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Wouldn’t you know! We’re expecting a little more snow tonight, just what we need. Candace, I thought your temperatures were going to be about 40º tonight. I hope that hard freeze is a soft one.

On top of being housebound, I’ve developed a nasty cold. Actually, since I can’t go anywhere anyway, this is a good time to have one. I didn’t feel like reading today at all, but hope to do some tomorrow. I’ve started a non-fiction one called “No God But God,” by Reza Aslan, an explanation of the history of Islam and of what’s happening with it now. I hope to finish it soon, and I’ll tell you more about it then.

My grandson gave me 1491 for Christmas. He says it’s one of the important ones he’s read this year. He also includes Jared Diamond’s latest in that category, “Collapse.”

Whoever said, “So many books, so little time,” sure hit it on the head.

Susan

If any of you saw Good Morning America this morning, you probably saw the interview with the young man who is autistic. An amazing individual in that he has been able to describe what and how he sees and grasp the difference from “normal” people. What a breakthrough for progress in understanding that condition. The title is taken from how he sees days–Wednesdays are blue. That intrigued me because I have associated a color with the days of the week as long as I can remember. My perception is not anywhere to the extent he experiences but it’s interesting. I hope to find the book in large print or on CDs.

The title of the one you describe, Jerry, is certainly unusual.

We’re battening down the hatches against a hard freeze tonight–nothing as severe as those of you to the north but we’re pretty spoiled and don’t handle it very well when it does come.

Candace

This book, recommended by a friend, was written by Alice Tisdale Hobart. I bought it from one of Amazon’s “Used & New” vendors for 1¢. It’s about Spanish aristocracy in Mexico shortly after the revolution. I’ve just started it and am enjoying it very much so far. It’s an historical novel, written in 1945.

Have any of you played the Nancy Drew mystery games on your PCs? I’ve just started playing ‘em and they’re quite good. The older ones can be picked up in stores for $10 and sometimes less. If you get stuck you can go to www.gameboomers.com and get complete walkthroughs for all of them. These games are cute and fun.

Jackson has had a pretty bad ice storm during the night. Probably the tail end of the bad one out on the plains. Luckily we had little wind and the temperatures were high enough that not much ice formed on the roadways but it sure cleaned the weak parts of the trees out.

Happy trails to yez all,

Huggz,

Jerry

I wondered why there was so much space between my paragraphs.

I just hit enter once and will see if this works.

I thought the last two Cat Who books were quite different from her usual; these were more about the characters than a mystery which, in my humble opinion, weren’t really much of a mystery anyhow.  I did like the books for their take on the characters, however.

I agree with you and your daughter, Susan.  I have many more things I would rather do than read about other people’s problems.  When i read, I read for pleasure as I’ve said many times over the years.  I didn’t realize that Mao had seen to the killing of so many of his own people but he does rank right up there with Hitler and Stalin.  However, I am not at all interested in reading a bio about him.

I like the fat wet snow since I’m not a skier and want the dry powdery type. 

Oh my, Jacky, I’m so glad to hear your g’son wasn’t hurt in that rollover.  I’m sure he’ll NEVER forget that experience.

I’d love to believe in the afterlife, Darlyne – it has so many possibilities.

BTW, for those of you who are wondering — just hit enter once when you’re done with a paragraph.  The system automatically does a double space. 

We’ve had such unusually mild weather here in south central PA; I really hate to think what winter might be like when and if it really hits.  It seems to me that the southwestern US is getting the northern weather.  But I’m ready – got groceries, clean clothes and a method for sealing off the hall to the BRs to try to keep warm, if necessary.  We’ll see.

Stay warm and safe, everybody.

I just finished this rather unusual book.  The author delves into the scientific study of the after life.  As far as I could tell nothing was proven but in the end her last sentence sums up her humor in a way.  “The debunkers are probably right, but they’re no fun to visit a graveyard with. What the hell, I believe in ghosts.

 

Some of the ways scientists tried to prove that there is an afterlife was by weighing a dying person and then keeping the person on the scale they sat around waiting for the moment the person died to see if there was a difference in the weight.  It took four scientists to observer this,  one to watch the scale, one to observe the breath and I forget what else.  There were many other experiments. The author went to India to study and interview people who had proof of reincarnation

 

You wouldn’t think this could be a subject with a lot of humor.  The author puts in a funny zinger every now and then. She dedicated this book to her parents, wherever they are or aren’t.

 

This isn’t an easy read and I admit I did some brain fast forwarding. 

 

Now I will start the latest Tony Hillerman and rest my brain for a while.

I do like snow too, the sparkly, sqeaky kind.  And we have it, but its been around for awhile so its being marred by tracks, human, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and snow mobiles.  Also sand being thrown on the sides of the roads and streets by snow plows.  But I did get my cross country skies out, and it is great excercise.  But our below zero temps lately have made it difficult, esp. facing the wind, which we almost always have too, due to our flat landscape. 

And Darlyne, I checked my GGOBIT group address and your verizon one is there, unless I spelled it wrong, but they’ve not been coming back.  I’ll check again.

I’m almost done with Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in Heaven, loaned to me by my dil.  Its facinating and rings so true.  He was hospitalized for 11 months after the accident, didn’t want to live because of pain, and didn’t tell of that heavenly experience for two years, and then only because the pastor friend who sort of prayed him back to life, talked him into sharing his experience, which he’s been doing .  The accident happened in 1989. 

One of our 4 grandsons, 15, just got his drivers licence, hit loose gravel this afternoon, rolled his car, and, THANKFULLY, neither he nor his two cousins were hurt.  I pray its a hard lesson on vulnerability. 

Jacky Jones

I hate to admit it but I miss the snow a little—just a little, the kind that sparkles and crunches under your feet when you walk.

Hi, everyone. I’m snowed in again, but it’s nice and sunny out, so the view from my window is lovely, all bright and sparkly. Our local book club met Wednesday, just before the snow made driving difficult, and discussed Wild Swan, by Jung Chang. It’s non-fiction, the story of the author, her mother and grandmother and their lives in China during the Mao era. I have to confess to not reading it, as I was very busy with other things, but the group seemed to think it was very interesting, if depressing. My daughter said she’s getting tired of reading about the awful problems of people in books, and I’ve felt that way for some years now. For anyone interested in Chinese history, the book would be very good.

The same author and her husband, an English historian, have written a bio of Mao that is apparently very well researched. She did the part in China and he researched the newly opened Russian archives, since he reads Russian. Both the books are thick ones, even in paperback. I don’t know how others feel, but I hesitate to tackle thick books any more, although I’m tempted with the Mao one. Did you know that Mao killed 70 million of his own people? Not with his own hands, of course, but was the cause of their deaths. He was at least as bad a monster as Hitler or Stalin.

Susan

I did read the Glass Castle and found it impressive but a little skepticable about the truthfulness of some of the hard times.  It is amazing that the author succeded in spite of her childhood.

The latest Cat Who Book was a disappointment. I wouldn’t recommend it,  My library book group discussed The Memory Keeper’s Daughter and it really generated a lot of discussion. They all found the book one they couldn’t put down and expressed great admiration for the author.

Jacky, I don’t think I am on your e-mail to the group list.

I echo Lady’s remarks; we are happy to hear Clive is progressing so well.  Modern medicine is indeed making great strides in matters like this.

Jo

Jacky: I am so glad to hear that your dear husband’s health continues to improve.  What a miracle modern medical procedures are.  My wish is for his continued good progress.

JOY

I hope all of you are well, and am thankful to report my husband, Clive, is doing well.  He is down to just one blood pressure med, but the Dr increased his cholesterol mg, because of the carotid blockage. 

His only real problem now is excess wt, and lack of interest in moving much.  The man loves the Hallmark channel and TV Land.  He didn’t get to watch Mash, ect, when they were current because of working long hours, so they are all new to him.  And me too, but I’d rather do something else, like read.  My neighbor loaned me The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  Its an autobiography, and has won several book awards.  She has brilliant, dysfuntional parents, and she and her brother and sister grew up kind of in spite of them.  I’m not through with it yet, but find it interesting.

I enjoy our GGOBIT e mails, and forget to check here, but will do better, my dial up is very slow, especially in the evenings, but I have time.

Jacky Jones

Whiskers

I made a quick stop at the library this morning and found a new Cat Who Book on tape.  I think it is new.  It is The Cat Who Had 60 wiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun.  This is a short book.  I know some of you are fans of her.  From the jacket: This series remains as comforting as a warm cat on your lap on a rainy day.  I find this true.  I know the author is in her 80′s and hadn’t expected a new one so was pleasantly surprised.

I LOVE media mail – paperbacks are $1.50 if one or two in a bag.  It’s great. 

His latest is on the way to me from WI.  I mailed three Christmas gift books plus a book on tape to me to lessen the weight of my suitcase.  The package was only $4.00, media rate–a bargain.

I too have his latest – and I don’t remember right now if it’s paperback or hardcover; I have both.  But I agree – it is one of his best and I’m so glad he’s back to writing again.  His health hasn’t been the best.

Jo, I know you like Hillerman, especially the history of that part of the country. I have his latest one, The Shape Shifter, on CD and listened to it driving to Austin yesterday. I think it’s one of his best. It’s 6 CDs and I am not quite finished but getting close. The timing is current and I found that added to the perspective. This morning on Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, there was a feature on a new book about Kit Carson. Because just last evening I was hearing Leaphorn talking about Kit Carson and that period, I was reminded to post this morning.

Candace

I got back last night with out too much trouble on the flight.  Now I have to take care of a ton of mail and bills and maybe in a couple of days will be back to normal—whatever that is. 

What are the rest of you doing?

I have missed being part of this group. Where or where does the time go? I enjoyed the e-mail exchange. Thanks for staying in touch. Georgianna

I wish you all good books, good health and good luck in the coming year.I am blessed with all three–the good luck because I am still here.

Happy New Year, dear friends…….Books and Birks..wishing you all good things and happy days.

Love and hugs to u all

Miselle