flight paths discussion

Well it took a while to work it up!
May it spread! We shall overcome!

Yes Magdelanye. I like your cri de coeur!

I am making progress with Little Dorrit: I gave in and got Audible so I am now listening to it. I'm having a lot of trouble reading, my eyes get tired quickly, so I'm having to be creative. I also started Claudia Rankine's newest work, Just Us: An American Conversation. If I've written about this already forgive me. I'm tired and too lazy to go back and look. My cat is very sick. We had hope to have him for a few more months anyway but it's not looking that hopeful.

Hope December is starting well for all here.

Good morning!

Ellie, I'm so sorry to hear this news on your cat. I have thought of him and hoped he was doing as well as could be. Sending hugs your way.

I am part way through Little Dorrit as well. Then I hit a reading wall and have just stopped. I will get back to it. I'd like to finish by the end of the year (although that looks like an impossible goal at this point).

I am listening to A Time for Everything and really enjoying it. Karl Ove Knausgård is a new author for me but I can see more of his works in my future.

I finished knitting scarves and hats for Christmas gifts. I'd like to carve one little figure as well but haven't started on it yet. Other than that, Christmas will be quiet this year.

Magdelanye, in response to your last message in the November thread:

I did not know there was a village called Petra in Lesvos! One day, I'd love to visit Petra, Jordan. Now I'll add Petra, Lesvos to that list.
I have been in a lovely village of Petra on Mallorca. It was a beautiful little place.

Yesterday was a nice day. I'm glad it was warm enough to sit outdoors and read. It was beautiful here, too, and I had the windows open while I cleaned house.

It's another nice day today. I'm meeting a friend for a walk this afternoon. Looking forward to being out in the fresh air.

Yahoo! At least half of our frequent fliers are accounted for. Of course I a sorry to hear the sad news about Ellie's cat.

I remember falling asleep over Little Dorit so I can imagine it stretching out to the new year. I was happy to break my no computer on Saturday rule to get 3 reviews done today.

I am loving the books Im reading now.
Tomorrow when I'm back on the machine I will send the links.

Congrats Petra for all the care you put into making things that will surely brighten up anyones day. Do you take orders? :>) Most of my legwarmers are losing their lift and there is not one place that carries them.

Ellie I have the Claudia Rankine on order at the library. Awkwardly, I got to pick up 9 holds on Tuesday, with only 2 weeks for some of them.

Its just after 4 and the day is starting to fade. A good time for a bath methinks and cosy readingand napping.
May all be well fellow passengers!

Magdelanye, I've sent you a message. I've never knit leg warmers before and, after looking at some patterns, I have many questions. LOL.

Nothing new around here. The rain is pelting away outdoors and I'm hunkering down at home.

Here is a picture of the owl patterned hats with beads for eyes. Unfortunately, the beads don't turn out well in the photo. They look good in real life. The beads in the toque twinkle when the light hits them.
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...

I started reading The River Between and am enjoying it quite a bit.

Hope all is well with everyone.

We really are at the crunch of the year. Two more weeks of this darkness
Your owl hats are wonderful and look so cosy.
The River Between sounds very interesting but a hard go.
I did not get to sending the links for the books i am reading, caught up in writing reviews. Not counting the 9 books i have loitering at the bottom of my pile from 2018 can you believe it, im down to 30 reviews left to write before new years.
for some reason i feel compelled to get this done.

Petra, your owl hats are beautiful. I especially love the deep purple, contrasting with the gray.

Magdelanye, I'm loving the Rankine. I hope you get your copy soon.

Petra and Magdelanye: thanks for your support about my cat.

Ellie, may your cat be at peace whatever state How sad it is when our beloved companions suffer.

I hope I don't get the Rankine too soon as I am just finishing The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power Desmond Cole and about to start Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson which will demand my utmost attention.

The reviews eat my reading time in particular. My eyes are tired and my energy low after only an hour or so, and when I push myself to 3, I feel beat afterwards. But it feels good to be making some progress. Got one review done already this morning and now I'll go for one more.The goal is to do justice to the book. I have maybe too many 5 star reads this year.

How's Little Dorrit coming along?

Here's the links I promised for a book I just finished and one I am still reading. The Sarah Pinsker is especially fun, especially if you are into music as I think so.
A Song for a New Day

Translated from the Gibberish: Seven Stories and One Half Truth by Anosh Irani is a bit of a disappointment. I like the gibberish enough, but so far its so gloomy. I can take gloomy, but not when I find it so hard to relate to the characters.

I am still reading both Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us and Radical Compassion, but admit I haven't for a couple of days.

Megan I hope things are going ok especially with your boy.
How is the River book unfolding?

Stay warm and well

Hello everyone. It sounds like you’re all doing pretty well, that makes me happy.
@Ellie I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. It’s terrible when a family member is ill.

We’re finally in lockdown here in Alberta. However that means they’ve also closed the libraries. I’m not in agreement with that. Thankfully I have my kobo and my son still has about 6 books checked out and will get more for Xmas. Starting next week I’ll be working from home 4 days a week and in the office 1 day. Hopefully with al the new measures we will start to see our numbers decrease.
In good news the sled hill by my house opened yesterday so it’ll be nice to be able to go outside close to our house, here is a drive through Xmas light show in the forest of the river valley so we’re going to that. Xmas will be special even if we’re not close to other family this year.

I’m slowly working my way through a new earth. There’s so much information that I have to pause to digest it a lot.
I just finished feed. I’m not sure I get all poetry.
However I read this world is a wound and LOVED it so maybe poetry is just subjective.

Which river book are you referring to?

It’s almost solstice!

staying warm is somewhat challenging even here in la la land. We are in a partial lockdown: encouraged to both stay home and get out to do your christmas shopping- in your Christmas themed mask of course.
Havent heard of library closures. I just started Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and I have plenty of great fiction so selfishly a closure would give me a chance to finish the Wilkerson before it is called back for other holds. Finished Desmond Coles Coles excellent book before realizing that although I got it the same day as Caste, its due a week later, probably because of the high demand for Caste.

Is the cat OK?

Oops Megan, it was Petra reading the River Between. It sounded like an emotionally charged book. I am so glad you are getting into Poetry. If you carry on, you will discover a whole world of thrilling variety. It's mostly subjective.If you like, I can send a few suggestions. If you lived closer you could raid my poetry section

For comic relief I am reading Ivan Coyote s Rebent Sinner. (please note the irony. Trans life is not an easy road)
And just beginning Real Life by Brandon Taylor.Its a recent book but the opening sentence belongs with the classics.

New Moon Blessings to everyone!

Magdelanye, I was in the library last week and someone asked the librarian about renewing a book. She told him that books can be kept "for as long as you like" now because fines have been suspended indefinitely. Unless there's a hold on a book, a person can keep renewing it (beyond the usual "3 times at most") and if a person wants to keep the book without renewing (overdue), there are no fines.
Maybe your library has the same rule, as it is probably Provincial?

The River Between wasn't emotionally charged. It started to drag the longer it went on. It did, though, make me start thinking about certain questions, which is good.

Ellie, I'm thinking about you and the cat. Hope you are coping.

Megan, I hope the libraries open again soon, in some way. When our libraries were closed, they started allowing curb-side pick-up, which I really liked. Maybe you can suggest to this to them, if they haven't already thought of it? It at least keeps a few people employed.

Keep smiling everyone. These are hard times but the good things are still in existence and all around us.

Petra, thanks for the further info. My library does not charge fines for their own collection. However, seeing as most of my books are either interlibrary connect or have holds waiting...like Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents which I only got for 2 weeks and only started yesterday after finishing Desmond Cole which also has holds. And so does the Thomas King and even Real Life I notice has a hold on it.....

And still, with all that reading to do I am trying to keep up my commitment to finish the reviews. Its the 3 steps forward 3 steps back as I finished one trio and added another. I think I am down to 25 now. Going to attempt one more before Ive had my fill of computer time

big smile

It's a Hamlet Christmas, To be or not to be, one of my social bubble got a very mild dose of Covid, and comes out of self isolation on the 22nd, the rest have thankfully tested negative ........... 3 books on the go, just in case there is a little more lockdown. Probably had the annual half day of snow.

Yikes Ice! You are my first friend to report something like this. Sure hope that your friend is OK. Do you know-does he know- how he contacted it?
Did you everget hold of the Black/red London trilogy?

Megan I noticd that you liked my review of Alicia Elliott s book 21 minutes before i published it. How does that work?

Caste is just as difficult to read as I figured it would be. The writing is clear-she is an exquisite writer- but reading the 7 underlying principles of caste is so painful. The book just went overdue (can't renew because of all the holds) but sorry ...I need another week with it at least! Was able to renew Real Life which i am about to finish and returned the Desmond Cole a week before its due date.I loved being able to see him on YouTube. What a remarkable man and an important book..


Petra and Ellie: salut
The solstice is almost here!
warm wishes to All

Hope everyone's solstice was lovely. Did anyone get to see the planets? Not so visible here in the Bronx.

Magdelanye, thanks for the heads up on Caste. I do want to read it but I think I'll put it off some. I'm very occupied with Little Dorrit which I continue to--SLOWLY--make my way through and Just Us which I "just" love.

I'm also reading, purely for diversion, it couldn't be lighter, Old Books, Rare Friends: Two Literary Sleuths and Their Shared Passion. It's perfect for me--takes place in NYC back in the 30s or so--I love the history of my home town! One of the women went to Barnard, my alma mater, and the locales of course are all familiar. Plus it's about loving to write and read and friendship between women. AND it's easy to read which I appreciate right now. So altogether a perfect book, even though for some reason I always feel guilty reading "light" books.

Otherwise I spend my time meditating or watching reruns of the original Upstairs, Downstairs (from the early 70s)--it brings me right back to my early 20s (which is, I admit, a mixed pleasure) and is just as delightful as I remembered it. I've also started watching a series recommended by a friend called "Grantchester" about two vicars who solve crimes in a small town in England in the 1950s. Very pleasurable. The lead is lovely to look at, it's well-written in a time and genre I enjoy. So more guilty pleasures.

I love Advent. We have two Advent calendars: Katie has a Harry Potter with little Funko Pop figures inside each day and she surprised me with (no surprise) a Friends one. Our tree (I finally gave in a couple of years ago and got an artificial one) is lovely and fun and despite what the children say, I don't understand why I can't leave it up all year!

As far as COVID goes, both my children have applied and been accepted to work remotely. I'm especially happy since David has not been in since before Thanksgiving and one of his students came in this week with COVID. His mother has it but sent him in anyway and he tested positive so the class has been shut down and everyone is getting tested.

Boo has good days and bad days. He is sitting next to me as I write. He is starting chemo today--the vet says there are minimal side effects and it was surprisingly inexpensive. As she says, he's on hospice now. If the side effects are bad or if he starts to have more bad days than good, we will of course reconsider. But I'm happy that (hopefully) we'll have him through the holidays.

Good luck Ice--hopefully no one else you know will become infected. It sounds like things are a little rough there but who knows what to believe?

Forgive the long message. Hope everyone is well.

Happy Solstice! Merry Christmas!

It's nice to see all the posts.

Ice, sorry to hear that a friend or relative contracted Covid. I hope they are well again very soon and that no one else gets ill.

Ellie, I didn't see the planets. It was overcast here.
I hope chemo helps Boo feel better for as long as he can. He sounds like a sweet pet.
It's great news that your kids can work from home now. That's really terrific! I'm so happy for them.

Megan, how is lockdown going? Are you all able to get outdoors for activities?

We delivered our last Christmas gift today. I love giving gifts. I've missed the sit-down get-togethers that normally go with the exchange but seeing our friends was still cheerful.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Medical Lab for a holter test. I fainted about 10 days ago, so the doctor is checking out my heart. I've never fainted before and it really scared hubby. The paramedics ruled out heart attack or stroke. I would be surprised if it was my heart but strange things happen, so I'm glad the holter test is being done.

Since the lab is right across the street from the library, I'll pick up a couple of holds and the third of the Thursday Next series, The Well of Lost Plots. It seems like a good read for over the holidays.

I'm painting my last Christmas carving for this year, a Santa's head, and I'm knitting a wheelchair lapghan, which I hope to give to a local Senior's Home, if they'll take it.

I finished A Time for Everything and really enjoyed it. I'm going to read more by this author in the New Year. I like his writing and his humor.
I'm now reading the second of the Transylvania Trilogy, They Were Found Wanting, and continue to enjoy the story. It's a bit like War & Peace (the family saga part), with a smattering of the politics of Hungary at the time (1906-ish) to show the changes happening in the relationships between the privileged and aristocracy.


Hope everyone is having a good week and is looking forward to Christmas. It's going to be very quiet and different for us this year but we're going to make the best of it and enjoy ourselves.
Happy Holidays!

Ellie wrote: "Hope everyone's solstice was lovely. Did anyone get to see the planets? Not so visible here in the Bronx.

Magdelanye, thanks for the heads up on Caste. I do want to read it but I think I'll put it..."

Granchester is about 4 miles away from where I live

Where to start?
Petra I am concerned to hear of your health issue. What precipitated it? Were you in a safe place and for how long were you out? What is the holter test? I have fainted a few times in my life, not since I got older. Please be ok and keep us informed.

Ice, how is your friend? How are you?
Whats this about Granchester? Is that close to Stonehenge?
Did you feel it?

Ellie, Caste is not a book to dread. It fills in a lot of blanks and she is an excellent writer. The librarians are so good to me. I got another two weeks and in fact should finish it before the New Year. I am glad to be able to slow down a bit and of course theres copious notes Ive flagged that will need to be copied out before I can return it.

For fiction I'm reading Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann which is marvellous. I did peek at the reviews.Someone called it utterly boring. I think it's thrilling. Especially Petra I think its tour kind of book but I would be glad to hear what others might think. In fact, I think that even Ice would like it, tho I/ve kind of given up recommending books to you Ice Bear because you seem to ignore them. Apparently that London trilogy I recommended to you back when is not just my wonderful discovery but its winning lots of mention.

Megan may you and your family be having a good and festive break whatever you celebrate, as long as you do. You deserve a medal for what you've had to navigate.

And good on you Petra for all those presents you delivered. I am sure you will find the right recipient for your wheelchair blanket.

Yesterday I went to Sechelt for the library and necessary groceries and I did not write up any reviews. I am having a hard time with the Glass Hotel. Help! But I finally got done Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the OccupationKingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation which I read back in March. I have been working on the review since then but finally chucked what I had written and started fresh. Its one of the hardest reviews Ive had to write altho none are that easy. The bertter the book the harder it is.

I have seen pictures of the grand conjunction. Just wow.
I'm feeling somewhat lighter already!

enduring grace
good cheer

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a joyful day. 💕🎄

thank you Megan!
same to you! and everyone on this flight path !

Merry Christmas! Wishing everyone a time of peace and goodwill. Take care of yourselves. Know that you are all loved and appreciated. You've made my year brighter and happier by all the sharing and caring throughout the year.

Petra wrote: "Merry Christmas! Wishing everyone a time of peace and goodwill. Take care of yourselves. Know that you are all loved and appreciated. You've made my year brighter and happier by all the sharing and..."

YES!

I finished painting my Santa carving today. He will be turned into an ornament and hang on the tree next year.
I am very pleased with him and think he's my best work of the year.

Hope he brings you all a smile:
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...

Magdelanye, I'm feeling myself again.
I'm not sure what precipitated the fainting. I suspect a drop in blood sugar but my heart and circulation is being checked out, just in case.
I was out for about a minute. The paramedics ruled out a heart attack or stroke right away.
The holter test is a 24-hour ECG. I had it done on Wednesday-Thursday. They put on the electrodes and strap a recorder on your chest. Then you go about your day, while keep a diary of your activities. The next day, go back and they remove everything and take the diary.
The recording will be analysed and a report sent to my doctor. It should pick up anything weird about my heart rhythm. I went for a long and hilly walk on that day, just to give the technician/cardiologist something to see. LOL.
I will keep you informed as I get more info. The only test left to do is a carotid ultrasound to check for clogged arteries. That's scheduled in January.

Peta, your Santa is beyond adorable. I hope your health is good and nothing with your arteries. Please keep us informed.

We went way overboard this year. It took over 2 hours to open all the presents. I think there is nothing I shall ever want again! It was a lovely day all around.

Magdelanye, I got it wrong: it's Grantchester. Near Cambridge. It's a lovely series. But my obsession remains Upstairs, Downstairs. Total fantasy.

Happy holidays to everyone.

at last! we say goodbye to 2020 and HAPPY NEW YEAR at last.
So grateful we are all alive and accounted for.
This group has been a little mainstay, a zone of positivity
thank you everybody who keeps flying with flight paths!

I kept up the theme Petra started for lat year but I'm thinking of switching it around. You'll see

peace love and good vibes for 2021 !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlxtq...

Cool video, Magdelanye! Some people are very flexible.

I had to go back to see what theme I started. LOL!

Happy New Year everyone! May 2021 be kind to all of you. Stay healthy and happy. Everything else is gravy.

Thank you for the fun and good times we've had throughout the year.

We're having a quiet evening. The bubbly is in the fridge for later but that's the only excitement around here. It's a safe, warm, happy evening here with us. Hope all is safe and warm for everyone, too.

Happy New Year!!!