Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion

I do not know if this topic is in the correct place, but I thought we needed a thread where it was okay to just chew the fat, shoot the breeze, (quick someone, think of another catchphrase for water-cooler type convos!)
Jennifer

Works for me. :)

I walked 3.2 miles yesterday, the best distance I've done since I started walking last fall. Yay me!

I'm now doing tai chi two evenings a week. I just last week finished an 18-hour course on tai chi stick fighting; and beginning in mid-April I plan to take a 15-hour class on Dragon Tiger Qigong, a 7-movement Chinese meditation and breathing technique which is also supposed to enhance flexibility and build strength. While qigong is done in slow motion like tai chi (and is often mistaken for tai chi by Westerners) the movements are completely different and the two bear no relationship although my tai chi instructor says it will help my tai chi as well.

My weight seems to be holding steady at just over 200 pounds but my belt has definitely become looser of late so I appear to be redistributing weight as I improve my muscle tone. The difference in my legs especially is noticeable; I may actually be unashamed to wear shorts in public by summer. I see my pulmonologist next Wednesday so it'll be interesting to see what she (and her scales) have to say.

Well done Steve! I know what you mean about weight redistribution - I've had a few people tell me I've lost weight recently, but the scales don't think so. I'm not actually trying right now - extra stress is the last thing I need - but it's nice that people think I've lost some, anyway.

I'm taking DS to the movies today with his school. We've booked the entire theatre out, so they can play around with the lights and volume. I have no idea how this will go, as he doesn't even watch TV, just youtube videos of flushing toilets. (I am eternally jealous of the ASD families who got a nice little Thomas the Tank Engine, or dinosaurs obsession. We got toilets!)

After that he will go back to school and I'll go up to the hospital. DH is in pretty good spirits, we're just w a i t i n g....

Millie wrote: "Well done Steve! I know what you mean about weight redistribution - I've had a few people tell me I've lost weight recently, but the scales don't think so. I'm not actually trying right now - ext..."

I had a heck of a time yesterday getting my GF to understand that I am not going to become "gaunt" when my weight is simply moving from Point A to Point B. There's no doubt I've lost another inch around my waist - a belt I only bought in December is now too loose and I'm either going to have to get out my leather punches or buy another belt.

Millie, how old is your boy?

Steve, he's 4 1/2. He's doing really well - a year ago he was non-verbal, and he's now speaking in sentences. DH and I are about to start looking at schools for next year (our school year is January to December). He'll go to a mainstream school with an ASD unit attached. Best of both worlds.

Millie wrote: "Steve, he's 4 1/2. He's doing really well - a year ago he was non-verbal, and he's now speaking in sentences. DH and I are about to start looking at schools for next year (our school year is Janu..."

Awesome!

My youngest sister has a son with moderately severe autism but he graduated from high school 2 years ago.

Well thank you both for chit chatting! I wish I were working on my weight. I get the idea, do well for a few days and then I fizzle...What do you do with the temptation to fizzle hits?
Jen

Caffeine. :)

Steve wrote: "Caffeine. :)"

Really? Just drink a cup of coffee or something?? Maybe I lack stimulation in my life!
Jen

DH isn't doing too well today. His sternum wound has been breaking down and he may have to have a pectoral flap operation, which involves crossing the pectoral muscles over each other to protect the sternum. It's a big operation, made bigger by the fact that he's on a vad, but it's the recovery that is really scary. Four weeks of not being able to move his arms AT ALL, the limited movement for another 2 weeks. The feeling of being in a strait jacket plus the frustration of being dependent is really bringing him down. It seems very unfair. He's done everything he's been asked to do and more, and now he's rewarded with this, a condition that affects a tiny percentage of patients. Sorry for thf whinge, but we're not going too public with this till we know for sure. I need to vent somewhere!!

Oh, no--I'm so sorry y'all hare having another setback, Millie. Is there a chance that it will resolve without intervention? Poor Paul--he's been so brave and such a good patient. But I know he's avoided other problems by being so diligent. Still, it really doesn't seem fair--for him or for you and the kids. :( Keep us updated and please, vent all you want. If I'd been through such a wringer, I would have transformed into a walking vent by now!

I did read that ex-VP Dick Cheney just got a heart transplant after waiting for 20 months. Reports are that he's adjusting well. That was encouraging to hear!

Kudos to you on building up to such a good walking distance and for improving your fitness, Steve. Muscle is denser and heavier than fat, so it sounds like you're reducing body mass even if you're on a weight plateau. Muscle also burns more calories than fat, so that may help you move off the plateau as you continue to exercise.

I need to get back to the gym to do some strength training. I really slacked off over the winter, and I can tell in a lot of little ways, including a lot of "shrunken" clothes. *sigh*

Millie wrote: "Steve, he's 4 1/2. He's doing really well - a year ago he was non-verbal, and he's now speaking in sentences. DH and I are about to start looking at schools for next year (our school year is Janu..."

So, so glad to hear he is doing well. And the combination of mainstreaming with an ASD unit is ideal. We have something like this--William is in mainstream classes, but has a 2-hour session in the special education coaching rooms where he gets extra time to finish tests and help with organizing and studying. It has been the best of both worlds.

Steve, how is your nephew doing post-high school? DS has three more years until graduation, and will probably go on to an art school. I think he will be glad when academic concerns aren't center-stage. He's smart, but academic classes are really tough for him.

Vicki wrote: "Oh, no--I'm so sorry y'all hare having another setback, Millie. Is there a chance that it will resolve without intervention? Poor Paul--he's been so brave and such a good patient. But I know he'..."

An update - he definitely has to have the surgery but the recovery time will be much shorter and less restrictive. The info we were given was for a worst case scenario, where the sternum itself is infected and has broken down. Paul's sternum is lovely, so it's all pretty much surface. Still a big operation, and still a huge concern, but at least the recovery, which is what he was really upset about, will be better than we thought.

That's good to hear Mille - I don't know how you're carrying on! I was going to whinge here about my awful week but in comparison it doesn't seem anywhere near as awful so I'll keep quiet and count my blessings! I hope all continues to go well for you!

I wish it weren't necessary at all, but I'm glad it's not as bad as y'all had anticipated. Let us know when it's scheduled.

Sorry about the bad week, Amy! :(

Jen wrote: "Steve wrote: "Caffeine. :)"

Really? Just drink a cup of coffee or something?? Maybe I lack stimulation in my life!
Jen"

We more sophistimacated people drink tea. *sniff*

;)

Tea all the way!! When I was in America I had severe tea withdrawals! Couldn't wait to get home for a decent cuppa! I mean what sort of a country doesn't have tea making facilities in their hotel rooms?! ;-)

Amy wrote: "Tea all the way!! When I was in America I had severe tea withdrawals! Couldn't wait to get home for a decent cuppa! I mean what sort of a country doesn't have tea making facilities in their hotel r..."

Seriously. :) We Yanks have always taken a certain perverse pleasure in our barbarity. I'm rather partial to Earl Grey myself, but that's probably the single most well known English tea.

For myself, I've never understood how anything that smells as good as fresh coffee can taste so vile.

Really? Ironically very few people here drink Earl Grey, it's all PG Tips and Tetleys or 'normal tea' or if you're by me 'builder's tea' because it's usually the stuff you give builders or 'trade' when you've got someone working for you! I'm partial to Assam myself :D

Amy wrote: "Really? Ironically very few people here drink Earl Grey, it's all PG Tips and Tetleys or 'normal tea' or if you're by me 'builder's tea' because it's usually the stuff you give builders or 'trade' ..."

I should have said "probably the single most well known English tea in America." If you asked the average American to name an English tea I'd bet 90% would say Earl Grey.

After all, that's what Jean-Luc Picard drinks. ;)

Haha! Well if that's what Patrick Stewart drinks who am I to argue?

Amy wrote: "Haha! Well if that's what Patrick Stewart drinks who am I to argue?"

I swear that's why my brother started drinking it!

Jen-we have a program going on @ work to encourage weight lose, and one of the things they do is send tips in emails. It was suggested that if you're tempted, drink a glass of water and wait 10 minutes. If you still want it after that then OK, but portion control is key then.

As the spouse of an Indian, I could have given you a very good cup of tea if I'd had the chance Amy! Of all the many good things Brits gave Indians, tea and a love of education seem to be the most lasting things! My mother-in-law mixed her own blend at the tea house. In a shallow kiosk, the tea-seller would have maybe 40-50 large tins lining the walls, each full of a different variety of loose tea. She knew just the right kinds to put together. Her tea was so bracing and fortifying. But like you, we mostly have a standard tea. I do drink coffee too, I'll be the first to admit it!

Despite falling firmly into the "Captain Kirk was way better than Captain Picard" camp of Star Trek fans I still have to go with Picard's beverage of choice.

Kirk was more likely to down a Scotch. Yuck!

Jen I would love a cup of your tea!!

And I would love a slice of your Christmas cake. Just think of the party we all could have if we could get together in the same place for a couple of days!

Steve wrote: "Despite falling firmly into the "Captain Kirk was way better than Captain Picard" camp of Star Trek fans I still have to go with Picard's beverage of choice.

Kirk was more likely to down a Scotch..."

Those are fightin' words. :D

Sabrina wrote: "Steve wrote: "Despite falling firmly into the "Captain Kirk was way better than Captain Picard" camp of Star Trek fans I still have to go with Picard's beverage of choice.

Kirk was more likely to..."

Which part; the Kirk vs Picard or the tea vs scotch? ;)

Hah! Well since you could technically combine tea and scotch if needed, definitely the Kirk vs Picard comment.

Well, technically they combined Kirk and Picard in one of the films too. :)

Steve wrote: "Well, technically they combined Kirk and Picard in one of the films too. :)"

And they had really good on screen chemistry! I just can't resist a bald man with a British accent. Here's a question... which star ship captain would Sherlock Holmes prefer?

Amy wrote: "Tea all the way!! When I was in America I had severe tea withdrawals! Couldn't wait to get home for a decent cuppa! I mean what sort of a country doesn't have tea making facilities in their hotel rooms?"

Omg, this is a major gripe of mine...and I'm from here! Every time I end up at a hotel, I whine about coffee flavored tea. =P It makes loads more sense to provide a hot water kettle and instant coffee and tea than just a coffee maker.

Mary wrote: "Jen-we have a program going on @ work to encourage weight lose, and one of the things they do is send tips in emails. It was suggested that if you're tempted, drink a glass of water and wait 10 minutes. If you still want it after that then OK, but portion control is key then. "

I saw a tip in Runner's World last month to go for a quick walk around if you've got the munchies. I thought that was an interesting suggestion...and must be for those cases where you're eating more because you're bored or stressed out. I do notice I'm more inclined to snack when I'm home on the weekends with not much to keep me busy.

Erin wrote: "Mary wrote: "Jen-we have a program going on @ work to encourage weight lose, and one of the things they do is send tips in emails. It was suggested that if you're tempted, drink a glass of water an..."

Cutting down on my after-work snacking was THE single biggest factor in my losing 42 pounds since last August 30. I used to go home and eat a Klondike bar (or two. Or three.) and then have half a pound of pretzels on top of that. You can imagine what that did to my blood pressure and sugar levels. I didn't change my eating habits to lose weight; I changed it because my doctor told me my blood pressure and sugars were dangerously high. :(

I'd already lost 19 pounds before it occurred to me that the weight loss might go somewhat faster if I exercised and so I started walking. I started out with half a mile once or twice a week; now I try to walk at least 2½ to 3 miles three or four times a week and get a little stir crazy if I can't get in a good walk every couple of days; plus as I observed above I'm now doing tai chi for one hour twice a week.

I've also had to replace half my wardrobe.

I have been able to do the No S thing for several days at a time and then I just lose focus. Perhaps if I realize that I am bound to lose focus and just prepare for it, perhaps, I can overcome that hump. It's usually after about 5 days....Here's the link if you are at all curious. All of you seem to have good plans you are able to follow.
J
http://www.nosdiet.com/

Have any of you tried Weight Watchers? I know a lot of people who have have had amazing success with it and I used it myself to take off post pregnancy weight. It's really easy to use, teaches eating habits that maintain a healthy lifestyle, and doesn't make you cut out the things that you really enjoy.

Also, Steve, keep up the exercise! It's the best addiction a person can have and it becomes very addicting.

Sabrina wrote: "Here's a question... which star ship captain would Sherlock Holmes prefer?"

Picard, CLEARLY!

Millie, I'm so sorry Paul has had this setback (although glad it's not as bad as originally feared). Really, he is Exhibit A in the "life is not fair" category.

Picard ;-)

I've decided to try out the Goodreads "Baker Street Irregulars" group. I'm still not thrilled with Goodreads but if I'm here I might as well take advantage of it.

Anyone else in the VBC in other groups?

Amy wrote: "Picard ;-)"
Lenore wrote: "Picard, CLEARLY!"

Definitely! Picard and Holmes would totally be rockin' it out in the Jefferies tube with violin and flute.

I am new and trying to become aquainted with you reading the boards. Briefly I will add my appreciation to the suggestion of Picard. His face & voice popped into my head as I read the question. :-)
I would also like to pass on to anyone using Kindle Fire that the Goodreads ap is clutter-free and quick to navigate.

Caryn wrote: "I would also like to pass on to anyone using Kindle Fire that the Goodreads ap is clutter-free and quick to navigate. "

I've about persuaded myself to upgrade from the Kindle Touch to the Fire. While I really like my Touch I find myself getting frustrated when I need access to the 'net to get a definition or further info while I'm reading. The color screen and games look fun, but they really are not the critical issues for me. I've also spent part of today playing with a 9" Android tablet and I'm coming to think that's just too large and heavy to handle comfortably over long periods; which of course make the iPad look much less attractive as well.

Anyone have any further thoughts on the Kindle Fire, plus or minus?

Caryn, welcome aboard to this group. We are all doing our best to get settled in a new environment and we are very thrilled to have our new people pop up and say "hello!" Have you been a fan of Russell and Holmes or are you new to the books?
Best regards!
Jen

Steve wrote: "I've about persuaded myself to upgrade from the Kindle Touch to the Fire. While I really like my Touch I find myself getting frustrated when I need access to the 'net to get a definition or further info while I'm reading. The color screen and games look fun, but they really are not the critical issues for me."

I've got Nook instead of Kindle. My sister got me the tablet for Christmas this year. She got me the classic reader last year (she works at BN, can you tell?) and I was pretty attached to it so I thought I wouldn't do much reading on the new tablet. But I've found I'm now totally addicted to having the ability to jump between applications...web browser, book, goodreads, book, words with friends, book, etc, etc.

The real game changer for me was when I discovered I can change the brightness level of the back-lighting on the screen, as well as the contrast colors. So I can (and do most of the time) have my screen set to be white on black for text for books instead of the glaring white back-light.

So now I reach for the tablet first. =P

Oh, and just because I thought it was interesting: last year, after I got my ereader, ebooks accounted for just under half of all the books I read in the year (43%). This year that number is up to 73%! We're not that far into the year, but I think the percentage is probably going to stay pretty high. (Why yes, I spend way too much time keeping up my book stats spreadsheets =P)

Erin wrote: "Steve wrote: "I've about persuaded myself to upgrade from the Kindle Touch to the Fire. While I really like my Touch I find myself getting frustrated when I need access to the 'net to get a definit..."

There are actually some aspects of the Nook Color I like over the Fire as far as hardware goes, but the Amazon supporting software and Amazon store seem much better organized. I'm sure I'd like a Nook Color but at this point I'm too deeply in bed with Amazon to change horses in midstream. (Good mixed metaphor, eh?) ;)

My little sister has a Nook Color and she loves it.

BTW, can a kind Fire owner tell me what dictionaries the Fire ships with? I can't survive without my Oxford English Dictionary (not that stupid American English version either!)? I'd hate to lose the one I have on the Touch.

Hi y'all! I'm glad to find you here, I'd been registered on your old site, but hadn't been in a while.

Can't resist chiming in on the tea/ST convo above. Kirk all the way, sans Scotch. :) But Scottish Breakfast Tea is the best I've found, strong, but mellow, with Yorkshire Gold (Taylor's of Harrogate) right behind it. Can't find it locally, but on the net it's possible to order.

Yorkshire tea is a favourite :-) but it's not widely consumed down south as it's a bit strong for wimpy southeners ;-)