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message 1: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Jan 31, 2014 02:40PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Very often, friendships are made when we wander out from the original subjects that brought us together. Books are the starting point to happy conversations about many other things. Post miscellaneous observations here. :)


message 2: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Feb 10, 2014 04:42PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
On the anniversary of my blog, I like to share the first post I wrote; an issue very upsetting at the time, I wanted voiced. It got a dearly happy ending. Every one of those kittens is a vibrant, adult, member in my family today. Happy third blog anniversary to us. Carolyn! :) http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2011/02...


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY to all of the wonderful members of our groups, present and growing!


message 4: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Mar 20, 2014 11:10AM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Happy St. Patrick's day, from a descendent in prairie Canada! Top of the morning, on this fine day of my heritage! My family has Patricks and we love to celebrate. Green is a fresh, hopeful, bright colour. My parents sent a card last week. I have a present for them that my fiancé, Ron is delivering from me in the city. I wish everybody blessings, health, good fun, and luck!

A few tried their luck at my first riddle. Making a write-up on the answer was fun. :) Keep posting titles and conversation here, or at my blog. If your countries have celebrations, come and tell us about them. Yours Truly, Carolyn! http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2014/03...


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Not giving up on sending around good cheer in March: here I am again. I would like to publicly wish A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear fiancé, Ron! Now I'd better get back to cleaning house and see what the cats are doing, too. Heeheehee.


message 6: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Apr 02, 2014 04:53PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Do you have Edith Ngaio Marsh's: "A Man Lay Dead"? I can e-mail a list of paperbacks, to happily trade anywhere in the world. Also Margery Allingham: "Mystery Mile" and Robert Arthur: "Mystery Of The Stuttering Parrot" (Alfred Hitchcock & Three Investigators, II).


message 7: by Leslie (new)

Leslie Is Ngaio Marsh's first name really Edith? I never knew that!

I have the first two books you mentioned, but not for trade - I am a book hoarder as well as a rereader. I have never heard of Robert Arthur though... I will add him to my list of mystery writers to try!


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Leslie! Who startles someone with activity in this topic about NOT able to trade? Whaddaya doing to me, girl? If you hit a used store anytime soon, you have my e-mail address. I have a list of giveaways, although I may bring many of them to Winnipeg Saturday. Anyone wanting to peek and consider other trades ought to speak now. Yes, I do so love calling people by their names, like Mildred A. Wirt in place of the invented 'Carolyn Keene'.


message 9: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Apr 03, 2014 08:43AM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Robert Arthur Junior is someone I love to discuss because he ought not be as underground as this. I positively devoured "The Three Investigators" in school. I only borrowed them from our library though and found that they are ought of print. His daughter is finding it a struggle to renew them. I chanced upon the first at a thrift store, "The Secret Of Terror Castle" and found it so good, I was stunned. It makes Nancy Drew seem like a piece of crap.

Pete, Bob, Jupiter are younger than Frank & Joe Hardy but their adventures match their maturity, except BETTER and modernized. They started in 1969. I don't recall them *not* being debunked but they manage to be eerier and more intelligent. I urge you to keep your eyes open at yard sales. There's a smidgen of old Hollywood. Sometimes movie props or sets come into play.


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Today we wish our very dear Siamese, McCartney Hendrix: a happy fourteenth birthday! Happy birthday McCartney! With all our love, the whole family.


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Many participants of the Canadian challenge wrote a profile. If anyone would like to read mine, it shares a great deal beyond the literary: my concern that many reviews are spoilers, why I love print, trivia my brothers and I played by car and anywhere, even a local ghost story. http://www.bookmineset.com/2013/11/7-...

Something it wouldn't have shared, last November, is about my family's very dear cat who was with us for TWENTY-ONE YEARS. Our most precious Thumbelina Sandy was born on this very day today, in 1982. The only way to celebrate is to share it with people, so I'm shouting it out.
We always remember you and love you, our very dear Thumbelina!
All of the present cats say hello. Happy birthday to you with love, always!



message 12: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Aug 06, 2014 11:24AM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
It is horrible and shocking to believe and tell all of you: one of our youngest kittens, only 3 years old passed away last night. We can't understand it. But our beautiful strong white male, Love, deserves to be honoured and his life mentioned so I'm letting the public know. He is the kitty in my profile photograph with me right now. He went to Heaven last night of unexplained causes; throwing up, breathing hard later, then dying in several hours. A big strong cat, not 4 years-old until September 7th, who adds so much brightness to our life. Dying in one day is unbelievable.

The right thing to do now is prepare ourselves for a funeral tonight where we will let him go. Thank you, for supporting our family by reading this message. Our cats are people and children to us so we are sad. Every kind word and thought is tremendously uplifting to us right now. Carolyn & Ron.


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
It's hard to get through a family tragedy. But 4 days later it is our anniversary (non marital). So with chin up, I'm celebrating a positive event that's important. It'll do us good and we're about to go out. Happy fourteenth anniversary to Ron & I!


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
My anniversary has been nice. Ronnie & I have celebrated it these 3 days. August 4th we went to a Mennonite museum; not a dusty building but a whole village, with farm critters to pet, authentic heritage buildings. Last night we exchanged our gifts because we wante to continue the spray of happiness through the extremely recent loss of our 4 year-old white cat, Love. See him in my profile picture with me right here.

We were surprised by how much relief a very sentimental and positive funeral was for us, which even managed to include Love's six other cat family members; a good hour's service of our own! With songs, messages, and a last walk around our property, highlighting places Love played in especially.

Today, though Manitobans grow flowers earlier, I sowed Marigolds, zinnias, bachelor's buttons, and wild pink spray flowers around his resting place. We don't like call it specifically his grave: he isn't there. Merely the dear familiar body he finished with. Marigold is his Mother and the most glorious part of a flower, Petal, is his orange sister. All of a sudden, I feel I accomplished something useful and important. I retired and awakened feeling sick. Now, I feel less heavy in my soul. We went to the city to see about getting my few cell phone pictures off of a very old Nokia that is unlikely to plug into a CD. We'll try a bluetooth connection with someone's phone that has e-mail capacity and we'll try buying a data package (it's only a pay-as-you-go phone) that will let me attach the photos with a text message, to someone who would e-mail them to me. After heavy grief from July 31 onward, with a little relief in between; I am beginning to feel better and like I could read again.


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
LOVE RIEDEL
September 7, 2010 to July 31, 2014
Here's to you: our dearly sweet, love-giving son!

Love, King Shelf Aug-2011 photo LoveAtopKingShelfAug-11-2011.jpg
My young boy, 'Love' atop our highest shelf. Cute at 11 months old. [August 2011.]

Love Spilling Books Sep-8-12 photo LoveSpillingBooksSep-8-12.jpg
We kept finding Lovey around books. At 2 years-old, he toppled a storage trolly.
I laughed at the spill of paperbacks and considered this tableau artistic.
These were published before either of us were born! [September 2012.]

Love Library Carpet Aug 2012 photo LoveLibraryCarpetAug-20-12.jpg
Here is Lovey at nearly 3 years-old, beneath the same shelf of our library/cat lounge.
There is a sidewalk between it and our house. [Aug 2013.]


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Hearing from people means a lot. We've come to that big date after Lovey's passing a month ago: their birthday, September 7th. We can get through it and make it happy for all.

Happy fourth birthday to you Love, and to the other siblings continuing to grow in age: Conan, Angel, and Petal! We never forget you for an instant and love all of you!
Yours forever: Carolyn, Ron, McCartney, Spirit, and your Mom - Marigold.


message 17: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Nov 15, 2014 06:30AM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
My turn is here. Let's see if I at last wake up our group with this and see some nice chatting. It's my own birthday in three days! I'm excited that it's almost November 18th! Yeehaw! :)


message 18: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Nov 27, 2014 02:11PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
For we who love mystery: a great one went to Heaven today. As always, I have observed authors live a wonderful, long time. I hope I live up to the same career when I make it come true. She reached age 94 and published up to only 3 years ago: "Death Comes To Pemberley". Here's to you, Phyllis Dorothy James!!!!


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
It's been 4 months that my Love passed away. If anyone wants to see, wonderful pictures of him are in message #15. I miss you, 'tinky'. We all miss you.


message 20: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Dec 31, 2014 03:22PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
It's been five months since Love went to Heaven. Ron & I had a good visit to his resting place and emptied out the most unsettling emotions. So we can clean out the rest with new friends in our town this new year's eve night.

In Manitoba, the sun is just setting on 2014. I took a photograph of it. Sunsets are splendid here. In some ways this was a worst year but there are moments and loved-ones worth remembering. So I might as well capture that sunset for always, sentimental that I am to think of it just in time, as I saw it out this window. Here too is my last book of this year. God bless each and every one of you, animals and all. Yours Truly, Carolyn Of RIEDEL Fascination.

(138) “The Ransom Game” Howard Engel, 1981 (5/5)!
http://www.amazon.ca/review/R6335RLEE...


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
My reviews get updated here, should folks like to read them. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/reviews...
http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/reviews...


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
I am saddened that photographer / author / treasured actor, Leonard Nimoy's time came to leave Earth this morning. I am a fan and will miss him. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2015/0...


message 23: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Mar 06, 2015 10:53AM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Music lovers, I composed an article that might resonate with you. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2015/0...


message 24: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited May 08, 2015 06:56PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Let's clear out those crickets. Further to wishing everyone a happy St. Patrick's day, happy spring, and a happy Easter: perhaps this one garners replies. I wish my best to everyone who is a Mom in any way; such my regard of my beloved kitties as our children with all of our hearts. Biological or in any way that matters: Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms!

My folks are coming to our country home Sunday for a nice vegetarian meal, berry pies that Ron picked personally (last year), and a nice fresh outing from the city for them overall. They got a major gift for Easter that includes Mother and Father's day but there are pretty wrapped treats for Mom to open on Sunday as well. Yours truly, Carolyn.


message 25: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited May 17, 2015 03:08PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Eek! If there's one frustrating thing, it's going into detail and the information not being absorbed as I hoped. Perhaps the two who lately said "sorry to hear about PC problems" were being general and do understand. My concern isn't a PC problem. My concern is that 'windows' 7 & 8 themselves, are terrible operating systems. Yes, the PC 'worked' so to speak when we tried it years back. Anyone who doesn't know a great deal about computers, or for whom whatever 'win 7 / 8' comes with is all they need: they wouldn't notice a problem. Folks using computers since way back, with older software for all kinds of things like editing PDFs, vintage games, creating videos.... programs more than a few years old? The new 'windows' won't let them work.

Yes, we had a tough virus. But I knew I could erase and reinstall our harddrive to get rid of it if I had to. I'm glad I found another way, because I couldn't have reinstalled 'win XP'. THAT was my worry. Our CD is from 2002. They stopped making XP. I can't update 10+ years, on dial-up internet! My 'problem' was, possibly being forced to use 'win 7'! Unless I have the latest of every program that are my REASON for having a computer.... I don't look forward to the switch making the software I need obsolete. 'Microsoft' likes to make things useless so that you're forced to buy new versions of products. No thanks! I think everyone will understand now, especially if they use programs beyond the usual (ie- not 'miscrosoft' products at all and a few years old).


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
HAPPY FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY today to our very dear Siamese, McCartney!!!! We love you very dearly and are having a very nice, sunny day with you.


message 27: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Jun 22, 2015 06:13PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
I have only gotten a reply or too thus far, so I'd like to reiterate. I invite everyone - and have been doing so myself - to feel welcome to share thoughts here. Both book wise and personally. If you prefer to read rather than share: please let those who do, know they have been seen. ;-)


message 28: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Jun 22, 2015 06:17PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
On a serious note, my Mom has heart problems. She's only 70 but a scare with chest pain arose thrice, about three months apart. A hospital kept her in for observation this week-end. Bypass surgery of the heart's arteries, indeed open heart surgery, was recommended. It happened very quickly, from my perspective out of town, that she accepted. She just came out of the five-hour arterial operation, which is a success! It was scary but this should end the problems and risks. She is expected to do well for a long time to come.

You, my friends and peers at Wordpress, Goodreads, and via e-mail are my community. I associate with you more than anyone else in person, which is true for many of us who pursue writing from home. I've never cared for sports or tying my time up into anything resembling an appointment, which is why you are it for a public community; apart from friends and family in my region of course. So it made sense I would want to share my relief and gratitude: that Mom risked something big and is well! Carolyn.


message 29: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Jul 02, 2015 01:35PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
I shared that my Mom had success with heart bypass surgery. Readers are likely on vacation. Here's news about a forest fire crisis in several provinces. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2015/0...


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (erinpaperbackstash) | 230 comments Prayers for the evacuees, how scary.

And I'm happy to hear about your mom's success with heart surgery.

Nothing much to say right now - I received my first subpoena today but it was work related and irritating. I am at the front desk and in the ten years my supervisor has been there she's never seen the front desk subpoened. To be even more annoying the attorney was my attorney over thirteen years ago and I despise him - hoping he doesn't remember me! He's pretty old and we didn't meet too much back then. Crossing fingers, how awkward.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (erinpaperbackstash) | 230 comments And finally the project I've been wanting for years is almost done. We started last month. Convert the small book closet to the living room and making a library/living room setup.

It's a larger project than it sounds. Before I didn't have living room furniture properly and had computer desks in there and a TV with my sons gaming system. Since we didn't finish building the third room, I moved my large bedroom into my son's smaller room, and then in the large bedroom we tore up the carpet, redid the floors, painted the walls, and added border. Then we moved the computer stuff in here, my sons bed as a daybed couch, and the TV and entertainment game system.

So with both rooms switched, we had to fix the bedroom's bathroom - cheap tile, repainted the walls, got new fixtures, repaired the toilet.

Now in the living room I have the couch now, two chairs and a coffee table. My aunts sister crocheted two matching covers for the two chairs. For the bookshelf project, we are making one large wall almost wall to wall bookshelves, and in the middle section (divided into three parts), we put in a new TV in the middle. Right now the middle unit is built, and the left unit it built. We have the right one left.

On one wall we are having the medium bookshelf and the electric fireplace put inside it. We have to build on to it, which should be done by Wednesday. We have the trimming and stain now - so will be putting that up. All this wood we bought for the projects and then did the staining. Total cost is about 1,000 for the wood and shelf stuff.

Now the only thing left after adding on to the medium unit is to finish the right side. So happy when this project is done!


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Drool! A wall of shelves! Even our library (we literally have most of our books in a separate building from our house) is comprised of shelves we purchased. All of these plans sound like great, major changes. If you share before and after pictures at your blog, I'd love to see them. I also find out that you are not only a kitty Mom but have a son. Neat!

It's very meaningful to buy one's first new furniture. If you've had 'make do' furniture all this time; what a gift to choose pieces for yourself. Other than those, is $1000 US all the renovations cost? Just supplies and you are doing this yourselves? Sounds like a pretty good deal. I asked about a fence once and $1000 CDN (nearly identical exchange value) was considered a modest estimate.

Work wise, are you a legal assistant? No fun to work on documents that take up time and concentration you don't enjoy. Nor people you don't enjoy. I temped at a law office at a time when an unstable character appeared nearly every day. From day one of the short stint, I was warned to call someone the minute he appeared. I was a professional temp over 15 years before leaving the city. I've seen all kinds of industries!


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
It makes me happy that you support news, public or personal. Thanks again for comments about my cats especially: the one I've missed since July 31, 2014 and birthdays. My Siamese was 15 on June 13 and my grey tabby will be 11 on July 19. :-) Also thank you for sharing in my relief and good news about Mom's surgery. She and Dad are going to come for a drive and see how are gardens and flowers are doing when she feels up to it.


message 34: by Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (last edited Jul 14, 2015 12:18PM) (new)

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (erinpaperbackstash) | 230 comments C. wrote: "Drool! A wall of shelves! Even our library (we literally have most of our books in a separate building from our house) is comprised of shelves we purchased. All of these plans sound like great, ..."


I don't have many clear before pictures since it's kind of embarrasing but I may be able to muster up some half shots at least to give an idea. Also never thought about it for most of the rooms! I will certainly take after pictures. I DO have before pictures of the mini book room/closet. Books are fun to take pictures of.

It's not going to be ultra classy looking but I'm already in love. I wanted to build the shelves so I could coordinate space and room right. Most bought bookshelves have way too much leftover spacing that paperbacks don't need. We put three widely spaced on each major side, to make six total, for hardcovers, select trade paperbacks, and other larger books. The paperbacks can still fit on those of course, but the other ten on the main wall will be custom shaped for paperbacks to give more room for book storage.

I was a legal assistant to a paralegal once but am an Admin Assistance. Work with a child welfare company the past two years.


C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Aha. Are you an admin assistant with your own desk space, or is it a fancy title for a front lines role? Most of what I did was office work and I tried avoiding front desks, or internal service roles, like the plague. You have your own job description and yet anyone is able to interrupt your duties and expect you to do those other things. All while not being able to leave the front desk; if it is a phone-responsible job too. I put my foot down at being a receptionist or front desk of any building but internal service wears too many hats. How are you supposed to conenctrate on subpeana paperwork with people and phones approaching you? Eek.

Forgive me of course for making it sound depressing if you love where you're at and you chose this. [sheepish placating gesture] I would rather do filing all day in a room that no one enters, than front desk or phones. I like having uninterrupted duties.

As for your home, that sounds wonderful. Any link you have, be sure to share with me here or anywhere, which is your group and home blog as much as anyone's. I think of my challenge guests as owning it with me, shaping it with me. Since you have all those Goodreads peers and manage to visit me just about daily, the least I can do is wobble with my dial-up modem to your blog for a look. :-) Congratulations on being a Mom, a few years late! Yes, room for tall coffeetable books and hardcovers is important. Don't dream that my paperbacks aren't towered atop one another. Hehehehehe.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (erinpaperbackstash) | 230 comments I don't call my site the Paperback Stash for nothing - paperbacks all around lol

I do surprisingly enjoy office work. Not sure why but it seems to fit me. It's the only adult job I've had, been in a few different office environments and like how the scenery can change a lot depending on which one you're in. I work now in child welfare but also did the law firm for personal injury, a pool building company for four years, a small stint at an insurance agency, and they all felt like working in different jobs entirely almost.


message 37: by C. (Comment, never msg). (last edited Jul 14, 2015 09:14PM) (new)

C.  (Comment, never msg). (riedel) | 1509 comments Mod
Child welfare would be a much more professional environment. As a temp I saw millions of industries. Twice, I worked with child welfare departments myself. I sold insurance at CAA (what you call AAA) but found that the hardest part of the whole position. I'm glad you like your position because admins are certainly needed everywhere. Your colleagues and manager makes the difference. Enjoy them, you enjoy your five week-days.

I could see you've read a few electronic books. I'm glad to find people who cherish physical books regardless. I've written articles about what's special. :) This would make everyone fall over because I'm very pro-book.... When I get to those reviews, it will come out. I've read my first two, on a free app for PC! I won a prize that could only be an e-book gift, so I looked up how to read it without costing me anything and without having a modern cell phone. I didn't know you could do this and worked it all out. A few series I love were naughty and created novellas that are electronic only. Shhhh......


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* (erinpaperbackstash) | 230 comments Oh, I never see e-books taking over books for me. Not the same and I definitely won't spend the same amount of money on an electronic file than I would a book

I know there are some, especially self-published, released in ebook only, and some publisher lines. It all just depends I guess


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