Membro: romain

HOW I hope that you have your SS gift waiting for you when you get home today. Maybe it is travelling from the UK and will be full of rare and wonderful goodies worth waiting for!
We are about to put up the first tree we've had in several years. I'm excited!
(Ho Ho Ho)
Love,
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:36 am (EST) , Dec 18, 2009

Nor has mine ----- On the other hand, the longer it takes, the less time I have to build my character and not look - always assuming that it finally arrives. It will be my most greedily anticipated gift.
And off to the Christmas Tableau!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 6:28 pm (EST) , Dec 14, 2009

Ah, Barbara! Bliss!!!
I'm doing a little something for you at the moment too. Whether it will turn out well enough to send is another question.
Wishing you all a good weekend......Even when you're happy with what you do, a break is welcome.
(I just read Cushla's latest to you. I'm not even envious much of your traveling experiences; I think that it's great that you can share so much with her - what an excited young woman!)
Good night, Friend. You have been my Santa all year!
P.A.

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:01 pm (EST) , Dec 11, 2009

Thanks for your messages! I can't wait to get there. It was good to read about Colmar, Strasburg etc because I'd expect we'll go there pretty soon once we get a car.

I really haven't explored much of the area neaer Basel. We had 3 months in France, Spain and Italy on our way home from New York in 2003, and it was all (except Gibraltar) fabulous. In France the closest we got to Sw. was staying in a gite quite near Vienne or Valence, near Lyon. We went for a hair raising drive up into the mountains in the middle of winter- now I'm getting the Lonely Planet out... eek can't work it out, but near Grenoble.

And we went to Vezelay while we were staying in Beaune - beautiful, and I bought a pair of shoes there (ha not that you needed to know that, but it's so funny what you remember years later).

When we start planning some excursions I'll let you know where we're going!

escrito por cmt, às 12:59 pm (EST) , Dec 11, 2009

Dear Barbara,

I sent you a message on PBS that 84 is mailed as of this morning. I sent it first class since it was cheaper than media mail.

Gee, I have Daddy was a Numbers Runner enroute to me. It was on my wishlist at PBS and came up. Consider 84 a gift for surviving Thanksgiving!

I understand family dynamics. I could never get close to my in-laws. Hell, my husband never could get close to them and he's related! Finally (since they lived in SD) I just stopped going to visit them. The loooong silences when conversation died became unbearable. Chuck went out to visit them on his own.

I know what you mean about London now. I still go as often as I can and have my favorite "dream" houses I visit. The Dean's house in the Inner Temple; a tiny house in a mews in Hamstead with a wonderful front garden which was owned by a member of Benny Goodman's band; a house in the close of Westminster Abbey. When we went there first in the 60's there were still uncleared bomb-damage sites in the East End and Southwark. We looked at an old warehouse on the Thames near the Anchor Pub which was for sale for 25,000 GP. Chuck said that we could have docking for a boat, parking for the car, a roof garden, and space for my library! Now that building is condos that you can't buy one for under 1,000,00GP. The housing market in London doesn't seem affected by falling prices.

You can have John if I can have Kenneth Moore!

Elaine

PS. I find that there are still some areas of the UK that, if one squints, one can imagine the 1930's.....Northumberland, the Cotswalds our of tourist season, the village of Dorsington near Stratford. Cornwall has become a second-home destination for fat cats. A friend who lives there says that they are in danger of losing their village school because so many of the natives sold their homes for what they considered a big profit to non-Cornish folks who only come down on weekends or during holidays. The school lost its base and now the remaining kids might have to be bussed miles to go to school.

Oh, Porlock Weir in Somerset is in a "Brigadoon" timewarp. Margaret Drabble and Michael Holyrod live (or lived) there the last time I visited.

escrito por Liz1564, às 10:57 am (EST) , Nov 30, 2009

Hi Barbara,

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for your lovely message on the secret Santa thread! Great to read that you loved Switzerland. We are very very excited about the move - I love Europe, but haven't been to Switzerland. I'm going to be trying to get my German as good as I can with a couple of years there, and learning Swiss German as well. I gather they're very different... Bern looks wonderful too - I've been reading Lonely Planet and looking at online stuff. My husband is up there now and settling in really well already.

Now you have to tell me your favourite things that you did while you were there!

Cushla

escrito por cmt, às 2:30 am (EST) , Nov 28, 2009

Dear Friend,
It's been a long time since we spoke directly, so I'm speaking. Hope you and your guys are well. We are about the same - I'm spending part of every day with Aunt Flora, and for some reason that disrupts my day. I really became accustomed to doing what I wanted when I wanted, so I expect I'm due for a little disruption. I'm excited about Secret Santa; I've looked at my lady's books and I keep making lists and then changing them. (I wish giving to my nearest and dearest were inspiring this same enthusiasm. Nobody wants books though.) If I can ever finish my little ARC and write the review, I'm looking forward to some of the good stuff I have lined up.
Stay healthy! Read! Write sometime!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:37 pm (EST) , Nov 17, 2009

I know you've been breathless for an update on my continuing search for my copy of *SofK*. I can't find it, but I do find that I catalogued - and I remember holding in my hand - a copy of the sequel, Singapore Grip. It's not where I said I put it either, so I can only think that I put them together somewhere handy. grrrrrr. There is a third book, The Troubles, but I expect that you know that already.
Hope you are having a reasonable week. I'm waiting for the Stouffer's lasagne to cook. What a treat! (Seriously.)
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 5:38 pm (EST) , Nov 5, 2009

And I was thrilled to be able to do it!
I think I reviewed it here........It's not wonderful, but I did enjoy it as a great slice of nearly alien life - extended, European, Jewish family at the turn of the 20th century.
Good stuff! (And today she said that Powells had thought that they had a copy of Mosaic, the third in the series, but then they couldn't find it. I wanted to cry.
Happy rest-of-the-week!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 8:19 pm (EST) , Oct 28, 2009

O.K. Now I HAVE to find my copy ---- that would be the one that got in the way anytime these past 10 years when I looked on that shelf in the wardrobe, and that I now can't find at all. I drive myself nuts.
On the brighter side, I just got a message from pbs that a book I had listed in another format was now available. I grabbed it! And now I'll have to buy credits if anything else comes up.
And I just bought a couple of Virago Beacon Travellers at amp pretty much for shipping. My greed has no end. Hope yours is being assuaged as easily.
(I am trying so hard to read Gravity's Rainbow. At this point I can't tell you why except that I've invested 520+ pages in the thing, so I can't stop until I finish.)
Love,
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:27 pm (EST) , Oct 24, 2009

Dear Barbara;
I am so happy it arrived safely. That really didn't take long and I sent it media mail too. I hope you enjoy it. I was thrilled to be able to send you something after what you have sent off to me.
hugs n luvs,
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 7:35 pm (EST) , Oct 21, 2009

Thank you! Thank you! I didn't get the Christina Stead - didn't even get a whiff of it. I'll send *PB* on to Koki if she doesn't have it and that will be lovely.
I still can't find my *Krishnapur*. I'm afraid I've DONE something with it - you know, so I wouldn't lose it. I don't know about Precious, but I can certainly be the bane of my own existence without half trying. I should restart *New House*, but instead, I plan to divide my women's book time between The Ladies of Lyndon and The Outcast by Sadie Jones from last year's Orange Broadband list. When Wolf Hall arrives, all bets are off. It's a birthday gift!
I'm beaming.
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:44 pm (EST) , Oct 13, 2009

Well, you are too good. I see that there is more than one gentlewoman, and I'm looking forward to all of them!
I have stuff hanging over my head, but here I play. And my great tagging system has broken down with *Krishnapur.* It's not where I said it was. On the other hand, I found some more stuff that I hadn't entered here yet, so it all works out.
THANK YOU, Barbara!
Me

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:50 am (EST) , Oct 10, 2009

Eating out sounds great! We don't - or rather, I do but husband doesn't. So even a few times a year would be good for me. And 8 for $25 sounds really good! If I'm up for it (and I plan to be up for it) a friend and I will go to Fatalburg (that's Fayetteville to you non-natives) Tuesday to check out 2 new used book stores that she found (well, Lori's isn't new, but she's moved from when I used to go there in the 90's), SAS shoes, bare-mineral makeup, and food. Great day! I can't remember when you were there.......Did you know the Little Hermit Bookstore in Bordeaux? The daughter of the owner is now one of my dear friends in a nice piece of serendipity. I may have told you that already.
I'm sorry to hear that you're in a reading slough. It happens. I tend to pull myself out by reading Dean Koontz - one of the old, supernatural ones. Go figure.
I stayed home this morning to keep my coughing and snubbing to myself, but so far no fever, and I feel a lot better. Our niece from Charlotte, who is looking after her father this week while sister-in-law continues recuperation from hip replacement, brought her little white dog over to play with our little black dog. They were ecstatic and we were hilariously entertained. And that's my current story!
Later!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:54 am (EST) , Oct 4, 2009

Bruce Chatwin is BLOND????? Oh well.
I could never figure why a week with Monday off felt at least as long as a regular 5-day week. It always seemed so to me. I'm sorry about your house. I have no housekeeping standards - well, very few - but I do like a clean house, and I can sympathize with somebody who needs one.
And I'm more sorry that you can't settle to something. That may be my perpetual state since I love to put one down and pick the next up. Anyway, do push Miss Mole higher on your bookpile. She's a real pleasure. I really slept more than I read my 2 1/2 days of fever, but this morning I'm back down to 97.9 - almost normal, and I'm looking forward to putting a bit of a dent into Illyrian Spring. (Let me thank you again; I am already quite attached to the little book itself - it has a history and will find a welcome place of rest with me.) I'm thinking that it is another Enchanted April with only one couple who don't understand each other? I appreciate the images and am going to hunt up the art in Venice that they mention.
I don't think this is flu......no aches - nothing but bronchial congestion, headache and fever. I had something like it in February and am wondering if this is how colds are going to act from now on or whether the whole thing is a function of changing atmospheric conditions.
Make the most of your weekend!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:10 am (EST) , Oct 3, 2009

Dear Barbara,
My copy of Illyrian Spring arrived today, and I am thrilled to have a period piece. I love "have n't" and "did n't." THANK YOU! I will really start to read it when I can stay awake long enough to finish Miss Mole which is another near-perfect book. I have ---- I don't know what I have, but it comes with bronchial congestion, draining sinuses, headache, and enough fever to keep me sleeping rather than reading. I was waiting until today (when Medicare kicks in!) to get my flu shot. Maybe I should have paid for it myself.
Hope you are staying well and having more good times than bad. Thank you again for looking out for me!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 7:50 pm (EST) , Oct 1, 2009

You've got it!~!
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 6:22 pm (EST) , Sep 30, 2009

Oh pooh! And I meant to say that I don't see any Barbara Pym in our shared books. Do you know/like her? Somebody has started a Pym group here that you might check out. I think that she'd be right up your alley.

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:32 pm (EST) , Sep 26, 2009

Just checking in to say that I hope you had a useful week and will have a restful and reinvigorating weekend! We continue to visit our sick, and I have a Saturday and Sunday of church stuff. (Will you read The Siege of Krsihnapur anytime soon? I might be persuaded to join you if you like to toss ideas to somebody who is reading the same thing at the same time. Otherwise, I'm trying really hard to finish my second ER ARC in hopes that I can get at least one of the two I really want from the Septemeber list.)
Stay in touch! I'm always here.
Peggy the Liz

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:47 pm (EST) , Sep 25, 2009

2 hearts that beat as 1! (If not the Haves, who? If not now, when? - or something to that effect.) I'm in a tearing hurry, but I always have to stop by to see what's happening. I'll certainly check out Biblio; I'm not paying much more than $4 for my finds at amp.
More later!
P the L

escrito por LizzieD, às 1:09 pm (EST) , Sep 13, 2009

Thank you for your class description! I am struck by your saying that your kids are younger socially than their chronological age. That, in a nutshell, is a main reason that I took early retirement. In every class I had 28-32 "normal" 16-17 year-old bodies with 5-8 year-old minds and coping mechanisms. I never learned to deal with elementary children in education courses, so I ended up at sea, and with no mothering aid to give them and me a hand. I have fewer nightmares now, but the memories are right beneath the surface.
I am thrilled that you have a caring principal and teacher. No comment otherwise!
Health care? I am totally confused. Our Congressman, a personal friend but very conservative Democrat who often votes Republican (and yet he was Asst. Whip when Democrats were the minority), has said that he will not support the current bill because it insures illegal aliens. I need to tell him to send me chapter and verse so I can read that part for myself. I tend to believe our President. I simply say again that when we offer subsidies and tax breaks to big business, it's supporting capitalism; when we offer health care or other human services to poor folk, it's socialism.
Look at the lovely books you've just added! I have a copy of Jenny Wren coming my way from amazon marketplace and its sequel too! The others, except for Beyond the Glass, thank you very much, are on my wish list at pbs. I loved That Lady!
Good night! I'm sleepy.

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:28 pm (EST) , Sep 12, 2009

Oh please! Nobody could be less sold on my part of NC as a travel destination than I am......(One of the memorable ideas - I promise you - several years ago was to put a paddle boat on our little black river and have plastic alligators pop up from time to time. It's a nice place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit here.)
I am very interested in your class of autistic kids! How many girls? I did read and enjoy the *dog in the night* Have you read The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon who has a high-functioning autistic son. I liked it even better, I think. It's a near-future science fiction in which the protagonist, also high-functioning, has to decide whether he wants to give up his special turn of mind to become "normal." (Dark must move faster than light because it's already there when light reaches a place.) His work exploits his ability to see patterns, and he learns to love fencing again because he sees the patterns. Good stuff. She won a Hugo or Nebula for it.
Have a happy weekend.
I went to our library sale this morning hoping to find something cheap to put on pbs. We'll see, but so far I've decided to keep 6 of the 9 I bought. That's me.

escrito por LizzieD, às 8:09 pm (EST) , Sep 11, 2009

Just thought I would drop by to speak. I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to keep my mother from spending 6-10 hours a day in the hospital/extended care room of her older sister who had pneumonia but responded well to antibiotics. I love my aunt dearly, but she has dementia and is declining to eat or do PT so that she can go home. I can easily see what kind of little girl she was. She's going to hate to see my face because I insist that she can do what they ask. I'm just so frustrated because she could go home if only she would try.
Hope you have had a good week and that you and the other teacher are working into an efficient routine - and that the other other teacher is leaving the two of you alone.
Peace for the weekend!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:53 pm (EST) , Sep 10, 2009

Hi;
Mark and I have been discussing the possibility of another group read in November and want your input. We have narrowed it down to two books at this point. "The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks and "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. So chat it up with friends or us and let us know if you are up for it and what you think. Probably the same plan as with "Pillars of the Earth" which seemed to work out perfectly for almost all of us.
Think it over and give one of us a shout.
hugs and looking forward to hearing from you,
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 11:20 am (EST) , Sep 9, 2009

It's nice to know that there are others with this problem. Way back in the early 70s my ex and I were doing England on a motorcycle (and not a huge modern one with big bags). We bought books and motorcycle parts and went to the P. O. every few days and shipped them to my mother. Customs marked them "used motor vehicle parts" and finally the local post office office lady broke down and begged my mother to reveal why she was getting all these packages from England. My mother said that she had an eccentric daughter.
I remember spending a long time in a book store trying to find a book that would make it through a student charter flight home from Gatwick via Newfoundland to NYC and "riding the dog" to Florida. The final solution was one of Trollope's novels; I think it held me to Maryland. These days I take magazines, wordy ones like American Scientist, and leave a trail of them behind me.

escrito por Dragonfly, às 3:29 pm (EST) , Sep 7, 2009

Romain, here's a "review" of the cereal box, if you haven't seen it. http://www.willwriteforchocolate.com/200... .

escrito por Dragonfly, às 10:49 am (EST) , Sep 7, 2009

I am proud beyond saying of my book! Thank you!!!
In fact, you earn many stars for your generosity to all of us.
Peggy - still receiving

escrito por LizzieD, às 12:27 pm (EST) , Aug 31, 2009

Romain,

I love the picture of the little girl reading. Who is the artist?

escrito por urania1, às 1:03 pm (EST) , Aug 26, 2009

THANK YOU!!!!!

escrito por LizzieD, às 8:37 pm (EST) , Aug 25, 2009

You KNOW (again) how much this means to me!
Thank you.
Peggy the Receiver in Joy

escrito por LizzieD, às 12:10 pm (EST) , Aug 25, 2009

Well, thank goodness you don't.
Appreciate it.
have a good one.
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 11:22 am (EST) , Aug 11, 2009

Barbara,
The book you sent arrived yesterday. Thank you again for your kindness.

Danielle

escrito por noodlejet22, às 8:15 am (EST) , Aug 11, 2009

I recorded They Were Sisters and watched it tonight - what did you think of it? It was rather melodramatic, but still fun. Did you know that the actress who played Margaret was James Mason's first wife? Hope you enjoyed it.

Christine

escrito por marise, às 11:07 pm (EST) , Aug 2, 2009

I totally believe the A. Jolie thing. (I've never been told I look like anybody else except some girl's little brother back when I was in high school.) (At least I don't look like Barbara Bush.....)
I've done a little scanning through *MGC.* She was a pistol in a hard time for women! Thank you for the book!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 10:18 pm (EST) , Jul 30, 2009

Barbara, the book arrived today. Once again, thank you very very much!!!
Nice handwriting, by the way.

Paola :-))

escrito por aluvalibri, às 9:19 pm (EST) , Jul 30, 2009

Thanks again. Speedy service, too!

escrito por laytonwoman3rd, às 10:50 am (EST) , Jul 22, 2009

Barbara,
Thank you for that link. That was very sweet of you to take the time to do that for me.
I think I am off to see about setting up an account.
later dayz,
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 9:50 pm (EST) , Jul 9, 2009

Barbara;
Right, don't think about that. It will only depress you and we don't want that for goodness sake.
I think I am going to join Book Mooch, Paperback Swap and Book Crossings. And if after a week or 10 days, "Frost in May" isn't picked up on the Virago site, I may just set her free in the wild. Someone, somewhere will enjoy her. I think most members have her already.
Well, than you again. It has been pleasant chatting with you. I will meet you on the threads.
belva

escrito por nannybebette, às 2:15 pm (EST) , Jul 9, 2009

Good grief! Has it been that long since we communicated directly? I see your footprints here and there, but haven't stopped in to speak. I'm glad that you're on spring break at last - maybe the rain will move out. Weather really doesn't matter to this retired person; I like whatever happens within limits, of course.
I gave up buying books for Lent and have gone on a real spree at amp these last two days....... I'm not sure of the value of "giving up" for a limited time anymore. Now if I could double charitable contributions, I'd be in business.
So do stop by my place if you will. I miss you.
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 8:14 pm (EST) , Apr 14, 2009

Hi, I just joined this site. I'm a relationship expert and I'm getting ready to a column on love advice & relationships. Anyway, just thought I would connect.

escrito por CassandraRichmond123, às 2:47 am (EST) , Mar 23, 2009

Hi Barbara,
We hadn't spoken in a long time...... I've been doing my same old stuff and loving it. Hope all is well with you and yours. I actually finished a book (!) and have started 4 more to replace it. Why do I do that? I guess the answer would have to be "greed." Be sure to speak when you have time.
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 12:39 pm (EST) , Feb 27, 2009

Thanks, I already have I'm not Complaining but I certainly appreciate your "alert"! Too bad about the one you received recently. I always cross my fingers waiting for my PBS VMCs, because I'm never 100% sure what I'm getting!

escrito por lindsacl, às 8:32 pm (EST) , Feb 5, 2009

Oh no! Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to stay away from the amy bloom! ;)
heather

escrito por hjelliot, às 8:30 pm (EST) , Jan 31, 2009

Hi, Barbara!
I see that you added *Sanctity*. Did you read and like it? I wait with some eagerness to hear because I wonder whether my credibility is high or not so good since I recommended it. Things are a bit hectic here as I learn my new clerk job, but good times!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 1:21 pm (EST) , Jan 31, 2009

Hi Barbara (Romain)
I agree with much of what you said about 'Away', but none-the-less found the book quite compelling. My biggest gripe was really about the chronology of Liliane's life which seemed to be implausible to say the least.
Good to have another point of view on a book, I would never mind any adverse or or opposing comments, we all see different things when we read!
Jo (aka Herschelian)

escrito por herschelian, às 6:04 am (EST) , Jan 30, 2009

Dear Barbara,
I hope you're anticipating a wonderful weekend. I have been busily doing church stuff and sticking a book or so in here every now and then. I always like to hear from you!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 11:14 pm (EST) , Jan 23, 2009

WE GOT SNOW!!!
It was beautiful falling and accumulated 2 or 3 inches --- that's the most in several years. I watched the snow and watched the inauguration and teared up and grinned the whole day long. Look forward to hearing your musings.

escrito por LizzieD, às 7:12 pm (EST) , Jan 20, 2009

OH MY GOODNESS!
I have a copy of *Roots of Heaven,* and I didn't even know it. I bought a bunch of Time/Life books at the local library sale some time back, and there it was. I don't know that I'll start on it forthwith, but it now goes onto Mt. Bookpile. Thank you for the recommendation!
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 8:21 pm (EST) , Jan 18, 2009

Rumer?

escrito por LizzieD, às 5:47 pm (EST) , Jan 16, 2009

Oh, Barbara, this old Presbyterian loves Rumor Godden, and especially *ItHoB.* I'll anxiously await your take on *Sanctity.* She wrote one other, *Charism* (I think; I can't put my hand on it right this second) in her own name before she started her Gregor Demarkian (?) series as Jane Haddam, but I didn't like it as well as *Sanctity,* and I haven't reread it. You have no idea, meanwhile, how much a literate person in a pretty illiterate little town enjoys the community here and at the readers place (www.thereadersplace.com)! (Oh dear. Not to say that there aren't some wonderfully literate people here, but not many with my reading preferences...)
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 5:46 pm (EST) , Jan 16, 2009

I'm visiting around in amazement and joy as a newby. Nuns? I see that we share *The Ante-Room* and *Land of Spices,* so that's good. Than I checked to see whether you own a copy of *Sanctity* by Oriana Popazoglou, who is also Jane Haddam. It's a mystery/thriller set in a convent sometime in the 1980's I'd guess. (I see that it was published in '86.) My take on it was that she had done a pretty realistic job of showing what a postulant's life was like at the time. Now I just have to resist rereading it and get on with my current 3 major books of the moment.....
Peggy

escrito por LizzieD, às 7:56 pm (EST) , Jan 15, 2009

Hi Romain,
Thanks for your comment on my profile page. 'Let's Kill Uncle'- boy that takes me back! The minute I read your comment I was instantly seized with a desire to re-read it, but having moved house twice in the past 12 months I havn't a clue which of the (many) boxes of books it is in....so it will have to be a pleasure deferred.
Having read what you say about your library, I wonder if you have come across a British publishers called Persephone Books; if not, I think you would find them of interest so here is their web link:
http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/
I have been working my way through their catalogue, some titles I had read years ago, and others were new to me - so far I haven't come across a dud.

Also given your penchant for American Jewish fiction/NY etc have you read 'Away' by Amy Bloom? think it might be your cup of tea.

Regards, Herschelian

escrito por herschelian, às 6:24 am (EST) , Jan 12, 2009