A friend of mine subscribes to the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, and a few years ago she loaned me one in particular because there was a certain story she thought I would enjoy. And enjoy it I did. But I also read the other stories in that volume, and one in particular struck me -- Barbara Delinsky’s THE SUMMER I DARED. I was so taken with that plot that I went and bought the book.
Our Mobile Home Park clubhouse has a collection of books donated by the residents. I frequently avail myself of this library, and a few weeks ago picked up another of the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. This one also contained a most unusual story by Will North, entitled THE LONG WALK HOME. I want to read that one in its entirety.
Then today I read yet another gripping Reader’s Digest Condensed Books story entitled THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE by Kristin Hannah. Found that one at a good price at Amazon, so I will be reading that story in its entirety.
The story lines of these three books are not at all similar; yet each resonated with me. They are all fiction, but the characters in all these stories feel like real people. And while the stories are all different, they each have a thread that, to me, links them together. That link is love, expressed in different ways in each of the stories, but somehow the same.
If any of you have read any of these authors, I’d be interested in your comments.
This video is funny:
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
FALL COLORS
Once again I have photos sent to me that you may enjoy. A short while back there was something on Alison’s blog about fall colors, and whaddya know! I was sent some gorgeous fall color photos. Enjoy!
On the other hand ...
Some friends were on a trip to the Great Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado), and they emailed some photos they took. Fall colors -- so labeled by them:
Fun:
A youngster is out walking his dog. “Say,” says a neighbor, “is that a new dog you’ve got?”
“Yup,” replies the youngster, “this is my $50 thousand dog!”
“Fifty thousand!” says the neighbor. “How could you afford a $50 thousand dog?”
“Easy,” says the youngster. “Got him for two $25 thousand cats!”
On the other hand ...
Some friends were on a trip to the Great Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado), and they emailed some photos they took. Fall colors -- so labeled by them:
Fun:
A youngster is out walking his dog. “Say,” says a neighbor, “is that a new dog you’ve got?”
“Yup,” replies the youngster, “this is my $50 thousand dog!”
“Fifty thousand!” says the neighbor. “How could you afford a $50 thousand dog?”
“Easy,” says the youngster. “Got him for two $25 thousand cats!”
Monday, October 12, 2009
BUSY DAY
Every year, for many years, Amalie and I had bought season tickets for the Community Concert Series in Los Gatos, about 20 minutes away. This year, although Am is no longer with me, I once again bought season tickets. There are several people I know who enjoy these musical events, and as it happened, I was chatting with one on Saturday when she said to me, “Don’t we have a concert tomorrow?” Oops. “Hold on. I’ll go check the tickets.” Sure enough, Sunday afternoon was the appointed day. Cliff acted as chauffer, and off we went to hear the Canadian Tenors, four fellows with remarkable voices. Quite an afternoon!
Then after dropping said friend off at home, Cliff and I drove over to Milpitas, also about 20 minutes away, in a different direction, to have dinner at the Red Lobster. Delicious! I couldn’t finish the whole thing, though Cliff packed his away like a trooper -- a hungry trooper. Never fear; I brought the “remains” of mine home.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that I didn’t get my afternoon nap. Tsk, tsk. I’ll sleep well tonight.
Humor:
Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: 'Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?' Slim says, 'I feel just like a newborn baby.' 'Really!? Like a newborn baby!?' 'Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.'
Then after dropping said friend off at home, Cliff and I drove over to Milpitas, also about 20 minutes away, in a different direction, to have dinner at the Red Lobster. Delicious! I couldn’t finish the whole thing, though Cliff packed his away like a trooper -- a hungry trooper. Never fear; I brought the “remains” of mine home.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that I didn’t get my afternoon nap. Tsk, tsk. I’ll sleep well tonight.
Humor:
Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: 'Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?' Slim says, 'I feel just like a newborn baby.' 'Really!? Like a newborn baby!?' 'Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.'
Saturday, October 10, 2009
SCOOTER UPDATE
It's a good thing I didn't -- hold my breath, that is! Tuesday arrived, but the part did not. I was told that it had been shipped by air, but I think they used a flock of carrier pigeons who had to walk part of the way. It -- the part -- and the pigeons arrived on Wednesday.
Poor birds were pooped, but they brought the part in good shape. I'm glad to have my scooter back.
Fun:
Scientists say they have discovered the missing link -- a little monkey that lived mostly on twigs and berries. That makes it the direct ancestor of today’s supermodel.
Friday, October 9, 2009
THERE, I FIXED IT!
That was the subject line on the incoming email.I really didn’t have anything else to write about, but these photos came in this morning. Thought you might enjoy them.
My favorite!
Note to Diana Troldahl:
Glad to hear you're a Gabaldon fan. There are a number of us around here who made it to her appearance. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her, please do so. She is at least as funny in person as in her writing. Very dry humor. Have you finished AN ECHO IN THE BONE?
I think it's the best of the bunch, and that's saying something! (You can respond at my email:
chippep@earthlink.net
Other fun -
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. Now there is a workstation on my desk.
Patron to bartender: “I’ll have what the fella on the floor is having”.
A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles per gallon.
My favorite!
Note to Diana Troldahl:
Glad to hear you're a Gabaldon fan. There are a number of us around here who made it to her appearance. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her, please do so. She is at least as funny in person as in her writing. Very dry humor. Have you finished AN ECHO IN THE BONE?
I think it's the best of the bunch, and that's saying something! (You can respond at my email:
chippep@earthlink.net
Other fun -
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. Now there is a workstation on my desk.
Patron to bartender: “I’ll have what the fella on the floor is having”.
A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer a year.
That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles per gallon.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
HOW LUCKY CAN I GET!
or, there are some advantages to being handicapped. Last night Cliff drove me to the bookstore in downtown Mountain View where one of my favorite authors spoke. The talk was scheduled to begin at 7:30, so I figured that if I arrived by seven, I should be able to get in the door. Well, I got antsy, and we left a bit earlier than scheduled. I arrived at the bookstore front door at 6:45, and already there was standing room only! I was on the scooter, so didn’t need a chair, As I inched past the standees and started down the aisle toward the front, a voice behind me said,“Keep going,” and I turned to see an authoritative woman telling me to go clear to the front, so I did. She had me park all the way in front at one side near a woman in a wheelchair, and that was fine with me.
Ms authoritative (whose name was Sandi) may have been the store manager, for she picked up a microphone, and was giving instructions to both other employees and the gathering crowd. Seems that those who bought the latest Gabaldon book at that store had preferred seating in the first few rows, and also would be the first to come forward to have their books autographed. I had brought my book for signature, so when I caught Sandi’s eye, I asked her how far back in the queue I might be. “You won’t,” she said, “you and she (indicating the woman in the wheelchair) will be first.” And so it was. I also got to ask the very first question when that session arrived.
So! How lucky could I get!
Humor:
One fellow was sick and tired of thugs breaking into his garage shop to steal tools, etc. So, he came up with this idea. He put the word out that he had a new Mexican Lion that would attack anyone that broke in or climbed his fence. Would-be thieves saw the "Lion" from a distance and fled the scene.
Ms authoritative (whose name was Sandi) may have been the store manager, for she picked up a microphone, and was giving instructions to both other employees and the gathering crowd. Seems that those who bought the latest Gabaldon book at that store had preferred seating in the first few rows, and also would be the first to come forward to have their books autographed. I had brought my book for signature, so when I caught Sandi’s eye, I asked her how far back in the queue I might be. “You won’t,” she said, “you and she (indicating the woman in the wheelchair) will be first.” And so it was. I also got to ask the very first question when that session arrived.
So! How lucky could I get!
Humor:
One fellow was sick and tired of thugs breaking into his garage shop to steal tools, etc. So, he came up with this idea. He put the word out that he had a new Mexican Lion that would attack anyone that broke in or climbed his fence. Would-be thieves saw the "Lion" from a distance and fled the scene.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
RUNNING CONVERSATION
Inasmuch as I cannot do my own nails, I’d gone to my favorite beauty salon for my regular manicure and pedicure. This is a shop owned and operated by a Vietnamese couple, and they hire Vietnamese beauticians. This day I was sitting in my scooter while the young lady was trimming my nails, and immediately to my left another young beautician was doing the nails of an older woman. After a few minutes it dawned on me that the older woman was talking a blue streak -- in what seemed to be Russian. Now I know a grand total of two words in Russian, da and nyet (yes and no). And I heard those two words a number of times. I wondered, “Does this Vietnamese young lady understand Russian?” She was busy with her work, and did not appear to be responding to this flood of verbiage. On the other hand, the customer’s hands were being occupied by the work at hand (pun intended), so she was not holding a cell phone.
Well, it became apparent what was happening when the beautician got up and walked to the back of the shop to get something. The customer kept right on jabbering, so I came to the conclusion that she had to be wearing one of those hands free cell phones, though I couldn’t see it. Turns out I was right when the customer finished, got up and turned around. I could then see the equipment she was wearing. But it sure seemed strange to me at the beginning.
Humor -
An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he
has been living with for the last 40 years.
The Wizard says, 'Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words
that were used to put the curse on you.'
The old man says without hesitation, 'I now pronounce you man and
wife.'
Well, it became apparent what was happening when the beautician got up and walked to the back of the shop to get something. The customer kept right on jabbering, so I came to the conclusion that she had to be wearing one of those hands free cell phones, though I couldn’t see it. Turns out I was right when the customer finished, got up and turned around. I could then see the equipment she was wearing. But it sure seemed strange to me at the beginning.
Humor -
An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he
has been living with for the last 40 years.
The Wizard says, 'Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words
that were used to put the curse on you.'
The old man says without hesitation, 'I now pronounce you man and
wife.'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)