Joe's Book Cafe 5 2021

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Joe's Book Cafe 5 2021

1jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:03 am







art by Chris Van Allsburg

welcome back to the cafe!

2jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 22, 2021, 12:07 pm

January 2021

1. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine*
2. The Dreaming by Simon Spurrier*
3. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4. The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
5. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
7. Poems 1962-2012 by Louise Gluck
8. Lady Mechanika by Joe Benitez*
9. Catwoman Friend or Foe by Joelle Jones*
10. Jack by Marilynne Robinson
11. Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison
12. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
13. Slam by Pamela Ribon*
14. Mezo by Tyler Chin-Tanner*
15. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini*
16. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
17. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
18. Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn*
19. Prodigal Son by Greg Hurwitz
20. Bodega: Poems by Su Hwang

February 2021

21. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
22. Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman*
23. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
24. Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald
25. Mortal Instruments The Graphic Novel Vol. 4 by Cassandra Clare*
26. Wicked Enchantment by Wanda Coleman
27. The God of Nothingness by Mark Wunderlich
28. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
29. Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
30. Bookshop of the Broken-Hearted by Robert Hillman
31. Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
32. The Dreaming Vol. 2 by Simon Spurrier*
33. Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb
34. Pride by Ibi Zoboi
35. The Sunflower Cast a Spell by Jackie Wang
36. The Dreaming Vol. 3 by Simon Spurrier*
37. House of Whispers by Nalo Hopkinson*
38. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
39. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls
40. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
41. Punisher Max Omnibus Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis
42. Becoming by Michelle Obama
43. Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke
44. Stay Safe by Emma Hine

March 2021

45. Monstress Vol. 5 by Marjorie Liu*
46. The Way of the Househusband by Kousuke Oono*
47. The Lefthanded Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
48. Slam! The Next Jam by Pamela Ribon*
49. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths
50. A Portable Paradise by Roger Robinson
51. Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge*
52. Trader’s Leap by Sharon Lee
53. Soft Science by Franny Choi
54. Alex Rider Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz*
55. A Wealth of Pigeons by Harry Bliss*
56. Injection Vol. 1 by Warren Ellis*
57. inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
58. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 5 by Kazuo Koike*
59. The Sheriff of Babylon by Tom King*
60. Dr. Strange/The Punisher Magic Bullets by John Barber
61. Butch Geography by Stacey Waite
62. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 6 by Kazuo Koike*
63. The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff*
64. Manazuru by Hiromi Kawakami
65. The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
66. Dark Sky by C. J. Box
67. Murderi in an un-sound Mind by Anne Cleland
68.

April

68. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
69. First person Singular by Haruki Murakami
70. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
71. Cluny Brown by Mathery Sharp

May
72. Fugitive Telemetry by Nartha wells
73. Home, Habitat by Martha Wells
74. New Lone Wolf and Cub vol. 6
75. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 7 by Kazuo Koike
76. New Lone Wolf and Cub. Vol. 8 by Kazuo Koike
77. The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
78. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
79. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

* Illustrated/Graphic Novel

This year I'm just going to list the illustrated/GN books with the others

3jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:06 am

That's the best i can do guys. i'll try to fix it up a bit later.

4laytonwoman3rd
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:37 am

Little moves, Joe...just keep making the little moves.

5FAMeulstee
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:39 am

Yay, Joe, you managed to make a new thread!

6richardderus
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:50 am

New thread orisons, Joe, and a lovely weekend ahead.

What's wrong with Chris van Allsburg? No tarting up needed, IMO.

7jessibud2
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 9:54 am

Happy new thread and congrats on getting it done. No need for upgrades. It will fill up, and in, before you know it. Enjoy your day Joe, and do whatever needs to be done. Don't forget to rest!

8PaulCranswick
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 10:12 am

Happy new one, Joe, and a bit of a special one too given all you have come through.

Don't worry buddy, it looks just like you - champion!

9scaifea
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 1:02 pm

Happy new thread, Joe!

No worries about the thread - it's not the decor we're interested in as much as the health of the host, friend.

10streamsong
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 1:14 pm

Beautiful new thread, Joe! I love the toppers!

I think when you look back at your previous thread in a few months' time, you will notice how each post is getting clearer, more Joe-like and you'll be impressed by how quickly you progressed.

In the meantime, stay strong.

I'm also on amlopydine and it takes care of my BP nicely.

I do daily balance exercises because of having two of the three major ligaments wrecked in my right knee two years ago. I recognize the ones you mention! Lately, I am standing with one foot in front of the other while brushing my teeth. It's amazing how holding an electric toothbrush in one hand can take it the challenge to a whole new level.

11Familyhistorian
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 1:44 pm

Happy new thread, Joe. Everything on this new one looks ship shape from where I stand.

12katiekrug
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 1:45 pm

Happy new thread, Joe!

13bell7
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 1:57 pm

Happy new thread, Joe! Love the Van Allsburg illustrations.

14drneutron
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 2:07 pm

Happy new thread!

15msf59
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 2:15 pm

Happy Friday, Joe! Happy New Thread! Love the toppers. Hooray for a new start. It was a gorgeous morning for a bird walk, despite the cool temps. How is the Murakami collection coming along?

16ffortsa
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 2:21 pm

A new thread! Wonderful!

And sorry that it's not as easy to be home as you thought. Everyone is here to support you. I kept thinking of the stairs in your house, worrying, but I'm sure you will conquer eventually. After all, upstairs is where the books are, right?

I'm very familiar with those balance exercises, which have become harder after recovering from my plantar fasciitis tear. Not that they were easy before! I may take >10 streamsong: to heart and start brushing my teeth in tandem pose.

17quondame
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 2:33 pm

Happy new thread, Joe!

18humouress
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 2:43 pm

Happy new thread, Joe! Don’t worry about the looks (although I can’t see anything wrong with it) - I think most people are just happy that we don’t have to load 400+ posts anymore ;0) I like that first illustration with the children.

>16 ffortsa: Ah - incentive. Keep the books upstairs and the coffee downstairs.

Best wishes to Madam MBH, who has to cope with your impatience.

19kac522
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 4:18 pm

Happy new thread, Joe! Quite the accomplishment to get a new thread going, IMHO. You are doing amazingly well and we're all here to cheer you on. Do feel free to let off some steam. One day at a time, my friend.

20Caroline_McElwee
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 5:53 pm

I love that top image Joe. I hope you had an afternoon snooze to boost your batteries.

We are so habitual in the speed we tend to go at, and sometimes that is fine, but it is rarely always necessary. I remember my sister pointing out that because I walk slowly (due to my ankle problem), I often see things others miss. So letting what is be has its up sides too.

21figsfromthistle
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 8:17 pm

Happy new one!

22humouress
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 11:30 pm

>20 Caroline_McElwee: it’s like wearing heels suddenly when you’re used to flats or a tight skirt when you’re used to trousers (you know how that feels, right Joe?). You can’t rush; in fact, t’s faster to take it slow. Stop. Take a breath. Walk tall.

23NarratorLady
huhtikuu 16, 2021, 11:33 pm

Hey, new thread WITH toppers! Well done and I appreciate the reminder that I must look into Chris Van Allsberg’s work for the grandkids. There is so much great kids’ lit out there that it’s easy to forget some.

I hope rehab and the patience required is moving at a steady pace. May the weather provide some lovely porch sitting with your books.

24charl08
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 3:56 am

Lovely to see your new thread Joe.

25karenmarie
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 8:01 am

Hiya, Joe. Happy new thread.

26jnwelch
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 8:29 am

Many thanks for the encouragement, every one. What once was simple is difficult right now, and I’m trying to keep perspective. I’m still here, in one piece, and what a blessing that is. It’ll take a while for what once was simple to become simple again.

Yesterday was frustrating. As Debbi said, my get up and go got up and went.Ah well, it’s the weekend and spring is springing. We’re heading out for a walk soon, and that’s a fine thing indeed.

27magicians_nephew
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 9:12 am

Welcome to new Threadsville Joe. I really forgot how much work there is to move into new digs on this site.

Lee Hayes of "The Weavers" taught me this song

Old age is golden, or so I’ve heard said,
But sometimes I wonder, as I crawl into bed,
With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
As sleep dims my vision, I say to myself:
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?
But, though nations are warring, and Congress is vexed,
We’ll still stick around to see what happens next!

How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!


When I was young, my slippers were red;
I could kick up my heels right over my head.
When I was older my slippers were blue,
But still I could dance the whole night through.
Now I am older, my slippers are black.
I huff to the store and puff my way back.
But never you laugh; I don’t mind at all:
I’d rather be huffing than not puff at all!

How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!


I get up each morning and dust off my wits,
Open the paper, and read the Obits.
If I’m not there, I know I’m not dead,
So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed!

How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!


all good wishes!

28jessibud2
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 9:21 am

>26 jnwelch: - There will be tough days, for sure, but the fact that you are going for a walk is a great thing!

>27 magicians_nephew: - Ha! I love that!

29jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 18, 2021, 12:46 pm

thanks, Jim and Shelley. NIce song! The walk was a beaut - a quiet morning here, with lots of birdsong.

Here's a fun development, three of my poems in The Academy of Heart and MINd:https://academyoftheheartandmind.wordpress.com/2021/04/16/penumbra-and-other-poe...

30ffortsa
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 1:08 pm

Thanks, Joe. I especially like 'Pockets'.

31jnwelch
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 2:37 pm

Thanks, Judy. That’s. Debbi’s favorite, too.

32richardderus
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 2:55 pm

Time for some spring glory.

White chocolate ganache on orange-spice cake, and a little tiptoe through the (edible!) pansies.

33Caroline_McElwee
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 4:33 pm

>29 jnwelch: Fine poems Joe. Congratulations on getting them published.

34magicians_nephew
huhtikuu 17, 2021, 6:26 pm

Hidden Depths, Joe. I like your poems

35weird_O
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 12:09 am

Holy guacamole, Joe. A stroke is a stroke. I am stunned to read of your travails. Recently, I realized that I wasn't seeing your thread, so I switched to "Talk" and found this nice new thread with only a few posts. So convenient for me to get back into the flow. All the posts are offering concern and encouragement and support. So...so...so...What did I miss?

I went back to your previous thread and scrolled through post after post. And quite a few were really interesting and I had to read entire discussions, and caught several BBs. Finally, I got to the revealing post, telling of a fall and a gashed ear. Then one acknowledging you had a stroke. On and on.

Oh man. I am so glad you are on the mend.

36humouress
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 12:49 am

>26 jnwelch: Well, you're still just as snappy on your thread. Keep up the good work!

37connie53
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 1:17 pm

Happy New Thread, Joe. Good to hear your poems are published. That must be so nice and you must be so proud.

Also good to hear you have settled down in your own home (and bed, that must be the best) again. Take small steps and everything will be fine!

38jnwelch
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 1:37 pm

Lovely springtime ganache, Richard, thanks. You deserve praise for the culinary wonders you bring here. Much appreciated.

Thanks, Caroline. I’ m happy that you like the poems. It feels good to have them out there.

Thank you , Jim. It’s fun to plumb those depths. The first one (Penumbra) is a set form in which the words ending each line are rotated by formula. I’ve been trying to do more with form lately.

Thanks, Bill. Yeah, I got unexpectedly walloped, and I’m lucky to be making my way back in pretty good shape. It’s been fast? All things considered, but it feels slow, as the smallest things wipe me out and I still need to be careful with every step I take. Still, it’s grand to be home and on the mend. They said it’ll take 6 months or so to get all the way back to my normal before the stroke. I start more rehab tomorrow.

39jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 18, 2021, 1:57 pm

Hi, Nina. I’m very glad to hear I come across as snappy on the thread. I fel pretty wet noodle-y, but it’s the result that counts.

Hi, Connie. It feels very good to have those poems published. I like having them out in the world where more people can read them. It’s a rewarding feeling that they’ve grown up enough to make it in the world on their own now.

Being home, and back in our treasured bed, is huge. As you say, step by step. There’s still a lot of work to do to get back to “normal”. And I’ll just stick with it, and not look too far ahead and get frustrated by how much of the road is left.

40weird_O
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 2:48 pm

There’s still a lot of work to do to get back to “normal”. And I’ll just stick with it, and not look too far ahead and get frustrated by how much of the road is left.

Good attitude, Joe. I'm sure you are in good, caring hands. Soldier on (in a non-militaristic way).

41johnsimpson
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 3:57 pm

Hi Joe, happy new thread mate. Don't worry about how the thread looks mate, the important thing is that you are at home with your family and you have started a new thread and you are recovering.

We both send special Yorkshire healing vibes dear friend.

42richardderus
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 4:29 pm

Coddiwomple over to the Best Bird Pictures of 2021 contest finalists:

This eagle really reminds me of you! Ain't takin' no stuff from no li'l pipsqueak tryin' to be a problem.

43jnwelch
huhtikuu 18, 2021, 8:28 pm

Thanks, Bill. Madame MBH is keeping a close eye on me, and it will all work out.

Tham’s, John, mate. You’re right about what’s most important. Thanks for the Yorkshire healing vibes - I feel better already.

Thanks , Richard. Battered but hanging in there, that’s about right😀

Rehab starts early downtown tomorrow, and lasts for quite a while (first day), so I won’t be on LT tomorrow until later in the day. I hope everyone has a good start to the week.

44msf59
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 8:03 am

Morning, Joe. I hope you had a good weekend and are seeing some improvement. How was the energy level yesterday? I am still waiting for spring to arrive. It looks like April has completely stalled out, along with spring migration. Sighs...

>29 jnwelch: This is so impressive. Congrats, bud!

45karenmarie
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 8:16 am

Hi Joe! Happy new day. I hope the long rehab day goes well and isn’t too exhausting.

>29 jnwelch: I really like Jesus Today.

46magicians_nephew
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 9:34 am

I'll keep an eye on the pie cart for you in your absence

47bell7
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 9:42 am

Hi Joe, congrats on the published poems - that's pretty cool!

Hope you're continuing to see improvement, slowly but surely, as you're home.

48NarratorLady
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 11:32 am

Thinking of you Joe. Hope Rehab goes well and that you enjoy your reward - a lovely sleep in your perfect bed.

49jessibud2
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 12:11 pm

Congrats on the publications, Joe. And good luck with rehab. Remember the mantra:

patience

50EBT1002
huhtikuu 19, 2021, 1:46 pm

I thought I had stopped by with Happy New Thread wishes. I see that I have not. SO -- here I am.

I hope you are doing well, and that the rehab continues to be successful (if, I predict, slower than you would like).

xoxo

51jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 8:41 am

Thanks re the poems, Mark.

It was a good weekend; I’m grateful to be home. My energy level is a prime issue. The therapist said not to push myself untili’m exhausted. I naturally do, so we’re going to try that.I thought pushing hard would help me recover quicker; she says there’s such a thing as too hard. Okay. A little restraint then.

I know, is ten more degrees too much to ask? Spring seems stuck in low gear. I’m sorry to hear it’s affecting spring migration, too.

Yay fir Jesus Today! I’m glad you liked it, Karen.

Rehab was good. These folks really know what they’re doing. The PT in particular gave me quite a workout. She even had me do 4 laps around the unit as fast as I could, and told me we’d try to beat that time in two weeks.

They explained to me that the goal of the hospital therapists was to get me in shape to operate at home safely. The goal of these therapists is to get me back to my pre-stroke normal. Okay then. I’m all for it.

52jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 8:57 am

Thanks, Jim. It’s good to know the pie cart is under close supervision. One year it somehow ended up at Richard’s place. How it did remains a mystery.

Thanks re the published poems, Mary. The more the better.

Yes, I am seeing progress. Patience is not my middle name, but we’ll get there.

Thanks, Anne. Nothing better than a great night’s sleep, is there. It’s been so much better being home! I got plenty of zzzzs last night.

Thanks re the poems, Shelley. I really had to dust off that mantra. “Patience” isn’t one I’ve used a lot.

Thanks, Ellen. I’m glad you found the mew thread. I have a lot of confidence in these therapists at the Shirley Ryan center, and I’ll follow their game plan. They’re testing and measuring me ever which way, so I know I’ll get to see the progress. Ah, the many thing I took for granted before this. Let that be a lesson to you, young man. Xoxo.

53jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 9:03 am

I hope Imentioned how good Klara and the Sun was. I also finished A Court of Thorns and Roses. I can see why this series has such a big fan base. She’s a very good storyteller. Now I’ve started Murakami’s new one First Person Singular, a short story collection. I haven’t been wowed yet, but I’m enjoying it. I’ve also started an old-timer, Cluny Brown, and I’m getting a kick i out of it. Have any of you read this one?

54bell7
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 9:05 am

One of these days, I will read Klara and the Sun but after finishing a couple of more serious, somber books, I'm going to look for something lighter before I try. Are you planning on reading the sequel to Court of Thorns and Roses? That one was my favorite of the series, I think. She can still surprise me with her twisty plots, and yet it all makes sense in the end.

55jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 10:46 am

Hi, Mary. i'm undecided about reading the follow-up to court of thorns and roses; i liked freyre and tam, and enjoyd the storytelling, but i don't feel a big push inside to read the next one right away. twisty plots and making sense at the end certainly applies to the first one.

56jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:02 am

as you know, I LOved THE code breaker, easily the best book i"ve read this year. i liked LTEr rocketdk's review of it, and what he said at the end of his review:

"Isaacson does not skip over the fact that, when Doudna was a young woman deciding upon a career, the idea that "women can be scientists" was one that met stiff resistance within the world of science and in the culture in general. Her role as a pioneer, not among the very first women scientists, of course, but in the vanguard of the generation that battered down many (certainly not all) of the roadblocks taken for granted by previous generations, is stressed, as is her role as a mentor.

There is a lot more in this rich and fertile book, which is at once a biography of a fascinating woman, a primer for how science and private industry inter-relate in our society, a history of the science of genetics, a look inside the war against Covid, and an outline of the ethical/philosophical questions that we are going to be grappling with over these new capabilities."

57Ameise1
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:02 am

Happy new one, Joe and congrats on your published poems. I really love them.

A little coffee and cake here. I urgently need that right now.

58jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:08 am

hi, Barbara. so nice to hear that you love the poems!

And I love your taste in coffee and cake. I think I'll grab a cuppa and join you. :-)

59Ameise1
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:13 am

😍😋🙌

60jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:14 am

😀😘

61weird_O
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 11:50 am

Keep up the good work, Joe. It's a in a new realm perhaps, but you continue to inspire.

As I've been recounting on my thread, I've collected a number of new-to-me books in the last week, goaded by recommendations made on your previous thread. Crichton, Rita Mae Brown, J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst. I'm even reading some of them! Haha.

Keep at it, my friend. For all of us.

62jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 2:30 pm

>61 weird_O: hiya, bill. i'm keeping at it - we just took our second walk of the day, and i've been hiking the stairs and otherwise keeping myself busy. i may end up having some interesting things to report. i just volunteered to be in a study they're doing of stroke victims with one arm weakened (my left) and how much they use it at home. SInce Madame MBH keeps after me to work on my lefty fine motor skills, I should make for an interesting subject. (My keyboard use for LT also probably isn't that common either). it'll take a bit more time at therapy for them to test and question me, and i'll be wearing wrist "recorders" (my word) at home, but maybe it'll help some dunce like me down the line.

Good for you for getting and reading those new-to-you books; the author i've read from those is crichton. besides those dinosaur books you may have heard of, i remember particularly liking his time travel one, Timeline. they unfortunately made a disppointing movie from that one, while hittiing home runs with the dinosaur ones.

63m.belljackson
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 2:52 pm

>62 jnwelch: No dunce; instead an upcoming famous poet and a patient-patient
who recommended Amlodipine!
My doctor seconded your choice - reliable with few side effects.

I just sent a Letter to the Editor of the Wisconsin State Journal
with the headline "Herd suicide" to describe the Republicans who refuse COVID shots.

64benitastrnad
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 20, 2021, 2:53 pm

I highly recommend Court of Mist and Fury. That is book 2 in that series. I have the newest one Court of Silver Flames at home and plan on making it my May book. I am not wild about the new dust jacket design for this series, but I do like the books.

65richardderus
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 3:06 pm

Cluny Brown! That devilish minx. Good heavens, hadn't thought about it in ages. I have this quote in my commonplace book:
If you had a smattering of education you would realize that perfection of form can give validity to any sentiment, however preposterous.

I love a condescending-yet-true takedown. Yay for women who don't know their place and writers who don't couple everyone up for the Good of Society.

66jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 3:37 pm

Hi, Marianne. That’s great news on the Amlodipine! I’m glad that’s proving to be useful info.

I don’t anticipate “famous poet” but I’m sure happy to be published poet.

Good for you for going after the Republican anti-vaccine foolishness. I hope the journal prints your letter.

I thought I remembered you enthusiasm for this Court series, Benita. I’ll keep the second one in mind after enjoying the first one.

Thanks also foryour personal note!

67jnwelch
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 3:40 pm

yay, Richard! I should’ve known you’d be the one who’d read Cluny Brown. I’m a pushover for stories of women who don’t know their place, and I’m glad this one has your endorsement. I’m thoroughly enjoying it so far.

68NarratorLady
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 20, 2021, 10:15 pm

I’ve reached the top of the library waiting list for Klara and the Sun and can’t wait to read it.
Several years ago I narrated A Court of Thorn and Roses for NLS along with its immediate sequel, which I recall had lots more sex. Quite a ride but I’ve never been tempted to read more.

Joe, I thought of you when I read Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X. I’m thinking you probably know all about her through her success with poetry slams but I didn’t. Amazing! Her audiobook reading of this must be excellent.

69figsfromthistle
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 4:16 pm

Congrats! Quite an accomplishment to be a published poet!

70kac522
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 5:48 pm

>62 jnwelch: As always, you're our inspiration! Great job, Joe! Very impressive progress already. I don't know if I could do 4 laps, yikes!

I find it amazing how much (as a righty) I use my left hand for so many things. I'm noticing it now because I have a little arthritis in my left thumb. We may have you out on the mound as a southpaw yet.

71Caroline_McElwee
huhtikuu 20, 2021, 5:51 pm

>53 jnwelch: Glad you enjoyed Klara and the Sun Joe. I had to pause reading it, to read a book for my RL book group, then got distracted by other reading matter. I remember exactly where I am, and will get back to it soon.

Ahh, patience. Tricky critter that is.

Glad you are getting some good kip. One of the universes best healers.

72jnwelch
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 7:43 am

OH good, Anne. I look forward to your reaction to Klara and the sun.

You narrateda A court of Thorns and Roses? i wish i'd listened to that version. i'd think it'd be a bit weird to narrate sex scenes, but i imagine you get used to it.

i love elizabeth Acevedo's books. Wasn't the Poet X great? Have you read With the Fire on High yet? Also really good. clap When You Land, her newest, is topnotch, too.

i wonder what ELlie Moses would've thought of those published poems? i miss all her questions and comments.

Thanks, Anita! as my bio there mentions, i got published in my 20s, but then my life took a different turn, and i only started submitting again recently (with the help of our daughter). this is fun!

73jnwelch
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 8:08 am

Thanks, Kathy! you should see me trying to coax my left hand into typing this morning. It is questioning my smarts. madame MBH and i decided that this (LT) is more therapy in getting back to normal, but it sure calls on my "patience" mantra.

i go back after improving in therapy this morning. our son and grandkids aarrived last night to cheer me on, and grandson Rafa brought me a stuffed otter toy (my favorite animal) to lift my spirits. he and his sister are as funny as ever.

This study I mentioned is going to be watching closely how I progress with my left hand. if i end up as a southpaw on the mound i imagine they'll all be thrilled. It's going to be interesting - my left hand and arm are much weaker than before, and much weaker than my right.

I think you'll appreciate KLara and the sun when you get back into it, Caroline. i'm getting a kick outof cluny brown and the new Murakami is pretty good, too, if not as spellbinding as some of his others.

74jnwelch
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 8:14 am



by Amir SHeikh

75karenmarie
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 8:39 am

Hi Joe!

>51 jnwelch: They explained to me that the goal of the hospital therapists was to get me in shape to operate at home safely. The goal of these therapists is to get me back to my pre-stroke normal. Okay then. I’m all for it. Makes sense to me, and between you, Debbi, therapists, and your family, I’m sure you will get there sooner than later.

>56 jnwelch: I just placed a Library request for The Code Breaker, number 2 in line for the one copy my small and excellent Library has.

>63 m.belljackson: "Herd suicide" Heh. I hope your letter gets published, Marianne. I have a friend who calls it natural selection…

>73 jnwelch: Yay for son/family arriving, and especially for the otter totem.

76jessibud2
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 10:00 am

>73 jnwelch: - I love that LT is good therapy for you, Joe! I bet the founders never imagined THAT benefit!

As an actual southpaw myself, the thought of losing power and strength of my left arm and side, is scary for me to contemplate. But the fact that there IS another arm and it CAN be taught to compensate, is encouraging. Since you are a righty, I am happy that your dominant side is still strong. Don't underestimate that plus.

I don't know if you have Ronald McDonald Houses where you live, though I would guess you would. They are residences for families of kids going through cancer who don't live in the vicinity of the hospitals where the kids are being treated. These places enable families to stay together during treatment. Recently, there is a new tv commercial for these places. It is a beautiful ad, showing the kids and families. It ends simply, with a sentence on the screen: Family IS medicine. I would guess that having the junior Welches around you would feel a bit like that for you. Yay! How long will they be there?

77streamsong
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 12:43 pm

>38 jnwelch: also I enjoyed your poems, Joe. The first one, Pneumbra, sounds a bit spookily prescient, with the weight on your left shoulder and the head that can't make things right.

I'm glad LT is giving therapy to your left hand. Go, Joe! Very cool that the you've found a way to make your experience useful to researchers to help those in the future.

I've added Klara and the Sun to my library hold wish, although it looks like it will be a while before I receive a copy.

78EBT1002
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 12:44 pm

>51 jnwelch: "...the goal of the hospital therapists was to get me in shape to operate at home safely. The goal of these therapists is to get me back to my pre-stroke normal." Sounds about right.

79EBT1002
huhtikuu 21, 2021, 12:49 pm

I've put myself in the library queue for The Code Breaker. Saying it is easily your top read of the year so far -- that is all it takes to hit me with the proverbial BB!

Hope your continuing to progress, Joe. Keep doing those laps around the PT center! And I'm thrilled that LT is good therapy for that left hand. :-)

80jnwelch
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 8:35 am

>75 karenmarie: Yay for The Code BReaker, Karen! what a book.

You're right, I"Ve got a lot of great support. i must admit, I"M taking 'getting there" that is, back to normal, on faith. i unffortunat4ely was lousy at just about everything in therapy yesterday; very discouraging. THat included trying to use a keyboard like the one I'm using now. Man, i used to lead the fast break when i was ayoung fellow. Now I Can barely lead e slow fall aparts. This is vey humbling; here's something you're no good at doing. NOw repeat it several times. try to tell your body to do this, and when it won't, tell it againt. anyway. Arrrgggh. i hope getting better really is part of the equation. they sure seem to think so.

oh woe is me. i'll try to shut up and do what i'm told. Something else I"m very bad at.

it's great to have the little ones here, and their pa. that otter was such a sweet gift. Rafa told me his name was HEN-ZANE, or something like that. we're all struggling to get it just right. one of my therapy days at the hospital the PT covered the floor with toys and balls and other obstacles and challenged me to walk through while she un predictably trew bean bags near my feet. We joked that she was getting me ready for the grandkids. It worked! Our first floor looks like a tornado hit it, with smiling little chipmunks playing among the ruins.
a
hi, Janet! I"M glad you liked the poems. HA! Good point! I"ll look at Penumbra with that in mind. My brain certainly has turned into a bag of cloth; it cannot make things right.

yes, we have RM houses. what aservice they provide!

oops. the morning got away from me. gotta go. I hope everyone has a good day.

81msf59
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 9:12 am



^I saw this beauty yesterday, sitting high in a tree.

Sweet Thursday, Joe. Sorry, you had a tough time in therapy yesterday. I am sure this will happen from time to time, don't get discouraged. I am so glad to hear that Jesse and the kids are visiting. I am sure that will boost your morale.

We are going to Warren Dunes State Park, MI for a camping weekend. It is going to be on the cool side but we are prepared. And then I leave for Oregon on Monday with Bree, for a week, to visit family.

I got my library copy of First Person Singular. I will start it, once I get back from my travels.

82richardderus
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 11:21 am

Therapy always stinks, Joe, or it wouldn't be worth doing. If you're not challenged you're not getting better.

And as much as repetition rots on ice, it is how you learned to do all this stuff in the first place...your grands are your models. Chuck something off the table...it falls! Every time! Get up on your own two feet...fall down! Hmm...this gravity stuff is still working. (And how I wish it wouldn't sometimes.)

But you're better at it than you think, because you're complaining about the frustration not the learning. That's the correct way to think of the obstacle. Your enemy is not yourself but your attitude, and that realization is the key predictor of what a good outcome a rehabber will have.

83jessibud2
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 22, 2021, 11:34 am

What Mark and Richard said, Joe. Just think of this as your new job. Hard work, challenging, but think of the benefits. (and your cheering fans)

{{hugs}}

84NarratorLady
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 11:41 am

Words of wisdom up there at #82 from Richard. “You’re better at it than you think because you’re complaining about the frustration, not the learning.” We have a very wise man among us Joe.

85ffortsa
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 5:14 pm

Learning, or re-learning, is hard - the brain and other nerves have to get the message. I remember being in therapy for a foot injury, when the therapist told me to lift my right big toe. My brain sent the message, but it seemed that no one in the toe department was listening. Quite a shock! Now that I'm trying to relearn my violin technique (not with my toe), I get grumpy practicing the same thing over and over, until one day it actually is easy and I think 'oh, I learned it!'. So, you have all my empathy and confidence. You'll get there.

86jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 22, 2021, 6:49 pm

Nice shot of that high-sitting beauty, Mark!

I’m hanging in there, and things went better today. You’re right, these two silly kids and their papa are great for morale. Their papa likes to make fun of me, and that always helps, the ingrate.
Have fun at Warren Dunes. I love that west coast of Michigan.

Looking forward to an interesting discussion of the murakami. I was ready to champion Killing Comendatore, but this one has me less convinced.

True words, RD. I agree with every bit ofcwhat you say. I was frustrated yesterday. Today they made more of a point of giving me breaks and water, and that helped a lot. I worked on endurance, agility and balance, and it was all good.

I hope to be less frustrated, and regardless, I’ll keep showing up, so it’ll all work out in the end. I can’t believe honthis little brain snafu has messed me up in so many ways.

Hi, Anne. Agreed. I’ve benefited from Richard’s wisdom many times over our LT years together.

>78 EBT1002:, >79 EBT1002:. I didn’t want to miss you up there, Ellen.

These therapists are so good!

Yay for the COde breaker! i think you'll love it. so impressive on so many counts.

87richardderus
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 7:00 pm

>86 jnwelch:, >84 NarratorLady: y'all quit *blush*

88jnwelch
huhtikuu 22, 2021, 8:16 pm

Hi, Judy.

My brain sent the message, but it seemed that no one in the toe department was listening. That's it! It is quite a shock, isn't it. There has always been someone there ready to respond in the past. we're trying to re-establish relations. today there were more responders on hand.

KUdos to you regarding the violin! what a great project.

89jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 22, 2021, 8:22 pm

>87 richardderus: you deserve a big piec of carrot cake, buddy:



(stop blushing and grab a fork!)

90jnwelch
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 8:57 am

Good morning! A day off from rehab. Enjoying the silly grandkids , and taking it easy.

91karenmarie
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 9:12 am

Hi Joe!

Yay for a day off and the joys of your sweet and energetic grandkids.

92drneutron
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 9:23 am

Nice that you have a day off! Have fun!

93jessibud2
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 9:39 am

Ha! Don't be fooled, Joe. Your grandkids ARE their own brand of rehab!

Enjoy!

94magicians_nephew
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 11:18 am

Hang in there, Joe!

95Caroline_McElwee
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 12:31 pm

>90 jnwelch: Enjoy being Grandpa Joe. You are doing just great. Glad they blew you a day off.

96bell7
huhtikuu 23, 2021, 10:13 pm

Hope you had a great day with the grands, Joe!

97humouress
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 24, 2021, 2:34 am

>46 magicians_nephew: That's so generous! I'll help you.

>52 jnwelch: Hmm ... J. 'Patience' Welch? Could work. Make it so.

>70 kac522: My older son is mostly a lefty. However, when he played cricket he bowled left-handed and batted right (which, to my way of thinking, is the wrong way round - there's more advantage in being a left-handed batsman) (or tennis player). My younger son is such a confirmed righty that, as a baby/ toddler, he seemed to forget that he had two hands and used his right almost exclusively.

>80 jnwelch: You've done it before so you can do it again. Breathe. Go back to the beginning. Do it S-L-O-W-L-Y and get the sequence right. Do it again, slowly. When the sequence is right, it will begin to flow and you can go up a gear (no, only one gear at a time). You'll get there, we know it.

>81 msf59: Nice! Your photo, I take it?

>84 NarratorLady: Huh? ;0)

98jnwelch
huhtikuu 24, 2021, 9:31 am

Thank you, Karen, Jim and Shelley! I appreciate the encouragement. And you're right, Shelley, these two rambunctious gremlins are a brand of rehab all by themselves. i might've mentioned that in the hospital rehab, the PT covered the floor with toys and small obstacles and challenged me to walk through while she threw beanbags near my feet, i said at the time she should add in a couple of small kids. Good training for home.

inspiring words, Jim, especially while I feel like i"m adding up to less than my usual self! This is quite an eye-opening setback.

Hi, Caroline. i'm having the rare pleasure of playing with cars and little people. i can never get Debbi to do that. they call me "Banjo', which was the best Rafa could do with "Grandpa Joe."

99richardderus
huhtikuu 24, 2021, 9:38 am

>98 jnwelch: "Banjo" still strikes me as the perfect name for you.

Have a great weekend with everyone!

100lauralkeet
huhtikuu 24, 2021, 12:54 pm

Hey Banjo, I'm glad to hear things are going well for you. You have such a positive attitude, and that's going to make all the difference in your rehab. Enjoy the visit with your grandkids!

101DeltaQueen50
huhtikuu 24, 2021, 5:34 pm

Hi Joe, happy to read that you are working on the rehab and getting everything back to working order. Be kind to yourself and to Mrs. MBH and remember Rome wasn't built in a day. BTW, I have Cluny Brown on my shelves patiently waiting for me - hopefully I will get to it soon.

102jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 25, 2021, 11:24 am

Hi, Nina. no worries. I"ve got this.

Son #1 and Adri and the kids just went back to pittsburgh after a lovely visit. these days when Rafa accomplishes something he crows, "I did it!" in the cutest voice, and now we've all started doing that when we get anything done. The sheer joy of that is something we forget as we get older.

in honor of Richard, I'm having carrot cake for breakfast. a delicious one that a cousin sent in sympathy. Friends and neighbors have been terrific, sending flowers and meals and the like. last night we had spinach lasagna and a great fruit salad and a bar of the best sea salt and caramel dark chocolate I"ve ever had. I don't recommend ever having a stroke, but the treats sure make it more tolerable.

103jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 25, 2021, 11:48 am

>99 richardderus: THanks, Richard. we all get a kick out of "Banjo". even little Fina knows that's me and points, although she's not saying it yet.

We're having a great weekend, although the eastern clan drove home yesterday. it's awfully quiet today, but per tradition they've left plenty of little items behind for us to find and mail to them. Our son wants me to have more fun with the rehab, and convinced me to go play basketball lefthanded in our backyard to help with that side's disconnect. Smart boy.

Hi, Laura. Thank you. we're doing well. WHen I Get frustrated, I remind myself how much worse it could have been, and that at least i'm still here. right now my left hand does not want to shift for capital letters or type the letter "a", but i'll view that with tranquility, won't I. CAps lock constantly wants to get involved, too, but we simply say "ta' and redo what we must.

Hi, Judy. I can happily endorse Cluny Brown. it is so charming. it reminds me of Miss Buncle. Like a day off in the countryside, on a blue sky day.

104Caroline_McElwee
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 11:55 am

>102 jnwelch: Ooo, the treats sound perfect Joe.

Great remembering to touch with the child within, 'I did it'.

>103 jnwelch: Good idea of Jesse's too. Glad you all had some time together Banjo.

Ha re the typing. My one fingered on the Ipad is pretty rubbish at the best of times, and I have to check before pressing send.

105richardderus
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 12:39 pm

Carrot cake for breakfast! Perfect. There's no need to be all po-faced...there is carrot cake and you can have it for breakfast, therefore the world is good.

106humouress
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 12:45 pm

>103 jnwelch: I love it that Rafa calls you Banjo; I hope you keep that moniker. I'm thinking you should just hang onto the little items for the next visit ;0)

Left-handed basketball is a great idea!

If you don't mind me saying so, the typing seems to be improving. At least you have an excuse for when things go squiffy; I have to go back and retype.

107jnwelch
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 2:03 pm

Agreed, Richard. Carrot cake for breakfast celebrates the goodness of the world.

Your idea re the little items is a good one. unfortunately, they always turn out to be must-haves, especially for the little ones.


I"d be embarrassed for you to see how much I have to retype these posts. talk about things I always took for granted!! But I do think it's getting a little better.

108magicians_nephew
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 2:40 pm

Carrot Cake - Breakfast of Champions

109quondame
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 25, 2021, 6:31 pm

I'm glad to hear of your improvements, one of which has to be more patience to correct typing irregularities. The visit of the small Banjo'ers sounds delightful. Life can be so full of chaotic joys.

110laytonwoman3rd
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 6:34 pm

See...now I want carrot cake. Any time. Especially for breakfast.

Hope you have a good week, Joe, and get that SHIFT key under control.

111brenzi
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 8:58 pm

I'm glad to hear about your improvement Joe. Just having those grandkids in the house with you must have buoyed your spirits. How could it not?

112PaulCranswick
huhtikuu 25, 2021, 11:38 pm

Your difficulties are both salutary as well as a little heart rending (those occasional little mistakes in your typing are strangely affecting), Joe. I am sure with your loved ones around you and so many of your pals pulling for you, you will make a full recovery.

113connie53
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 3:42 am

Hi Joe, I hope you have a great week with lots of 'I did it's.

114humouress
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 3:52 am

>107 jnwelch: Let them learn the hard way 😈 (Sorry - frustrated parent coming out there.) You're a good grandpa, sending the small items back. Or you could hang on to them for your obstacle course practice ;0)

115jnwelch
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 8:26 am

Carrot cake is the Breakfast of Champions, isn't it, Jim. Can't wait to see ads with our finest athletes having a slice to start the day.

Today I"m being more steady as she goes with yogurt, berries and nuts.

Carrot cake is the answer any time of day, isn't it, LInda. Left little finger is a tough challenge right now.

Hi, Paul. If I start doing mistske-free posts, we'll have come a long way. Can't wait! it's great having the support and so many people pulling for me to get better. we'll get there. One nurse in the hospital said I"d be back to normal in about 6 months. Sooner would be welcome.

Ha! WHat a great wish for the new week, Connie. i hope you have a great one full of "I did ir"s, too.

Ha! They gave me enough obstacle course practice to last me a long while, Nina. it's remarkable how fast the house goes from pristine to shambles, strewn with building blocks, vehicles, puzzles and other folk art.

116jnwelch
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 8:30 am

117jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 26, 2021, 8:41 am

First Person Singular unfortunately did not send my heart soaring. I like his stories that are tinged with weirdness, where you occasionally ask yourself, "what the heck was that all about?" This collection is straightforward and, for me, a bit lightweight. The title story was the best of the bunch.
G
Now I'm reading becky Chambers' The Galaxy and the Within, in which she's doing her usual superb job of depicting species very different from ours, and making us care about their daily lives.

118jessibud2
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 26, 2021, 9:06 am

>116 jnwelch: - Me too! (though Paul Cranswick probably qualifies more than I do! ;-)

Good morning, Joe. I wonder if the left-behind stuff was the grands' contribution to your rehab! May this week be one of incremental steps forward.

I have to tell you, I belong to a global postcard exchange group and last week, I received a card that made me laugh out loud. It was a familiar Tom Gauld cartoon but the speech bubble was in RUSSIAN! (yes, the card came from Russia). Talk about weird! I will try to scan and post it at some point, but it just tickled my funny bone.

119richardderus
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 9:48 am

>116 jnwelch: And to them as asks that question, I say "...and what business is that of yours?"

A new week of new successes, Joe!

120benitastrnad
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 11:05 am

I am finally getting started on Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and am about 100 pages into the book. Cussy Mary sure grabs your attention right off the bat doesn't she?

I purchased Killing Commendatore when it came out but it hasn't called to me yet and so I didn't purchase this newest book. Then I read the reviews and they weren't enthusiastic about it so I figured I can wait or get it from the library. Generally I like his weirdness but I have been busy with other reading, or at least slower reading in the last month. I have other things to think about right now. I did manage to knock one thing off my plate. The journal article got published on April 21, 2021 so that is done. Now I am just working on finishing up the semester. It ends on April 30 and we will gradually be opening things back up over the summer with a return to normal operations scheduled for the beginning of the fall semester.

121ffortsa
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 11:34 am

>117 jnwelch: There's a two page review of this book in the Sunday NY Times Book Review section. You might be interested to compare notes.

122vivians
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 2:54 pm

>117 jnwelch: So glad to hear about another Becky Chambers - thanks for the heads up. I've been following your recovery and I'm sending you best wishes for continued improvement!

123EBT1002
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 3:54 pm

>116 jnwelch: Love that mug!

Carrot cake is one of life's most amazing pleasures. At a bakery in Seattle this weekend, they had carrot cake. It has a bit of shaved coconut sprinkled over the not-too-thick cream cheese frosting. I resisted! I still regret that. Although I did enjoy the twice-baked almond croissant....

Okay, hungry now.

I'm currently thoroughly enjoying both Homeland Elegies and How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House. Two excellent books going at once -- life is good!!!

Keep hanging in there, Joe. You are relearning every day, every hour, even every minute!

124quondame
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 4:05 pm

>117 jnwelch: I'm waiting on a library copy of The Galaxy and the Ground Within. Tick, tick... Of course I have a few other things to read.

125m.belljackson
huhtikuu 26, 2021, 4:38 pm

>115 jnwelch: If you put basketball type nets over the toy storage containers and make it a wild dance and music thing,
toy clean-up might go faster...or kids might just haul everything out to try for baskets again...

Do you still have your Father's ukulele? That could pass as Grandpa Banjo!

126jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 26, 2021, 7:30 pm

Hi, Shelley. i think that mug could serve as an LT membership souvenir, don't you think?

My week has started with more than incremental progress, I"m happy to report. They normally test me every two weeks, but did it after only one this time. In a week I had a big gain in left hand strength, while also doing much better on the coordination tests. My therapist said she was "really impressed". Hurrah! i even did reasonably well on my typing test, which was a holy mess the first time around (they loaded it with a lot of left-hand words, the meanies).
Here's a funny one: they have everyone talk to their psychologist there (good idea! He said afterwards a lot of people need his help with depression and pain issues). He explained to me that he uses "mindfulness meditation" with his patients, to help them deal with impatience, acceptance (i.e. frustration), and "letting go." Ha! I got to tell him I meditate every day, and that those three are difficult areas for me.

so, if in hearing my tale, you think I should learn to be more patient, more accepting and less frustrated, and to let go more, let us all wonder how much worse I'd be if I didn't meditate.

BTW, i was thrilled to hear he uses meditation with his patients. As I said to him, I really believe in it.

P.S, I love that you're in a global postcard exchange group 9how'd you get involved in that?) and look forward to seeing the Russian cracker upper.

127humouress
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 12:04 am

>126 jnwelch: The left-handed basketball and LT typing practice are paying off, then.

😅 So glad that you're already into meditation ;0)

128scaifea
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 8:21 am

Yay for the progress report, Joe! *waves pom-poms and cheers*

129jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:25 am

HI, Richard. Yes, the ones most worth talking to are admirers of all the books, right/

Hi, Benita. I"m so glad you're reading aboug Cussy Mary and the Pack Horse Librarians! Isn't Book WOman great? Love that book

I didn't think Killing Commendatore was up there with his best, but it was a good yarn, and I thought he was saying some very interesting things about the creative process.

Congratulations on the journal artivle being published! i'm sure that's a load off your mind. A return to normal operations in the fall! DOesn't that sound great? AE you going to require atudents to be vaccinated?

130jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:31 am

Thanks, Judy. I"ll look forward to reading the thoughts on First Person Singular of the NY Times reviewer. Were they more generous than mine?

Hi, Vivian. Thanks for the good wishes. The new Becky Chambers book is very good so far.

131jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:42 am

All the hard work is paying off, Nina. As i said to the psychologist, you tell me doing something will make me better, I"LL keep going until my tongue drags on the floor.

Meditation has been a life-changer for me. Is it something you do, too?

I can report excellent progress, Amber. Thanks for the enthusiastic support! I got encouraging grades on my last tests, and i'm starting to get accustomed to the new routine.

132karenmarie
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:48 am

Hi Joe!

>98 jnwelch: The grandkids calling you Banjo still cracks me up.

>103 jnwelch: WHen I Get frustrated, I remind myself how much worse it could have been, and that at least i'm still here. right now my left hand does not want to shift for capital letters or type the letter "a", but i'll view that with tranquility, won't I. CAps lock constantly wants to get involved, too, but we simply say "ta' and redo what we must. Ongoing lessons- patience and kindness to yourself.

>115 jnwelch: When you get tired of carrot cake for breakfast:


133jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:48 am



I"Ve always liked this idiosyncratic artist, Thomas Hart Benton

134jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 9:54 am

Good morning, Karen. Thanks - I'm learning a lot from this, no doubt about it. Little chocolate donuts! Man, I miss John Belushi. What a loss. Thank goodness we have Bill Murray from those times.

135ffortsa
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 27, 2021, 10:28 am

>130 jnwelch: regarding the review of the Murakami, the reviewer seemed to like it, but not as much as others. I was surprised to read that these were translated, as I thought he wrote in English as a discipline. When did that stop?

Love the TH Benton. What angles of distortion!

136jnwelch
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 10:28 am

>123 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Isn't that a great mug?

There's a life lesson there somewhere, isn't there. If great carrot cake crosses you path, seize the cake! maybe our Latin scholars can help us with a way to say that in Latin.

That almond croissant does sound like an awfully good fallback.

I'm glad you've got those excellent books going. Thanks for the encouragement. i wish the relearning of typing progressed a little faster. I will say you all make relearning it much more fun than it would be otherwise!

>124 quondame: I think you'll enjoy The Galaxy and the Ground when you get to it, Susan.

>125 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I like your toy storage container idea except, like you, I imagine that hose two raga muffins would manage to turn it into even more chaos.

We do have a famous (to us) banjo in the family that my father used to play. It was his mother's, and she used to play it while singing spirituals on the Chautauqua circuit. Our son, Rafa's dad, has it now.

137m.belljackson
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 10:29 am

"Pockets" immediately draws people into caring -
what will his moments be?
what moments belong to us?

What a wonderful journey from here - through shared space,
nature and time - to inside out - and back to there.

I can't wait for "Jesus Today" to empty His Pockets!

138jessibud2
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 27, 2021, 10:58 am

Lost in translation? Here's the Tom Gauld, in Russian. Crazy, isn't it?



I think I remember this one as his asking if she's seen his e-reader, or something like that.

139streamsong
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 11:56 am

Yay for acing your progress test!

"you tell me doing something will make me better, I"LL keep going until my tongue drags on the floor. Hooray, Joe! You are inspiring me to keep after my own exercises.

Great bit of art in >133 jnwelch: Some of us travel onward.

140bell7
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 27, 2021, 1:40 pm

Viestin kirjoittaja on poistanut viestin.

141bell7
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 1:41 pm

Oops... something isn't working. Let's try again. I came across this street art in Utrecht that I thought you might appreciate.

142EBT1002
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 2:41 pm

I'm so glad you're making "impressive" progress! Yay!!!

143Familyhistorian
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 3:49 pm

Keep up the good work, Joe. The brain is good at healing itself when you and your therapists help.

144johnsimpson
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 4:16 pm

>116 jnwelch:, Hi Joe mate, i think both Karen and I could do with this mug. From the posts i see that you are doing well with your recovery and getting good grades for your last set of tests.

We are still awaiting our latest Grandchild although Amy's due date isn't until Thursday so we must wait patiently, not sure Karen can do this, she is getting giddy now.

I hope that Debbi and the family are all well mate and we send love and hugs to both of you from both of us dear friend.

145richardderus
huhtikuu 27, 2021, 6:10 pm

>133 jnwelch: I love Benton's dream-like quality. Nothing is exactly what it seems, and that's always a good thing in art.

I'm fully Murderbotted, so up to visiting at last.

146charl08
huhtikuu 28, 2021, 2:28 am

Loved the Becky Chambers, I am hoping she is writing her next book sharpish! Sending lots of positive vibes for all those exercises. Like >139 streamsong: I am reminded I need to get back to my own ones too.

147jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 28, 2021, 5:11 pm

>135 ffortsa: Hi, Judy. interesting re the murakami review. I look forward to reading it.

I can understand your confusion about translations. He's fluent in English, and translates AMerican authors like Raymond Carver into Japanese. but he writes his novels and short stories in Japanese and has them translated into English by others. Why? That would take some digging, but he has talked about it.

>138 jessibud2: I can see why that cracked you up, Shelley. Me, too. Your memory of the original English sounds right to me.

>137 m.belljackson: Great! I love your interaction with 'Pockets", Marianne. I'd love readers to give a thought to their own. Ans applying it to "Jesus Today"! Love it. I suspect he might have memories of all those folks he meets in there. All of us.

>139 streamsong: Hi, Janet. I"M happy that's inspiring. I've always been like that. THry're careful now to watch me and make me take breaks. I can overdo ir with that tongue-dragging.

Isn't that a great painting?

>141 bell7: Hi, Mary. Thanks for the link. I"ll have to circle back.

P.S. Nice! Thanks, Mary. That makes me want to visit Utrecht just to see the street art. No surprise, my favorites are the bookshelves ones.

148jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 28, 2021, 8:40 am



IN Tuscany

149ffortsa
huhtikuu 28, 2021, 1:50 pm

>148 jnwelch: exquisite

150jnwelch
huhtikuu 28, 2021, 3:06 pm

>142 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! Today the physical therapist tested me and called my progress "awesome". Hooray! i love to get encouragement like that. They've now given me a May 27 discharge date and think I"ll be"100%" by then, or close enough to finish it off at home. Great!

>143 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. The progress my brain and body make between rehab sessions amazes me. I often come back better at something i found difficult after resting over night.

>144 johnsimpson: Hiya, John. Isn't that s mug worth having? i can see you and Karen having matching ones. A new grandkid due on Thursday?! Exciting! i can see why Karen is giddy. Enjoy, my friend. Love and hugs to you, Karen, and mother-to-be Amy.

151jnwelch
huhtikuu 28, 2021, 5:05 pm

>145 richardderus: Hey, RD. I just became fully MUrderbotted myownself. FUgitive Telemetry arrived and immediately jumped the queue. i started it and couldn't stop. Another great reading ride from Ms. Wells! i only wish ART had gotten in on the caper.

Good description of that THB painting. That dreamlike quality really appeals to me.

>146 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I feel lucky to have such expert people pushing me. They know exactly where I need work, and just the right way to go after it.

I'm loving the Becky Chambers, too, although Murderbot jumped in and demanded an immediate read. I'll return now to The Galaxy and the Ground WIthin with relish.

>149 ffortsa: Right, Judy? i can mentally walk right into that one.

152jnwelch
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 7:21 am



Bridges up along the Chicago river

153kidzdoc
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 7:38 am

>152 jnwelch: Great photo of Chicago and the river, Joe!

I'm thrilled that your rehabilitation is going well, and that you're putting up the effort to regain your function — although I'm sure that Debbi and Becca aren't cutting you any slack. Keep up the great work!

154richardderus
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 1:19 pm

>152 jnwelch: Good gracious, the whole city is saluting your recovery! How lovely. Such a friendly midwestern place.

155quondame
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 4:40 pm

>152 jnwelch: What an awesome image!

156jessibud2
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 5:21 pm

>148 jnwelch:, >152 jnwelch: - Of the two, I am much more of a >148 jnwelch: girl, myself. I live in a big city but have always found nature to suit me more. Much quieter, restful, and awe-inspiring in a different way. Both great pics, but my vote goes to the green.

Hope you have had a good day, Joe.

157kayleigh_bae
huhtikuu 29, 2021, 5:23 pm

Hi yall! I saw this thread in "hot topics" and i am curious as to what exactly it is?

158lauralkeet
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 30, 2021, 8:03 am

>157 kayleigh_bae: The best place to start is the 75 Book Challenge Group page

159karenmarie
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 8:13 am

'Morning, Joe!

Kudos for your awesome progress.

160weird_O
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 8:59 am

Kudos for your progress, Joe. I see you are now using the post references, starting with post #135, I believe. Great. Counting on you being around for years to come.

161ffortsa
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 9:42 am

>150 jnwelch: re making progress overnight. I often find that is true when I actually practice my violin. I'll have one or two days where screech owls would be offended, then a day where everything has integrated and sounds great. Sometimes that even happens on the day I have a lesson!

162jnwelch
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 10:19 am

>142 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. That was my OT testing. i had more good new today from my physical therapist. She tested me some more and said my progress was "awesome". Then proceeded to give mind-boggling hard balance challenges - e.g. balancing heel to toe on squishy foam while playing catch with her. Sometimes my mind is more tired than my body after these sessions!

163jnwelch
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 10:30 am

>153 kidzdoc: Hiya, Darryl! Thanks, buddy. You're right, Debbi and Becca keep me on the straight and narrow toard getting back to 100%.

>154 richardderus: So good of you to think the bridge-raising is in my honor, Richard. it's friendly here all right, but I think that's in honor of the boats heading out to the lake. It stops traffic, of course, but they're pretty efficient with it.

164jnwelch
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 10:42 am

>155 quondame: Isn't it, Susan? Go, Chicago!

>156 jessibud2: I know what you mean, Shelley. I was thinking about the juxtaposition of those two images. i have to live in a big city, or I"d feel something was missing. But, like you, I Love being places like >148 jnwelch:. I"M very happy I can have both, including in this beautiful country of ours.

>157 kayleigh_bae: Good to see you here, kayleigh_bae. This is a place where members of the 75er group chat about books and other things. Laura provided a helpful link in >158 lauralkeet:. i hope you decide to join in; you'd be most welcome.

>158 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

165jnwelch
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 10:55 am

>159 karenmarie: 'Morning, Karen!

Thanks!

>160 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. Retrieving my typing skills has been one of the biggest challenges of all this. Lots of putting little tiny pegs into little tiny holes, something I"m sure I"ll have dreams (nightmares) about. I appreciate your and everyone else's patience with the past lack of post references.

>16I can imagine, Judy. Isn't it amazing what the brain works on while we're engaged elsewhere? it would be even more striking with violin playing, I"d think. kudos again to you for rekindling your passion in that pursuit.

166jnwelch
Muokkaaja: huhtikuu 30, 2021, 11:01 am



My late mother would've loved the colors in this one.

167richardderus
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 12:51 pm

I love those purples, Joe!

I miss the redbuds blooming in February in Austin.

You, um, might not want to visit Katie's thread just at the moment....

168johnsimpson
huhtikuu 30, 2021, 4:14 pm

>150 jnwelch:, Hi Joe mate, Due date came and went and we are still waiting, oh well it will come when it is good and ready, lol.

I hope that your recovery is still going well mate and you are being patient and being a good patient.

I hope that you and Debbi have a really good weekend mate and we both send love and hugs to both of you dear friend.

169humouress
toukokuu 1, 2021, 3:02 am

>148 jnwelch: *sigh* You take us to the nicest places, Joe.

>150 jnwelch: >162 jnwelch: Great news! Pace yourself though. :0)

>152 jnwelch: Impressive! (But I’m with >156 jessibud2:)

170jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 2, 2021, 11:49 am

>167 richardderus: Redbuds! i love rebud, Richard We had a bunch near the house growing up. Our crabapple ans dogwood trees are blooming beautifully right now - maybe I Can post a photo of that.

yOU"ve got me curious - I"ll get myself over to Katie's thread soon.

>168 johnsimpson: Oh poor Amy - i'll bet she's more than readyf for the little one to show up, John. I was a late arrival myself. It was too nice floating in that warm swimming pool I guess, and having all my food brought to me. Hugs and love to you and Karen, mate.

>!69 Hi, Nina. Thanks! What a nice thing to hear. I generally try to post things that will improve the day a bit - this planet is tough; we can all use some occasional relief.

We just took my lonhest walk since my stroke - we thin 1 1nd 1/2- 2 miles - and I feel just fine. we've beautiful weather here. I Hope you're having a good weekend.

171jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 1, 2021, 1:44 pm



The two pipsqueaks

172humouress
toukokuu 1, 2021, 1:51 pm

>171 jnwelch: I think only Fina still qualifies as a pipsqueak. They're both growing fast!

173Caroline_McElwee
toukokuu 1, 2021, 2:44 pm

>170 jnwelch: Good to hear about your walk Joe. Of course Madam MBH and Becca are keeping you on your toes. As it should be.

>171 jnwelch: How they grow...

174richardderus
toukokuu 1, 2021, 5:21 pm

>170 jnwelch: ...I warned you...

A mile and a half! That's excellent! I'm so glad that your progress is so steady and so solid.

>171 jnwelch: *baaawww* Such adorables!

175quondame
toukokuu 1, 2021, 5:32 pm

>171 jnwelch: My, they are small but they are mighty!

176connie53
toukokuu 2, 2021, 5:41 am

>116 jnwelch:. I love to have that cup.

>171 jnwelch:. Oh, how utterly cute

177jnwelch
toukokuu 2, 2021, 10:57 am

>172 humouress: Rafa would be glad to hear that, Nina. These days he lets everyone know he's "a big boy".

>173 Caroline_McElwee: They've got me on my toes so much, Caroline, that my grandmother would've called me a "toe dancer." it's beautiful again here today, so I"m hoping we get in another walk like that.

>174 richardderus: Thanks, buddy. It's great to be able to do that again. ANd we have the same reaction to those adorable mini-people.

>!75 You're right, Susan, they are mighty little ragamuffins. They sure are persuasive with their parents and grands.

>!76 Hi, Conniw. Isn't that cup perfect for the likes of us? Thanks re the utterly cute little ones.

178jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 2, 2021, 11:47 am



Photography by Fujio Kamimura Mashiko.

179jessibud2
toukokuu 2, 2021, 11:04 am

Rafa sure looks long and tall, not pipsqueak-like at all! Even his haircut looks like a big-boy haircut!

>178 jnwelch: - Wow!!

180bell7
toukokuu 2, 2021, 1:35 pm

>178 jnwelch: Beautiful!

>171 jnwelch: Awww, such cuties! Rafa sure is a "big boy." They're both growing so fast.

181richardderus
toukokuu 2, 2021, 1:50 pm

Adam Starr, Indianapolis artist: "Don't Stop"

182DeltaQueen50
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 2, 2021, 4:30 pm

Hi Joe, good to read that your recovery is moving along nicely. Such gorgeous pictures you are posting these days! Of course I bet >171 jnwelch: is your favorite!

183Familyhistorian
toukokuu 2, 2021, 7:36 pm

>171 jnwelch: Rafa does look like a big boy in that photo, Joe. I like the photo of Chicago with the bridges up on the river. I'm partial to city scapes myself.

184jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 3, 2021, 8:14 am

>179 jessibud2: I'm glad you like >178 jnwelch:, Shelley. Rafa would love to hear that, including about his haircut.

>180 bell7: Hi, Mary. Isn't 178 beautiful? Rafa heads off this week to big boy summer camp. He needs somewhere to put all that energy!

>181 richardderus: Nice one, RIchard, rhanks. The elements have been at work on that sign, haven't they.

>182 DeltaQueen50: THanks, Judy. it's back to rehab today, after a relaxing weekend. They kick my butt, but that's a big reason my recovery is moving along nicely. You're right; any photo of Rafa and Fina immediately zooms to the top of my favorites list.

>183 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Keeping those kids in clothes is a challenge these days; they're both growing so fast. Isn't that a great photo of Chicago with the bridges up? As you can tell, I"m partial to city scapes, roo.

185jnwelch
toukokuu 3, 2021, 8:20 am



a Seattle LT meetup 8 (!) years ago with son #! ans Karen Morgan (Maggie1944)

186karenmarie
toukokuu 3, 2021, 9:32 am

Hi Joe! Happy day before Tuesday!!

>171 jnwelch: Rafa looks especially long/tall in that pic, and Fina is the cutest cuddle in the world.

187richardderus
toukokuu 3, 2021, 5:43 pm


Arkhip Kuindzhi, After the Thunderstorm (1879)

I hope you're feeling as light and brilliant as this image looks.

188jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 4, 2021, 9:59 am

>186 karenmarie: Happy Tuesday, Karen! (We made it!)

Thanks re the dynamic duo. That cuddly little girl remains ginormous for her age - saw the doctor yesterday, and is 90th percentile across the board.

>187 richardderus: Another beaut, Richard. Lovely greens and blues. Thanks!

189jnwelch
toukokuu 4, 2021, 10:03 am



Full moon in Madagascar

Photography by robert_wildlife_photography

190jessibud2
toukokuu 4, 2021, 10:27 am

>189 jnwelch: - Baobab trees! Such strange-looking things, aren't they? Many moons ago, BLT - before LT - I read a book about these trees. Don't remember much of the text but there were lots of photos and once you know what they are, you are not likely to forget them! Unlike anything else I know of! So alien-looking.

191m.belljackson
toukokuu 4, 2021, 2:01 pm

>189 jnwelch:

The trees look like they are reaching for the moon - what a glorious photograph.

You make our days with your increasing Good Health News and the lively young twosome -

it will be fun to see what surprises Rafa brings home from his camp -

Fina looks like she's raring to go too!

192msf59
toukokuu 4, 2021, 7:09 pm

>171 jnwelch: >189 jnwelch: Love it!

>187 richardderus: That is gorgeous! Topper material.

193msf59
toukokuu 4, 2021, 7:12 pm

Hi, Joe. I am back from my travels and trying to get caught up on a few threads. A big job, as you know. How is everything going? Still progressing? Wishing you the best.

I just started First Person Singular. The first 2 stories were a bit underwhelming. Hopefully it improves. How is your reading coming along?

BTW- As of today, I am fully vaccinated.

194richardderus
toukokuu 4, 2021, 7:36 pm

Sir Joseph: I trust all remains well?

195bell7
toukokuu 4, 2021, 7:39 pm

>189 jnwelch: That is gorgeous!

Hope you're having a good day, Joe.

196jnwelch
toukokuu 5, 2021, 8:15 am

>190 jessibud2: Baobab trees! Way to go, Shelley! i was trying to remember their name. So unusual- looking. They do look like aliens dropped them off for us. Good for you for reading up on them. I'dl like to do a little research myself.

>191 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Reaching for the moon - i like that. I'm glad the tales of progress and wee ones improve your day. Rafa is in the midst of pot training, so that was very much on his mind yesterday, although he was happy he saw his friend AUstin at camp. Fina would love to go to camp, I"M sure, but at least this way she gets a few hours as the only child Nd focus of attention.

>192 msf59:.>193 msf59: Welcome back, Mark! That looked like a great trip, with chances to enjoy Portland and get out in the woods. All is well here. I had a virtual visit with the neurologist yesterday, and she's happy with my progress; my brain is rewiring around the damaged part. She thinks it was small vessel disease that caused the blockage and stroke. I"ll keep checking in with her every 3 months. she told us it often can take 6-12 months to get it all back. So far, so good. They've given me a rehab discharge date of May 27.

I unfortunately was underwhelmed by all of FIrst Person SIngular, although the title story was pretty good. The stories lacked the Murakami depth and weirdness that I enjoy. On the other hand, I loved Becky CHambers' new one The Galaxy and the ground WIthin. A charmer with stranded aliens of several different species learning to get along and work together.

Right now I"m reading Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi and I'm literally just along for the ride. It's an allegorical train ride, and it's entertaining, but I have no idea what it adds up to.

How is your reading going?

197jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 5, 2021, 8:25 am



At Gautami Enclave Kondapur Hyderabad in India
.

198richardderus
toukokuu 5, 2021, 11:11 am

>197 jnwelch: How gorgeous. Wow.

199jnwelch
toukokuu 5, 2021, 1:12 pm

>198 richardderus: Isn't that gorgeous, Richard? Sailing in the clouds . . .

200jnwelch
toukokuu 6, 2021, 7:12 am

Heading out to rehab soon. Still reading and puzzling over Peaces. Have a good one today.

201jnwelch
toukokuu 6, 2021, 7:16 am

202Caroline_McElwee
toukokuu 6, 2021, 7:25 am

>201 jnwelch: ha, been there.

How are you doing today Joe?

203karenmarie
toukokuu 6, 2021, 12:09 pm

Hi Joe! I hope you and Debbi are doing well today.

>201 jnwelch: I can’t tell you how many times that’s happened to me. However, I’ve started looking at the actual number of pages in a book (without actually looking at the last page) and been able to avoid this Awful Scenario in recent months.

204connie53
toukokuu 7, 2021, 3:33 am

>203 karenmarie: Same here. I only count pages that belong to the story. Authors notes and 'thank you's are not counted.

205jnwelch
toukokuu 7, 2021, 11:27 am

>261 NarratorLady: Hi, Caroline.

I"m doing well, thanks. I have no rehab today, and got to sleep in. Rehab downtown kicks off early, which means I have to get up really early. So this feels good. they've been "Upping" (my technical term) the difficulty of everything I do as a questionable reward for my progress. I used an elliptical machine for the first time - have you ever tried that? Ten minutes turned my legs into noodles and had my tongue dragging. I did have a fun cognitive one yesterday - words! You're given a word like "bought' and asked to make new words by removing a letter, adding a letter and changing a letter (ought, brought, sought). People in this group would eat it up like ice cream. Therapist said,"you crushed it!" She'd made it harder by regularly interrupting me and switching me to a different one, where there were two related words with their letter mixed together, like happiness and smile, and I had to figure out what the two words were. Fun! Finally, a welcome break from number games.

206jnwelch
toukokuu 7, 2021, 11:28 am

Working out with our trainer this morning (much lighter weights), so i"ll catch up with you all later.

207magicians_nephew
toukokuu 7, 2021, 11:42 am

Joe I had a physical yesterday with my new Primary Care Doc.

At the beginning of the session he said to me "Lion. Daisy. Face" and then about an hour later after many tests and questions and etcetera he suddenly asked me to repeat the three words.

Happy that I was able to do it!!!

Wonder if this was the test that Trump was bragging about passing back in the day.

208PaulCranswick
toukokuu 7, 2021, 11:52 am

>205 jnwelch: & >206 jnwelch: Great to see you embracing your rehab so positively, Joe. You know how many well wishers you have amongst us who are willing back to the fullest of health as soon as possible.

Take good care dear chap.

209ffortsa
toukokuu 7, 2021, 11:58 am

>205 jnwelch: My legs feel like noodles after 10 minutes on the ellipticals too. And it really gets my heart rate up, unlike the treadmill, since I'm only walking. Of course, that means I should do those ellipticals more.

210richardderus
toukokuu 7, 2021, 1:21 pm

Relax, Joe. We're not out of Montalbano books just yet: Riccardino is coming in October!

All the yay! And also for your progress.

211PaulCranswick
toukokuu 7, 2021, 10:59 pm

>210 richardderus: It will sure be a sour day when there are no more Montalbano books left to be issued.

212connie53
toukokuu 8, 2021, 3:13 am

Glad to hear you are doing fine, Joe. That words thing sounds great and it helps a lot when you are a reader, I think. It might be something my husband should do too.

213weird_O
toukokuu 8, 2021, 9:45 am

Just checking in for a dose of inspiration, Joe. I thank you for it.

Finished the Wodehouse I was reading (Summer Lightning) and read a chapter in Utopia Avenue last night. 'Twas the intro, I'm guessing, to a phase taken from Def Leopard.

In addition to a jolt of Joe (and of joe—second cup), I'll be enjoying a hug from Claire Bear, the family's classics scholar. Her mom invited me to lunch with Claire; a chance to see the Bryn Mawr campus. My Thursday boost was a road trip to Lancaster County to a library sale—the first I've been to since 2019. Friday's boost was getting the more difficult half of my mowing chore done.

Keep up the good work, Joe. I'm counting on you.

214karenmarie
toukokuu 8, 2021, 9:52 am

Hi Joe! Happy Saturday to you.

>205 jnwelch: Of course you crushed the cognitive test. And doing so well on everything else, too.

>207 magicians_nephew: I had to do that for the Medicare Wellness shit when I turned 65. Three words, thank goodness I can’t remember them now. I did fine, because I’d been warned about it by a friend.

My husband, who was also warned about it by me, didn’t ace it in February, and now has to go for an evaluation of his cognitive skills. Never mind that he had open heart surgery in 2002, his short term memory has been crappy ever since, his doctor knows this, and yet still sends him off for a stressful cognitive test that will cost money.

215karenmarie
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 8, 2021, 9:53 am

Aack! A double posting.

There are strange things going on here on LT recently again, including problems downloading to excel.

216humouress
toukokuu 8, 2021, 11:40 am

>201 jnwelch: I know, right?

Hi Joe! Happy to hear you're acing the tests. I'm not counting the elliptical because I'm pretty sure I'd have the same reaction.

217streamsong
toukokuu 8, 2021, 11:42 am

Yay for the elliptical! I bought a very used Proforma Whirlwind bike. It has the arm motion of the elliptical combined with an exercise bike, so it keeps the weight off my knee and takes up less room than an elliptical It has a big fan for a front wheel which terrifies the cats. (The cats are also terrified of the Roomba. If I used the bike and the Roomba at the same time, I might never see a cat again.)

My plan is that every few days I up my time by thirty seconds (yup - seconds). I'm listening to A Promised Land as I work out.

218ffortsa
toukokuu 8, 2021, 11:56 am

>217 streamsong: Poor scaredy cats!

219humouress
toukokuu 8, 2021, 12:38 pm

>217 streamsong: (Richard, take note)

220magicians_nephew
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 8, 2021, 6:28 pm

Wearing my GO! JOE! GO! tee shirt and waving my cheerleader pom poms to celebrate your progress, Joe. Good news.

221quondame
toukokuu 8, 2021, 4:29 pm

>205 jnwelch: >217 streamsong: Mike and now Becky have been using an elliptical trainer for some time - He wore one out and got himself an even fancier one which he hasn't used for ages, but Becky uses regularly. He set it up with it's own video system so often I'll hear music or dialog floating or blaring out of the garage.

222jnwelch
toukokuu 9, 2021, 10:13 am

>207 magicians_nephew: I"M glad you got in on zsome of the fun I"ve been having, Jim. I got that 'remember the words I said earlier' test a lot.I just wish there were baked goods as a reward, don't you

i did one silly one that had me identify a rhino and a camel. I thought that probably was the genius test drumpf was talking about.

>208 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. The support from you and our LT friends has been such a pick-me-up, Thank you again. Sometimes doing all this to get back to a semblance of who I was is a bit daunting.

223jnwelch
toukokuu 9, 2021, 10:26 am

>209 ffortsa: Right, Judy? It's good to have a sister in elliptical noodleness. Ha! You sound like one of the physical therapists. If I say, "this is really hard" they respond, "That means you need to do it more." Gee, thanks for the sympathy.

>210 richardderus: That's good news indeed, Richard. I'm just about to start The Sicilian Method. What a guy, to leave us a few for after his passing. We'll have to have a wake for the series with Paul after the very last one.

224jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 9, 2021, 12:51 pm

>211 PaulCranswick: Truth, Paul.

>212 connie53: Thanks, Connie. I suspect there's a high correlation between readers and those who enjoy word games. They've had me doing so many with numbers this was a real relief.

>213 weird_O: Hi, Bill. Go Utopia Avenue! When I think of library sales, I think of you and your success at them over the years. I"m so glad you got to go to one. I"ll have to stop by and see what you found this time.

225jnwelch
toukokuu 9, 2021, 11:04 am

I lost my post to Karen, darn it, and will have to take a break. Happy Mother's Day to all our LT mothers!!

226jnwelch
toukokuu 9, 2021, 11:51 am

>214 karenmarie:. Happy Sunday, Karen.

Thank you for the kind words. My sympathy too your hubby. A de memory glitches _ who cares? That’s what Google is for.

They should be testing us on our ability to use Google.

>215 karenmarie:. A double post from you, Karen, is a double treat.

>216 humouress:. The only problem, Nina, is if I ace the tests, they feel obligated to make the tests harder. I’d rather get a hearty handshake and a piece of cake, thank you very much.

>217 streamsong:. I can see the appeal of the elliptical, Janet. For me it was like climbing a very steep set of stairs for a very long time. I like the idea of an audio book while doing it. I read my Kindle (Enlarged type) while I treadmill.

227jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 9, 2021, 12:48 pm

>218 ffortsa:. Right, Judy. I suspect a regular vacuum cleaner would be bad, but one that moves on its own, with no human? Gadzooks!

>219 humouress:. :-)

>220 magicians_nephew:. Thanks , Jim. You waving Pom poms seems a bit unlikely;
I appreciate your going out and finding some.

>221 quondame: Good for Mike and Becky, Susan. I bet. Becky’s in great shape. What a workout. As with any thing physical, the key is sticking with it. I know I’m a treadmill guy; that I can stick with.

228msf59
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 9, 2021, 1:24 pm

Happy Sunday, Joe. It sounds like your recovery is going strong. Keep it up, my friend. Are you spoiling Debbi a bit today? God knows, she deserves it.



^An osprey from my Oregon trip.

229jnwelch
toukokuu 9, 2021, 8:04 pm

>228 msf59:. LOL! “God knows, she deserves it”. Debbi got a big kick out of that and says, “Thank you, Mark.” My first thought was “Ain’t that the truth.” Yes, I’ve been spoiling her as best I can. And she’s been craving a game of cribbage, and we’re about to play that. She says she’s had a great day.

230jnwelch
toukokuu 10, 2021, 7:35 am



From Roban Alsaphina. OK, bird fans, what is this one?

231FAMeulstee
toukokuu 10, 2021, 7:54 am

>230 jnwelch: That is a golden pheasant, Joe, a bird originally from China.
One of my favorites at the zoo :-)

Glad to read you are doing a bit better. Sending hugs for both you and Debbi.

232drneutron
toukokuu 10, 2021, 8:04 am

Don’t know what it is, but’s a gorgeous bird!

233weird_O
toukokuu 10, 2021, 11:34 am

>230 jnwelch: >231 FAMeulstee: Anita has identified it, Joe. The Wikipedia includes this photo of the male, crediting the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park.

234jessibud2
toukokuu 10, 2021, 12:22 pm

It is gorgeous!

235RBeffa
toukokuu 10, 2021, 4:54 pm

Joe, I've been absent without leave on many threads and just started to do a little catching up when I ran into your stroke. I am very glad your rehab seems to be going well, and I'll hold good thoughts for your continued recovery.

I've been doing more gardening than reading by a longshot but I share your lack of enthusiasm for Murakami's short story collection. It wasn't bad but it certainly felt like Murakami-lite. It was an easy and quick read however.

236quondame
toukokuu 10, 2021, 4:55 pm

237richardderus
toukokuu 10, 2021, 5:05 pm

>230 jnwelch: Birds have the right idea: Blast 'em with color and pattern, holler your fool lungs out, and see who says yes.

238jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 11, 2021, 10:59 am

>231 FAMeulstee:. Wonderful, Meg! Have you seen a golden pheasant in person? What a beautiful bird
>232 drneutron:. Agreed, Jim. Thanks to Meg, we know it’s a golden pheasant.

>233 weird_O:. Thanks for the extra photo, Bill. What a bird. It deserves to have a fairy tale written about it. There probably is one.

239jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 11, 2021, 11:22 am

>234 jessibud2:. Hi, Shelley.:-)

>235 RBeffa:. Hiya, Ron. Good to see you, buddy. Thanks for the support re the stroke. It’s going well, and when I’m not undeservedly grumpy, I realize how lucky I’ve been. Any number of people with me in rehab would gladly trade places.

I’m glad you’re getting some gardening done. It’s been so darn chilly here we’ve not been able to get much of that done. Our crabapple and dogwood trees look great though.

Wasn’t that Murakami collection a dud (Mark’s apt word)? Murakami lite is a good description. First time he’s done that, for me. That’s one I sure won’t be recommending.

240jnwelch
toukokuu 11, 2021, 11:20 am

>236 quondame:. Good morning, Susan.:-)

>237 richardderus:. Lucky birds. We’d probably get arrested if we tried that, Richard.

I’m still really liking that Trail of Lightning fantasy book I mentioned to you. I’ll probably start The Sicilian Method today.

241richardderus
toukokuu 11, 2021, 11:51 am

>240 jnwelch: Excellent reading you're doing. Author Roanhorse is getting lots and lots of praise for her ability to make stories we can all share that foreground people she knows felt forgotten.

Camilleri is still around, thank goodness, for one more publishing cycle. Bleak days ahead...you'll have to read Hunting Season soon...

(actually I liked it, but Montalbano it ain't)

242m.belljackson
toukokuu 11, 2021, 12:48 pm

Here are the lines I love the most from "Jesus Today" -

...he speaks kind words

...his answer
Drifts up like blue smoke

He never mentions his Father. ((!))

...a ring-shaped rainbow glows

...light
Kissing the broken sofa where she slept.

...he takes her hand, helps her down the stairs.

Forgiveness spreads from all he is and does. This time
No one kills him.
This time
No one is sure who he is.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

((There He is! Once we connect him to the starry halo...Here we all are!))

Thank you!

243magicians_nephew
toukokuu 11, 2021, 1:05 pm

>242 m.belljackson: Thank you for posting that

244jnwelch
toukokuu 11, 2021, 2:57 pm

>241Thanks, Richard. That’s s o good to hear. She deserves lots and Los of praise, for sure. And how great to bring forgotten people to life and get them some recognition.

>242 m.belljackson:. I love that it’s sticking with you, Marianne. I join Jim in thanking you for posting that.

>243 magicians_nephew:. :-)

245m.belljackson
toukokuu 11, 2021, 4:04 pm

>243 magicians_nephew: >244 jnwelch:

You are both welcome - poems resonate in so many different ways.

246jnwelch
toukokuu 12, 2021, 7:52 am

>245 m.belljackson: Truth, Marianne.

247jnwelch
toukokuu 12, 2021, 7:54 am

248magicians_nephew
toukokuu 12, 2021, 10:05 am

>247 jnwelch: Ain't it the truth?

249karenmarie
toukokuu 12, 2021, 11:21 am

Hi Joe!

Happy Wednesday to you.

>230 jnwelch: My, my. What a gorgeous bird.

250richardderus
toukokuu 12, 2021, 11:24 am

>247 jnwelch: Why I have always loved reading.

251humouress
toukokuu 13, 2021, 12:16 am

252Caroline_McElwee
toukokuu 13, 2021, 5:46 am

253jnwelch
toukokuu 13, 2021, 8:01 am

>248 magicians_nephew: Right, Jim?

>249 karenmarie: Hi, Karen! I've been a bit slow, so Sweet Thursday to you.

Isn't that Golden Pheasant gorgeous? I'd love to have a few of those ambling around the backyard.

>250 richardderus: Same here, Richard. Through the back of the wardrobe to so many different places.

>251 humouress: Hi, Nina. :-)

>252 Caroline_McElwee: Good morning, Caroline. :-)

254msf59
toukokuu 13, 2021, 8:07 am

Morning, Joe. Sweet Thursday. I have a family wedding to attend to in Kansas City this weekend. It will be a whirlwind trip. I leave tomorrow early and return later Sunday. Sue is tending to her aunt who is getting out of rehab today and will get her settled in at home, so this will be a solo trip, unfortunately.

Despite the cool spring weather, I am still getting out on walks nearly every day. Migration has really slowed down and I am hoping for a surge next week, when things begin to warm up here.

I am getting ready to start Anxious People. Are you a fan of Backman? My audio is The Jungle and it has been excellent, despite the bleakness.

255jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 13, 2021, 8:45 am

>254 msf59:. Have a great time at the KC wedding, buddy. Too bad Sue can’t join you, but that sounds like a good deed she’s doing.

It’s supposed to start warming up today, so maybe that’ll help with the migrations.

I just finished the latest Montalbano, The Sicilian Method, and had a grand time with it. I’m going to miss this series! I started The Last Bookshop in London, which is good so far. Kudos to you for taking on The Jungle. Some major historical impact there.

256laytonwoman3rd
toukokuu 13, 2021, 11:00 am

Love the pheasant. I have seen one of those on the grounds of the Castle at Geneva, on Seneca Lake in NY. It was years ago, and that venue has enlarged so much that the grounds are probably not conducive to keeping exotic birds anymore.

257streamsong
toukokuu 13, 2021, 1:14 pm

I'm not sure I've seen a golden pheasant - what an amazing bird.

We have 'Mongolian Ringneck Pheasants' here - I guess it's the common sort in the U.S. This time of the year they are doing their mating dance. They leap straight up, noisily beating their wings, and give a harsh croak at the top of their upward bounce. Love hearing them, but they do startle the horses at times.

258jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 13, 2021, 7:18 pm

>256 laytonwoman3rd:. How cool, Linda, I’ve never been to the Castle at Geneva, but the name makes me think it’s probably a sight to behold itself. What fun it must have been to see a golden pheasant up close and personal.

>258 jnwelch:. Hi, Janet. I love seeing any kind of pheasant out in nature - we used to see them regularly up near Traverse City, Michigan (Glen Arbor).

I’ll bet the leaping, dancing croa ones scared the horses a bit! Jeesh, settle down, boisterous birds!

259laytonwoman3rd
toukokuu 13, 2021, 3:10 pm

>257 streamsong: We occasionally see ringneck pheasants in our vicinity...but they are a rarity now. Most of the ones that exist are escapees from breeding farms. My husband's dad had an uncle who raised them...and the dogs with which he hunted them. It always seemed unfair to me. But some of them did survive and breed in the wild (the birds, not the dogs!)

260jnwelch
toukokuu 13, 2021, 7:21 pm

>259 laytonwoman3rd:. I believe that there used to be ringnecked pheasants in back of my grandmother’s house in Michigan, Linda. It was always a treat to see them. Her house backed on old farmland.

261NarratorLady
toukokuu 14, 2021, 5:37 pm

>254 msf59: I read The Jungle many moons ago narrated by the great George Guidall. I hope you have the same recording. Perfect voice for such a dense, powerful book.

262richardderus
toukokuu 14, 2021, 6:12 pm

Have a good weekend's reads, Joe! I'm very glad you're stubbornly, I mean patiently!, working your recovery.

263jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 15, 2021, 10:22 am

>261 NarratorLady:. Good recommendation for audio readers like Mark, Anne.

>262 richardderus:. After finishing The Last Bookshop in London, Richard , which I loved (reminded me of an old, classic black and white movie), I had some trouble settling on a new one. I’m working my brain hard in rehab, so escapist is the desired flavor. I settled on a new (to me) Patricia Briggs, Wild Signs. I’ m doing my off -day breathing exercises (I lost some voice power) and some balance homework, too.

264jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 15, 2021, 11:20 am

Reading The Last Bookshop in London, I felt like I was in an old, classic black and white movie. We're in London as WWII looms large, as parents send their children out into the countryside to stay with relatives, and young Grace and Viv leave unhappy homes and move to the big city while questioning their timing. They move in with kind Mrs. Weatherford, a steadfast friend of Grace's late mother, and her shy, admirable son Colin. Mrs. Weatherford helps Grace land a job in gruff Mr. Evans' Primrose Hill bookshop. Grace has not grown up as a reader, but her organizational skills and scouting of other bookstores begin to transform the dusty, uninviting store into a desireable stopping place, A handsome, book-savvy customer, George Anderson (played by Jimmy Stewart?) encourages her to read The Count of Monte Cristo (great choice!) and after she is enthralled by that story, her love for reading is off and running (she moves next to Jane Austen), to the benefit of the store and her customers.

Meanwhile, all of London starts to prepare for the expected German bombing after France falls and Churchill engineers the Dunkirk rescue of British soldiers and makes it clear that England will fight to the end. Grace and Viv get involved in the war effort, and we're drawn into the daily and nightly experience of living through the relentless bombing. I"ve never felt it more keenly than in this book. The backbone and resolve is gripping. Stuck night after night with people huddling in a local transit station to wait out the bombing, Grace begins to read to them from books like Middlemarch . What a scene!

Will it all turn out all right? It's an old black and white movie, what do you think? Not that there's no heartbreak along the way. The war will have its effects. But it's a pleasure to spend time with these resolute, good-hearted people in an almost unimaginably difficult situation in one of the great cities of the world.

265Caroline_McElwee
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 15, 2021, 1:26 pm

>264 jnwelch: It is published here next month Joe. Added to the list. I'm reading a debut novel, Lamplighters by Emma Stonex at the moment.

ETA: touchstone fixed.

266jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 15, 2021, 12:06 pm

>265 Caroline_McElwee:. Cool, Caroline. The touchstone seems to go to a different book, but I’ll look for The Lamplighters.

267NarratorLady
toukokuu 15, 2021, 1:18 pm

>264 jnwelch: I’ve had this one on hold at the library for a few weeks. It’s very popular and I can see why. I’m looking forward to it!

268richardderus
toukokuu 15, 2021, 1:22 pm

>264 jnwelch: like >267 NarratorLady:, I'm on the library list for it. I just checked out The Dictionary of Lost Words, which is another good escapist yarn.

Good weekend wishes!

269connie53
toukokuu 16, 2021, 4:39 am

>230 jnwelch: I first thought that it was a photo-shopped bird! Really gorgeous.

Hi Joe, catching up on threads! My Sunday morning job!

270charl08
toukokuu 16, 2021, 7:36 am

Wondered if you'd seen the latest Gauld cartoon: made me giggle after several mixed experiences navigating online events (from the straightforward, to the innovative, to the one where someone forgot to turn the sound on for one speaker, and didn't appear to notice for ten minutes...!)

271richardderus
toukokuu 16, 2021, 2:05 pm

>270 charl08: Ha! Perfect!

Happy Sunday, Joe.

272jnwelch
toukokuu 17, 2021, 7:41 am

>267 NarratorLady: Hi, Anne. Oh good. I"ll look forward to hearing what you think of Last Bookshop in London. I"M glad it's popular at your library. It deserves it.

>268 richardderus: Glad to hear it, RD. I hope it comes in soon for you. Dictionary of Lost Words sounds intriguing.

>269 connie53: Hi, Connie. Good for you for catching up on the threads! I'm woefully behind myself. Isn't that a gorgeous bird? i know, how the heck did that intricacy evolve?

>270 charl08: Ha! Love it, Charlotte. Yes, getting into one of these online author events can be challenging. It's such a relief when one is well-executed and easy to navigate. Gauld's approach would increase my flagging interest in Mario-type games.

>271 richardderus: Happy Day after Sunday, Richard. We (finally) had terrific weather here yesterday, and I was out in it all day. I even played left-handed basketball (our son's therapy suggestion) with Debbi on our backyard hoop.

273benitastrnad
toukokuu 17, 2021, 1:34 pm

I finished reading Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and I liked it. At first I thought the author tried to do too much with the book so it wasn't focused enough for me. I also didn't like the ending. It was too abrupt. I usually want books to be shorter and tighter in writing style, but I think this one could have used a longer denouement that would explain what happened to the characters. Other than that - it was a very satisfying novel.

I am at home in Kansas and will be here until around June 1. My mother is still suffering from the lingering effects of her bout with COVID last December. We have her in a nursing home for rehab and it has been a long slow process. I am hoping to be able to bring her home at the end of this week and then will stay with her until we feel that her support services are working well. That means that technically I am now on Intermittent FML. I will be doing some work remotely and am hoping to put in about 2-3 hours daily. Mostly, I will be placing book orders, which is what I would be doing if I were in Tuscaloosa.

While here I joined a book discussion that will be held at the end of the month. It is hosted by a group out of Lincoln, Nebraska and sponsored by a local bookstore in that town - Francie and Finch. I have purchased a few books from them during the last couple of years and saw the ad for the book discussion so I signed up. We will be reading Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. This is the other book about the Pack Horse Librarians in Kentucky. I wanted to read both books and this works out well and got me motivated to pull Giver of Stars out of the TBR pile and get it read. It will be fun to have the discussion as well.

274EllaTim
toukokuu 18, 2021, 9:46 am

Good to see you are doing so well, Joe! Even if it means you are stuck with ever greater challenges. Sorry about that.

Liked your description of The Last Bookshop as a black and White movie, that is telling isn't it? Makes me want to read it. Just the thing.

275jnwelch
toukokuu 18, 2021, 10:07 am

>273 benitastrnad: HI, Benita. I'm sorry to hear that your mother is still suffering lingering effects from covid. Good for you for staying with her and helping her out. Our remote work capabiities these days can be a real blessing, can't they.
.

I"m glad that you ended up liking The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. As you know, I root for that book. Debbi and I were juat talking about its continuing, well-deserved popularity. Please let us know how the group discussion of the Moyes book goes, and what you think of the similarities between the two.

>274 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella! I"m glad you liked the description of The Last Bookshop in London. I think you'll find that it is just the thing.

276jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 18, 2021, 11:27 am



The book we're talking about.

277jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 18, 2021, 11:31 am



fixing image posting

278FAMeulstee
toukokuu 19, 2021, 3:43 am

>277 jnwelch: That is a beautiful photo, Joe.
How are you doing today?

279humouress
toukokuu 19, 2021, 6:51 am

>277 jnwelch: I can see it; but I’m seeing double.

280karenmarie
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:00 am

'Morning, Joe, and happy Wednesday to you.

Left-handed basketball sounds like a fun way to get some therapy in.

281jnwelch
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:39 am

Good morning. All iis well. I have an all-therapists meeting today, with Madame MBH present, to discuss my progress and plan for after my discharge. My PT has told me that my main challenge now is increasing my stamina. That'll mean increasing the lengths of our walks after discharge. Can do!

I finished the meh Wild Sign and have started an ARC of The Complete Poems of Paul Dunbar. 500+ pages! I'm not sure this was a brilliant request on my part.

282jnwelch
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:46 am

>278 FAMeulstee: Tanks, Anita. Seems appropriate as the we browser FIrefox created the glitchy posting problem.

>279 humouress: Ha! i wouldn't worry about your vision, Nina, as mayhap two foxes got posted.

>280 karenmarie: 'Morning Karen, and a happy Wednesday back atcha.

the left-handed basketball was lots of fun. I beat Madame MBH in H-O-R-S-E (if you remember that old shooting game) and now she wants a rematch,

283msf59
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:47 am



-Rose-breasted grosbeak. First time visitor at my feeders.

284msf59
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:56 am

Morning, Joe. Happy Wednesday. The Warbler is back. I had a very good time in KC. Great catching up with family. We went to Montrose on Monday and had a banner day, much like the time you met me there, two or 3 years ago. 72 species, with 18 warbler species. Loved it.

I hope everything is going good with you and you are continuing to improve and get back to old self.

>277 jnwelch: I love the frisky fox!

285jnwelch
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:56 am

286jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 19, 2021, 8:06 am

>283 msf59: Nice one! You birdfeeder has become the cool place for birds to hang out, I can see. MY compliments to the chef.

>284 msf59: GLad to hear you had a most excellent KC visit. I"ve never been to them parts. That Montrose visit sounds great. Looking forward to joining you there in the near future.

287scaifea
toukokuu 19, 2021, 8:16 am

Morning, Joe! Fingers crossed that you get an excellent report at your therapist meeting.

>285 jnwelch: *snork!* That side-eye is so hilarious!

288msf59
toukokuu 19, 2021, 8:17 am

Actually my feeders have been eerily quiet. I am hoping for another surprise visitor. One issue at Montrose is, they are putting parking meters in and were in the process of doing so, while we were there. WTH?

289jessibud2
toukokuu 19, 2021, 8:33 am

>285 jnwelch: - LOL! If that was my cat, Theo, he'd have just flopped down, rolled over and gone to sleep ages ago!

Great news on your rehab. Left-handed basketball sounds easy enough (says this lefty), though your height probably has much advantage over my five feet nothin', lol.

Keep up the great work, Joe!

290katiekrug
toukokuu 19, 2021, 8:57 am

>285 jnwelch: - Love it. We call our cat, Leonard, our Emotional Support Asshole. :)

Glad to hear you are still making good progress!

291laytonwoman3rd
toukokuu 19, 2021, 9:47 am

I'm glad your rehab progress continues, Joe, and that discharge may be in the offing. Longer walks with MBH certainly won't be hard to take--all prescriptions should be so beneficial!

292NarratorLady
toukokuu 19, 2021, 9:53 am

>281 jnwelch: Good luck today Joe! I’m sure you will get a gold star.

293richardderus
toukokuu 19, 2021, 11:01 am

Oh, best of news! You beat Debbi at HORSE!! Yay Joe, go go go for the Y team!

Yeah, good stuff about the fact that discharge is under discussion, too.

Let's mourn the relentless crushing juggernaut of summer coming ever closer with this glorious Spring Flower image, eh what?

294drneutron
toukokuu 19, 2021, 12:37 pm

>281 jnwelch: So is the all-therapists meeting with Debbie kinda like parent-teacher night? 😂

295benitastrnad
toukokuu 19, 2021, 1:02 pm

>288 msf59:
Parking is an issue all over the land. At UA there is a big debate going on about parking privileges during football games. It seems that membership in Tide Pride - the football donors program - is at an all-time high and they need more parking on football days. (free parking close in to the stadium is one of the perks you get for donating thousands of dollars to the football program.) Our university parking services is now commandeering one of the last free parking lots that was available to current employees for use during game days. Those faculty and staff who get tickets to the games are up-in-arms about it.

296weird_O
toukokuu 19, 2021, 1:35 pm

Been neglecting my rounds, Joe. Not that I was concerned that you'd founder without my tapping in some words. It's more than I'm concerned about losing contact with the world at large.

For all that, I immediately got winged—TWICE—by Book Bullets. The Last Bookshop in London is officially on my wish list, and The Dictionary of Lost Words is going on there too. And I'm concerned about you!

By the bye, I was at a library book sale recently and was pleased to snag a hardcover of Timeline, salve for a BB wound sustained on your thread. Then I cataloged it and was chagrinned...deeply chagrinned...deeply deeply deeply chagrinned that I already had a copy, acquired in December. CRS.

297scaifea
toukokuu 19, 2021, 2:04 pm

298quondame
toukokuu 19, 2021, 6:39 pm

>285 jnwelch: That is so many perfects!

299jnwelch
toukokuu 19, 2021, 6:53 pm

>288 msf59: My suggestion is you try serving beer at your bird feeder, Mark. That should help.

Parking meters at Montrose: no surprise, the city is always looking for money, and they're crowing about this one, because it won't be part of that very bad deal Daley made in selling the parking maintenance and income to a private company to offset a budget deficit. At least they're not charging admission to get to the lakefront, although maybe this amounts to the same thing.

>289 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Maybe I shouldn't be the one to break this to you, but there's a reason there are no Emotional Support cats out there. :-) They can be ggod lap and head warmers, but otherwise they're in the same club as Ralph up there. No, that can't be right. No cat would ever join a club.

Height is important in basketball. It's one reason I was able to keep beating our son in basketball in one-on-one even when he got stronger and better. But you'd probably kick my tail in HORSE as a natural lefty.

300jnwelch
toukokuu 19, 2021, 7:17 pm

>287 scaifea: Hiya, Amber. It was a great meeting with the therapists. Lots of talk about the huge progress I made. I said that's the longest period in my life in which I did whatever I was told to do. (Debbi backed me up on that. I'm in the normal range for my age in most things now. The PT said Debbi and I are much more active than most folks our age, so there'll need to be more work at home to rebuild my strength and stamina to where it was.

I had great improvement in typing(!) and left side coordination, said the OT. And I passed my drivers' readiness test! I'll still have to be evaluated in a hospital driving evaluation program, but that's okay. They're smart to be careful with that.

I saw the supervising doctor (our neighbor) and she was pleased with everything, too. i get discharged at the end of next week and don't need any more therapy! Hurrah!

301scaifea
toukokuu 20, 2021, 7:11 am

>300 jnwelch: Oh, that's amazing news, Joe!!

302Caroline_McElwee
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 20, 2021, 7:16 am

>300 jnwelch: That really is great news Joe. Ha re the longest period in your life where you have done what you were told.

Glad to hear you will be able to drive again too.

303lauralkeet
toukokuu 20, 2021, 7:22 am

Great news about your rehab, Joe! Go you!!!

304karenmarie
toukokuu 20, 2021, 7:34 am

Hi Joe!

>282 jnwelch: I remember H-O-R-S-E! Yay for beating Madame MBH.

>285 jnwelch: Amusing. I just sent it to my daughter.

>300 jnwelch: Congrats. All your hard work is paying off.

305msf59
toukokuu 20, 2021, 7:49 am

Sweet Thursday, Joe. I am so happy to hear about your rehab progress. It sounds like you have been working hard. Keep it up, my friend.

I am enjoying Poetry Will Save Your Life: A Memoir, which I am sure you will like too and I am also enjoying The Code breaker which I know you loved.

306jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 8:02 am

>294 drneutron: Debbi would hate idea of playing my parent, Jim, but it kinda was. How I'd done as a student, and what we could work on at home.

>293 richardderus: That is one glorious spring flower image, Richard. Thanks.

>295 benitastrnad: Who knew parking spaces would be such a hot commodity, Benita? I guess anyone living in NYC. I remember folks living near MIchigan stadium charging money to park on their lawns.

>296 weird_O: Good for you, BIll. I need to make my rounds, too. I likewise got hit by that Dictionary of Lost Words BB. I probably mentioned that Timeline was one of my favorites of his. I am very familiar with buying a book we already. i always want to smack myself upside the head, too. I think it's just an inevitable effect of being a high volume (pun?) reader, not that that helps any.

307jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 8:12 am

>305 msf59: Sweet Thursday, Mark. Ooo, Poetry WIll Save Your life does sound awfully good. Please keep me posted.d

the Code Breaker! I"M so glad you'r reading it. What a book. I"ve been recommending it at rehab. Right after they ask what I like to do with my spare time and what I"ve been reading lately. :-)

>297 scaifea: :-)

>298 quondame: :-)

>301 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. It's been an amazing journey. I"m beyond grateful for these therapist. A profession of angels.

308jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 8:23 am

> 302 Hi, Caroline. I'd told Debbi that it was the longest period of time that I've done whatever I was told to do, and when she repeated that at the meeting they all cracked up. Man, they're good at what they do.

Yes, driving is so important, and I always take the laboring oar on our long trips. Like, going to see those grandkids.

>303 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

>304 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I won't be surprised if Madame MBH beats me next time. She's a pretty good shooter and really gets into it. I'm glad you enjoyed Ralph's life-changing realization. Thanks re the hard work in rehab. We feel very lucky.

309jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 8:28 am



I love the mood of this one. Photo by @raj_pratim_photography.

310magicians_nephew
toukokuu 20, 2021, 9:25 am

>309 jnwelch: The Road goes Ever On

311jessibud2
toukokuu 20, 2021, 9:29 am

>299 jnwelch: - Well, I have to agree with you about no cat wanting to join a club, though my late great Lexi was a wonderful emotional support cat. She lived to nearly 21 (human) years old!

I don't know the game HORSE so I can't comment on that one.

312richardderus
toukokuu 20, 2021, 10:22 am

>300 jnwelch: Yay! Better of best news ever! I'm relieved this has proved to be more of a hiccup than a chronic ulcer of an experience. Keep improving at this rate and you'll be forty again soon.

313mckait
toukokuu 20, 2021, 12:54 pm

>307 jnwelch: I agree with you about Code Breaker Joe. So good. I picked up Jennifer Doudna's book from the library, Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution. I just started it this morning ago, but I have been on a bit of a dead run all day. I'm about ready to hit the porch with my book and dog though.

314jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 6:41 pm

>310 magicians_nephew:. You think there might be a hobbit or two in the mist there, Jim?

>311 jessibud2:. Wow, Shelley, Lexi had a long life. She obviously thrived on being your emotional support.

HORSE is a very easy game to learn and play. My goodness I’ve played a lot of it in my lifetime.

315jnwelch
toukokuu 20, 2021, 6:56 pm

>312 richardderus:. Thanks, Richard. I’m trying to remember the lessons imparted by this unexpected event, including that one never knows when a big wallop might be coming.

I’ve been in better physical shape since retiring than I was while working behind a desk. Probably better than I was at 40. I hope to get back to that so we can walk all around London again. It’s doable.

>313 mckait:. Hi, Kath. I love that you’re a fellow Code Breaker fan. Wasn’t it fascinating? So smart of you to go find Jennifer Doudna’s book. Please let me know what you think of it. I was impressed with Isaacson’s brilliance. Even more so when I online-saw him interviewed at Harvard about this book.

We’re on our porch, and Debbi just read to me from Dandelion Wine. Lovely. I feel like summer is finally within sight.

316NarratorLady
toukokuu 20, 2021, 8:30 pm

>300 jnwelch: I knew it! You did get a gold star. Congratulations!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

317humouress
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 21, 2021, 9:23 am

>300 jnwelch: 'I'm in the normal range for my age in most things now.' Woo woo!
(Also: 'much more active than most folks our age' - show off ;0) )

>306 jnwelch: >296 weird_O: So there's this website called LibraryThing where you can catalogue your books so that you don't buy duplicates ;0)
Of course, you have to remember to keep it up to date - and then you have to remember, when you're in a bookshop, whether it is currently up to date (a little problem I had yesterday when I was thinking of buying a book for firelion)

>309 jnwelch: Peaceful.

318drneutron
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 21, 2021, 11:01 am

Glad you're "in the normal range". My life goal is to be Abby Normal as much as I can. 😀

319jnwelch
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 21, 2021, 1:43 pm

>316 NarratorLady:. Ha! Thanks, Anne. In the hospital rehab center the reward was “blue socks”. After I got high scores, I could walk anywhere I wanted (including the bathroom!) in my blue socks without assistance or someone watching over me. What a great feeling that was!

This is even better. I can go back to my old life with even more appreciation than before.

>317 humouress:. Thanks, Nina. I didn’t mean to show off; Debbi and I liked that they recognized that she and I like to be very active, and gave us tools to get back to that.

Huh. I’ve sure heard of Librarything. But it’s never said a word to me when I was about to buy a second copy of a book I already had. I have checked it to see whether I’ve already read a particular book; my catalog is of ones I’ve read, not ones I own.

>318 drneutron: Right, Jim. I would’ve guessed from hanging out with you. We’ve made a lot of jokes about getting me back to “normal.” Debbi often use finger quotation marks for the word.

320bell7
toukokuu 21, 2021, 6:22 pm

What great news re: therapy and driving, Joe! The "emotional support" dog cracked me up. I'm hoping to finish The Code Breaker myself today, between hockey game periods. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

321mckait
toukokuu 21, 2021, 6:29 pm

>315 jnwelch: Dandelion Wine ~ I love Bradbury, and this is probably my fave of his...

322Oberon
toukokuu 21, 2021, 6:34 pm

The Code Breaker is in my to read pile but I have to wait for my wife to relinquish it.

She has complained a couple of times that the science was a bit beyond her so I am curious to see if I agree.

323jnwelch
toukokuu 22, 2021, 8:46 am

>320 bell7: Thanks, Mary. I"m glad Ralph gave you a good laugh. How are you liking The Code Breaker?

>321 mckait: Hi, Kath. I love Bradbury, too. Dandelion Wine is such a special book, isn't it? it's my fave of his. It's perfect to be reading it as summer approaches,

>322 Oberon: I have high hopes you don't feel the science in The Code Breaker is beyond you, Erik. He explains it so engagingly and so well. One friend came away saying she felt "smarter" after finishing it, and I did, too.

324karenmarie
toukokuu 22, 2021, 9:01 am

Hi Joe and happy Saturday to you.

>317 humouress: Nina, I’ve got a friend with 6000+ books who I keep trying to get onto LT for that very reason – to avoid duplicates. However, when I visited her 3 years ago, she had culled ~100 duplicates from her shelves without the aid of LT, gave them to me, and I had them all mailed home. If she cataloged her books, I’d stop getting duplicates after one last hurrah. She and I joke about it.

I always find it interesting about how folks use LT’s catalog.

325m.belljackson
toukokuu 22, 2021, 10:29 am

>323 jnwelch: Hi Joe - about a month ago, I was going to suggest Dandelion Wine for your cheer up reading - decided to re-read it first and,
while the beginning pages are really fun and inspiring, it does get pretty dark...

326jnwelch
toukokuu 22, 2021, 10:54 am

>324 karenmarie: Happy Saturday Karen!

As I say on my page, my calalogue is an imaginary library of books I"ve read and liked well enough to keep in it. I try to view any purchase of a duplicate philosophically, as a contribution to the beloved book industry and the particular shop. Then i pass it on, through a LFF or otherwise.

>325 m.belljackson: Thanks for the headsup, Marianne. Madame MBH is loving Dandelion WIne so far, and i anticipate that we'l be okay with some darkness. Fingers crossed.

327benitastrnad
toukokuu 22, 2021, 12:02 pm

I am deep into reading Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. It is a totally different book than Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Giver emphasizes the lives of the women who live in that part of Kentucky and the building of the coal miners unions. It is a more traditional story about the "good" librarians standing up to and fighting the "evil" coal mine owners. It is filled with interesting characters and even though the plot is straightforward it has kept me interested. I am fully invested in the characters and have about 100 pages left to read in it, so I can say that it is just as good as Book Woman - just with a different slant. Giver is a longer book - by about 100 pages, but I think well written. If you liked Book Woman, I would say that you are going to like Giver as well.

328humouress
toukokuu 23, 2021, 9:43 am

>324 karenmarie: Well, maybe you shouldn't recommend LT too enthusiastically to her ;0)

>319 jnwelch: >324 karenmarie: (Like Paul,) I started buying my own books because I couldn't find the books I wanted in the libraries here so when I discovered LT, apart from the joys of cataloguing my books, it was a way to prevent me buying duplicates.

The National Library here seems to have got better with book selections (from my point of view) although their physical shelves are a mess - they shelve all fiction in one group by the first three (not four) letters of the authors' surnames except for the Mc's which are lumped under MAC. So, if you wanted a Seanan McGuire book, for instance, you'd have to trawl through about 3 floor to ceiling bookcases of so-called MACs and you might find one next to a McCaffrey and another next to a Tom Mach book etc. All of which annoys me so much I never borrow physical books from them. {Rant over} However, their Overdrive selection has been pretty good recently, I've discovered.

I've been using Overdrive (in 3 different countries) a lot this year - for some reason - and so I catalogue those books under 'Read but Unowned'. I also have a collection for my physical copies and another for my e-books, just to make it less confusing for me to keep track of them.
Tämä viestiketju jatkuu täällä: Joe's Book Cafe 6 2021.