Couch 186: Pink Lemonade

Thanks, Velcro. Probably better that you missed it...

Hugs, LT.

I'm currently still reading all kinds of free kindle books on my tablet. I think it's time to put those on hiatus and go to the library, once I finish the one I'm on now! I miss reading actual book-books...

If you like historical detective novels set in Rome (atat may not agree with my choices- so disclaimer - I think they are fun but I am not saying they are accurate)

Lindsey Davis
David Wishart
Steven Saylor
John Roberts Maddox

are all authors I enjoy - they produce light popcorn detective/murder mystery novels that I enjoy.

And favorite but I haven't seen any more in the series -
The King's Hound Series by Martin Jenson about a 11th century former monk and an ex-nobleman

I find Maddox annoying but the others are excellent.

For Greece, Margaret Doody has a series in which Aristotle is the detective.

I have a chill
I can’t shake. I’m not usually this cold. Time for a cup of tea.

Hope the tea warms you up, Jersey.

If you like historical fiction, probably my all-time favorite is Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. There is actually a series: the 2nd is World Without End and the last one is A Column of Fire. I've read all three but Pillars is the one of great merit. I tolerate the second and really disliked the 3rd.

When the 3rd book came out, my friend and I went to a lecture and book signing by Ken Follett. He talked about his research and read the beginning of the new book (and I was able to get my copies of all three signed).

Seriously, if you haven't read Pillars of the Earth, give it a shot. Middle Ages; cathedral builders.

I tried his Century series and it didn't do anything for me.

ETA: There is a television series for Pillars of the Earth, but it pretty much sucks, although an early Eddie Redmayne is in it. I rewatched it recently and found I disliked a bit less than I did the first time. LOL!

It warmed me and also took my focus off my craving for chocolate candy.

Currently I am rewatching Game of Thrones in preparation for the final season.

I actually really like the HBO series. I take it for what it is (and you have to be prepared for LOTS of violence, nudity, sex, rape, etc.).

I had actually started reading the book series before the HBO series came out. Martin frustrates me because he was in desperate need of a good editor. I had started into the second book and threw it down in frustration when I reached yet another chapter with another set of entirely new characters.

However, once the TV series came on and I got a visual in my head, and I could finally tell which dozen characters I needed to focus on and which hundreds of characters (I'm not exaggerating) I could mainly ignore, it made more sense. When I went back to reread after watching the first season, the books made more sense because I knew who to pay attention to. Like Outlander, I actually like the first 3 books, but the 4th and 5th book are awful (again, the editing thing).

The TV series has diverted sharply from the novels (and of course, the novels are finished yet, so they are just making it up as far as we know at this point), but I still enjoy the series. I'm not a Game of Thrones purist. Purists who expect a movie version of a book to be exactly like the book drive me a bit nuts.

My son HATES Game of Thrones because, according to him, there isn't a single redeeming character. He's basically right about that. Doesn't bother me though. I enjoy it as fairly mindless entertainment.

Martin in no Tolkien though (and think he was once trying to be), but he has his moments.

Keto flu!

I didn’t know that was a thing...I’m gonna go read about it.

I watched the reruns so many times that i got sick of it! Kind of like The Beatles in the '90's.

Labrat and anyone - someone has posted links to pdfs of 4 CPTSD resources on reddit sub cptsd if you are interested.

I am so much better at facing a huge lecture hall of 175 students than a small class of 20.

Thanks! I found the post, I'll download them once I'm on my computer.
(That sub has been really helpful for me lately)

I am the opposite. I don't mind giving a lecture to a large group every so often, but I have more fun with the small classes.

I do fine under 10 and over 60. It’s the mid-range that throws me.

I changed my mind about posting this. Sorry. But still thank u una.

I know, i know! Pick me, pick me!

Because as a solution to the problem at that time, it did not take into consideration your deeply-held values or principles. You may have taken this as an intended affront to your values, rather than an unintended indifference to them? And something along those lines happened recently with H.

So - can good people do this and still be involved with you, or do you have to kill them? (My mothers choice). Or maybe they could apologize after you tell them you thought it was mean.

T cancelled for Thursday. She is "sick"
I'm caught between not believing her and worrying about her. Can't text her because I'm mad.
Ugh

You so smart!! I hadn't made the connection.

I'm a high school teacher, so not experience with a large lecture hall of students. I do think a class can be too small; under 18 tends to get too informal. I actually don't mind larger classes IF I have the room, but our classrooms are really built for about 25 full-sized bodies. Unfortunately, my classes sit in the 30-34 range. It gets a bit tight.

I sometimes teach a religious class (not at a uni) and there are usually 10-12 people. There is supposed to be a lot of discussion but often times it's hard to get people to participate. I think more than 15-18 would be difficult to manage though. I can rely on a few faithful people to answer questions and add to the discussion but I can rarely get others to interact, but at the end of the day, it's up to them if they want to participate. I just have to frame it like that in my head otherwise it's easy to get discouraged. On the other hand, sometimes I get someone chatty and I can't get back to the material that I'm supposed to cover and it gets OT. Kit

Dumb me. I looked again at what I had emailed former T to see if there is any reason why she wouldn't respond. The only thing I could see was that I talked about being hurt by not seeing her any longer. So I sent another email to explain that I didn't mean that she hurt me, just I feel pain from not having her in my life anymore and it is difficult. I don't know. I may have just muddied the waters more. It's been 5 days since the original email, which rationally I know isn't a lot, but she used to respond pretty quick when I was her client. So, I'm worried she is in the hospital or something. I think the non-response is adding to or perhaps causing my anxiety today. If I were stronger, I just wouldn't email. It would be perhaps less painful. But I do really want her opinion on how my therapy is going with new T and how to cope with the pain of not seeing her. So I'm stuck. And it's painful. And I'm anxious. Great. Just great. Kit