getting together to just talk and visit

Ooo I loved Waiting for God, that was hilarious. There’s lots of British shows both comedy and mystery that I like. I was with captions so the accent isn’t a bother.

I do like Young Sheldon, but I’ve been a fan of Big Bang since it started. I like Mom too. But most new shows I don’t find funny. MyTV and H&I network have a lot of the old sitcoms on, they just need an antenna. They’re free shows.

A couple living together to keep income is common now. The government really needs to get its act together cause one income doesn’t work in today’s economy. Growing up only my dad worked and we had a good life. Vacations a cabin on a. Lake and never worried about necessities. But now a person working at that same company needs two incomes to have the same standard of living. Mum is lucky dad retired when he did she has excellent benefits and medical coverage that stopped soon after. I know someone who works for that company and they know there’s a handful of people mums age who have the golden parachutes plans and every year the number gets smaller. Mums 92 for those that didn’t know. Her one regret is not standing up to my dad and insisting on being able to work. She volunteered a lot tho.

I've been watching a lot of TV reruns--and then MSNBC later in the evening. I like to keep up with politics.

Yes, I think couples do need both to be working to keep up with the Joneses these days. My sons (if they ever marry) expect their wives to work. And neither is sure about having children, since they cost so much. I don't remember ever making a big deal about how much they cost, so I don't know where they're getting that idea. I guess they've observed how much everything from baby diapers to college costs.

I do think some people have too many children--like the old lady in the shoe. We settled on two, since I was 36 when the second came along. In basketball terms, parents can play man-to-man with two kids, but have to move to a zone if more come along!

That said, I would like to have more than a granddog one day. Maybe at least a grandcat? Do you all enjoy your grandchildren?

My daughter is dropping her daughter off here on Monday. She has an in person class! My granddaughter is 3, the perfect age. I do enjoy her. We’ve a toy box full of toys but what she enjoys most is putting the tracks together for the train and the cars. She likes coloring too though that’s mostly scribbled at this age. My grandson is 8 and is in school. They tried the homeschool track but that didn’t last long. The only way it would be possible is if there was someone to sit with him from start to finish.

I got a grand dog too. He’s getting very old though and doesn’t have much longer. He’s a Rottweiler and pretty reserved about most people outside the immediate family but he took a shine to me. Now in his old age he’s more accepting of outsiders.

Tonight it’s PBS night, unfortunately they’re all reruns. Still it’s and escape from politics. I do watch msnbc if I watch the news. Especially Rachel maddow as she’s frank and forthright. She says what I think. That this whole situation going on is unbelievable. I never thought my dystopian novels would become so real.

Speaking of reading even the book I have is a rerun. It’s part of a Minnesota series and I read it before I was aware there was a series. It was the first book I read, then I went back and got the books in order of printing. I’m so glad that all the small libraries here are inter-connected. They loan out books though out the southern half of the state. Otherwise I would have had to go online and find the books though out of print sites. I think there’s only 5 more books to go until I catch up with the newest just published book. I like doing that. Reading books in order. Sue Graffins AB C books I started with Y and read them in reverse order. But I only got down to M when the library didn’t have print available. I can’t get the application to load that would let me download the online books. There’s lots of oldies I’d like to reread but they are online only. I really need my grandkids to get a bit older so they can teach me all the technology that’s passed me by.

I would love to be a grandma. But my daughter and her husband don't plan on having children. My son and DIL are still fairly young, but I sure hope they do have a child eventually. They certainly aren't looking at it in the near future, though. All I ever wanted was to have children, be a family. But look at our nation in these times...I can understand when young people don't want to bring a child into this mess.

Yeah my daughter was all about having a family and at least 3 kids but I think they’ve scaled back on that. In part due to the uncertainty COVID bought to SILs business. He has a good business but COVID has definitely impacted them. I think they might stop at two. She still has a year and a half before she gets her BS so having a baby would impact that. Too

Saw a good movie tonight. A Lady in a Van, with Maggie Smith! She’s so good. It was based on a true story of a homeless woman who parked her van in the playwrights driveway for 3 months and ended up being there for 15 years. Funny and light but sort of bittersweet.

I agree that people ought to be reasonable about having children--especially during COVID.

I love Maggie Smith. Wasn't she in Downton Abbey? And Harry Potter? That movie sounds interesting.

Yes she was. The Lady in aVan movie was about a homeless woman who asked a playwright to park her van in his drive for 3 months,... ends up being 15 years. It’s a British comedy. Quite good.

Anybody into Hallmark movies? I catch some now and then. They always have a happy ending with a kiss between the two main characters, who didn't know if the relationship would work.

I now have my sweaters and sweatshirts out and am wearing a sweatshirt today. Yay, fall! At least we don't have many trees in our yard that drop leaves that need to be raked--and the grass won't need cutting much longer.

I want to plant another tree in our back yard. I love trees. We have a big magnolia tree (and I mean big) in our back yard. I'm looking forward to the fall colors. Last year we went to Vermont and New Hampshire. The trees were beautiful. Too bad we can't do something like that this year--but one of these days....

Anybody back into pumpkin spice goodies? I'm on a special diet, but maybe I''ll get the pumpkin spice coffee. I love that about fall. Sure wish I could have a pumpkin spice donut, but I don't want to start major cheating. SO, somebody eat one for me, please.

Hope you all are having a good day!

I’m not a fan of hallmark movies. I discovered it’s the background music they play that sets me on edge. Mum loves me though so I just take my hearing aids off. I especially liked the ones with Ed Asher in them. I like him, he makes a great Santa clause.

I hate fall for being too short. Seems like every year it’s shorter and shorter. Last week we had fall like weather but this week it’s back to summer. 80F today. I do love the pumpkin spice but not in coffee. I get mine in bars or cake, or cookies. I know I should learn to like coffee as most studies show it’s good for you. But no I can’t stand it. The closest I get to coffee in the black tea in chai. I have a collection of sweatshirts for fall but like I mentioned falls too short. Winter comes calling before I get though my collection.

I have shirts and sweatshirts with leaves and pumpkins and such--I'd better start wearing the shirts anyway. It's supposed to be in the high 70's here the next few days--but I stay inside most of the time anyway.

Coffee still isn't my favorite drink, but i like it sometimes--with sugar and cream. I hate it black. Yuck!

There’s supposed to be all kinds of health benefits to drinking coffee black. Yuck. Tea too. Sadly I consume a can of Pepsi a day. If I could do away with that even without the tea or coffee I’d be a lot healthier. When I moved back here I couldn’t stand the taste of the tap water. So I do buy crates of spring water. So that is good. But I drank more water back in Texas. I had a ice machine and it was hot 10-11 months a year. Now I just drink room temperature water occasionally. I did get mum to drink more water but I’m not good on taking my own advice.

Yeah it was 81 today so not quite sweater weather. I did sit outside today. One piece of advice I did listen to. I vowed that every nice day I’d sit outside and watch the wildlife. I’ve been trying to be thankful and grateful for each day and being outside helps with that. Because of my back I can’t take walks so I try to get out on the deck everyday. Sitting in the sun does help. I listen for the birds and watch for the bunnies. Strange tho since the eagles appeared this summer the bunnies stopped coming out. Howe’s they know? Despite the summer weather some of the trees are going orange. It’s pretty.

I'm looking forward to the leaves turning where I live--especially the maple trees.

I like to sit on my porches and enjoy the outside, too.

How is everyone. I’m going to have a hot apple cider drink, anyone want to join me?

I think today is the last of the warm days. Despite the warm temperatures a lot of trees have yellowed and dropped their leaves. Not many orange or red trees yet, mostly yellow. I was so surprised on my trip to the library just how many trees had turned.

Speaking of the library, I requested 8 or 9 books last week and picked up three on Friday and just today received a message that a forth one is ready! Oh my! I hope I can read all of them before they’re due. They all come from different libraries in the southern half of the state so there’s different due dates and some can’t be renewed although all 3 I picked up are older books. I’m making my way though different series. I’m on book 13 of William Kent Kruger. I just started book one of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey series. I’ve read the more recent books but I decided to start with A is for Alibi and read them in order. The other book is an abnormality for me. As a rule I don’t read romance but I was bored and read the one I got for mum. It wasn’t bad. It read more like a cozy mystery and the back of the book explained the writer always puts a bit of mystery into her books. She writes under three names, one each for historical romance, futuristic romance and current romance. So I decided to request one of her futuristic books. Then after I got those a new book came in. Can’t think of the author right now ( Paterson)but he’s a profligate author always churning them out. But he’s very readable and does the mystery genre that I love so much.

The trump books I requested are still on the waiting list, I think I’m number 40 and 42. It will be awhile before those get to me. And I forgot to request the third book of a science fiction trilogy by Nora Roberts although I do have a request in for her newest In Death series.

I love history but right now I find myself devouring easy books. They are such I lovely distraction from real life. I’m so glad all the southern libraries of my state have joined together in a joint operation. You can get a book from any of them for free. I wouldn’t be able to go back and read the series I have read unless they had that option. The small library here just wouldn’t be able to keep books so old. Once I get caught up I’m going to start on the Game of Thrones series. I really in joyed getting theDVDs from the library now I’m going to go back and read the books.

Oh my I’ve really gone on haven’t I. How are the rest of you doing?

Libraries around here are closed.

I don't think our local libraries are doing much either. I have bags and bags of books and shelves full of books, and I still order books from eBay.

I bought two of Alexander McCall Smith's latest The #1 Ladies Detective Series books. This series is the delightful accounts of a lady from Botswana and her secretary, etc. She doesn't do murders, but more things like possibly straying husbands, robbery, etc. They are easy reads and very entertaining.

I'm now reading a sci-fi book called The Vanishing Point, in which one morning about three-fourths of the population just disappears--and the survivors are adjusting, and the scientist survivors are trying to figure out what happened. Religious folks usually think the rapture has occurred.

I'm also reading a collection of short stories by sci-fi writer Harland Ellison. He has written some of the most memorable short stories I have ever read. Some of them are rather dark, and Ellison was a controversial man.

I'm also still working on my second murder mystery. This one is more of a cozy than the first one I wrote. The main character is a church secretary--and she solves the crime. It's fun to try my hand at a type of book I really like. I'm thinking of trying to write a sci-fi mystery book after this one.

Reading is such a pleasure for me --and I see for some of the rest of you, too. Good for libraries for making books available. I keep hearing about more and more books I'd love to read. I've read all the Kinsey series and really enjoyed them.

If you are into lighter reading, then you might like the series of books about a woman bounty hunter named Stephanie. She's bumbling and her cars keep getting blown up! I'll have to puzzle over the author's name and get back to you all. (Warning: the books are racy.)

pachy, what kind of books do you like? How about the rest of you?

See, I can run on and on when I start talking about books!

I don't read much any more. The last one was Mary Trump's book.

I do not know how to pick books that I might like -- how do I get information about them ahead of time?

The libraries around here have contactless pick up. Their hours are severely restricted. You drive up and they bring out the books you requested. There’s a drop off bin where you return them. They just started limited openInns for browsing hours. You must wear a mask and sanitizer your hands on entering. There’s a limit of 30 minutes and no kids under 16 allowed without parents. All of their activities are cancelled.

I read about books in the New York Times list, there never seems to be a shortage of places to hear about books. I’m number 40 now in line for Mary Trump’s book.

Oh I think I’ve read those racy books your talking about travellady. The protagonist has two guys on a string and one of them replaces her cars and puts tracking devices on them. Yup I’ve read them. AMS’s books are great. He has several series. A couple of them take place in Scotland. The vanishing point sounds good.

Ooo you write books too! How cool is that! I love cozy’s especially British mystery cozy’s. I’d never have the patience to write. I’d love to read your books.

I don’t know if I’ve read Ellison, his name sounds familiar and I’ve read a ton of sci fi. I’m really a fan of the 50’s. I used to live in the Twin Cities and they have two of the greatest used, new book stores. Uncle Hugo’s and Uncle Edgar’s. I’m sure you get the reference. They were great stores to hang out. Now their on line too.

I could go on about books for days. But hands down the book I recommend to every one is, 1177 BC the year civilization collapsed by Cline. It’s a history book but an absolute page turner. It does cover some of the same ground as, Collapse, how societies choose to fail or succeed, by Diamond. But it’s richer in depth. You might be more familiar with Diamond from his Guns, Germs and Steel book. That one is more famous. Cline has written other works but none of the small libraries here carry his books. I guess there isn’t much requested in history and they are expensive for libraries to purchase. The expenses is why I haven’t purchased them myself. I really depend on the libraries for my reading material.

Yes, Nammu, you know the books I'm talking about. I remember the main character is Stephanie Plum--and yes, she has two guys who are interested in her. One, Joe, is a policeman and the other is Ranger, who runs a security business. Now if I could only remember the author's name. I'll look it up and report back--or else I'll be up all night trying to think of it. ... Okay, it's Janet Evanovich.

I just won on eBay a best of the best book of sci-fi short stories. I wonder if it has any of Ellison's short stories in there. The best known, I think, are "A Man and his Dog" and "I Have No Mouth, But I Must Scream." Yes, the latter one is chilling, but as an emotionally abused child, I can relate to the title.

Now if you want a break from reading, google or such "Online Scrabble." It will show a bunch of games on one site, including Scrabble. I get obsessed with playing.

I just ordered some pumpkin spice tea and coffee from eBay. I like hot tea and cider, too.

I find out about books from you folks, pachy, and also from the newspaper--and places such as Books-A-Million (are they open now?) have a monthly newspaper-like booklet about new books coming out. Also, MSNBC shows often feature the authors of new political books.

I'm hoping to get at least one of my books published by an actual publisher--not a vanity press or pay to publish way. We'll see.... Now, they are Christian mysteries, so that might turn some of you off. But I like to think they are entertaining and engaging. I've gotten good reports from people who have read the first one and are reading the second as I get more chapters ready. I don't think they are all just being nice--especially my sister!

What are you all doing to cheer yourself up during this viral drama? I have been buying live flowers to put in a vase in my kitchen. I like to see and smell them.

I'm drinking some green tea now.

Yes that’s it Janet evenovich yes she’s a light breezy read.

I’ve read Christian mystery before as long as it doesn’t get to sermon(y) I like it just fine. I hope you can find an agent and get published.

The readers digest is considered a Christian magazine and I’ve been reading that since I could read. They used to be much thicker but I still like em. ( did you ever make angels out of the readers digest?) I’d say oh back in the late 60’s and early 70’s we’d get the condensed books for vacation reads. 4 books in one and something for everyone. Cheap enough that they could be manhandled and dragged along on the boat and durable enough to handle the weather. Paperbacks eventually replaced them.

I first came across The Desiderata in a readers Digest, way back then. I might consider myself an agnostic but I don’t pull my nose outa joint by refusing to read spiritual works or things labels as such. I’m all for free speech.

I looked for those hot cider packs but the store didn’t have and so I got hot chocolate instead. A good drink on these colder days. Fresh flowers sound like an excellent idea. Tomorrow I’ll have to bring some of the potted flower in cause it’s supposed to freeze overnight. Brr it’s going to be snowing soon.

I still get the Readers Digest--large-print version now. The jokes can be a bit more racy than they were in the past.

My parents had lots of those condensed books. It's sort of scary as a writer now to think of how a book can have a lot cut out and still tell the story.

pachy, there are a bunch of political books that have come out recently. I have an older book about Biden I plan to read one of these days. The book "Rage" sounds interesting.

It's finally beginning to feel like fall here in North Carolina. I'm packing away my summer clothes and starting the wear the fall ones. I'm looking forward to getting my boots out. I like the ankle ones.

How about you all?

I too get the large print readers digest!

Yes it’s definitely fall out there now. In the 50’s and 60’s and tonight it’s supposed to freeze. After my back surgery I got rid of all my shoes with heels so I have no more fall boots. Just a pair of sensible winter boots. I wear sandals mostly but my new favorite shoe is Skechers. They don’t have laces and slip on easily.

I saw that Star Trek discovery was on a regular channel tonight but tonight is PBS night so I wasn’t able to watch it. Almost any other night we could have watched as there’s nothing on. Thursday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s there’s PBS. Mostly mysteries. But as of late it’s a lot of reruns too. Tonight was Vera. Hard to believe the actress that plays her is in her 70’s.

I got out the winter pajamas a week or so ago.

I have Comcast here for TV, and I discovered that you can tell them to record shows so that you can watch them later, without having to record them yourself with a home machine. It costs nothing extra.

Vera is one of my favorites, though I have a hard time following the stories because of the British accents, and maybe my hearing is not so good, and my mind is shot too.

My hearing is horrible I use closed captioning on all my shows so I have no problems with the accents.

Got mum to get her flu shot today, so we’re all caught up on shots here and as ready as we’ll ever be for flu season.

If you keep mentioning this, maybe I will remember it!