Greatest global online bookclub in town

I have reserved it at the library but there are quite a few holds on it so it may be a while before I read it.

Jerry, and anyone else who reads this book–I’d be interested in your take. I think it is one that would lend itself to discussion. I may have to reread it to grasp its full import–it evolved into a very unusual story as it progressed.

Candace

Jerry, growing up in Indiana, I remember stories recounted by old-timers about remote areas of Kentucky along some rivers where moonshiners operated and maintained watches for “revenoors.” Certain areas were open only to those known. Strangers who found themselves paddling down those waterways in certain areas would be “encouraged” to turn back by shots fired over their heads. Maybe Shady was in one of those areas.

Candace

GREAT story Jerry - reminiscing is fun, isn’t it!!! Thank you for a Sunday morning smile.

Candace, I used to have a father in law named Shady Caldwell. He lived in a little old shack in Salyersville Kentucky and was one half Cherokee indian. He was also a grand old man. He told stories about moon shining and being caught sitting on a barrel of mash by the revenooers and doing time for it in a government prison.

Just reminiscing!

Huggz all,
Jerry

I was fortunate in that I didn’t hurt anything more than ankles - but I won’t brag too much - don’t wanna jinx myself.

I do know about ice and snow although where I grew up the winter was too cold to have slippery snow most of the time. I have slipped a couple of times but am so well padded I didn’t hurt myself.

It is very hard to say good bye to a pet but it is the mercy full thing to do. We had a cat and dog for many years. The cat was mostly mine and the dog my husbands. When the dog died the cat became my husbands. She seemed to know that he was grieving and just started sitting on his lap which she had never done before. The cat and dog grew up together and were very friendly although the cat would tease the poor dog and get away with it. He just put up with her. He was a lab.

I enjoyed the Knitting Club. The stories were sad but it was up-lifting the way they helped each other and were helped in the end.

Not having lived in snow and ice country for some 30 years, I’d forgotten that you don’t have to SEE ice for it to be there and down I went. I’ve fallen just once on ice. Actually I only fell twice - the other time when in the house when I did that 7-month recuperation on my knee. That’s the scary one as I didn’t even remember falling; dr thinks I may have had one of those getting up too fast moments. Anyhow, I try to be very careful and make sure my foot is well planted before I take the next step. I don’t much care for snow and ice when I have to be out in it! Driving OR walking!

Rain here this morning - which doesn’t surprise me at all. It IS the weekend after all and it seemed to me when I was working that it always rained on the weekends!!!!!!!!!

Take care everyone and have a good day, rainy or otherwise.

Jo

Oh, Candace, I’m sorry about Shady. We had to have Petey down a couple of years ago and the look in his little face and eyes told me good by.

Please take care of yourself. It’s all fine and well to do yard work and try to clean up but don’t overdo it. Jo, you be careful. Falling down is not a good thing to do. Keep us posted on your plan.

I read more of “The Friday Night Knitting Club” last night. It is a good book.

Georgianna

Thanks for keeping us updated on how you’re doing, Candace. I guess relief comes but slowly.

Sorry to hear about Shady and I hope now the bulldogs will consider each other friends instead of someone to fight with. The Dog Whisperer had a segment on one of his programs about a pair of bulldogs that didn’t get along. He finally got them straightened out but it did take some time and a lot of work. They also had a third dog, a blond cocker, who instigated some of the problems. It was fun to watch them get better. I hope your two come around quickly.

I’ve been hearing from friends from around the country, checking up on me. As one said, it shouldn’t take a hurricane to pick up the phone and say hello. My exercise place is still without power. I’ve had a good bit cleaning up leaves, twigs, etc., but not as much as using the various machines.

Wednesday I let my old dog, Shady, go. She had been losing ground rapidly. She was struggling to endure and seemed increasingly uncomfortable. I couldn’t prolong that. Would that I could count on being treated with as much consideration. The bulldogs don’t get along with each other but each got along with her. She was their mentor from the time I brought them home as 10 week-old pups. As I’ve seen before with others, they still look for her and are very subdued. I’m going to see if I can get them to get along better since there’s no backup for either one.

Talked to more people today who still don’t have power. Grocery store check-out lines reflect fuller baskets than normal, replacing much of what they had to throw away when the power was off. Cooler here and dry for a few days.

Candace

Where is everyone - I hope no one has the flu. All those who have been silent for so long, get on the ball and let us know you’re OK.

Jo

I agree about not living without a dog but the snow makes it more difficult for me as I’ve slipped twice and that isn’t pleasant, especially if you land wrong on a knee or an ankle, which I’ve done.

I’d like to get a little dog and train it to the pads that are used for apt-training dogs. OTOH, cats are easier as they mostly train themselves and they don’t have to be walked. Either makes a good pet, as far as I’m concerned. But I’ll not get another cat (probably) until I know where I’ll live, be it here or in Colorado, and whether or not pets are approved. But it does get lonesome, doesn’t it.

Fall weather here for sure - quite coolish in the morning and temps in the 70s in the afternoons. Right now my door is open and the air is wonderful.

And I’ve got heartburn. Tums time.

Jo

Georgianna, I can’t remember when that snow was but it sure was a long time ago. I can’t imagine living without a dog. In fact, it has been decades since I had only one. They have ranged from St. Bernards down to one little three-pound fur ball. Most, not all, have been rescues. As for tripping, I was used to larger dogs so when a little 11-pound long-haired chihuahua mix came I was older, less agile, and concerned about that. However, she was so aware of my feet, she never came close to causing a problem. It made sense, she was right down there where she could get stepped on and was taking care of herself. I have the dual feeling currently that I would prefer to outlive the three dogs I have so as not to create trauma for them and/or a problem for my son. The bulldogs will be eight in November. Ten is a reasonable lifetime for them, give or take a year or two. The rescue is around 14 and getting close to the time I’ll have to let her go. I’ve been through this so often and it never gets any easier. There always comes a time when they convey a sense that they are ready to let go. The flip side is that I can’t imagine living without a dog. On the rare occasions when I take a long weekend trip, I miss them. I really recommend an older rescue. In addition to shelters, there are rescue groups of most breeds all over.

Candace

I was looking through a cookbook today - looking for a recipe I have had for a long time. I came across an e-mail from Candace telling us about snow in her yard. This was several years ago. It was very slight but enough for people in her neighborhood to call it snow. I have no idea what else was on the e-mail. Must have been something about cooking or food or recipes. Alll I could think of was she had snow and now hurricanes. Glad you are well my friend and oh so very glad you have electricity. Tell me a bit about your dogs. I really want another dog and we have always had Pomeranians and would probably get another one but I keep thinking about how small they are and we wouldn’t want to trip on them. Georgianna

A great report and thank you so much, Candace. It is such a shame that even across a street, there are those without. And without electricity, heat and humidity are terrible to have to live through.

You’d like the Austin area, I think, even if son isn’t around much. It’s humid but maybe not as much as Houston; never having lived there, I don’t know.

I’m having cooler weather also and loving it even if I did have to turn on the furnace this morning to get the chill off. I refuse to put on my woolies this early!!!!!!!!!

My positive thoughts for those without the modern basics of life - electricity!!!!!! Hopefully, the gov’ts have learned something since Katrina and it won’t take so long.

Jo

Thank you for your post Candace. I am glad that you have power again and hope the rest get it soon.

This is one of the few times of the year when we don’t need AC or heat and can have windows open. It does get a little cool at night. I just walked to the local theater and saw Burn After Reading. It was very funny. The theater is on Princeton’s main street and the town was full of people. I enjoy walking among them.

Internet and cable returned a few minutes ago. Only the iPhone kept me in touch to some degree. I had joked to someone that with no internet or cable and 24-hour coverage all week by the local stations, I wouldn’t know if we declared war or declared peace–turned out we had in effect declared bankruptcy. Still over 1.1 million households and businesses without power in the Houston area. There was an piece in the paper about the new “haves vs. have-nots”–have power or don’t have power–and the guilt that those of us feel who do have it. Neighbors on the other side of this one-block long street still without going into the second week. This side of the street was out only about 14 hours. Fortunately, those across have family or friends who have power where they can sleep and some have generators for refrigeration. I’m so thankful for whatever reason–bulldogs can’t take much heat–Pat and Mike were my main concern. There have been instances where bulldogs died when a/c went out for several hours. We did have a sudden cool spell the first of last week–dropped from the high 90’s to mid-60’s for part of the time. Helped until the humidity and temperature headed back up yesterday.

Further fortunate to have minor damage. Anyone with a chain saw can make money. Two men came by–they cut down a tree that had rubbed some shingles off the edge of one side of the roof and also removed a limb from a neighboring property that fell on my garage–no damage there. They were efficient and reasonable. Of course, there are scammers who try to charge exorbitant fees. A neighbor put tar paper over the area that lost shingles until we both can get a roofer who will repair these old asbestos tile roofs–so far no one knows of more than one who does that and he’s sure to be busy. The mayor said yesterday he had no idea how many thousands of trees there were in the city until driving around and seeing the number that came down. Many in River Oaks, for any familiar with Houston, the oldest exclusive neighborhood with thousands of stately old trees lost countless numbers of those. People I know there are still without power.

Many coastal areas other than Galveston lost so much–they don’t get as much coverage. Don’t know what the national coverage has been but some local TV stations had trouble getting to them and found there had not been any FEMA or state assistance several days into it. Will take a long time to recover. Much of Louisiana had almost come back from Gustav and were hit again by Ike.

Meantime, Jo is thinking of moving again–Colorado sounds good. I worked there one summer and loved it. My son wants me to move to Austin. Like you and your granddaughter, Jo, he is so busy and travels so much, I wouldn’t necessarily see more of him than now. Medical care is good here. I’ve been in this house 50 years this month–the prospect of transplanting is beyond daunting!

Candace

Personally, home is where my bed is — I know the other one and agree with it, but the bed is it for me.

LOL

I’m way behind online, but wish you the best Jo, also with your possible move. I like the, “Home is where you hang your hat” thought.

And I’m very curious about the Potato Peel Pie book, Darlyne, and am going to look into it.

Jacky

I finished this book last night and enjoyed it very much. You will have to read it to find out the why of the name. Bohl first mentioned this book and I thank him. There were 18 holds on it at the library so I bought it and three friends want to read it next and I will then send it to a daughter.
It is a short book and an easy read.

And I understand she had electricity again. AC is on, too, I’ll bet. Houston is muggy hot.

Candace did get the message all right - it’s good to know that she’s ok.

Got this this morning and even though I replied, I’m not sure whether she’ll get it on her iPhone or ????? I send this out via GGOBIT emails but I’ll post it in here just in case of - - - - -

< < iPhone won't [let] me write ike
Just found I can reject it's suggestion, one. Sent one to you at wrong
address. Hard to use this but better than nothing. Got power back, no
Internet or cable. No paper all local channels are. 24 hour ike
coverage.

Isworld still out there?
Candacei

Sent from my iPhone >>

Leah. She responded to an email I sent her and a few others but she’s not posted in GGOBIT for quite a while. I’ll send her an email and tell her to send us a note here.

I do plan to check into retirement communities. Loveland isn’t too far from Ft. Collins and if Loveland doesn’t have something like that, I’m sure Ft. Collins will. I’ll have to check the distance and see what’s what. But that is the first thing on my list. Second is the medical stuff.