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I agree; Jerry’s opinion carries a great deal of weight with me also. This is a new book, right, Jerry?

Jerry, I’m glad to hear there is humor in the book. Your recommendation goes a long way with me.

Candace

I’m well into this book and am enjoying it immensely. I don’t think I’d be wrong to say that this book would please every one of you. I’m chuckling at almost every page and tearing up a little at a few.
Huggz all,
Jerry

We stopped early, but are now in MT time, so we moved ahead an hour, and more mt driving today, Hwy 2 has only two lanes and no shoulders at times, so we moved slowly. We finished John Adams and find it even more interesting since the media is so full of politics again. Its almost comforting to know that there were mega problems for our country then too. How thankful we are that these early citizens wrote so much, letters as well as diaries.

And CLive’s knee is healing with antibiotic creme and a large bandage. He plans to wear shorts when he gets home and let it “air dry”.

It will be nice to get home again, but the quiet driving has been peaceful. We are listening to a John Patterson mystery, but its kind of bloody. I skimmed the end of the Zookeeper’s Wife, too many descriptive paragraphs of animals and surroundings. They were good folks, though.

Jacky

Oh yes – if there are two cars on the road, it’s declared a traffic jam and the nearest police come out to direct traffic.

But it’s beautiful country up there – wild and desolate, but beautiful.

I love taking a slow trip like that. I envisioned a trip like that with my brother the year he and I drove back to CA for the fair and the quilt thing. But to him, if we’re going someplace, let’s get there. So it was no leisurely trip, for sure. sigh.

Good news about Clive’s knee – does he have a shunt in it for the drainage?

We only got this far, leaving Clive’s relatives, as he wanted to visit the cemetarys where his aunts and uncles are buried. It was a sunny day today and nice for the wedding Sat, but yesterday, the family reunion picnic was drizzled on, all day. There was a shelter roof, which contained all 55 folks if they had stayed under, but the young men, who barbequed the 38 lb salmon, and the kids were out in the elements. The young guys did unchain the barbeque and moved it unter the roof, it was very large and heavy and worked much better out of the rain. But one of the small grandkids found the bolt that held the chain to the cement and lost it in the wet sand, so they may not get their holding fee back. It was fun though, we’ve gotten to know these folks from visits through the years.

Clive’s knees is getting better, still ozzing, but not painful.

We are moving slower on Highway 2, through the Cascades, but its pretty, and we are not in a hurry. This is mostly a 2 lane road, but if you’ve been in northern MT or ND, you know how sparce the traffic is.

Jacky

Darlyne, I not only felt that whoever wrote it took bits and pieces from here and there, but added some like Polly and her librarian friend from Lockmaster going to Paris and Polly writing to Pickax people saying she had a terrific job offer and was staying — sell her condo, give her two cats away, etc etc and about the same sort of thing to Qwill.

And he did nothing about it.

His barn burned down.

And he did nothing – showed no anger, didn’t even pound his mustache.

I’m not sure sure Braun wrote it.

I was greatly disappointed and rather upset at the way the characters were treated – after so many books building up these characters and all, what was the point of 60 Whiskers?

I did read that latest Cat Who book when it first came out and thought the same as you Jo. In fact I think I wrote about it. I felt that the author just took paragraphs from her last books and inserted them as new. The whole book felt like a repeat of her other books. I know that authors often have a formula but this was beyond that.

Watching C-Span interview with Greg Mortenson, the author of this book, fascinating background. Brian Lamb mentioned that it has been on the best seller list for 80 weeks but had a slow start until the paperback came out. Greg said the publisher had insisted that the subtitle needed indicate the story related to terrorism, or it wouldn’t sell. which was not the point of the book. He got them to agree that if it came out in paperback it would use his preferred subtitle which related to Peace through Education–I can’t quote the exact wording. It then took off. He said hundreds of copies have now been ordered by various departments of our government to be used in training, which has been his point for 15 years.

Candace

During the boring games shown, I’ve been reading the later Cat Who series and realized I hadn’t read the last one, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers.

For those of you who haven’t read it yet but who are big Cat Who fans, do NOT read this one…it is dismaying in the loose ends it leaves and in its seeming non-caring about the characters. If Ms. Braun wrote this one, I would be greatly surprised. And if she did, she must have been really ill and not fully recovered, or getting senile or maybe has Alzheimer’s. It is just plain dismal. Her later mysteries have been much lighter in tone than the first 20 or so but her characters have remained consistent and likeable. 60 Whiskers isn’t worth getting on loan from the library let alone buying. I’m going to toss this one – I don’t even want to pass it on.

No, normal for me is NOT political conventions. I am leaning toward one (and I’m not going to say which – either one would get me a smack upside the head) but still – - – - – !!!!!!

No, normal to me is blah TV on the major broadcast channels with not much more on the cable channels. BORING!

Since I didn’t watch the Olympic opening and I wish I had I will watch the closing tonight. I have only watched them now and then. I am not a big sports fan but did like some of them. I am off to a cool swim. Have a good Sunday all.

Normal! Surely you jest, Jo–two weeks of non-stop coverage of political conventions! The pre-convention coverage has already started! I don’t recall previous cycles when all three of these events ran this close together. The spins will create more dizziness than the gymnastics. Thank goodness for Turner Classic Movies for a breather even for a political junky.

Candace

Have a good Sunday every one – I’m sorry to admit that I’m rather glad to get the Olympics over – they were exciting and the Chinese did a bang-up job on them but I’ll be glad to get back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is.

I once tripped in a very upscale department store in London. I didn’t hurt myself but many people came running over to help me up. I was more embarrassed than anything. I had forgotten to pack a sleeveless under thing for the suit I was wearing to a wedding and the suit was not one you could go without. That is why the hurried shopping trip. I am enjoying the beautiful weather we are having, lo humidity and cool at night. The only down side is the water in the pool where I swim laps is also cool. It warmed up to 76° this morning so I did swim. I won’t be swimming much more as the pool closes labor day. I know that I wouldn’t swim in an indoor pool in the winter. I might do it for a week or two but I know I wouldn’t keep it up.

I tripped once at a Pizza Hut and boy, did I get the red carpet. Called home office, got free pizza (brought daughter and 2 g’kids in for that one). That place finally got a new manager and staff and their business went up. Before, those who ate in were second to call-in orders. I complained once too and walked out without paying for anything, all of which we had to ask for – drinks, bread sticks and sauce – but no pizza. Went to another one and the waiter there said they’d had a LOT of complaints. I asked for the address for the main office and whipped out an email to them. Anyhow, the free pizza was fun! LOL Scraped knee, bandaid, the whole works.

Glad Clive wasn’t hurt all that bad. Scraped knee is bad enough.

Don’t head wounds bleed, tho!!!!!!!!!!! Scare ya to death until you get a good look at them.

Lovely weather here – coolish and not humid at all – fall is coming early. Winter will be a beaut!!!

The title works both ways, Jacky–good that Clive only got a scrape from his trip–could have been much worse. Sounds as though it won’t interfere with the rest of the trip. Last week my son returned a rental car at an airport. As he walked away, two employees came running over, asking if he was all right, etc. He didn’t know what they were talking about–turned out that when he had leaned in to get his luggage out of the trunk he had bumped the side of his head against the lid, didn’t realize it caused a cut and he had blood running down the side of his face onto his shirt. It was hot and he was perspiring so thought what he felt was just sweat. That area can bleed profusely from even a small cut. I had a similar experience once only mine caused blood to run over my glasses and I knew instantly what had happened.

Candace

We arrived here this evening, and my husband was wise to want to stay in a motel the first night. That driving and the 2 hour difference affect us, I woke at 4:30 this am, which is 6:30 according to my body.

Yesterday, as we were going into a McDonald’s, Clive tripped on a step, and thankfully didn’t break the knee he landed on, but did scrap off a 2 inch patch of skin. The motel clerk in Coeur d’Alene, kindly provided a gauze and tape, but I did get more supplies at Wall Mart, to clean it and some antibiotic cream. He tripped in the handicapp zone, no cars there but a high step when you didn’t go around to the wheelchair access. Two Mc workers hurried out and helped him up and were concerned, of course.

Tomorrow the visiting begins. And the wedding is Sat eve. Jacky

His Truman was wonderful – I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m sure you will too.

You are right, Jo, I’m enjoying David C.s John Adams, he makes history so interesting. I think I read the book about Abigail, and I’d like to get his book on Truman.

It was 101 this afternoon, the motel clerk says they usually have a couple of weeks of heat before fall.

The coutry side is so pretty, lots of grain looking very ready for harvest. Our son is almost done with his barley crop, we got 4 inches of rain that delayed the combining, but was so needed for the sugar beets and beans and sunflowers. And a lot of farmers are growing corn again because of ethanol, but we are quite north for that. Also there are “wind farms” showing up, we do have a lot of wind.

Nice to just sit in the car, even when I’m driving, very peaceful for a while. Jacky

A grabber of a title – I too shall look it up.

You will thoroughly enjoy John Adams if it’s the one by David McCullough; he does wonderful biographies. We read some books on Abigail Adams and my goodness, how those two worked together. Amazing.

We’ve had company, family, for several weeks, very enjoyable, but tiring, of course. Our youngest grandkids stayed with us for almost two weeks, and our grocery bill went way up—-but they are growing!

Tomorrow we are driving to WA, my husband’s cousin is marrying in Stanwood, must be near where you were, Darlyne. I’m hoping Sept will be much quieter, and I can keep up with you all. I did get two books on cd for the trip, one is John Adams, 9 hours, which should take us quite a ways west. I also got the Zookeeper’s Wife in print. I don’t remember who recommended it.

Hope you all have a good summer’s ending.

Jacky

You took the words right out of my mouth, Darlyne–what a title, Jerry! I’m going to have to look it up and see what that means.

Candace

That title would grab anyone in to read the book.

I’ve just downloaded this book into my Kindle and by the looks of the free chapter it looks a winner. Still reading “Edgar Sawtelle” however. Also a very good book.
Huggz all,
Jerry