Thanks for the comment.... have just got back from Alnwick today, and wasn't online all week. Hope your son enjoyed it. I found the famous castle was very busy and not that interesting, the gardens better, and Barter Books superb. Lots of books to add in the next few days!

Lähettänyt: reading_fox 12:55 pm (EST) Jul 12, 2008

I've only read the first one in the series so far and it was ok. Not great, but a decent starting point. Evidently, Jacen Solo, son of Han and Leia, will be turning to the Dark Side in the series, building on a theme that began in the New Jedi Order series. I'd say it's probably ok for a 12 year old to read, though I don't know how dark the series will actually become, as there is great potential for plotlines involving Jacen's sister, Jaina, Luke, Mara, Ben, and Han and Leia.

Lähettänyt: kawika 3:04 am (EST) Jul 5, 2008

I've been geocaching since 2002, I think. I'll look for that group.

Lähettänyt: fleela 12:21 am (EST) Jul 4, 2008

LOL! Yes, I have fairly long hair (medium, I guess you'd call it) so I have, shall we say, hair issues. Moreover, I got it for a buck, so why not, right? :-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 3:12 am (EST) Jul 3, 2008

That's quite a few new books you've added as of late. Went a little wild in the bookstore, did we? (lol, don't you just love the new stalking tools that LT has provided us with? ;-) )

Lähettänyt: dodger 7:48 pm (EST) Jul 2, 2008

WOW! I just got to watch the Netherlands v Russia on--not some obscure cable channel--but on regular network television! On ABC, and strangely without commercials worked in. No really! Here. In the US! I wasn't happy with the outcome, but at least I got to see it.

Lähettänyt: dodger 5:18 pm (EST) Jun 21, 2008

What's stopping you? Other than the fact that better than a 90% of the threads participants wouldn't get your references... ;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 10:16 pm (EST) Jun 13, 2008

Hehe! Well, it is kind of a big deal even to avoid one fit, since she has been averaging 4-5 PER DAY the past few MONTHS!

So, one less is really cool! And tonight is the first night in weeks she has gone to sleep before 10 PM, I had to give her one warning that she would not earn her "going to sleep" star if she was up the next time I came in, and she wasn't! Yay!

I should go post this is the Blessings thread!

Lähettänyt: hearts3134 9:58 pm (EST) Jun 10, 2008

Wow Sodapop! I'm proud of your son, as if I was his mom or teacher myself! I love to hear that kids CAN and WILL read for themselves. Keep up the obviously good work!

PS: My daughter is doing a little better since we've been using her little sticker chart. She is very proud of it, and it did head off a great big fit over combing her hair yesterday morning when I reminded her she wouldn't get her star if she didn't let me do it. :P Oh well, a little bit at a time, right!

:)

Lähettänyt: hearts3134 8:58 pm (EST) Jun 10, 2008

*waves*

Okay, so I'm not trying to ignore you! My life has been busy lately and, unfortunately, I haven't been hanging out here much. :-( I miss this place!

How are things in your world?

Lähettänyt: dodger 4:21 am (EST) Jun 9, 2008

Okay, it sounds like you need a wee bit o' humo(u)r in your day.

Enjoy (it's short): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCEe5_l_E...

Lähettänyt: dodger 1:20 am (EST) Apr 4, 2008

Indeed, who the hell does needs a formal dining room? Since converting my office to my library, my dinning room has become my office. Works beautifully.

So how are you doing these days, you know, emotionally speaking? Hope things have improved a bit for you.

Lähettänyt: dodger 3:09 pm (EST) Mar 20, 2008

LOL! No worries! I suppose it 'twas a bit hard to respond to, but mostly the reason I hadn't yet responded was because I haven't really been on LT in a couple of days (which sorta answers your question, "How's the bookstore?" full answer: it's keeping me busy). ;-)

Anyway, sorry to hear that life is whizzing all over you at the moment. I have no real words of wisdom other than to say that time truly is good at healing wounds (or at least lessing the pain) so hang in there. I lost my grandfather three years ago this April and I'm still bummed about it, but at least I feel better now than I did a couple of years ago. All I can really offer you is to let you know you and your family are in my thoughts--hopefully I can send some positive energy your direction.

Other than being busier than I'm used to being, I am well. I have had to cut back on my LT time, and I don't get as much reading done as I'd like, but than again, who does, right?

Lähettänyt: dodger 12:01 am (EST) Mar 11, 2008

Long time no chat, eh? How's life for you?

Lähettänyt: dodger 4:01 am (EST) Mar 3, 2008

As an aside, my wireless network is named "Romanov".

Yeah, the whole free thing is very cool! Basically, a large book store returns thousands of dollars worth of books to publishers every month--mostly stuff that didn't sell well or that we're just too overstocked with. This results in tons of boxes to be returned, each weighing around 30lbs, so it's expensive to ship them. Since mass markets are so cheap to produce (compared to trade paperbacks and hardbacks at least) the publishers just have us strip the covers off and send those in for full credit, saving on the shipping. The result is a perfectly readable book that will either be taken home by an employee or thrown out--what a waste, eh? So one of our perks is we get to take the stripped books if we want 'em. (The only thing is you cannot sell them.) So, I'd advise making friends with someone at a bookstore near you and talking them into scoring you some books. ;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 12:23 am (EST) Jan 26, 2008

Library snoop ... ;-)

I will, and it does look good. I've always been a fan of Russian history, so the concept of the book sounds very cool. The best part? I got the book for free! I don't know if I told you, but I got a job in a book store. One of the perks is getting free mass market books that are "stripped" so the covers can be sent back to the publisher for credit. The downside, it's really hard to leave work without buying something...

Lähettänyt: dodger 11:58 am (EST) Jan 25, 2008

Thanks for the 2 book recommendations in the GD, I just mooched "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", I've always meant to read it, but it just kept slipping my mind. I'm also looking at ordering "The Year 1000" it looks way too interesting. Thanks again.

Lähettänyt: jeri889 10:46 pm (EST) Jan 22, 2008

Wow, thanks!!! And, if it just smells like garlic, how bad can it be?
On second thought, don't answer that.
;o)
I'll check it out right now.

Lähettänyt: clamairy 10:46 am (EST) Jan 22, 2008

I hate to disappoint, but it's wet and cold here, too! It's supposed to be even colder tomorrow and Monday. What a nice welcome home! :)

Be careful! Have a safe flight.

Lähettänyt: GeorgiaDawn 7:25 pm (EST) Jan 19, 2008

Indeed! The A-Team thing may make that my favorite clip.

So, I passed some links along to a RL friend of mine, who just didn't seem to get it at all. I guess you either love Max and Paddy, or you're confused by them (though this same guy didn't find Steve's explanation of "Lesbian Spank Inferno" the least bit funny, so I'm rethinking our entire friendship).

Lähettänyt: dodger 7:48 am (EST) Nov 26, 2007

Ahh, yes! Max and Paddy. Love it! You've no doubt seen it, but here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDkZek8W1...

Lähettänyt: dodger 6:30 am (EST) Nov 26, 2007

McClaren is out, huh? I guess we could see that coming.

So, have you fully embraced the whole Thanksgiving thing?

And lastly, what are the names of those two hilarious guys you had me watching on YouTube (the one guy was wearing a Pakistan cricket jersey)? I was trying to tell someone about them, but I couldn't remember the name of the show.

Lähettänyt: dodger 6:53 am (EST) Nov 22, 2007

You are most welcome! I hope you have a great birthday!

I tried to overnight him to you, but the squirmy little bugger wouldn't stay in the box. He kept mumbling something about having to topple Arsenal.

Lähettänyt: dodger 11:56 pm (EST) Oct 26, 2007

Sorry it's taken me awhile to reply to your question -- I've not been online in LibraryThing for a bit. Two books about the White Star Line I'd recommend would be:

--- THE ISMAY LINE by Wilton J. Oldham (Liverpool: Journal of Commerce, 1961, 283 p.) for a good overall history of the line.

--- FALLING STAR: MISADVENTURES OF WHITE STAR LINE SHIPS by John P. Eaton & Charles A. Haas (New York: Norton, 1989, 256 p.) which profiles various White Star ships involved in maritime accidents and disasters at sea.

Lähettänyt: whitestarline 1:04 pm (EST) Sep 27, 2007

Hey Soda! I am actually reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli to my reading group right now. They are a combination of one second grader, and some each of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades all reading on a beginning fourth grade reading level. Since I am reading it aloud to them, I can tell it is way above their reading level, we are also having to stop and have lots of discussion of the plot and characters, which most of them are really struggling with the concepts. That being said, I think your son will really enjoy them. I have read a few of Spinelli's other books but it has been a while so I can't really say for them. But Maniac is a great story, and I think right up his alley based on age and reading levels. Good luck!

Lähettänyt: hearts3134 7:42 pm (EST) Sep 8, 2007

Come to think of it though, I am sure that Ms. Alice Shannon has some pretty tough immigration policies too, so maybe you’re not all that welcome here after all. I’d check with her first, just to be safe. ;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 3:10 am (EST) Sep 6, 2007

Hee he. Isn’t that a funny letter? I’ve never been encouraged to, er, ah, um, “get off” before. :-o

Oh well, I’m happy for you at least, now you can finally feel welcome here, eh? ;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 4:11 pm (EST) Sep 5, 2007

Oooooo, Setanta, very cool! You’ll get FA Premiership, Premiership rugby, Rugby World Cup, and some GAA stuff, too!

They offer an online subscription service that I’ve been tempted by. They broadcast both live events, and have some archived. However, when I looked into their broadcast schedule for the Rugby World Cup, they state that they will only be showing games live -- no archiving! For one, I’ll be on the road through most of the group stages, and for two, a lot of the games start at 6 or 8 a.m. Mtn time. That’s pretty early to be in front of my computer!

I’ve considered looking into pubs around here that may be showing some games, but I think I’d need just a little more Irish blood in me to be able to sit down to Guinness and chips at 6 in the morning! ;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 2:05 am (EST) Sep 3, 2007

Llanfihangel-y-creuddyn

;-)

Lähettänyt: dodger 2:20 am (EST) Aug 13, 2007

I would. Damon was an hemophiliac who contracted Aids through a contaminated blood donation because the Australian policies on blood donorship were so lax at the time. The book is an account of how the Courtenay family deals with his hemophilia and later on his Aids. I read it ten years ago so it's a bit vague in my mind, but I still remember it as being a very emotional book with lots of sadness and anger.

Lähettänyt: izzybee 2:00 am (EST) Aug 1, 2007

I’ve only read the first chapter--officially it’s on my TBR pile. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my copy of “The Guardians”, but if it doesn’t come today, HP may become my weekend read.

If you liked “About a Boy”, I highly recommend “A Long Way Down”! It’s a very different story, but of those two it’s hard for me to say which is my favorite Hornby book.

Lähettänyt: dodger 1:58 pm (EST) Jul 27, 2007

Thanks Sodapop! I've moved over to the "Raising Readers" group.

Lähettänyt: gregtmills 8:07 pm (EST) Jul 16, 2007

Hi again Sodapop,

That's great news about your son. I bet he was thrilled to get those new casts. Thank goodness for young bones that heal so quickly eh? I'm very glad for you :)

That's neat that we're both military families! If we ever get posted again I know the movers will be complaining BIG TIME 'cause my library just keeps getting bigger and bigger since I've joined LT. I just can't stop myself from buying more books, I love cataloguing them :D oh! and reading them too!!!

Katherine

Lähettänyt: katylit 11:59 pm (EST) Apr 14, 2007

Hi. I noticed when I entered my copy of the Live Aid book that you had it too. I thought you might like to know that I found the cover art for this. Also, I have entered the author as "Peter Hillmore," which is what is on my copy. You have it as "Pater Hilmore." I haven't combined them, as it could be a case of different spellings on different editions, but I thought I'd let you know in case you wanted to double-check your entry.

Lähettänyt: InigoMontoya 3:37 am (EST) Apr 13, 2007

Hi Sodapop,

I was just wondering how your son is doing? I hope his arms are healing well and he's been doing okay during the recovery process. Just wanted to say hi and let you know I've been thinking about you.

all the best,

Katherine

Lähettänyt: katylit 2:18 pm (EST) Apr 6, 2007

Thanks so much for the response on the Chalet School books!!! Now I can go on lovely, endless quest for more books for my husband to roll his eyes at (like you am also Brit married to American, though have lived here for many years... most of them in Atlanta, though for a few years in center-of-the-Universe Milledgeville, Ga.). Thanks for your information..

Lähettänyt: catcatalogue 5:45 pm (EST) Mar 14, 2007

A bit off the subject, but I noticed in the "talk" area, you referred to your sister collecting Chalet School books. I vaguely remember something like this from my childhood in England, and in my attempt to re-create my childhood library of the '60's in England, here in the States, I'm always on the look-out for books I enjoyed -even when, in this case, I had forgotten the title altogethe. You wouldn't happen to know the title of one or its author so I can go digging? Thanks so much.

Lähettänyt: catcatalogue 10:24 am (EST) Mar 12, 2007

No, not yet. I did get it from my husband for Christmas, though. I just haven't had a chance to read it yet. There are a couple of books ahead of it in the never ending queue. I want the books AND the chocolates. ;o)

Lähettänyt: clamairy 10:14 pm (EST) Feb 3, 2007

Looks like we are both big Bill Bryson fans!
:o)
So, have you unpacked all your books from your last move yet?

Lähettänyt: clamairy 4:58 pm (EST) Feb 3, 2007

Thanks for your comment on Malone! I do intend to get to NYState some time in the future, and I definitely want to go and visit the town. It sounds like a beautiful area.

Lähettänyt: BoPeep 4:54 am (EST) Dec 20, 2006

Thanks for joining The Gene Pool and posting about your research. I hope we can get the ball rolling. Like you I have some favourite books that I re-read time after time. I also enjoy childrens and young adult books.

Lähettänyt: Jaysee 5:48 pm (EST) Sep 14, 2006

WOW! great provenance. I have to confess, I only bought it because it was an OLD book and had Titanic in the title (and was stupidly cheap). I really haven't looked very closely at it yet but I'm motivated now to really check it out properly in honor of the history you've provided in your post. Good show!

Lähettänyt: oroboros 11:19 pm (EST) Aug 23, 2006

re: titanic: yeah! i almost fell over to see somebody else had it too. it was a complete fluke find in a dusty corner at a thrift store in the LA area (it cost me all of a dollar!). where did you get yours?

Lähettänyt: oroboros 11:53 am (EST) Aug 23, 2006

I looked for Searching for Shona for 20 years! Finally found it in a public library in Clearwater, Florida. Checked it out, reread it, still wonderful.

Lähettänyt: Opinicus 4:51 pm (EST) Jul 30, 2006