Play Book Tag discussion

I can't believe I'm already filling up my calendar for the last quarter of the year, looking at challenges I have to complete and some honkers I need to read to complete them! Feminerdy just picked its doorstopper read for December/January (we skip a December meeting)! I'm talking about a horror buddy read with Meli! Where has the time gone?!

I've had a really rough time at work - culminating last week with a disastrous court appearance in a complicated case that the judge is handling really badly. The fall out is a misery. BUT I have great joy and excitement to look forward to because RobinP is arriving in NYC for a visit with her brother and we are all having dinner on Friday night! Since Rosh Hashohah starts at sunset that night, everyone I work with will be shutting down early - including me - and we set an early dinner hour.

You know I gave her bookstores to visit -- I'm hoping Robin, who speaks and reads french, at least gets to Albertine's, the french bookstore in the French Embassy. We all know that visits with family can end up taking up most of your time.

Anyone decorating their house/yard for fall and Halloween yet?

BC - how are the yards and houses in Milwaukee looking? Last year we spent an afternoon just driving around oohing and aahing over the spectacular yard and house decorating. It was AWESOME.

It’s truly scary how fast this year is flying. I’ve had to make a concerted push on the PBT Birthday challenge so I don’t get to the end of November and panic!

Here in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is really springing. There’s true warmth in the sun now, the days are noticeably lengthening and everyone’s mood is so much more positive. I’m about to go into my newly assembled 2m x 2m greenhouse to plant a whole load of seeds for the veggie garden. Of course I still have to clear the ground of the rampant weeds before I’ll have anywhere to plant them out, but baby steps …

No particular plans for Halloween - it always feels like the wrong season for it here - but Little Miss F will probably have some activities at her daycare that will put me more in the mood. And dressing up in the company of a four year old is always a lot of fun.

Theresa .. Jack has posted on NextDoor a Halloween countdown, but his yard isn't really decorated yet. Just drove past it today on our way home from the VA.

My new "family" of nieces - Lynn (the star I discovered) and Stevie (Lynn's younger sister), and their Mom ... all have birthdays in the next 10 days. Stevie's favorite color is burnt orange (?) and I figured with H-ween on the horizon it would be easy to find orange ribbon for her gift. NO ... I went to FIVE different stores (3 hallmark specialty stores, and two Walgreens) looking for orange ribbon for her birthday present. Finally wound up getting a multi-colored ribbon cluster that included one pale orange strand, along with red, green, blue and yellow. S*I*G*H. Well, I did find a purple ribbon for Lynn's gift (her favorite color). That fifth stop I made was where I found both these bows. They are worth the effort.

But I am definitely going to be on the alert for burnt orange and purple ribbons and stock up!

I'm envying KateNZ the light. Although I love fall and the cooler weather, I noticed tonight how much earlier it's getting dark.

Book Concierge wrote: "Theresa .. Jack has posted on NextDoor a Halloween countdown, but his yard isn't really decorated yet. Just drove past it today on our way home from the VA.

My new "family" of nieces - Lynn (the ..."

My default is going with DYI ribbon - and head to JoAnn Fabrics or even Michaels which this time of year will have a ton of shades of orange in all kinds of ribbons. Might want to go online for coupons and head to the nearest one to stock up. I personally do not recommend or shop at Hobby Lobby because of their awful employment policies and the political stances it has taken.

I know many here look forward to Fall, especially for Fall Flurries. I enjoy the Fall weather, but it reminds, (as I have gotten older and developed bones that hurt in the cold), that the weather will change to either wet and rainy, or freezing temps-both leaving me stuck in the house.

Even though I feel badly that one of my daughter shad to go through a break-up (she initiated it) this is how I actually feel about it--and I know I'm not the only parent to have ever felt this way; my parents probably did with various girl and boyfriends my siblings and I had as well):



And, to be honest, I figured she would eventually break this off, so better sooner than later.

Karin wrote: "Even though I feel badly that one of my daughter shad to go through a break-up (she initiated it) this is how I actually feel about it--and I know I'm not the only parent to have ever felt this way..."


Too true. I did that when one of my sisters finally after 9 years broke up with her boyfriend of 9 years -- who was 40 and still living at home with mama (who was not ill or anything) - had never moved out. That sister is the one of us who wanted marriage and he was so not ever going to leave mama. At least obvious to the rest of us. Alas, she never did get married and I often feel she spent too long in that relationship that was going nowhere and it cast a cloud over her.

Far better for it to be sooner than years later.

Had dinner with Theresa in NYC last night! Excellent meal and fun conversation.

Robin P wrote: "Had dinner with Theresa in NYC last night! Excellent meal and fun conversation."

We had a great time! I also got to meet her brother Alan who lives in NY. We spent some time discussing just how far our family farms where we grew up were from each other - less than 10 miles with the PA/NY border between, what we called 'just over the hill' - and books of course, plus so much more!

Robin P wrote: "Had dinner with Theresa in NYC last night! Excellent meal and fun conversation."

Sounds like a lovely time!

GR is cooperating tonight. Here we are!

Made it to the Morgan Library/Museum which was fabulous. That is the one featured in The Personal Librarian. They will be doing an exhibit on Belle daCosta Greene in 2024-25. Right now there were 2 exhibits relating to French stuff - one on the Barbizon type painters, who came between the classical (with all the mythological scenes) and the Impressionists. These artists drew and painted outdoors in rural areas.

The other was on Blaise Cendrars. I vaguely remembered from French Lit that he was a 20th century poet. But it turned out he was buddies with everybody who was anybody in the arts of his era - Modigliani, Chagall, LeGris, Picasso, Braque, Cocteau composer Erik Satie, early filmmakers, photographers, etc. He was way ahead of his time, doing a sort of cubism of poetry by taking sentences apart, displaying poems oddly on the page, or interspersing sections from advertising or newspaper articles (the kind of thing done by poets like Amanda Gorman today. )

Robin & Theresa, I am so glad you both were able to meet and had a great time.

From the pic I can tell you all had a great time!

Robin P wrote: "Made it to the Morgan Library/Museum which was fabulous. That is the one featured in The Personal Librarian. They will be doing an exhibit on Belle daCosta Greene in 2024-25. Right ..."

Glad you made it!

I think there needs to be a planned long weekend in NYC for PBT members to see the Bella DaCosta Greene exhibit in late 2024, given how many have read The Personal Librarian. Also the NYPL main building on 5th Ave has a permant Treasures exhibit with a few items that appear in The Lions of Fifth Avenue.

Any travel agents in the group? Who could set up a group deal at a hotel? And for the exhibits?

All fantasy aside, I do think if any have the opportunity to come to NYC while that Bella exhibit is up, you should do so.

I just read my 100th book of 2023. That seems impossible to me. All those subdue books that were under 300 pages.

I have been pretty busy balancing my new class with my existing caseload, and keeping on top of my 13 year old, and the Jewish Holidays this past weekend. I seem not to have a second to spare, and yet they are all super great things. Cameron and I have been very involved in the Lincoln Lawyer (I got him to begin Season One) as well as Big Brother 25. Its all he talks about. He's/Were super into it. Gotta run. Love to see that we are getting some new members to join us.

Amy wrote: "I just read my 100th book of 2023. That seems impossible to me. All those subdue books that were under 300 pages.

I have been pretty busy balancing my new class with my existing caseload, and keep..."

Wow, that's great! When I was still working but my kids were grown, it was a stretch for me to get to 100 books in 12 months. Now, I have a lot more time, so I actually just got to 200! There were a lot of short books in there.

I just received a call from Hubby and he told me he just got rear-ended. He is waiting for the police. A high school kid who didn't have his drivers license with him & insurance ran out last month hit him. The kid took off but Les got a picture of his license plate and insurance card.

He was a block and a half from home. :(

The same thing happened to him about 25 years ago.

Awful. That happened to my family.

I hoope he is physically ok if shook up.

Your car insurance should be helpful in this. Likely his parents own the car and/or the insurance is through their policy and may have been renewed even though he did not have the card.

I would suggest consulting a lawyer in a few days if police and your insurance aren't assisting, and after the police report is available to Les. That will take a few days.

I'm sorry this has happened. I hope your husband isn't hurt. Thinking of you!!

That kid is in a lot of trouble, won't be getting a new license soon. It sounds obvious that he was at fault plus the hit & run! But it's still disturbing, I hope your husband is ok. Sometimes headaches or other issues show up a little later.

Thanks, all! Hubby is fine and I don't think all that much damage to our car.

Ironically we had this happen about 25 years ago, but the car that hit his truck was traveling at a higher rate of speed and totaled it.

I hope we get it sorted quickly.

Oh BnB-I am sorry to hear this, and glad that the husband is fine. It's just a car, it can be fixed-injury would have been something more and worse. The kid will face trouble with the the Police, and hopefully a punishment from the parents. I say hopefully, as too many parents these days seem more coddling than disciplinary.

Oh, Fran ... so sorry this happened. Glad your husband is okay, and relatively minor damage to the car, but what a pain in the A*& this is!

Book Concierge wrote: "Oh, Fran ... so sorry this happened. Glad your husband is okay, and relatively minor damage to the car, but what a pain in the A*& this is!"

The officer came by today and gave us an update. The other vehicle was insured.

The kid who was driving his father's truck did it without telling either parent what he was doing as he doesn't have a license.

He also did not tell his mother that he was in an accident. She found out when the officer came to the door. She was not happy.

I half feel sorry for the kid but clearly he should not have been driving.

Some lessons come hard and young, but he is also very lucky the damage was minor and Les was not injured. I feel sorry for his mother.

Theresa wrote: "Some lessons come hard and young, but he is also very lucky the damage was minor and Les was not injured. I feel sorry for his mother."

He is of an age where things can be difficult for both parent and child.

Wednesdays here are short days so teachers can do extra work and trainings. I imagine the short day gave him the opportunity to use the truck without parents knowing and show off to his friends.

The problem is he wasn't skilled enough at driving and he doubled his trouble by not admitting to his mom what had happened before the police showed up.

My husband told him that he was calling the police so he had every opportunity to fess up.

The point is, what would have happened if he had injured or killed someone? It would have ruined his life as well as theirs.

Robin P wrote: "The point is, what would have happened if he had injured or killed someone? It would have ruined his life as well as theirs."

Exactly, so let's hope he learns his necessary lesson. The officer told us the kid was saying "I'm never going to drive again."

So hopefully he got the necessary scare and his parents can help him see how important it is to be truthful and honest.

Booknblues wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The point is, what would have happened if he had injured or killed someone? It would have ruined his life as well as theirs."

Exactly, so let's hope he learns his necessary lesson...."

You know, the lesson that actions have consequences and that you have to accept them and 'fess up' or even just stick around and deal with the aftermath is a good one for him to learn. The blessing here is that he learned it in what is in the end a minor fender bender rather than say a totalled car and someone in the hospital or even dead.

Meanwhile, I hope Les is not feeling and delayed pain or discomfort. He should cuddle with Roxie, Rosie and you for the next fee days to recover properly. 🥰

Not that thrilled to see this month's graphic, when we have a frost warning out here! I'm quite sure I had the air conditioning on about a week ago. That's fall (and spring) in the upper Midwest.

Everyone has raved about Fourth Wing and I went so far as to buy it at full price from a local bookstore. I'm only a few chapters in, but it's striking me as YA and unoriginal. Another story where a young person with some talent goes to a school/army/training center, makes some friends but also a dangerous enemy, and I suppose has to save the community/nation/world. I haven't really seen the dragons yet, maybe that will make a difference.

Robin P wrote: "Not that thrilled to see this month's graphic, when we have a frost warning out here! I'm quite sure I had the air conditioning on about a week ago. That's fall (and spring) in the upper Midwest.

..."

Y/A and lacking anything special or knew was the vibe I was getting from trusted reviewers I follow. I took it off my list to read. Sorry you do not like it after spending the money for it-I am, sure your library would love to have a brand new copy for their shelves-

Well, I am on it for Subdue so I will probably finish it. I pass my books to a charming local used bookstore who gives store credit. For every book they sell, they donate one to a local school, senior center, etc. The young people who run it know me personally and are so delightful.

I adore this month's banner - especially since I was still turning on AC last week! I do love winter.