Greatest global online bookclub in town

We did get another heavy dose of it and the forecast was for more this afternoon and tonight. It isn’t happening and that is good but we canceled our bridge game because of the forecast and people didn’t know if they would get shoveled out. I am not yet. I told him he could come tonight or tomorrow because of the expected added snow.

I am trying to plow through Kingsolver’s book, The Lacuna and admit that I am having a hard time with it. I will probably finish it sometime but if I get something more interesting to me I will put Lacuna aside.It is a story of artist Diego Rivera and Frieda kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR and Herbert Hoover. I also finished listening to Truth and Beauty by Ann Pratchett. This is a true story of the friendship of Ann and poet, Lucy Grealy.Lucy had many physical and mental problems and the story tells of the trials their friendship suffered and how it lasted until Lucy’s death.
I am going to read John Irving’s Last Night In Twisted River. It is held at the library and I will get it as soon as I can get out. In the meantime, its Jepordy etc.

The upside of all this snow is: this area isn’t used to a lot of snow and there are a few snowmen around town. When driving by the High School yesterday I saw a large snow Harvey type rabbit. You couldn’t help but smile.

Hope all you folks in the Northeast have power,are warm and have plenty in the pantry. I know you have plenty of snow. Take care and God bless.

Cedar Park, TX has real snow on the ground. Started this morning and has continued off and on throughout the day, sometimes big fluffy flakes and some sleet. Most of the schools closed at noon, the reason given was they didn’t want the school buses on the roads if they became icy. There was enough snow to make snowmen and the kids didn’t waste any time getting busy. I sent pictures to relatives in Ohio. My niece in Cincinnati laughed–her school district didn’t close even one day with their record snow.

Candace

Coming in here every now and then to check on everyone. “They” say we are supposed to have snow this afternoon, or tonight. Some places here in Texas have already gotten some early today. Right now, it is just “cold” here, wind cutting through your clothing. Very cloudy, and I doubt that we will get the 2″ to 4″ they are predicting. We had that big 12″ batch couple weeks ago, and that will do it for me, thank you very much!! LOL

Stay warm, keep occupied, preferably by reading !

Love to all.

Joanne

The ground is still covered with snow and it is piled high along the roads and walks. The walks are clear though so I hope to get up enough energy to go for a walk. It is a lot easier to sit in my chair and read, knit and watch tv. I may go to a movie, Dear John. I am not wild about seeing it but my friend loves the N Sparks books and wants to see it. I talked her into seeing Avatar so feel obligated.

Since Feb 15, my last post, we’ve had another ‘touch’ of snow – we now have approximately 1 1/2 inches left of the 3 we got a couple of days ago. Far as I’m concerned, I’m ready to be DONE with snow.

How is everyone – nothing since my last post so I hope you’re all warm, dry, fed and comfy.

My dog was Lab/Australian shepherd so maybe it’s the Lab being quite picky about what KIND of water (read wet) he/she prefers. She’d look up at me with either a “Well, come ON – it’s getting desperate here!” or “You aren’t gonna make me go out in THAT, are you???!?” I don’t believe there is anything, human or animal, that can look as abused and put-upon as a dog!

We’ve had a touch of snow the last few days but nothing to write home about. Suits me fine. It IS chilly however, or does 22° qualify as cold! If it isn’t windy, it is quite nice.

Take care all and stay warm, fed, and dry!
Jo

I think we had 18 inches or more. I waded out yesterday morning to get the paper and measured 10 inches. I had a ruler with me. It stopped later and then started up again and we got a lot more. Luckily I asked my snow removal guy to wait until this morning to dig me out and he did. I really don’t have to go out until tomorrow but get cabin fever so do step out and look around now and then. It is pretty and there are high snow piles everywhere. I can do without the pretty and think brown is nice.

I finally gave up on reading our library book group pick, What is the What by Dave Eggers, This is an autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng This took place in Sudan’s civil wore and the narrator as a boy walked across Sudan to Ethiopia along with thousands of other boys who escaped. They were killed by soldiers, animals, starvation and what have you. It is fictionalized but based on pretty much fact. I feel compassion for the narrator but was completely bored by this book and didn’t finish it. Our group was to meet today but was canceled because of the storm. We will probably meet next week and I am anxious to see what others thought of it. I feel that there are too many things I would like to read so why waste my time on something I don’t enjoy. Out of respect for our librarian I did try. I will hold my tongue at the meeting.

Jo, when we lived in IL my husband had to shovel a spot for our lab a number of times. This is a lab that loved water and would go in water with ice on it if we let him. He also didn’t like rain. Go figure!

I am rolling on the floor laughing at your dog not wanting to go out. When I was in MD, my NM bred dog didn’t like the snow when it touched her belly. (ABQ where I lived seldom got deep snow. When I first got there in my motorhome, I opened the door to let her out and she saw this mysterious stuff on the ground. She stopped immediately and turned and looked at me as if to say, “You have GOT to be kidding!”) Anyhow, she too had a monumental bladder. Would you believe I had to shovel her a place where it wasn’t so deep? And no, I didn’t have a shovel – people in apts aren’t supposed to NEED a shovel. So, what did I use? My dustpan of course. Got a lot of exercise that day. Fortunately my side was sheltered a bit and the snow wasn’t all that deep. Miserable mutt!

I stayed inside too, however. I wouldn’t want snow on MY belly either. As for getting or feeling colder. when I was in NM, I ordered silk camisol thing to wear under whatever I was wearing for a top. It does the trick. ABQ is also a mile-high city as is Loveland in CO where I live now and believe me, when those original tops wore out, I got me some new ones. Quick!!!! Website is wintersilk.com and I have three of the v-neck sleeveless undershirts. I can highly recommend these undershirts. They also have crew neck and long sleeves but I found I was too warm with that.

Anyhow, stay warm, dry and well fed, folks. That’s what I’m doing.
Jo

I hope those of you who have been getting snow, will soon cease to get snow. Now down here in good old Dallas, Texas it started snowing about 4:00 AM and is still doing so. The earlier part was great, big, fat snowflakes and it layed down a good 2″ on the cars, lawns, hedges, roofs, but nothing on the streets. Temps have stayed where it is not freezing on the roadways, at least in Big D, maybe on the High Five/Mixmaster roads. Traffic was supposedly moving really well. Only a few schools closed. SNowflakes now are teeny things, but large quantity.

This ole lady is sitting at home, reading and playing on the computer, and turning the thermostat up every few minutes. I get cold a lot more than I used to.

Take care, don’t drive if you don’t have to; don’t walk on frozen walkways;
and I need someone to come here and encourage my dog to go outside. She saw the snow, and balked. Doin’ a good job of holding it! I couldn’t.

We got a dusting – maybe half an inch but I doubt it’s that much. It IS cold, however. I’m warm, well fed with plenty stocked up and don’t have to go anywhere.

Happiness is a full belly and a warm place to live.

Jo

I always blame it on the computer.

We got about 8 inches of snow. It is cold enough so it is dry and not extremely heavy. My nice neighbor shoveled my side walk and grandson wanted to borrow the car. I said he could if he shoveled it out. I have a long gravel driveway. He just shoveled a little and drove it right out. I guess all wheel drive really works.

I am listening to a tape of Pat Conroy’s newest book, South Broad and am enjoying it very much. It takes place in South Carolina and the narrator is the second son of a loving father who teaches science at a local HS and his Mother is the principal. The older favorite son committed suicide and this affected his brother. He spent some time in a psychiatric hospital. The story is of his family, and his friends and there are many complications. This for me is a page turner. Conroy wrote The Great Santini, Beach Music, The River is Wide among others and I have liked most of his books.

Not to worry, Georgianna – that kind of thing happens to all of us, be it computer error or operator error. And one never knows which, either!

Hope you all are warm, dry, housed, groceries ahead and comfortable. You East Coasters really got it and you have my sympathy…also good wishes for a speedy fix.

Jo

I was tring to email one of our members and my computer kept putting the entire book club in the addres spot. I think I finally hit send – inadvertently and the letlter was blank. Sorry about that my friends. Georgianna

This movie was just release in December. It will be quite a bit before it gets to cable or DVD. Especially since there are Academy Award nominations.

Morgan Freeman is Mandailia.(sp) I don’t know the other actors but it was a good movie. I think he is up for an Oscar for it. It is a recent movie so I doubt if it is on cable yet bu I could be wrong.

I don’t know what the charge is going to a podiatrist; I went once and the cost was $120. I nearly fell of my chair when I opened that piece of mail. My share wasn’t all that, however, but what an outrageous price to charge for cutting toenails! I cut my own, tough as it was!!!!!!!! Then the RVNA here does it for $20! A MUCH more reasonable fee, IMNSHO! I suppose the $100 difference was to pay for the offices and his staff. Still too much. Grump! Growl! Snarl! etc.

re Invictus: I’ll check and see if our cable has it in its list of movies. Who’s in it, Darlyne?

I saw this movie yesterday and it is a powerful movie. If you have a chance I think you all would like it and if you can’t get out put it on your Netflex line-up if you have that. I just signed up for it yesterday. It is less expensive than up-grading my TV which I hardly ever watch anymore. I have basic cable.