getting together to just talk and visit

I got my usual at the coffee shop, large chai, extra chai. And I picked up Year One by Nora Roberts from the library. It’s supposed to be an apocryphal sci fi. It will be interesting to see if Nora can pull it off.

My best mask shrunk in the wash and now foggy up my glasses. I’m really thinking About those art mask I saw, but gees the price didn’t include free shipping!

My daughter and her family went up to the family cabin for a weekend get-a-way. It’s a cabin in north Minnesota that belonged to his grandmother. She recently moved to a small senior care apartment closer to health care. The family was trying to keep it as a place they could all share but none of them get up there often enough. Takes a lot of work.

I liked "Year One," Nammu. I've got the next book in the series, but I haven't read it yet. I might have to read the first one again, it's been so long since I read it.

I'm now reading a book written by "my" author, Susan Whittig Albert. She takes the letters from Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter Rose, plus other sources, and writes about the daughter as an adult, interacting with her parents and having a writing career. The book is called "A Wilder Rose." I'll warn anyone who plans to read it that all was not great for the Wilders. etc. So far it's a good, interesting, if not bubble-bursting story.

We're still having lots of rain, but managed to fit in some young-men workers to clean the broken-off twigs and limbs from the yard. They were courtesy of the last hurricane.

And they straightened out our garage, shelving bags and bags of books, and so on. All the books wouldn't fit on the shelves.

A chai sounds so good right now. We had a terrific little indie cafe here in town, but they couldn't make it through the pandemic

And one...or 2...of those new Oreos sounds good, too.

I have been a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Winder since I was a wee thing. I don't recall having seen A Wilder Rose. Definitely will check that one out! The Ingalls/Wilder story was much more complicated (and sad, in many ways) than the TV series led folks to believe. But then, they were human, leading human lives, not TV characters. There's a book I so enjoyed...called (I think) Pioneer Girl.

I am in awe of the pioneers and how they survived (or sometimes didn't).

I guess I usually lean toward general fiction to answer your question, Trav. Although Alice Hoffman and, to a certain extent, Isabel Allende, are in the genre of "magic realism." Carson McCullers is what I'd call classic literature. I also found out that she was a closeted lesbian, so most of her female characters are butch-type women, but set back in to '20's and '30's, in the south. Interesting perspective.

I loved mysteries when I was a little girl! I owned every Nancy Drew book. I haven't read many mysteries as an adult; I really don't know why. Although, the novel I'm reading right now is a semi-mystery.

My husband and I have owned an online book shop since 2008. It's a fun and really interesting way to bring in some income.

Ah, books!

I'll admit I'm no Starbucks fan, but I'll go there in a pinch. This morning, though, I read that all of our S-bucks in this region are closed right now (they were drive through only) because an employee turned up with covid

Hey, an on-line bookstore. Send me a private message with the details and I'm check you out. I love to look through available books, and I have some in mind I'd like to get.

A Wilder Rose is not for the faint-hearted. It definitely presents the older Laura as human!

IN case you're interested, Rita Mae Brown is also lesbian. She's written a number of well-known (to a lot) novels and now writes the series about pets who help solve mysteries. I've read a number of them.

My second book is about a cat who lives in a church and helps solve mysteries. I hope I can do a good job with it and get a publisher to want it. It's a more fun book than the first one, I think. The protagonist in the first one is a college English professor and in the second one it's a church secretary.

It's nice to take a break from writing to visit with folks over a cup of coffee or a cold drink.

Hey, everyone else, what are you all up to?

Oh I’d definitely read about a cat solving mysteries. I love cosys I’m reading a romance now. Not my usual genre but it’s Scottish characters living in India during the imperial years. When I was a teen I went though a everything great is Scottish period. I got Scottish music from the library and drove my dad half mad from the bagpipes. Heh heh I still have a soft spot for things Scottish.

Speaking of Scottish has anyone here read Alexander McCall Smith? I love his books. All of them. Such unique characters. I especially love the 44 Scotland street series. Ha ha poor Bertie.

Not a lot of rain here. They keep forecasting it and it does get humid and cloudy but the rain mostly passes by. If it wasn’t for the humidity it would be nice cause the temperature hasn’t been hot hot. Mostly staying in high 70’s-low 80’s. So on the nice days I sit outside in the sun and get my vitamins.

Starbucks had a new drink a month or so back, dragon fruit refresher. I had that a couple times. It’s ok if you get the water made one the lemon aid one was not very good. Every Tuesday I take mum to PT and there’s a Starbucks right there so while I wait I usually treat myself to a drink to enjoy with my book.

Oh, I forgot to say I’ll have to be on the look out for those Wilder books. I live the the area where some of the books take place. I’ve heard the dad was really a hard to live with type and she really rosyed up the family.

The dragon fruit refresher sound nice. There was a cafe in my town, they sold cucumber mint lime refreshers. So lovely, wish I had one today in this 111 degree heat

I have heard of the cat mystery books. My cousin loves them. I'm not familiar with Alexander McCall Smith.

Has anyone seen the post in General Chat from Doc John about his having sold PC to Healthline? I wish we had more info. I sure hope Healthline doesn't change the forum.

Oh, Trav - I will send you the link. I'm sorry, I forgot yesterday.

Yup. Read about the health line thing. I hope they don’t change it too much cause this is my only link to the world outside my house. I really hope it doesn’t go all Facebook. Sounds like we don’t need to worry about it for at least a year.

Cucumber mint lime sounds like a lovely refreshing drink. There was a hospital in Austin to that I went to their iOP for a while that had a huge tank of cucumber water. Of course Austin in the summer is hot, and a hospital would want healthy hydration.

PC sold? I'm worried.

I dislike cucumber drinks. I tried one at Books-A-Millions Joe Mugs counter and promptly threw it up. I'm glad some people like them.

Alexander McCall Smith? I love his #1 Ladies Detective books and have read them all.

I'm now reading another medical "thriller" by F. Paul Wilson. I wish I could stay up to finish it, since I hate to put it down. A first-year med student at a fancy private med school knows something weird and even sinister is going on there, and she's wondering what. So Am I!

It keeps raining and raining here like a hurricane is off the coast, but not that I know of. I think I now live in a rain forest.

PC sold? I'm worried.

I dislike cucumber drinks. I tried one at Books-A-Millions Joe Mugs counter and promptly threw it up. I'm glad some people like them. The Starbuck's fruit drink sounds good, though. I like their mixed lemonade drinks.

Alexander McCall Smith? I love his #1 Ladies Detective books and have read them all. I've heard his other series are good, too.

I'm now reading another medical "thriller" by F. Paul Wilson. I wish I could stay up to finish it, since I hate to put it down. A first-year med student at a fancy private med school knows something weird and even sinister is going on there, and she's wondering what. So Am I!

It keeps raining and raining here like a hurricane is off the coast, but not that I know of. I think I now live in a rain forest. Or a tropical climate. I need to water my inside coffee plants. They dried while I was gone. I hope I don;t kill them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelinglady PC sold? I'm worried. I understand. So am I (worried). Some of the boards here are very slow...I'm thinking that Healthline might condense or drop some boards. I wish Doc John would have given us more of an idea of what to expect. I'm trying to remain optimistic... I dislike cucumber drinks. I tried one at Books-A-Millions Joe Mugs counter and promptly threw it up. I'm glad some people like them. Bleck Watermelon water is probably my favorite. Alexander McCall Smith? I love his #1 Ladies Detective books and have read them all. I'm now reading another medical "thriller" by F. Paul Wilson. I wish I could stay up to finish it, since I hate to put it down. A first-year med student at a fancy private med school knows something weird and even sinister is going on there, and she's wondering what. So Am I! It keeps raining and raining here like a hurricane is off the coast, but not that I know of. I think I now live in a rain forest. Ohhh...rain, warm rain, sounds lovely. We haven't had any rain since March? April? And then only a 5 minute shower. It so dry and dusty now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too bad I can't send any rain your way.

I'm on what's called the Daniels Plan diet. My doctor put me on it. Right now she's not letting me have any meat. I sure craved the hamburgers my husband cooked for himself. This diet better get some weight off me!

The other night I had trouble thinking because I wanted to get back to reading an interesting book and write. Anybody have trouble sleeping because you're anxious to get back to what you were doing earlier?

Thanks for the rain wishes...there are bizarre atmospheric events happening out here (hope it doesn't culminate in an earthquake). 2 days ago, 108 degrees, the sky clouded over and it rained. Only for about 10 minutes, but an extremely bizarre event in these parts. We don't have "real" humidity here; the heat is very dry. Rain in August

And now the fires have enveloped the state, just as they have for the past 2 years. It's eerie, whatever is going on with the climate.

Anyway! To answer your question - I have a *wish* and this is what it is: To lie in my bed from 8 p.m. until dawn, reading a wonderful novel, then sleeping all day.

So yes, it's hard for me to close that book and put it away when I get so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open to read.

Best of luck with the diet! Sounds like a caring doctor. My GP is mediocre, at best.

I got into the pattern of reading a good book to something like six o'clock in the morning, then I'd sleep until late in the afternoon. I had a time getting back on a regular schedule.

But some books are so darn good!

Oh that book about the medical intern sounds good. I’m reading Krueger’s series set in Minnesota. I’m on number 11 and have about 5-6 more books to go. In this one they’re at northwest angle the little chimney on top of Minnesota. Lots of boat chases and somebody is trying to kill a baby. The library just emailed me that the second book in Nora Roberts year one series is ready for me.

I like watermelon water much better than cucumber water. I think lemon, that old standbys is my favorite tho.

Yeah, rain. We’re in need of rain too. The lawn is looking distressed and yellow. Minnesota has above average perception but it comes in the form of snow. Right now we’re in a drought but nothing like California and the west coast. But we’ve got humidity, plenty of it. I loved when I lived in New Mexico is was dry heat too. If I won the lottery tomorrow I’d move back to New Mexico, I loved it there. .

New Mexico is stunningly beautiful.

I'm reading a sweet book, a novel, now. I guess you'd call it a coming of age story. Good characterization.

Besides that...smoke. Choking, stinking, ash-falling smoke. Last night there was a dusting of ash on my pillowcase.These wildfires are horrific.

Yeah, I can imagine. I lived in Texas when they had wildfires. It was just so sad to see the devastation. Driving back to Minnesota I saw miles and miles of black and ash. But it was just one year, unlike California that seems to have wildfires after wildfire. Such huge swaths just burning up everything.

Those wildfires are terrible. I saw fire damage in Yellowstone several years ago,

Yes, the fires just keep starting. My husband and I were talking last night, wondering what there is left to burn. I saw footage of a fire burning right down to the ocean...such a strange sight.

It’s so humid here you need gills to breathe.

I’ve been low lately but grateful for small things. Mmm maybe not so small. Very grateful foe AC. A working car, my sister that is full of voom and vigor and came over today to vacuum the house. With my back, making beds and vacuuming is hard so I very much appreciated her doing that.

My daughter was going to home school her son so she could still come here and to the other grandparents but it was a disaster. So my grandson started face to face school today. He loved it. She might go ahead and put my granddaughter in preschool. She’s a real bright girl and I think it would be good for her, but this COVID thing is really disruptive.

I feel your back pain, Nammu. I am hurting like heck now, despite opiates. Do you know what's causing it? I know I have spinal arthritis, bu things seem to be getting worse. I hope to talk my doc into more MRIs.

Best wishes for your grands. Loving school? That's wonderful. I hope the school system is being careful and on top of things.

I went to the ENT to be measured for more hearing aids again. My hearing loss is now moderate--pitiful in the higher ranges. I can't even hear the beep beep of a thermometer. so I hope the hearing aids will take care of that. I picked out a champagne color for them. Might as well have a little fun with them!

It's humid here, too--and yes, thank God for ACs. We had our system checked today and the technician says it has a filter to keep harmful things out. That's good to know!

I have multiple things wrong with my spine from years of walking with one leg shorter than the other. It wasn’t noticeable except to a chiropractor and my pain specialist doctor. But I used to walk everywhere and my favorite shoes were unsolved moccasins, so I really wrecked my back. Now I’m luck to walk across the street for the mail. I had a spinal fusion and that helped tremendously.

Oh hearing aid fun. I’m profoundly deaf and use the most powerful aids they make. I used to get the dark chocolate colored ones but I went a bit lighter this time. Next time they will probably be silver! I can hear thunder only with hearing aids, the beep of a thermometer is beyond me. Champagne colored, fun.

I read that Dunkin is now serving their pumpkin donuts. I usually get one each year, but now I'm on this diet (Daniel Plan) that really limits my carbs. Oh, well. Guess I'll have a cup of coffee with Splenda.

Anybody watching any good TV shows? I'm into reruns of CSI and such. And all those shows about people being murdered. Where's "The "Brady Bunch," and those kinds of sweet shows? I don't like many of the sitcoms these days. But I do watch reruns of shows like "Reba." Anybody watch "Young Sheldon?" My sis really likes that show.

Do you ever watch "Vera"? British detective program on PBS. She's Detective Chief Inspector. Murders. Rather dark stories, and settings, I think. Hard for me to understand some of the dialog because of the accents. And I never really fully understand what is happening, or who dun it. But much more depth to it and interesting to me than most shows.

Hello everyone!

Looks like this a very friendly and welcoming place to be! I am 62 yrs. young, widowed and divorced from my 1st husband (but not in that order!). Been a widow for 10 years now. A gentleman friend who was in our wedding 41 years ago sent me a letter just after husband died, expressing his condolences about the loss of my hubby (he and late husband were good friends). One thing led to another, and we started dating. He and I have been together these last 9 years, and a short time ago we bought a house and moved in! Together! He is so good to me. I am very blessed to have such a mature, easy-on-the-eyes guy friend! I don't feel too guilty about living together, because if we were to get married, my pension would stop and so would my Social Security Survivors Benefits I am collecting Disability benefits from SS, too, and wonder if they would cease, too, I wonder?

Sorry for going on so, ladies. I can be such a motor mouth sometimes! Looking forward to getting to know all of you! Thanks for listening to this 'sinful' old woman!

Hey, Cdogger! You found us! Yes, we are a friendly group of older folks ( not OLD!) Feel free to talk as much as you want. Most of us have a lot of free time to come here.

I keep hearing about older folks who live together, not marry, so they won't lose their benefits. I think the government needs to let a married couple keep both their checks! It's not fair. I'm glad you've found someone special.

Changing the subject, one of our sons called last night and is coming to visit us next week! I need to neaten up one of our "guest" bedrooms. Maybe he will play Scrabble with me. But I think he knows the whole Webster dictionary and most always beats me. But my hubby doesn't play it. At any rate, YAY!

pachy, I have a hard time understanding lots of the British accents, too--but I like murder mysteries. PBS had a great show called "Waiting for God" about folks in an assisted living place. It was a hoot! And, of course, "Keeping Up Appearances" was funny, too.