, 8:36 pm

Oh dear...a cat-loving horseradish-hater. I fear your immortal soul is a goner, Suzanne, no hope for redemption unless you see the error of your ways.

64mckait
apr 16, 2010, 5:48 pm

horseradish sauce? yum!

65Chatterbox
apr 16, 2010, 6:13 pm

Horseradish sauce is like fried liver -- something I have never liked, and never will.

Cats, on the other hand, are a constant source of entertainment. And they make great footwarmers in winter.

66mckait
apr 16, 2010, 6:15 pm

Well.. cats ... I agree completely. Did you see the vid of my new kitty on my thread? :)

67Chatterbox
apr 16, 2010, 6:17 pm

saw the pics, but my computers are being wonky today, so the vid will have to wait... :-(
he is gorgeous.
I do have Jasper, the glamor-puss. He has whiskers twice as long as the average cat's. And his personality is sweet, too -- you could drape him across your shoulders and walk around all day and all he would do is purr...

68scarpettajunkie
apr 16, 2010, 8:48 pm

Chatterbox I wish I could do that with my dog. At least she cuddles up with me in bed. Loving The Bone Thief just started it tonight. Perfect companion to The Passage.

69richardderus
apr 17, 2010, 12:00 am

I just finished and reviewed After the Fire, a Still Small Voice for the Orange Prize TIOLI challenge. Hated it.

70ejj1955
apr 17, 2010, 10:28 am

Richard, I just had to go read the review--sometimes negative ones are so much fun. However, I did pause on your profile page to read the list of books your book group had read, and I think one of the reviews I would most hate to receive was your "perfectly adequate"! OUCH!

And I don't want to read After the Fire, either. Sounds as though it belongs to the "navel-gazing" school of modern fiction that I pretty much hate.

71scarpettajunkie
apr 17, 2010, 12:10 pm

Hey you guys, I really believe in the positive energy of good thoughts and prayers. Down at my husband's slot car club, there is woman who comes in. For the last few weeks she has had her arm in a sling and is in a lot of pain. She just looks so down and she was so vibrant before. She is interested in whatever I read and has the nicest smile. Please keep this woman in a sling in mind. She needs some healing and pain relief.

72richardderus
apr 17, 2010, 12:44 pm

>70 ejj1955: Elizabeth, "perfectly adequate" is like my worst-nightmare comment made about me: "Oh, him. He's nice."

I've only heard that a handful of times, but each one is remembered like a scourging! NICE?!? *stomps off in a fury to kick a cat*

You'd HATE "After the Fire". I've seen your library. Avoid like it's got bedbugs in the binding.

>71 scarpettajunkie: Slot Car Sling Lady is on our healing circle now, focusing on elbows.

73tymfos
apr 17, 2010, 1:00 pm

#71 Prayers are in progress for the lady in the sling!

74mckait
apr 17, 2010, 3:47 pm

When I read 3&@, all 4 of my cats cried. So did I

*mutters and stomps off*

positive energy for sling lady...

75scarpettajunkie
apr 17, 2010, 4:28 pm

This is just wonderful guys! I'm really excited to see if it makes a difference. She is getting cagey not being able to do for herself or actually do much of anything. She is looking forward to the Jefferson Bass books that I'm letting her borrow. I'm eager to talk about them with her as there are so few that I know who are into forensic books. I hope Chatterbox will let her borrow The Bone Thief but she may need it back before two more readers get to it.

76ejj1955
apr 17, 2010, 9:20 pm

>75 scarpettajunkie: I can guarantee that she's feeling better already--finding a fellow reader who wants to talk books with her is probably a huge comfort.

I'm sure Richard isn't really going to kick a cat. He's far too nice! *ducks*

Richard, I'd rather have someone express extreme dislike for something I'd written (okay, not their cup of tea, whatever) than get a comment like "perfectly adequate." It's so . . . meh. Like gruel.

77brenzi
apr 17, 2010, 9:36 pm

>72 richardderus: I had to laugh at your comment on nice.

I've only heard that a handful of times, but each one is remembered like a scourging! NICE?!?

When I had fourth graders and they had a writing assignment, I did not allow the word "nice". They would have to choose another word. Over the course of the school year, they produced a list of about 30 words on the bulletin board that could be used instead of "nice".

Nice. What a meaningless word.

78cameling
apr 17, 2010, 9:42 pm

It was a horribly drab day today .. and I had to babysit a friend's 2 children in the afternoon because she had a deadline to meet and her husband is away. Didn't get much done because the kids were all crabby, one from an ear infection and the other with a head cold. Whoof... I'm exhausted and I have to pack soon for my 7am flight to Los Angeles. ugh.... now I'm feeling crabby myself.... :-(

79Chatterbox
apr 17, 2010, 11:04 pm

Caroline, that definitely does not sound "nice". Take a silly movie to watch on your laptop on the flight... Odd, I used to love travel, and now the prospect of a week away is making me as irritable as babysitting two small children would do. Partly because the house must be impeccably tidy before I go; partly because I have not set up my interview schedule or anything, or even booked a hotel. Gah.

80alcottacre
apr 17, 2010, 11:12 pm

I saw this in the Book Group and thought I would share it here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/04/17/2010-04-17_read_it__weep_by_georg...

I also posted it to the Interesting Articles thread

81cameling
apr 17, 2010, 11:26 pm

Suz : I don't mind the travel much because I generally sleep or read on planes. My meetings are all scheduled so I'm pretty much all set. Just tired now.

Stasia : That's just too cute .. thanks for bringing a smile to this tired face. ;-)

82alcottacre
apr 17, 2010, 11:30 pm

#81: I am glad it helped brighten up your day a bit. Sounds like you had a difficult one. Safe travels tomorrow, my friend.

83mckait
apr 18, 2010, 6:44 am

Good grief Caro.. you are too nice!
hope your trip is super pleasant to make up for it.

84richardderus
apr 18, 2010, 9:15 am

>80 alcottacre: ROFL! Thanks for that one, it made me guffaw.

Caroline! MORE TRAVEL?!? I think we need to find you a nice, easy desk job...maybe "independently wealthy book consultant?"...that will allow a certain lifestyle: reading, cooking, dining, leisurely swanning about in such foreign climes as appeal that moment, all with a full-time book valet to carry home the combings of the local bookeries.

Wait...I want that job myself....

85Whisper1
apr 18, 2010, 9:23 am

stopping by to say hi to everyone....

I returned from an exhausting, but fun trip to Disneyworld. My favorite thing about visiting there is all the very interesting people I meet on the transportation buses.

While at the end of the day there are lots of crying kids and frustrated parents, overall, during the day people are happy, chatty and kind.

I talked to some from the UK who are stranded and cannot get flights home because of the volcanic ash over Europe.

It is good to be back. I'm going to read as many threads as possible today.

Hello to all of you wonderful LT folk!

Tad--Thanks for those great cookie recipes.

86gennyt
apr 18, 2010, 1:03 pm

Just found the Kitchen thread - not sure I should really be starring another one, but I like the general chat and occasional recipe suggestion in here, so may be popping in from time to time...

87cameling
apr 18, 2010, 1:19 pm

Haha richard, I think there are a lot more people in 13:12:49 who would be far more qualified for that job .... I'll take a receptionist job with great benefits, a 8 figure salary and no more than 20 people in the company please. Think you can swing that for me please?

One thing I like doing at airports is looking to see what other people are reading while they wait. It becomes a game for me to see how many I've already read, how many are in my TBR Tower and how many I haven't heard of yet. My count for today at the Boston Airport and now at Dallas Airport is 13 books already read, 8 books in TBR Tower and 1 unheard.

88Chatterbox
apr 18, 2010, 5:29 pm

I'm going for that independently wealthy book consultant gig... :-D

Seriously, will be starting a book blog within the next month or so. As soon as I can get my tech guy can figure out the logistics and persuade the cat to stop sleeping in front of the computer monitor.

89Carmenere
apr 18, 2010, 9:04 pm

Well, I can not make canolli's but I do make some darn good crepe's. I made them for this evening's dessert and I must say I ate way too many. The Hungarian/Slovaks call tham Palacinka and we fill them with preserves or a mixture of cottage cheese and raisins and sprinkle powdered suger on top. I'll just leave the leftovers right here

90Chatterbox
apr 18, 2010, 9:42 pm

THANK YOU for the crepe recipe -- I adore them, both savory & sweet. Enuf of a reason to move to Paris in their own right, IMO... I like the ones with jam, or the ham & cheese crepes. yum yum yum.

Odd, I couldn't care less about cupcakes, most kind of cake, or even ice cream. But crepes -- yum yum. *drool*

91laytonwoman3rd
apr 20, 2010, 7:50 am

>84 richardderus: at the end of the day there are lots of crying kids and frustrated parents OK, I'm kind of skimming here, trying to catch up, and what I got out of that was "lots of crying and frustrated parents". Which may be just as true as what you wrote.

>77 brenzi: When my daughter was in fourth grade, her teacher actually told the class that "nice" is not a Fourth Grade Word, and she wouldn't let them use it either!

>87 cameling: I also have a category of "wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole", don't you?

92alcottacre
apr 22, 2010, 6:43 am

Quote for the day from Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian:

"I couldn't get We Didn't Mean to go to Sea, but I've got it reserved for you. So I got you this one instead."

She took it from his hands.

"At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. Never heard of it." She flicked over the pages and began reading chapter one. "It looks all right. You got the others, didn't you?"

"Yeh. Here," he replied, handing them to her. "A Little Princess, David Copperfield and Black Beauty."

"Wizzo!"

"Don't start readin' them now or we'll never get down to the river."

Of course, it would never happen that I start reading something and not get to what I am supposed to be doing . . .

Posted to my thread too

93mamzel
apr 22, 2010, 1:47 pm

Chatterbox - starting a blog is no big thing at all. Go to blogspot.com. They have tutorials and all the help you need. Free.

94cyderry
apr 22, 2010, 5:18 pm

Chatter - let us know when the blog is up and running so we can come visit!

95Chatterbox
apr 22, 2010, 5:20 pm

It will make my book publicists happy, so probably next month, tied to a website.

96cameling
apr 22, 2010, 8:30 pm

New tip to weight loss - 2 nights of drinking lots of red wine and eating only french fries for dinner while recovering from full days at a conference. Go figure!

So glad to be home. I have a potluck to attend on Sunday before I head out to Brazil, so I am going to make cornbread.

97mckait
apr 22, 2010, 8:47 pm

Ye gods, you make me tired...

98cyderry
apr 22, 2010, 10:54 pm

I hope you are getting frequent flier miles.

99alcottacre
apr 22, 2010, 11:06 pm

I am with Kath, Caro - you make me tired just reading about wherever it is you are going next!

100alcottacre
apr 23, 2010, 5:30 am

Quote for the day from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell:

"These books, Dixon, I will keep. All the rest will you send to Mr. Bell? They are of a kind that he will value for themselves, as well as for papa's sake."

I have a small collection of books that belonged to my grandmother. I may never read them, but I keep them because I value them for her sake.

Posted to my thread too

101laytonwoman3rd
apr 23, 2010, 7:20 am

I have books like that, too, Stasia. I have a stack of old school books that my husband's grandmother used to teach from. They sit in a pile on a special shelf above my desk.

102alcottacre
apr 23, 2010, 7:27 am

#101: If I ever get the library of my dreams put together, Linda, I will have a shelf just for my grandmother's books too.

103karenmarie
apr 23, 2010, 8:28 am

#100 and 101 - I have books from my husband's mother, his grandmother, his great-aunt, two from my grandmother. I just love having them on my shelves.

I have three copies of one cookbook, The Rumford Complete Cook Book. One was my husband's great-grandmother's, one his grandmother's, and one his mother's. They are different editions. I can't bear to part with a single copy. (My favorite pie crust recipe is from this book - it's called Flakey Paste and is the best rolling pie crust recipe I have ever found.)

I love having old books on my shelves.

104alcottacre
apr 23, 2010, 8:32 am

#103: I love having old books on my shelves.

Me too. I get so excited when I get older books just because they are so different from today's 'cookie cutter' books. I just got one the day before yesterday as a matter of fact, lovely yellow cover with an embossed design.

105Carmenere
apr 23, 2010, 8:42 am

>104 alcottacre: Once in a blue moon a special sort of book will come out that I consider a real keeper. One in particular, for me, is The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. The entire book, back and front, depicts the loomed tapestry that is so essential to the story. Maybe some day my great-great-someone will cherish it as many of you cherish your old/loved books today.

106ejj1955
apr 23, 2010, 1:23 pm

When I was eight years old, my mother left home for the only time in my childhood, to go to her mother's funeral in Florida. (I promptly came down with measles, but that's another story.) She returned with boxes of books from the early 1900s, and I started reading my way through them--Pollyanna, Two Little Women, Georgiana of the Rainbows, Prudence of the Parsonage, Polly of Pebbly Pit, and many others. I will always treasure these books, many of which have Christmas gift inscriptions to my mother or her sisters.

107Carmenere
apr 23, 2010, 1:31 pm

>106 ejj1955: That's priceless, Elizabeth!

108mckait
apr 23, 2010, 4:29 pm

nice story...loved Pollyanna, Two Little Women.

109cameling
apr 23, 2010, 8:53 pm

Just returned home and once again I need to leave. The weekend's going to be a bit of a mad rush. Need to clean the house, make a meatloaf for Edd who comes back on Monday, make cornbread for a potluck lunch I'm going to on Sunday and then away I fly on Sunday evening to Sao Paolo for 3 days.

110tiffin
apr 23, 2010, 9:08 pm

I really don't know how you do it.

111Chatterbox
apr 24, 2010, 1:25 am

I remember reading all my mother's old books from the late 1930s, 1940s. There was a series about Honey Bunch, and the early edition of the Bobbsey Twins. I inherited my grandfather's books, so have a complete set of G.A. Henty books, as well as a lot of history books. My most special book was a gift and not inherited, however -- a first edition of Hazlitt's Lectures on the English Poets... *blissful smile*

112mckait
apr 24, 2010, 12:02 pm

Neither do I tff... I think she is cyborg, no human could do all of what she does, look as good, and be as cheerful.

113laytonwoman3rd
apr 24, 2010, 2:14 pm

#111 Honeybunch and Norman!! I had a couple of those.

114cameling
apr 24, 2010, 5:19 pm

#111 : ooh.. I miss the Bobbsey Twins. I think I read the entire series. Loved them to pieces

#110 and 112 : I sleep on planes ... that's why I'm not a wreck .. or at least not as much of a wreck as I could be. Been traveling long distance since I was 15 so I got used to staying in a tube for long periods of time. I'm short and not too fat, so I fit in the plane seats snugly and with a good book, a travel pillow, my iPod, bottle of water and some fruit of my own .. I'm golden for the moments that I'm actually awake on the plane

Cornbread : Done
Meatloaf : Done
Finally bought a new pair of jeans and a new suit: Done (I hate shopping and put it off till the last minute)

Sat out on the deck reading Logicomix to catch some sun so I don't look too pale heading down to Brazil. Got too hot, so I headed in, but I did manage to get a bit of color. Yippee.

Only things left to do are:
Clean the house : Tomorrow
Pack : Tomorrow
Peel fruit for flight : Tomorrow

I've decided to stay in tonight and veg with a fluffy book, a bag of potato chips and some wine.

115mckait
apr 24, 2010, 6:41 pm

Sounds like a perfect evening to me.

116Chatterbox
apr 24, 2010, 8:42 pm

A fluffy book? Do you read it or stroke it?
Just wondering... *grin*

117tiffin
apr 24, 2010, 8:45 pm

Well at least you were closer to the truth than I was when I first read it: veg with a fluffy book sounded like food and I had to read it twice to get it. Sort of had this carrots and whipped cream image.

118brenzi
apr 24, 2010, 8:52 pm

>114 cameling: Clean the house and pack? Didn't you leave the hard stuff for tomorrow??

119cameling
apr 24, 2010, 10:33 pm

See, this is why I love spending time with you folks ... you always make me laugh!

The fluffy book went by the wayside and I watched a few movies instead on Netflix TV. So no reading or stroking with carrots and whipped cream after all .... now that sounded positively pornographic!

Yes, Bonnie dear ... I'm leaving cleaning of house and packing for tomorrow.

I just checked the weather for Sao Paolo and apart from Monday being cloudy, there's supposed to be thunder showers for the next 2 days. Lovely....ugh!

120cyderry
apr 25, 2010, 12:09 pm

Just have a safe trip. Don't get caught in any adventures like the Bobbsey Twins did when they went anywhere.

121cameling
apr 25, 2010, 12:12 pm

I'll try not to. :-) I generally have less dangerous adventures in comparison, but I think I'm more a danger to myself since I'm always falling over things or small children.

122ejj1955
apr 25, 2010, 12:14 pm

Yes, but Freddie and Flossie and Bert and Nan always had each other--if you don't have a twin with you, you have to be extra careful! especially in the country, at the seashore, at school . . .

123avatiakh
Bewerkt: apr 26, 2010, 4:26 am

Congratulations to our joannasephine, her poetry collection The Summer King has been shortlisted for Australia's Mary Gilmore Prize. Story here. I read it last month for the TIOLI challenge and really liked it.

edit: fix link

124alcottacre
apr 26, 2010, 4:34 am

Congratulations, Joanna!

125mckait
apr 26, 2010, 6:58 am

Wonderful!! Congratulations !

126richardderus
apr 26, 2010, 1:18 pm

I've reviewed an excellent catch-up-with-his-career book, This Side of Brightness by LT author Colum McCann.

It's in my Club Read thread, post #156.

127avatiakh
apr 26, 2010, 11:14 pm

Here's a cute 2.5 min film called Pixels - http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7295801/19039608 For those who remember playing the old games.

128alcottacre
Bewerkt: apr 27, 2010, 1:15 am

Quote for the day from Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster:

"One book isn't enough. I have four going at once. Just now, they're Tennyson's poems and Vanity Fair and Kipling's Plain Tales and - don't laugh - Little Women. I find that I am the only girl in college who wasn't brough up on Little Women. . . I just quietly went and bought it with $1.12 of my last month's allowance; and the next time somebody mentions pickled limes, I'll know what she is talking about!"

One book is never enough, IMHO!

Posted to my thread too

129ejj1955
apr 30, 2010, 12:04 am

Oh, I love Daddy Long-Legs! I wonder if I still have a copy? The movie was cute but I didn't feel it quite captured the book, somehow.

130alcottacre
apr 30, 2010, 12:07 am

#129: I watched the film version many years ago (at least 20) and did not really remember anything other than the basic plot in relation to the book. I enjoyed Daddy Long-Legs so much, I went and picked up Dear Enemy the day after I finished the first book.

131ejj1955
apr 30, 2010, 12:30 am

I've just found Daddy Long-Legs online so I'm going to read it again. I hope Dear Enemy is online also, as I've never read that one.

132alcottacre
apr 30, 2010, 12:31 am

#131: It looks like Dear Enemy is available from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/238

I hope you enjoy them both, Elizabeth!

133cameling
mei 2, 2010, 3:49 pm

It's been weird not being able to read for the last 3 days ..... and I hope I don't have more days like these last ones. Got back from Brazil on Wednesday and it's just been madness at work for the rest of the week and then my niece's First Communion yesterday in New York. That was fun, and it was good to be with family again for the day, even if driving down from Boston and then back up again in the evening was pretty tiring, especially with a husband fighting jetlag from having just come back a few days ago from Asia.

First Communions sure have changed since I had mine though .... now they have puppet shows during the event. Weird. But my niece had a blast at her party after at the house. The weather held up, and everyone had a really good time.

Worth the trip down, and today I'm making meatloaf, roast chicken and roasted pepper soup so my husband doesn't starve while I'm away for the next 2 weeks. :-)

134gennyt
mei 2, 2010, 3:55 pm

*Trying to imagine where puppet shows fit into a first communion*... can't quite do it - but glad your niece, and you, had fun.

135cameling
mei 2, 2010, 4:24 pm

Yeah it was kinda strange. Simba from the Lion King was in attendance, as well some some other animal puppets who were telling the kids about the significance of their First Communion... I thought it was a little bit juvenile for 7 year olds myself.

136mckait
mei 2, 2010, 4:55 pm

Wow ~ puppets eh?

137ejj1955
mei 2, 2010, 7:33 pm

Didn't they use puppets for medieval morality plays? It's just a continuation of the tradition, then!

138Carmenere
mei 2, 2010, 9:35 pm

>133 cameling: Yes, they certainly are different! My son made his first communion four years ago. During the sermon our pastor had his best friend come into the church, yes, hes best friend is a little black dog named Halo. And the sermon was very fitting to the occasion while at the same time using Halo as his prop. Needless to say, the children loved it. Hey, it's their day and if it works for them everybody's happy plus visuals are much more memorable

My, you and your husband have such hectic lifestyles, I became exhausted just reading your post! Happy trails.

139alcottacre
Bewerkt: mei 3, 2010, 1:06 am

#133: Caroline, you make me tired. I hope you get to stay at home for at least a month before you are off again!

140mckait
mei 3, 2010, 6:21 am

She makes me tired too, Stasia.....

The weather here is deadly the humidity is 90+
and I hate that! icky icky ick!

141dk_phoenix
mei 6, 2010, 3:36 pm

Alright, after seeing so many amazing photos around our group lately, I've decided I'd better share a link to a contest that I wonder why I didn't post awhile ago... it's for a wildlife/nature photography contest, and it's only $20 to enter up to 25 images. I might enter if I find the time, but I'm not a very good photographer! I keep reminding my brother that he should enter, though... he's quite good...

But anyway, the contest! It's here: National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Good luck to anyone in our group who decides to enter!

142scarpettajunkie
mei 6, 2010, 5:31 pm

Horray! I ordered my Kindle today. I can't believe I had to pay nearly $21 in tax for the Kindle. Outrageous! I also got A Countess Below Stairs. Fourty-four pages brings me to the end of chapter one. I am also on page 44 in Rebecca but ready to start Chapter Six. Hmm..... Anyhow, Rebecca is so good I can't believe I put it off for so long. What is Mrs. Maxim De Winter II's name before she becomes Mrs. Maxim?

143ejj1955
mei 6, 2010, 5:53 pm

You will never know the answer to that question, because De Maurier never tells us!

Congrats on the Kindle, though, I'm a little bit envious. One of these days . . .

144brenzi
mei 6, 2010, 6:54 pm

>142 scarpettajunkie: I'm also reading Rebecca just about 25 pages from the end and I am asking myself the same question: Why oh why did I wait so long? It's sooooo good!

145Chatterbox
mei 6, 2010, 7:02 pm

I read that when I was 14 -- the only disappointment is that even the best of du Maurier's other novels never really matched it...

And nope, we never, ever learn the new bride's name. It's a conscious choice to focus on the shadow of Rebecca, who never appears as a character in her own right, but who dominates everything.

146scarpettajunkie
mei 7, 2010, 10:41 am

It is interesting that A Countess Below Stairs is about a rich countess who loses it all, and in Rebecca Mrs. De Winter II also is in reduced circumstances. However Mr. De Winter is wealthy in his own right, whereas Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme has only the house and lands to his credit and must depend on his fiance for cash. The two stories seem to intertwine and it is interesting to compare and contrast them. And to think it is a fluke that I paired them up! Now on page 115 in both stories and love them both. They are both keepers and I know it would pain me to get rid of them.

147alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 12:37 am

Quote for the day from Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett:

"The truth is that even big collections of ordinary books distort space, as can readily be proved by anyone who has been around a really old-fashioned secondhand bookshop, one of those that look as though they were designed by M. Escher on a bad day and has more staircases than storeys and those rows of shelves which end in little doors that are surely too small for a full-sized human to enter. The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole (emphasis mine) that knows how to read."

LOL!

Posted to my thread too

148richardderus
mei 9, 2010, 5:26 am

a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read

I want a bargello pillow of that for my bed.

149alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 5:49 am

#148: I would get you one if I knew what the heck a 'bargello' pillow was, Richard.

150richardderus
mei 9, 2010, 5:58 am

Needlepoint! What, you mean I know something you don't?!? Here, it's over here:

http://bargelloneedlepoint.com/

151alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 6:08 am

#150: Richard, I have no doubt that you know tons of things I don't!!

152mckait
mei 9, 2010, 6:36 am

He is somewhat savant-like when it comes to words isn't he?

rd did I tell you my dream about knowing all the words? I need to write about that.

153richardderus
mei 9, 2010, 6:53 am

>151 alcottacre: Ha. I snort derisively in your modest direction.

>152 mckait: THAT would be a greaaat dream!! Write it up!!

154alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 6:58 am

#153: That is not modesty. That is truth.

155TadAD
mei 9, 2010, 7:31 am

Happy Mother's Day to all.

--Tad

156alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 7:37 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

157mckait
mei 9, 2010, 8:29 am

156 ~ that was one of those double take comments stasia...

158TadAD
mei 9, 2010, 8:34 am

Ummm......

159alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 8:43 am

Well, I guess I am being dumb, but I do not get it, so I guess I will just take it completely out.

160Whisper1
mei 9, 2010, 8:50 am

I'm way behind on keeping up with the threads. This morning I'm going to try to catch up somewhat...

Message 100...Stasia...I love these quote that you post!

I'm enjoying the comments regarding books inherited from parents and grand parents. Sadly, my grandmother never read an entire book in her life. She read newspapers and kept up with happenings around the world. She was intelligent, but alas had to drop out of school in the eighth grade to help her family. Despite this, her vocabulary was incredible!

She always encouraged me to learn and was very proud of my accomplishments. When she passed away, I found a box of items she saved, newspapers clippings of awards I'd won, copies of my high school and college graduation programs,and even pictures that I colored. One, tucked away in a bible noted that I colored the page when I was four, it said "To Grammey form Linda."

This is my legacy, a strong, intelligent woman who loved from the depth of her soul. No amount of education could rival the love she gave to me.

Thanks for allowing me to wax philosophically on Mother's Day.

161richardderus
mei 9, 2010, 9:03 am

Happy Mother's Day to all the smart, fabulous women (birth-moms or not) on this amazing site!

Each one of y'all makes my day a little bit happier. Thank you for it!

162mckait
mei 9, 2010, 10:08 am

why take it out silly? it was probably just me...

163alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 2:31 pm

#162: Because I do not want to (however unintentionally) offend someone. I figured I would rather be safe than sorry.

164alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 2:52 pm


165alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 11:45 pm

OK, so Elizabeth (ejj1955) e-mailed me this link:

http://www.wimp.com/techsupport/

I thought it was funny, so I am passing it along. I will post it to my thread as well.

166richardderus
mei 9, 2010, 11:51 pm

I love that clip! Thanks, Stasia!

167alcottacre
mei 9, 2010, 11:59 pm

#166: Glad you liked it, Richard!

168ejj1955
mei 10, 2010, 1:01 am

Me ditto--thought it was funny, glad you did too!

169alcottacre
mei 10, 2010, 1:02 am

#168: Yep! Thanks for sharing it.

170alcottacre
Bewerkt: mei 10, 2010, 6:23 am

RIP Lena Horne, age 92 - her rendering of 'Stormy Weather' is still one of my all-time favorites.

ETA: You can listen to her here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCG3kJtQBKo

171Eat_Read_Knit
mei 10, 2010, 6:10 am

#165 Very funny: thanks for sharing it!

172alcottacre
mei 10, 2010, 6:13 am

#171: Glad you enjoyed it, Caty!

173Carmenere
mei 10, 2010, 6:18 am

>170 alcottacre: Very classy lady, Lena Horne RIP

174mamzel
mei 10, 2010, 5:51 pm

Thanks, Stasia.
I immediately forwarded it to four of my favorite gurus.

175alcottacre
mei 11, 2010, 12:51 pm

Maybe one of these centuries I will go and get my college degree after all: http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/93164889.html. People like that inspire me!

Posted to my thread as well.

176richardderus
mei 11, 2010, 12:55 pm

Now, see, Stasia? Ladies of your vintage shouldn't simply sit and wither, like you do shame shame! Get out there and DO something! It's no shame to be as old as you are. Why, *I* think it's amazing how well you work your way around this Interweb thingie!

177alcottacre
mei 11, 2010, 1:00 pm

#176: Yes, I know. I am altogether too good at the simply sitting and withering part!

178richardderus
mei 11, 2010, 1:02 pm

>177 alcottacre: LOL Yeah, right, bail-bondswoman Stasia! Ha!

179alcottacre
mei 11, 2010, 1:04 pm

#178: Not buying that, huh? And I try so hard on the 'withering' part!

180richardderus
mei 11, 2010, 1:10 pm

>179 alcottacre: Yeah, uh-huh, homeschoolin' mama with a book-a-minute readin' habit and a night job, suuure you just sit and wither...mmm hmmm...and what did Mother tell you about being untruthful?

181alcottacre
mei 11, 2010, 1:14 pm

#180: Ah, shucks. You caught me. . . I am toddling back to my book before Catey and I have school.

182richardderus
mei 13, 2010, 3:08 pm

I reviewed the one-word-titled Zeitoun for our May "Take It or Leave It" challenge, and thanks to tymfos who sent me her copy; I read it, and I am a thrilled, excited supporter of the book. Please, read soonest and buy a copy. There aren't even 700 copies of it on LT -- and there ARE tens of thousands of copies of Twilight.

This simply shouldn't be.

183avatiakh
mei 13, 2010, 3:55 pm

I found this fab link on the Notes from the Slush Pile blog: a hilarious take on the indisputably formulaic nature of movie trailers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFicqklGuB0

184cyderry
mei 14, 2010, 8:37 pm

Stasia,
thought you'd like this quote from my fortune cookie..

Good Books are friends who are always ready to talk to us.

185ejj1955
mei 14, 2010, 9:03 pm

>183 avatiakh: Pretty darned funny--because it was so on the mark.

186alcottacre
mei 14, 2010, 10:20 pm

#184: I do like it! Thanks, Cheli.

187alcottacre
mei 15, 2010, 5:44 am

Quote for the day from The High King by Lloyd Alexander:

"Know this, too," Taliesin added. "All men born must die, save those who dwell in the Summer Country. It is a land without strife or suffering, where even death itself is unknown."

I am booking a trip to the Summer Country forthwith! Just think how much reading I could get done if I never die!!

Posted to my thread too

188cameling
mei 15, 2010, 10:37 pm

hello all... and I'm finally back! Whew! It's been a long time since I've had to do back to back 4 weeks of travel. I'm so glad to be home, and I think I stay stateside for at least a month before I may need to head out again ... at least for work.

Feeling a little burnt out, so I'm contemplating a short vacation just driving with no real destination in mind and stopping whenever we feel like it.

Oh and I had my first fried snicker bar with ice cream today ! I'm glad I tried it ...but I don't like it.

189alcottacre
mei 15, 2010, 10:47 pm

#188: Welcome back, Caroline! If you have no other destination in mind, you are welcome to drive to Texas :)

I do not like either Snickers or ice cream, so I will definitely be passing on fried Snickers with ice cream. Ick!

190alcottacre
Bewerkt: mei 15, 2010, 11:31 pm

My mother sent this to me and since I know we have several teachers in the group, I am passing it along (because it is so true!):

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America .

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life…
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.” …. You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?”

His jaw dropped, he went silent.


(posted on my thread too)

191cameling
mei 16, 2010, 12:04 am

Well said, Bonnie-the-teacher! This is all too true .. our teachers are under appreciated most of the time, and they are some of the most important people in the lives of our children. Ask some highly successful people today about who they feel grateful towards for helping shape them into who they are today, and many will name a teacher or 2 who had a profound impact on them.

192alcottacre
mei 17, 2010, 6:01 am

Quote for the day from Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov:

"Where have you just come from?"

"From the book shop. I went to find out if the papers had come out. Have you read my article?"

"No!"

"I'll send you a copy - read it!"

"What's it about?" asked Oblomov, yawning widely.

"Oh, about trade, the emancipation of women, the wonderful days we had in April and a new invention to stop fires. How can you possibly do without reading - you're missing life's passing show?"

I know I cannot possibly do without reading!

Posted to my thread too

193scarpettajunkie
mei 17, 2010, 8:38 am

My husband taped a car race for my 11-year-old to watch. Said 11-year-old misplaced the DVD. I wanted to watch Hellboy. Got outvoted. We watched a TCM movie, The Shootist. Loved it! I can't say which famous character I loved the most. A bit haunting when you realize what was going on with John Wayne at the time. Loved this Western and I am usually lukewarm on them.

194cameling
mei 17, 2010, 2:26 pm

No time to read this weekend, which was packed full of activities and I was just too tired last night to do anything except watch a really good German movie, 'The Tunnel' based on a true story of some West Germans and an American who helped many East Germans escape to West Germany via a tunnel they took over a year to dig under the Berlin Wall.

Life goes back to normal today thankfully ... and i hope it stays that way for at least a month. :-)

195alcottacre
mei 17, 2010, 5:32 pm

#194: Is there such a thing as normal?

196mckait
mei 17, 2010, 8:09 pm

nope... no such thing as normal...
in my opinion...

197cameling
mei 17, 2010, 8:22 pm

no, noooo....give me hope, ladies! I need some normalcy for a few days at least... ok, if no normalcy, can I get some mundane as an alternative?

198mckait
mei 17, 2010, 8:24 pm

mundane, I will give you :)

199cameling
mei 17, 2010, 8:33 pm

*doing a little mundane dance of joy*

200mckait
mei 17, 2010, 8:36 pm

love that !

201alcottacre
mei 18, 2010, 12:05 am

Quote for the day from The High Lord by Trudi Canavan:

"I had the chest brought to my rooms today. It took some time to open it. I disengaged the magical locks easily enough, but the lid rusted shut. I didn't want to risk damaging anything inside, so I took great care. When I finally had it open I was both disappointed and pleased. It was filled with boxes, so my first sight of the contents was very exciting. But as I opened each box I found only books inside. When I opened the last box I was greatly disappointed. I had found no buried treasure. Just books."

OK, what is wrong with this guy? Books are buried treasure!!

(posted to my thread too)

202alcottacre
Bewerkt: mei 18, 2010, 2:56 am

This is from Joel's (TeacherDad's) thread:

This may be more fancy than fictional, but it's fun to play with:

http://bluerectangle.com/book_reviews/book_review/bookulating_Suggest-O-Mometer/...

every bookstore needs one!

203Carmenere
mei 18, 2010, 6:16 am

>202 alcottacre: OMG, that gizmo actually does a fairly good job in choosing books and the link it takes you to is very helpful.

204alcottacre
mei 18, 2010, 6:37 am

#203: Glad you had fun with it, Lynda!

205cameling
mei 18, 2010, 4:19 pm

That was fun ... I ended up playing when I should be writing a proposal for a client. Oh well, maybe I guess I'll be bringing work home with me tonight after all.

206alcottacre
mei 18, 2010, 5:31 pm

#205: Ruh, Roh, Scooby Doo!

207mckait
mei 19, 2010, 6:06 am

ack! work stuff at home = terrible!!!

208Carmenere
mei 19, 2010, 6:55 am

>205 cameling: Caroline, don't you have a Proposal-O-Mometer?!
;o)

209cameling
mei 20, 2010, 12:19 am

#208 : Lynda, I'd love a Proposal-O-Mometer, a Revenue Report-O-Mometer, and an Expense_Report-O-Mometer.... I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

I did manage to finish the proposal and shot it off today when I got into the office. I'd been putting off writing the darn thing for 2 days ... am so glad it's done and I celebrated by going out to the movies with some friends tonight - watched Ironman 2 and loved it! Really fun movie and if anyone's going to watch it, you have to stay till the end of the credits for a bonus scene... which really only makes sense if you're familiar with the old Ironman comic books

210gennyt
mei 20, 2010, 7:25 am

#209 Similarly, I could do with a church council agenda-O-Mometer and an expense_claim-O-Mometer also. Sent out the former 2 days late, very early this morning, being too tired after too many other meetings to get it done in the evening. Treasurer is still waiting for long overdue expenses claims...

Working from home means I'm always surrounded by reminders of the work I haven't finished - a night out like yours sounds ideal, haven't been to the cinema for months...

211alcottacre
mei 20, 2010, 7:41 am

I will take a Bond-O-Meter myself. Then I would not have to walk over to the jail in rain, snow, cold or heat :) The bonds would just write themselves, lol.

212Carmenere
mei 20, 2010, 10:50 am

I require a read-o-mometer and a review-o-mometer in order to keep up with all the speedreaders in the 75 challenge ;0)

213ejj1955
mei 20, 2010, 3:19 pm

Putting in my order for an Edit-o-meter and a Write-o-meter. Could I maybe have a Dusting-o-meter while we're at it?

214Carmenere
mei 20, 2010, 5:49 pm

Oh yea! and a cook-o-meter as well.

215alcottacre
mei 20, 2010, 5:58 pm

#212: I need a review-o-meter since I do not do the blasted things!

#214: I like to cook, so I will stay away from that one :)

216mckait
mei 20, 2010, 7:10 pm

Dusting-o-meter & review-o-meter ? Count me in!

217ronincats
mei 20, 2010, 7:44 pm

Just get me the deluxe housekeeper-o-meter model (cleans and cooks) and I'll be happy.

218tymfos
mei 20, 2010, 8:14 pm

I just came in from doing yardwork, and I definitely need a Heavy Duty, Super Deluxe weed-o-matic!

219karenmarie
mei 20, 2010, 8:29 pm

Boo, hoo! My weedeater stopped working this weekend. I loved it. It was a Black and Decker and you could rotate the head for edging.

It's always something.

220richardderus
mei 20, 2010, 11:21 pm

Weeding and dusting...ew. There is someone whose job that is, and thankfully it ain't me.

A couple of bad days for auntie. I'm wiped out. Night all!

221cyderry
mei 21, 2010, 12:17 am

Richard we need a new thread... this is loading slowly.

222mckait
mei 21, 2010, 11:01 am

223scarpettajunkie
jun 6, 2013, 5:39 pm

Please check out Easy Bake Coven. The author is from Elmira New York and dresses as a wizard for Halloween. The author is J.D. Shaw and he is a personal friend of my husband and I.