As Time Goes By
August 10th, 2008 at 05:20pm McB
It was a dark and …
starry night. It had been stormy earlier, but the front had moved on and left the night sky clear. It was about the only thing that was looking good at the end of this long day. It had just been one danged thing after another, one of those days when everything had gone wrong and everyone had been getting on my case. When I could finally come up for air I knew just where I needed to be; my favorite Bar & Grill.
The B&G is a bit off the beaten path, one of those cozy joints known mostly by word of mouth and hard to find. Even as many times as I’d been there, if I was headed there from a different neighborhood I might have trouble finding it. Fortunately I knew where to look for the trail of breadcrumbs. But tonight it wasn’t necessary.
I cruised through the parking lot first, looking to see who else might be around. The usual crowd was there, as far as I could tell. And it looked like Lori and Btuda had dropped in, too. I was glad to see that as we hadn’t seen them around much recently. When I went to open the door, I had some trouble. That was unusual and I wondered if the door was becoming warped from all the rain we’d had. I took a good grip on the handle and put my shoulder to the door until I felt it give a little. As I stepped into the place I could hear laughter and snatches of conversation. TwinkleToes was at the bar, bemoaning the fate of her tomatoes to GP who was listening with a sympathetic ear and dispensing advice. RSS was bartending tonight and I signaled to her for my usual - rocks, lots of salt - and took my glass over to the big corner booth where everyone habitually congregated. There were several conversations going on all at once and the air around the big table was filled with overlapping voices. A few of those voices had been out of town for a few days, but folks always found their way back to the B&G eventually
I heard someone say, ” …
Entry Filed under: CB World, Useless Fun
97 Comments Add your own
1. McB | August 10th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Why is BCB sitting in the corner? Was she bad?”
2. Wapakwoman | August 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
“Mary, we’d love to come to your house again, soon.” Oh Lord, someone revive the poor thing.
3. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
“Here’s looking at you kid.”
4. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Huh. I got an error message and thought WordPress had kicked me out again.
I’m watching With Six You Get Eggroll on TCM. Doris Day and Brian Keith. I think I mignt have seen it in the movies, many many moons ago. But I don’t remember any of it. George Carlin made his movie debut in it. I can’t recognize him with a G-rated mouth.
5. Mary | August 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Actually, Wapak, the thought of being visited by courteous and intelligent people doesn’t make me feel faint.
The idea of trying to organize same, well, that’s different
Why is BCB refusing to divulge her secrets? Has anyone tried plying her with liquor, Mounties, or a horde of visiting CBs?
6. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Ah. And there’s McB. I knew she was just waiting for the cover of darkness. Figuring she’d slip into the bar unnoticed, take some time alone to wind down from the long and trying day. Maybe sit near the window, watch the puddles drying up in the deserted street outside. Soak up the ambiance while she nursed her first drink of the night. A soothing island of quiet amidst the company of familiar friends.
7. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
News? Secrets? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I’m just sitting here enjoying McB’s noir.
8. MCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
someone hold her down while I sing. That’s broken stronger folks than her before.
9. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I think I heard an owl last night. Sounded like it might be a portent of things to come. And that got me pondering. Could be good. Could be bad. One never knew until things transpired. I was still pondering portents when suddenly . . .
. . . the phone behind the bar began to ring. Insistently. Yet no one made a move to answer it. Another portent?
A shot might ring out if someone doesn’t make it stop.
10. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I’m going to bombard you with silly comedy movie trivia until you spill your news BCB.
In what 1968 movies did the actors who would later play Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Father Mulchahey (William Christopher) play two hippies?
11. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
You all used to be a wee bit more playful.
And it’s not news about ME, it’s about someone else.
12. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
As long as it’s not trivia about Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell movies. [shudder]
13. Mcb | August 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Are we supposed to play 20 questions?
Animal, vegetable, or alien?
14. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Yes!
And the title of the post IS “As Time Goes By.” Don’t know what you’re complaining about. Not like you specified whether it should go quickly or slowly.
15. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Notice she didn’t say it wasn’t about me* but not about ME. And what can we deduce about that hmmm?
Oh and the phone is for you BCB. We can’t keep replacing phones CB’s keep shooting so I answered it.
16. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Okay, fine then.
I have some exciting news to share! Quincy the Wonder Dog spent the weekend with His Favourite Person for the second weekend in a row! Isn’t that just the most wonderful– Oh wait. That was only exciting to me (no, not her — well, maybe to her too). Although I really did think it was pretty darn exciting not to have to let him out in the rain this morning, then dry him off, then feed him, while trying not to step on the hungry meowing cat, all before seven seven o’clock, which always seems way too early but especially since I’d been up late last night, and the night before, and just wanted to turn over and go back to sleep and listen to the rain and thund– What?
Oh, right. Get to the point.
Damn.
I’ve forgotten it.
17. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Rain! You had rain!. Now that’s news here in the dry South.
18. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Yeah, isn’t that exciting?
But I keep thinking there was something else.
19. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Don’t make me drive down there and shake the news out of you.
20. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
It would be good to see you again . . .
21. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Uh huh. You’re going to stretch this out until we’re crazy aren’t you?
22. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Nah. We’re way past that point already. Just building suspense. Until the pizza gets here. Then I have to go eat.
Oh, is that the doorbell?
23. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Okay, I’ll be nice. Because I really do want to share this.
There is some REAL news, which I can finally talk about now that JenT has finished messing around with layout and whatnot and has posted book covers. Yes, plural. My dear friend Jen Talty (aka Jenni Holbrook) has not one, not two, but FOUR BOOKS under contract with Wild Rose Press. FOUR! And the covers are amazingly cool. I couldn’t be happier for her. I knew it was just a matter of time before someone realized how good she is, and WRP has pretty much been telling her to send them every romance she’s ever written and then offering her contracts on them. It’s like they’re eating truffles. More please.
You should go visit her website and her blog and tell her how talented and smart and funny and beautiful she is:
http://www.jenniholbrook.com/
http://www.jenniholbrook-author.blogspot.com/
Go ahead, make her blush. It’s good for her. She’s traveling this week with her DD to visit various colleges and probably she would welcome a few comments that are not accompanied by long-suffering sighs and exaggerated eye rolls. Not that her DD does that. Of course she doesn’t. Teen-aged girls, especially those with alien mothers, are so delightful. Jen used to be one, a teen-aged girl that is — really she did, I’ve seen pictures and heard a few stories — and look how well she turned out!
And that’s all the news that’s fit to print. For now.
Got to go eat pizza. And listen to the owl. Some of this stuff you just can’t make up.
24. RSS | August 10th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Wow, that’s fantastic news for JenT. Thanks for telling us BCB.
25. Mcb | August 10th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Yippee! And por que did she not share this herself? Get her OVER HERE
26. BCB | August 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
You know what she did when she got the fourth contract? Sent me an email that said, “Hey, guess what? This is kinda cool.” Kinda cool. Huh. I think she was in shock.
And she’s traveling. No idea whether she has internet access.
27. Jenb | August 10th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Very exciting and wonderful news!
So very proud of her.
28. theresa | August 11th, 2008 at 1:10 am
That is most excellent news! Thanks for sharing!
And someone ordered pizza? I know I’m a bit late, but hey, pizza for breakfast works for me!
29. cbpen | August 11th, 2008 at 2:08 am
I love pizza for breakfast!
Next it will be RSS. I have to find a job so I can buy these books. 
And I love good news. Hip hip hoooray for JenT
30. me | August 11th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Fabulous great news!! Someone please go tell Jen-T how happy and excited I am and I can’t wait to read them! (It won’t let me post on her site without an account. I tried.) And if you’re reading this, Jen-T: WOOHOO!
And no, no one has news about me. (At least, not that i know of.) I’m boring.
31. RSS | August 11th, 2008 at 9:24 am
No you’re not Me. You’ve just been working so much overtime you haven’t had any time for fun.
ANNOUNCEMENT FALL CHESAPEAKE BAY WEEKEND
The fall Weekend at the (Chesapeake not San Francisco) Bay will be the first weekend in October. There is plenty of room because we can also use our cottage as well as my folks and possibly my DBro’s. That’s October 3-5th. There is a rumor that Canadians may be able to come.
Please return to your regularly scheduled conversations
32. Louis | August 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am
There is that old saying…
“Tempus fidgets when you are having fun.”
Or something like it.
Good news re JenT
New baby road runner in the patio last evening..trailing after mama.
Our grapes are beginning to ripen…been picking ripe ones from the bunches….nice and tart/sweet. Have several vines.
Nothing like sitting at the B & G and listening to the various conversations going on.
33. Louis | August 11th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Dear word press ate my post.
34. Louis | August 11th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I spoke too soon.
35. K.L. | August 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
WooHoo for JenT! I’ll get over to her site and look around. She originally got one book e-published before they went kaput. Did that book get bought by WRP? And what about that second book that was under contract but never published? Or are these all new books?
Why am I asking you all? I better get over there and ask the Alien herself/
My mom was supposed to have an overnight stay after her proceedure on Friday, but she was doing so well, they discharged her that afternoon. My step mom got home yesterday. Dad says she is doing well, but I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her directly yet.
My DS18 (My God, 18) had a great party even though it rained. Time flies.
36. K.L. | August 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
BTW, is there any way we can get JenTs blog and site linked on our main page? That way we won’t have to keep finding BCB’s comment to check out her stuff.
37. Diane (TT) | August 11th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
How exciting for JenT! It looks as though her books will be coming out on paper this time (btw, I just googled Jenni Holbrook and found her site, but “Jennifer Talty” gets a link-less home page, so you have to remember the nom de plume). Very cool. But, like Me, I couldn’t comment.
The fate of my tomatoes that I’m bemoaning is that someone else gets them, since I’ve left them behind! But I do have a GP question: just before I left, the trash/ recycling people (I assume) broke off my pink dahlia. I dug up the tuber and brought it with me - it’s currently in the garage here. What do I have to do to replant it here, and when do I do so? I also brought a couple of tulips, but I’ll put those in September/ October, I assume.
Louis, I love to hear about the wildlife around you (and about others’ gardens, etc.)! So much of everywhere looks like everywhere else that I really enjoy hearing about the details that makes a place special.
I’m getting downright chilly in this library, but at least I now have an address and phone # for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Lots to do with a move!
38. Lou | August 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I’m so excited for JenT. She’s been through so much trying to get her books published - it’s about time someone recognized her talent!! Good for her.!
Awww. Louis, a baby Roadrunner - how cute!!
39. Kay T | August 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Yay! Congrats to JenT.
RSS: Thanks, things are sort of calming down, but I am using that chaos excuse to do very little. I decided I needed to get reading since I have a stack from the RWA. Sent some inpirationals home with my sister to read and she liked the one she is reading.
OH: uh oh. Hope things are going better.
Everyone else! Yay!
40. McB | August 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Everybody should come for the Bay weekend. I kid you not, the location is lovely and relaxing. Definitely worth a longish drive as you can do plenty of laying around and relaxing once you get there. It’s a very low key kind of place.
41. GatorPerson | August 11th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Dahlias: This is growing time for dahlias. The tubers now have roots and stems, and the stems have leaves and flowers. Maybe no flowers in the heat, but here the flowers start back up with cooler weather.
So the dahlia bulb expects to be growing in the soil during the summer. Either put it in the ground or in a pot of soil. Water well. It should put out new growth. Mark it with a stake in case it doesn’t put out new growth. Dig it up after a good frost, put it in moist sand in a non-freezing place until next spring. We in zone 7 tend to leave them in the ground, losing a few to freezes.
42. Lou | August 11th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
GG - I remember well the commute to SF when I was living in the SF Bay Area. My first job in the City I had to drive. I remember the on-ramps to the bridge from the job to home (Berkeley) where there was a human hair width between cars - all jockeying for position (several lanes down to a few lanes) to get onto the bridge. My second job I was able to take BART and get off at the first stop after the tunnel. Much easier, except for one Christmas eve when there was a fire in one of the tunnels over on the East Bay side. I was fortunate enough to catch the last train going through from SF to the East Bay. I had to transfer a couple of times - but made it home. Thousands stuck in SF on a Friday night Christmas eve were not as fortuntate. Interesting place, the SF Bay Area…
The Chesapeake Bay retreat sounds heavenly - but a little too far away. I’m a bit bummed about that ’cause I’ve always wanted to visit that area since I read NR’s series about the Bay. Have a great time everyone!!
Oh yes, and pizza for breakfast - either hot or cold - one of my faves.
OH - I hope things have calmed down for you!
JenT must have internet connection some place, ’cause she just read my congratulatory email I sent her.
43. BCB | August 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
McB, I’m not sure how ANY place can be “low key and relaxing” if there are CBs involved. Fun, yes. Relaxing, um, no. Unless we’re planning to tie the hands of certain people so they’re immobile? Because then there’d be no talking involved. Now THAT might be relaxing.
October seems like such a long time from now. Didn’t we just get done with May?
44. Jenni | August 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Thanks everyone. I only have a minute as I’m spending the next week hoping from city to city checking out colleges. Oh Joy!
Yes - both books that were under contract with Trisk will be published by the Wild Rose press, but Right In Front of You has had a title change…to In Two Weeks. There will also be a few other changes made to the manuscript as it goes through the edit process.
Also, the books all come out in e-book format first and I honestly don’t have a release date for the first one- although it will either be late this year or January of next. Then 6 months after that, they become available as a POD. You most likely won’t find them in a store, although you can order them from broders and b&n, also amazon. I know my local bookstores will carry a few copies, but that’s because i begged them.
OK - must get back in the car and go somewhere else.
Thanks again everyone.
45. McB | August 11th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Yay, Jen, and congrats again!
BCB - last time we more or less did our own thing during the day (read, sleep, sunbathe, kayak, long walks) and then, yeah, lots of talking in the evening. And laughing. Got GP going a few times. Ask her sometime what she learned about raising boys v. raising girls.
46. GatorPerson | August 11th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Huh? You mean about the 3-D thingie? X-Rated. Definitely x-rated.
Remember I said there are 4 evil moons aligned against me? Make that 5. I don’t think there can be a 6th. Not enough relatives. Wait. I just thought of some more. But maybe they can take care of themselves without dumping on me*.
47. BCB | August 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Poor GP. I heard there is supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. Maybe that will knock off a few of those moons. Or make them less evil. Is that possible? Less evil?
I am soooo tired. So very freakin’ tired. Is it too early to go to bed? It’s not even dark yet. Maybe I’ll pretend I live in northern Alaska. Maybe I’ll move to northern Alaska. Right after I wake up.
48. RSS | August 11th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Oh fudge. Word press kicks me out everytime I try to post a comment. And it was so insightful. Snort.
49. McB | August 11th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Actually GP I was thinking of the underwear story. Mom thought you were going to lose it over that one.
Sweet dreams, BCB.
50. McB | August 11th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Margaret Maron’s newest book hit’s the shelves 8/20. http://www.margaretmaron.com/
51. GatorPerson | August 11th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Ah, yes. I remember it well. You people who are thinking about going. Well. You just will never know the difference between boys’ and girls’ standards for underwear if you don’t go to the Chesapeake Whack! Am laughing like a hyena as I type.
52. Jenb | August 11th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
McB, I am planning to attend one of Margaret Maron’s book signing.
Want me to get you a signed one?
53. Mcb | August 11th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
JenB - really and truly? You were planning to go anyway?
54. glamour-geek | August 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Not dead yet.
The traffic today was light in both directions, but I was at the office about 8:40 and didn’t leave til 6:20pm. Feh to 10 hour days. My luck won’t hold. School starts around here in 2 weeks and the traffic will become more horrific. How horrific, I’ll have to wait to find out.
Yes, the area traffic is quite interesting…lots of bottlenecks around here…bridges and tunnels and freeways, oh my!
Yay Jen T!
55. cbpen | August 11th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Whoa. Someone blocked the basement tunnel. Luckily, I used to be a lurker and I know where the secret passage from the attic is.
My restless legs have been making me crazy for two days. They usually don’t bother me in the daytime but they have today. So I’ve been doing all the things I can think of that usually one works.
I am not sure why I did this (maybe GP was sending me “do math” brain waves) but I added up all the word counts on everything I’ve been working on the past year. If it had been ONE project, I would have a book by now. sigh. It’s all those short stories that have no place to go in this day and age.
My mom has to have the port for the chemo put in tomorrow and then the chemo starts Wednesday. It was supposed to be last week but the same @#$@#$ doctor was out of town again. Why she won’t go to another one….?
Sorry about the little rant. As you can tell, the medicos are not my faves at the moment.
Well, that’s all for now. Hope I can still find the secret passage tomorrow.
56. Mary | August 12th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Mary lilts
Oh PeeeeeeNNNNN
The glasses on the highest shelves in the bar all smash. Outdoors in the pastures several cows give birth prematurely, and a cockerel becomes totally confused, thinking it’s daybreak already, and crows prematurely, thus ensuring his total embarrassment in front of his hens and peers. Life is hard.
And whyfore can you not tie these stories into one novel? With transitions in between? Forsooth, even with a narrator who starts out the story and ties the disparate pieces together like a master quilter.
It’s not my favorite movie, but I know people who LOVED “Love, Actually”, which as I recall is a series of disconnected short stories that are connected together in the last scene.
Go Pen!
57. orangehands | August 12th, 2008 at 1:22 am
YAY JEN-T!!!!!!!!!! This is such great news. Cannot wait.
((cbpen)): I hope your mom gets a better doctor soon and chemo goes well
Ok, for those not watching the Olympics, the 4×100 freestyle relay men race was AMAZING. Couldn’t find it on youtube yet (a good copy, at least) but as soon as I do I’ll post the link here.
As for the LA friends, shit. Just shit. Friend whose living with me* has really taken the annoyance cake. Two of the girls are writing her off and the other is waiting to see what I do but will probably do so as well. And I’m pissed at her for parallel reasons (different occurrences, same basic theme) so unless she shapes up I’m letting her go after she leaves my house. Basically, just shit.
There was something else but don’t remember.
HUGS and love to those that need it- or just want it.
58. cbpen | August 12th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Mary: I have “actually” thought about that.
The thing is a lot of them are my off the wall humor stuff, but the others are just odd. A college age con man. A man driven nuts but his mother’s interference. A vampire. I have not been able to figure out how to tie them in…somehow I doubt “It was all a dream” would work 
59. cbpen | August 12th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I have also found another way to procrastinate. I found a web site with all kinds of info and links about the area my granny came from. So I’ve been sucked into that ALL nite. I haven’t found much about my family even tho’ when you go there you drive on a street, road and lane with their name and the dairy was called that too….
60. GatorPerson | August 12th, 2008 at 6:59 am
A crow was crowing at 5:00 AM this morning when Mr. Darcy and I went out for him to assume the position. Why would a crow crow in the dark? Did he think himself a rooster?
They walked down the lane together
The sky was studded with stars.
They reached the gate in silence
He lifted down the bars.
She neither smiled nor thanked him
Because she knew not how.
For he was just a farmer’s boy
And SHE was a Jersey cow.
61. CMS | August 12th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Hola!
Scope and her GAM are in Ohio! She was stung by a wasp on the way but sounded in great spirits. They are having an adventure
I have two depressed dogs but a happy bird so my day may involve some running along the canal after work. The bird will stay home. Although his wings are now clipped, I can’t hold three leashes easily
(((cbpen)))Parents can be a worry. But they’re worth it. My legs have been driving me crazy but that may be from the mile walk between car and seats on Sunday. Gosh,t eh Finger Lake District is beautiful. I thought of JenT that day as the previously published book had been set there. I look forward to reading the other three.
Stay safe and sane everyone!
62. Jenb | August 12th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Dear McB, yes I was planning to go as she is one of my favorite regional authors,too.
And I would be pleased to pick up the book for anyone else that enjoys her work.
A beautiful Tuesday everyone.
63. glamour-geek | August 12th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Ooof! I worked out for the first time in weeks yesterday evening and I can already feel the impending “ouch” from my protesting muscles. It’s really not fair. If you work hard and make progress, you should be able to keep it and go back to it later.
Like rough drafts and earlier ideas.
64. RSS | August 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I think so too GG. Also working with our brains, driving in rush hour, chasing small children, and juggling stressful situations should burn beaucoup calories and tone muscles.
(((CBPen and mom))) hope your mom’s chemo goes well. There is a market for short stories and novellas with the epubs. How many words in your stories? They also do anthologies of shorter stories combining several different authors or some of them do. You might check into that.
LOL at the poem GP.
Hope everyone has a good–no make that GRRREAT day.
65. btuda | August 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Congrats, JenT!
cbpen: hang in there.
I stayed up too late last night with lots of inspiring energy to do things I haven’t had the energy to tackle yet. Of course, little to none of that energy is with me this morning when I could actually do it.
The late night Olympic coverage is wrecking havoc with my sleep schedule.
66. K.L. | August 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am
The best part about the Olympic coverage is the Canadian Channel. NBC spends about the same amount of time covering actual sports as it does in “indepth” interviews and discussions in the studio. Then there are all the commercials. If I want to actually see sports, I flip to channel 99. Not only do they show MORE sports, they show them earlier. they also actually show people from many countries, not just Canada and the USA. I hardly get to see any international competition on the US channel. How stupid is that?
67. me | August 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I watch the Canadians on channel 99 too! Yesterday I was watching them show women’s beach volleyball, marveling at their tiny (white!!) wedgie-ed biniki bottoms and wondering why they don’t wear something darker (it was raining) more substantial, something that would have a bit more chance of keeping sand out of…there. The swimmers had on more clothes! Which to me thinking, Saudi Arabia probably doesn’t have a women’s beach volleyball team. Yes, my mind wanders while I watch TV.
Went for a long walk in old sneakers I haven’t worn in a while, and rememered why I haven’t worn them. I need new sneakers, ones that won’t make me bleed.
cbpen: once upon a time I had an idea for a book of short stories, all centered around an a day in the life of an Italian restaurant. I wrote a couple, but the’re really, really short, too short, and I gave up. But it’s an idea, like Mary suggested, so make some sort of theme.
68. me | August 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Me talk pretty. Yikes. I think I need to go back to bed, and skip staying up so late to watch the Olympics. Sorry about the lack of grammar and spelling and brains.
69. Lou | August 12th, 2008 at 11:58 am
me - yes you, Sports Authority is having a great sale on sneakers right now (if you have one where you live). Also, Mervyns is having a great sale on sneakers. Go forth and purchase.
Speaking of Sports Authority, I went looking for sports sandals Saturday (by myself) and had an absolutely lovely chat with a woman who was also there looking for sandals. I’ve never gotten into any kind of a lengthy conversation with someone in a store before, but this time I did and left smiling (as well as finding cool shoes). Saturday afternoon was a very interesting afternoon.
cbpen - be sure to have some Ensure on hand for your Mom. She won’t have much of an appetite after chemo, and DH says that Ensure is just about the only thing that will settle his stomach and make him feel bettter.
70. eidlhe | August 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
ok, I caught up on the comment from the last post!
Scope - LOL hope you’re having a blast in KY. DH’s back seems to be fine. No futher issues.
Yay!!!
JenB-had a couple strong storms. No tornados that I’m aware of and my flowers and lilacs got a really nice soaking. =D
71. eidlhe | August 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
No Olympic watching me for me yet. I would like to, but no time unless I want to be non - functional on no sleep the next day.
Congrats JenT!!!
(((Cbpen and mom)))
Had a nice visit with CC on Sunday. DS’s were very well behaved for the most part. She brought her placemat in the frame with her for me to view. The frame is PERFECT!!!! Neon apple green. I now want one exactly like it.
OH-I missed the story about the friends…but you have my sympathies.
I formatted my very first hard drive last night!!! And it worked!!! Even better. I now have my own pc back in working order and DH is thrilled to have his laptop back in his possession.
72. McB | August 12th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Let’s see …
JenB - yes, please, and thank you very much. She’s on my keeper shelf.
OH - It’s tough when you see friends take the wrong path. There’s only so much you can do, though; they have to take some responsibility for their own behavior.
Pam, congrats on the hard drive and on getting to have lunch with CC.
I’m doing a happy dance just now because the copy of Night Watch (Pratchett) which I had ordered in audio arrived today. “Truth! Justice! Freedom! And a hard-boiled egg!”
73. me | August 12th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I like the way Lou thinks. Time to shop! Alas, Mervyn’s is no more in Mich., but there is an SA near me. I went to DSW yesterday and found a nice pair, but I am debating that $40 and haven’t bought any yet.
74. GatorPerson | August 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
WordPress has eaten my comment 3 times. So I’ll try again.
For those of you who are short story writers, there’s a contest by Diana Gabaldon and Jack Whyte, whom I’ve mentioned before. The contest is associated with the Surrey International Writers’ Conference and is the Storyteller’s Award Writing Contest. 1st price is $1,000.00!
Here’s a quasi-link to her blog talking about it. I’ve doctored it so maybe this time it will get posted. Take out the spaces and do the slashes, etc.: voyagesoftheartemis. blogspot. com.
75. Lou | August 12th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Diana Gabaldon is having a contest for short story writers?? (giggle) Her of 1000 page books? Hummm…
eidlhe - So glad to hear that DH is having no more problems with his back. Back pain can really drag a person down… And congrats on the hard drive - way to go!!
Scope - I hope you are having SO MUCH FUN in Kentucky! I hear it’s gorgeous.
76. Lou | August 12th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
For those of you who haven’t yet, go over to Jenny’s blog and check it out.
77. Diane (TT) | August 12th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
GP - thanks for the dahlia advice! This is NOT zone 7, so I don’t think leaving the tuber in the soil is the right thing. But I have a pot, so I’ll put it in that. I knew it was early to take it up, but figured that it wasn’t doing anything with the top broken off! Maybe it would’ve, had I left it.
I gotta get over to Kentucky, too (what were they thinking, having KY as an abbreviation? I just feel weird using it). Since I’m so close.
Today was the Bureau of Motor Vehicles - but I have to go back on Thurs, apparently, to get my plates. I’ve never had that happen before.
Me - as a corollary to Lou’s advice: get RID of the bloody sneakers! What is the good of having shoes that make you bleed?
I’m trying to get better at discarding things - it’s unnatural for me*.
78. orangehands | August 12th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
LOL GP.
I’ve started my summer cleaning (when I go through EVERYTHING and get rid of a lot of it). Also, going to get another bookcase- my last, as my room won’t hold more- sometime this or next week. Yay!
79. me | August 12th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I picked up Nora’s Tribute at the library today. New and much-requested book, been hard to find there, but this time the lovely librarian snuck it off the newly-returned cart for me. Only a month old, and already it has some water damage and what I am assuming (hoping) is chocolate brownie damage. Which I will be fined for, probably. People suck.
But the book’s good, despite the comic book action figures the hero keeps. Brings back the ghosts of old BFs…If they looked like Ford, I wouldn’t mind so much.
80. Mary | August 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
McB at #72
What about “reasonably priced love”?
81. LtL | August 12th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I heard someone say, “Funny the way things are never the way you remember them, except for those few things that never change, no matter how much they evolve and maintain life and joy in the face of it all. This place is like that.”
I sat down near McB, trying not to wish the rocks and salt came with a big ice cream crank, but hey, everybody has his own vices. We don’t judge here. I wouldn’t say no to a sasparilly.
80 comments. Whew. Back after I read them.
82. glamour-geek | August 12th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Me: we were sharing the brain last night. I was also looking at the tiny beach volleyball bikinis and thinking “doesn’t sand burn hurt? wouldn’t you want to cover your knees? Ouch!” and ALSO “I bet there’s no Saudi women’s beach volleyball team!” and then pondering what they might wear.
Of course, I don’t play ball sports. They’re dangerous. Projectiles can come at you from ANY DIRECTION. Very dangerous. Scary. Not like rock climbing, in which rocks (indoor or out) rarely come off the wall. Well, not too often at least. But ball sports…I guess I was the kid who got hit with the ball far too much when I was little.
Yes, I was always chosen last in gym. How could you tell? One of my new co-workers was super sporty as a kid and is now a triathlete (though not recently due to an injury). Kind of my exact opposite…
83. LtL | August 12th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
You gave it away, RSS. With Six you Get Eggroll. The GoGo China near Mom’s house gave egg rolls with two orders. I confess sometimes I even ate them. But never the next day. Never the next day.
BCB–so good to know QWD is still going for sleepovers. They grow up so fast.
Yow! Four books? Yippee! Jen-T can spring for the next slipcover for the sofa. You guys were eating guacamole again, weren’t you? I’m here–all seven of us are here, a whole family of deer caught in headlights and you are partying and sharing grand news! Which is why I am up so late, checking in here. Love to be so aware of success–it’s a little removed for it to rub off, but hey, it could happen. Way to go, Jen-T. If there’s any pizza left over, I’ll take some.
Baby roadrunner and ripening grapes visible from Louis’ front porch. Lovely.
KL, glad to hear your moms are doing well. We were keeping good thoughts. Whatever reason your DS has for a party, glad to hear it was a good one.
TT, good luck with the dahlias. You couldn’t get better advice than GP’s.
A Chesapeake Bay whack. Excellent idea. DH’s family lived in that area. I loved driving over the big bridge. Wonderful.
Hi, Jenni! Look forward to the books–e-format is my new fave. Also, um, they are coming out that way before they are coming out in paper. Looking forward to all of them! And, my computer is already hot, so, it could, you know, explode with your books on board. Worth the risk, though.
McB: I WANT TO HEAR THE UNDERWEAR STORY. Please.
Yay! G-G is not dead yet. Can’t you just move closer to your job? Just a thought. Maybe you’ll get so you like the traffic. Or find the bus or the train or a carpool? A good radio station? Is there such a thing nowadays?
cbpen–keeping a good thought for your legs and your mom’s treatment. She’s scared, most likely, and doesn’t want too many things to change. So she stays with an arrogant twit of a doctor. Just so he’s competent. If he heals her, he can be as twitty as he likes, yes? And, Pen, re: 58–sounds like the ages of man. College age con man, middle-aged guy driven nuts by mother, vampire.
OH–sorry about your friends. College is a rough time and some people just fold under the pressure. Just don’t let her take you down with her.
GP–Love the poetry!
Must quit now. Save other pasts for another day.
Hugs & root beer all around.
84. glamour-geek | August 13th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Yes, LtL, I can move closer to my job. I just love Oakland. Beau is hoping I’ll hate the commute so much that I’ll cave and agree to move to San Francisco (where he is and prefers to be). It might happen. But I’ve now lived in Oakland 8-1/2 years, over twice as long as I’ve ever lived anywhere else since birth, and now that I’ve finally found a place I like and want to stay, it will/would be sad to leave.
Plus it’s sunnier and warmer here. Sometimes as much as 10 degrees difference between the “sunny” part of SF where beau lives and where I live, and they’re about 12 miles distant.
The train plus shuttle takes a good bit longer to get to work (these days, it would take 1hr + vs. 20 mins. in the car), plus I am prone to (1) working past when the last shuttle goes and (2) going places after work, and need a car to get to them and then get home safely & conveniently.
And SF is frightfully expensive. As in about $1000/month more in rent for the same size or smaller place. Eeek. Yes, that’s not $1000/month, that’s $1000/month MORE. Prices here? They’ll scare the socks off of non-locals.
We’ll see how bad the traffic is in 2 weeks when school’s back in session and everyone is back from their summer vacations. Nightmare-ish, I suspect…Traffic’s been uncannily light lately. It’s been lovely.
85. McB | August 13th, 2008 at 8:10 am
cbpen - meant to say yesterday that I sympathize with your leg issues. I went through that a few weeks ago, with the legs bothering me even during the day. I got some small relief by applying heat (hot water bottle works) and massaging.
Mary @ #80 - I don’t think the seamstresses are mentioned in the back blurb..
86. RSS | August 13th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hey Ltl glad to see you. I like eggrolls the next day. And cold pizza for breakfast. But not both at the same time. Just for you I brought in rock salt an ice cream freezer and the makings. Name your flavor and we’ll get this thing cranking. Homemade ice cream mmmm.
K.L. Hope your mom and step-mom are doing well.
I’m putting Margaret Maron’s book on my list for my trip to the bookstore McB. The gift cards I got are burning a hole in my purse. Maybe tomorrow.
At the moment I’m trying to write not read. I’m almost moving into the home stretch. Why does that scare me?
Haven’t been able to stay awake long enough to see any of the Olympics.
87. McB | August 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
RSS - letting one of your chicks leave the nest is scary. It will be fine. You’ve raised a good, solid story that can hold its own in the big bad world. Let it do you proud.
I prefer my pizza and my eggrolls piping hot.
88. jenb | August 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
You all have made brilliant comments on Jenny’s blog!
I wonder if she had any idea of the impact she has on the day to day of her readers.
RSS, yep what McB said.
89. GatorPerson | August 13th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Me, too, JenB! I want a signed Maron book.
The language she gives her people rings true. Also her farm info. And season changes. Just great storytelling.
90. K.L. | August 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
LTL, the party was for DS’s 18th birthday. The Moms are recovering well also, so that is a relief.
My grandmother went into an assisted care facility last week. She wasn’t very happy, but her memory is so poor now that she didn’t even remember that she had been living with my aunt for the last year. She thought she was going there directly from her own home. They have reported that they are already getting her involved in the activities. It is a good facility, and she will be well cared for there. My poor aunt is devistated that she couldn’t continue to care for her, but my aunt has health problems herself, and the stress was not good for her. Getting old is hell.
91. Lou | August 13th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Here’s a new game that will drive you absolutely crazy!!
http://mazzanet.id.au/ball.php
Have fun…
92. Lou | August 13th, 2008 at 11:37 am
K.L. - I believe it was Bette Davis that said, “Getting old is not for sissies.” So true, so true…
Hi LtL - I hope your life is calming down a bit.
93. jenb | August 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
GP, you got it.
Lou, that’s the truth but we are certainly getting better. The game is driving me crazy. It seems so simple.
K.L. wish we could get DH’s dad into a facility. Just a place where is doesn’t have to cook, clean,etc. and he would have people to interact with. But he refuses to even consider it.
94. Lou | August 13th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
*Snicker* - I’m glad I’m not the only person that game drove crazy!!
I think that the generation of our parents was taught to be independent and self-sufficient. My Mom hated living with me when she couldn’t take care of herself anymore. To have to give up one’s independence is a tough piece of life to swallow! Probably tougher for a male… maybe. Then again, maybe taking care of himself is what’s keeping him alive… As long as he’s not in any danger or disrupting your life too much…
95. Lou | August 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Oh - and I meant to say that nanimo granny commented on Jenny’s blog. For those of you who don’t know - she used to participate on HeWrote SheWrote. Then she went to New Zealand for two months to see - I think it was her kids and grandkids - and didn’t comment again, but apparently became a lurker. I have her email, so I sent a message to her along with the link to here. Maybe she’ll rejoin us.
96. Andi | August 13th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Well, I’ve survived the start of high school. OK, the kid has survived. I’ve actually survived the schedule conflicts of the 3 kids.
Beach volleyball - I’m gonna agree with GG - probably no Saudi women’s team.
gotta also agree with McB - pizza and egg rolls piping hot.
RSS - it’s gonna be great!
Must go back and read everything else so I can seem on topic!
97. GatorPerson | August 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Looking into what the differences are at the retirement place for MIL between independent and assisted living. It’s time, says the director. But getting my SIL on board is like pulling a hippo’s teeth w/out anesthetic or personal protection. Two of those evilly-aligned moons.
Director said that their residents tend to get BETTER in assisted living, what with being looked after, getting 3 meals a day, monitored meds, a gerontologist specialist rather than a gp. And therein lies some of the problem. The gp prescribed benadryl. And then the halllucinations began. But wait! The most important thing about him is that he goes to her church. Ah, cynical me*.
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