Morning all — just getting a fresh cuppa coffee. Here are my answers:

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

A glass of pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, some Captain Morgan and OJ, or more likely, a glass of club soda with a lime.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

Damn, I have to pick just one?!?

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

Love it.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

Chinese food or mac and cheese and some hot tea to eat, and either something funny and sappy (Love Actually; Something’s Gotta Give; etc.) or some period piece (Pride and Prejudice; Miss Potter; Out of Africa; Henry V).

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

China, by railway. Everywhere I could go. Just re-read Paul Theroux’s “Riding the Iron Rooster” and it’s tempting me. Either that or all over Ireland by railway — either would be lovely.

Mornin’ Ms Christy!

Hmmm. Let’s see if I can actually answer those questions.
1. If I were still a drinkin’ man, this would be a fine, single barrel/small batch bourbon such as Woodford Reserve or 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. But nowadays, more likely to be just an OJ or Cranberry juice

2. This is an almost impossible question to answer as there are just so many good books (and authors) but if a gun was held to my head I would cheat and say the Collected Works of Kipling

3. In a binary state, I would be a love it on Harry Potter

4. Chicken Noodle Soup (for the cold), fried chicken for the mopes (of course I would have to actually fry the chicken myself to get it right). The movie would have to be something like Ivanhoe or The Adventures of Robin Hood

5. Hawaii. Beautiful weather, interesting food, gracious people. They call it Paradise for a reason.

I know — picking just one book is impossible, isn’t it? If you are going with the collected works of Kipling, then I’m taking either Dickens or Jane Austen. But that doesn’t begin to touch on Frank Herbert or Isaac Asimov or J. R. R. Tolkien or George R. R. Martin or…well, you see the problem for me.

Let alone the cookbooks — Martha Rose Shulman, Nancy Harmon Jenkins, you name it.

Hello, I’m Christy. And I’m a book-a-holic.

Good morning Christy, dakine01. Dakine, there’s a micro distillery less than 2 miles down the road from me, Tuthilltown Spirits. Only distrillery in NYS, according to them. Really good stuff.

Also, a biblioholic. I own 1700 books, all catalogued, and I just got a delivery of another 20. It’s a blessing & a curse. I couldn’t possibly name my favorite book.

I forgot the link to Tuthilltown Spirits in my last comment.

Hello, Christy. And welcome to Bibliophiles Anonymous for 75,000 visitors a day! *g* Right there with you.

I resemble that book-a-holic thing and have the same problem. When I discover an author, I usually devour everything they’ve written. And along with Herbert, Asimov, and Tolkien, I would add Anne MacCaffrey, John D. MacDonald, Lawrence Block, Alistair MacLean, Dan Jenkins and many many more.

The good small batch bourbons are just so smooth. Even though I don’t drink much, occasionally, I will pick up a bottle (at $35/$40 per) and have a drink or two for a few weeks, sipping from a brandy glass with no mix, water or anything else to dilute the taste.

A friendly wave from the old “furry” scientist and mostly lurker over here in Maryland.

Life’s been treating me pretty well of late, compared to so many. I survived an attempt on my job, transferred to a new (and much nicer) lab at the National Cancer Institute, am getting ready for my second and final round of bowel surgery, and soon getting to take some much needed time off, paid.

As a postdoctoral fellow, I get paid about half the median income for this area, but compared with the folks losing jobs, homes, getting pay cuts, just trying to survive Bosses From Hell day to day? I still got it good, and give thanks for that every day.

1. I’m mostly a teetotaler, but in the winter I’ll indulge the occasional Chocolate Stegosaurus (hot chocolate, DeKuyper Mint, Creme de Cacao, a bit of Amaretto or Bailey’s, and whipped cream).

2. Love Janet Kagan’s works (Mirabile, Hellspark, and her seminal Trek novel Uhura’s Song). Science fiction from a feminist perspective. But there are many other novels beloved of me.

3. I have a Ravensclaw scarf I wear to work in winter. Need I say more? :)

4. Varies by time, partner, and mood. I’m a foodie, though, and LOVE gourmet cuisine, everything from Melting Pot to Fogo de Chao, and many local places as well. The main exceptions are restaurants that are expensive not for the quality of their food, but just for ’status’.

5. Australia. I’ve a friend of 20 years there I have never seen face to face, and the cross-country tourist train there is simply awe-inspiring.

Hello, I’m Demi and I’m addicted to FDL, particularly Christy Hardin Smith posts. I’m an Aries. (I don’t think I’ve ever shared that, but I bet my friends here aren’t surprised.
I enjoy reading novels and could never pick just one.
At the party, I would probably choose a chardonnay.
Didn’t read Harry Potter, so….
And, I would choose mac and cheese also. Though, chicken soup would be better for the cold.

I have a box of books I’m deaquisitioning in the attic. My neice got into it a couple of weeks ago, and now she a Patricia Cornwell fan. It’s particularly funny because she’s a retired NYC high school English teacher, and she once scolded me for reading only whodunits. Of the 100 or so books I read & listen to each year, less than 10 are whodunits.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is Early: Blanton’s on the rocks; Later: Southern Comfort on ice with a twist?

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
The Monkey Wrench Gang.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?
Love it, because Rowling got millions of kids to read, read, read! I haven’t actually read any of them, however.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and turnip greens. Cornbread, too.
Lonesome Dove.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
The Greek Islands and Tasmania. Just because.

My drink: Well in truth it would be wine but I’d rather imagine myself choosing something served in a coconut shell with an umbrella and fruit garnish.
Book choice: Anything by Amy Tan. But, I can’t leave out “Fried Green Tomatoes” by Fannie Flagg.
Harry Potter: Never read it, never saw the movies. I consider it the downside of having adult children.
Food: Linguine smothered with seafood. Movie: I’ll pass on the movie and watch old ‘West Wing’ episodes
Travel: Egypt. I’ll never get there but that would be my dream.

Hey, there! Welcome up from Lurkville! And wow! Best wishes on your surgery. Bet you’re eager to be done with all of that. Come back often, please!

Thanks for deciding to step out and say howdy. Yeah, the Ravenclaw scarf might be a tip-off. *G*

Oooooh, turnip greens. Now there’s something I haven’t had in ages. You have given me a craving. *g*

And the Greek Isles are definitely on the “must visit” list for me, too.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is: depends on the time and place — coronna with lime, scotch & soda with a twist, cold Coca Cola out of an 8-oz. glass bottle (small bottle has more of the “rip your throat out” quality that is so satisfying at times).

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what? My favorite book that I read more than once is Catch-22. I read it when I was about 18 and thought it was the funniest book I had ever read; then read it again in my early 30s and thought it was the most depressing book I had ever read; then read it again and have a more balanced view.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it? Don’t know. My kids are grown.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch? Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or creamed tuna on toast.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why? Where I am now…vacationing at my cousin’s cottage in Eagle Harbor, Michigan — way up in the Upper Penninsula. Our mothers were born here. We pick wild blueberries and thimbleberries. Lake Superior is…….Superior.

What is a Ravensclaw scarf? Or should I google it?

Welcome all lurkers!

Oooooh, cottage on Lake Superior for vacation? I’m jealous! Sounds divine.

Fannie Flagg!
She has also written Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! (1998) and Standing in the Rainbow (2002). A Christmas book A Redbird Christmas, came out in November 2004. Her most recent book, titled Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven, was released in summer 2006. (from wiki)
I’ve read and loved them all.

Oh, believe me I am, but the stoma bag/appliance was a dream come true compared with the horror of severe colitis, and with the second surgery, I’ll be free even of that. On to a new life!

Ravenclaw is one of the four houses at the school of witchcraft and wizardry that Harry Potter attends.

Okay. Assuming I can’t have Chillable Red from a box, I guess I’d opt for a nice Riesling or a well-behaved Chardonnay.

One book. OMG. Maybe…Joseph Campbell’s “Power of Myth” and, oh, “Ordinary People.”

Harry Potter: yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Comfort food and movie: Mac and cheese or matzo ball soup. “Dances with Wolves” or “Amadeus.”

Anywhere place: New Zealand. Absolutely no idea why.

Good for you — so sorry you have had to go through all of that. Here’s to an easy surgery and recovery for you!

That dino drink sounds delish. Too bad it’s summer and so very early in the day. The scarf looks fabulous! tee hee.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?
Diet Coke. Lame, but I’m completely addicted. Diet Mountain Dew if I need an extra boost :)

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
….is impossible to choose, but I once gave a speech saying it was the Joy Luck Club, so I’ll go with that.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
I’m happily partnerless, so I’d probably round up my friends for cookies and The First Wives Club.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
Hm…I’ve always wanted to go to Southern California. I’m a born and bred East Coaster (living in Boston, no less), so I’m curious about a place where apparently most people *don’t* constantly panic about grades/time/the apocalypse/everything. Plus I’m a closet beach junkie.

Thanks. I also googled it.

Not a fantasy fan, just not my thing. So I am unfamiliar with Harry Potter.

It is! I forgot to introduce myself. Francine Fein from Ann Arbor, Michigan…a long-time reader of all the folks on Firedoglake….since the Libby trial. Most of the time I don’t have anything to add, but I learn so much on this site. You all are awesome!

Well, how-de-do? Nice to meet you.

1. Your drink of choice is _________?
Campari and soda with a twist for refreshment or a Bombay Sapphire Martini if I want to relax fast.

2. Your favorite book of all time, would be impossible – a different ansewer any given day

3. Harry Potter — love it

4. favorite comfort food and a movie. Mac and cheese and His Girl Friday

5. Paris because I have been there – Yokyo because I haven’t

Life’s been treating me pretty well of late, compared to so many.

I’ve hesitatied saying the same because so many are hurting but that’s what’s been going on here as well. I got a promotion with a 20% salary increase, my niece finally landed a permanent teaching job (after subbing for 2 yrs), my daughter got tenure and my husband (who manages a GM dealership) is still doing okay. Anyone having a similar experience?

I just knew this thread would be a fun one. :)

Anyone who loves Lake Superior is an immediate friend of mine. Hope that’s okay! *g* My kids are grown, too. Harry Potter is for the kid in all of us. Honest! Try ‘em. One is not enough!! And welcome to the Lake.

I enjoy whodunnits and have read all flavors from the Agatha Christie types on through Mickey Spillane and the others I mentioned. Noir type short stories are also fun.

I also read both hard sci-fi and fantasy and have enjoyed many different authors and series in those genres as well.

Oh and good historical fiction (Sir Walter Scott, Colleen McCullough’s Rome series, Frank Yerby, Kenneth Roberts, Samuel Shellabarger are examples)

Morning all, What I would drink might vary with mood and conditions. A barbeque would be one thing, A regular cocktail party I would start with a 12 yo Skotch and water and switch to tonic w/ a twist of lime. If there is food I would have a red wine.

As a single, adult man, I can assure you that the Harry Potter stories can be easily enjoyed by adults.

Ravensclaw is one of the four “houses” of Hogwarts Academy of Magic. The four are Gryffindor, Ravensclaw, (boo, hiss) Slytherin, and Hufflepuff. Very loosely, the first is for the “bold and the brave”, the iconoclasts and adventurers. The second is for the intellectuals, academians, and researchers. The third is for the ambitious, the driven, the darker souls, and the fourth for everyone else.

Membership in a house was no guarantee of behavior, though. Gryffindors could be hard-core jerks and bullies, and Slytherins could be genteel and even laid-back.

Good morning. I think if I started drinking something else, Dr. Pepper stock would plunge dramatically. For special occasions, I would drink the small bottles, made with cane sugar, and raise a pinkie.

Like everyone else, I’ve read so many good books I couldn’t pick. If rereading is a guide, I don’t know how many times I’ve gone back to All Creatures Great and Small. Still, I’ve read a lot which were great, but required more work.

I haven’t read Harry Potter, but am happy about it’s success, both for the author and for the fact that it rediscovers reading as an activity for young people. As a kid, I got infatuated with Howard Pyle’s books on the King Arthur legends. I had to watch myself to keep from saying “Prithee,” “I would fain…,” etc. on the baseball diamond.

Like you Christy, I’d probably eat mac and cheese, or maybe crackers and milk. Like books, there are a lot of great movies. I’d probably re-watch one something like |the original Twelve Angry Men or maybe African Queen, just to recall how good they were.

I suppose I would choose to tour Italy, because of the combination of natural beauty and man-made wonders.

Hi Christy,

1. Club Soda with a twist of lime. At home (meaning I don’t have to drive or I don’t care if we argue about politics because they are all friends — something sweet, Black russian, Amaretto with coffee, pinapple soda with Coconut rum, etc.)

2. It’s always the last book I read, but if I were all alone on an island and could never have another book it would be one of Michael Pollan’s on food or the Botany of Desire.

3. Love Harry.

4. Milk Toast for the mopes (buttered toast cut into bite-sized pieces, covered with hot milk and honey to taste) and Chicken Broth for a cold/fever/flu. Movies? Something with Paul Newman or a “period” piece with lots of beautiful costumes and “English” accents.

5. One full year of travelling throughout the world. Trains and planes and boats and cars. Summer in Moscow, Winter in Sydney, Spring in Paris and Beijing in the Fall.

Good morning Christy and all delukers and regulars.

Here in Austin we have a locally produced vodka named Tito’s. The best tasting vodka I’ve ever had. With anything or nothing. That being said, when not drinking beer I prefer single malt scotch. Usually the Glenlivet.

I could never pick one book.

Would love to go to Paris and Rome.

(Dora the cat is helping with this comment so it has taken a long time to type)

Just walked past my bookcases on way to/from coffee hunting/gathering. Wallace Stegner’s “Angle of Repose.” See? I’m not totally shallow! *g*

Johnny Walker Red, on the rocks, because I can sip that burnt cardboard for a loooong time! :)
Er, Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow, because it is just so amazing and so absurd and delightful to read. (I must like big books because I’m 1/3 of the way into Doris Kearns Goodwin’s, Team of Rivals – about Lincoln.)
Ambivalent – Haven’t read any but enjoy the movies
Meat loaf and smashed ‘taters (with gravy) and any of either the Marx Brothers or Charlie Chaplin
Too many choices, but my wife says that we must sometine SOON take my parochial self to Italy in the off season. She swears that I won’t mind it if it rains (which I understand since I swear that Tennessee is best appreciated in the rain.)
So, there it is, a liberal arts engineer working a gummint job in his mid fifties that ain’t nothing more than a home boy on the farm.

I read mostly nonfiction, about politics, war, economics, spooks, etc. I’m a fiction moron, since I know there is so much more to a good novel than I can appreciate. Doesn’t stop me from trying, but nonfiction is a much more comfortable millieu.

Funny how the kitties know just when to “help” to slow things down, isn’t it? It’s always a joust between the cat, the dachshund and the 6 year old here. *g*

1. Drink of choice is a well made Pimm’s Cup…although they’re hard to find. Usually just have a pinot grigio.

2. Another biblioholic here. Can’t pick a favorite but my most memorable one is from childhood, “Taffy of Torpedo Junction” — must have read it a hundred times.

3. Love Harry Potter.

4. Homemade chicken and pastry with sides of collards, Silver Queen corn and biscuits. The movie one is tough — probably “You’ve Got Mail”.

5. An extended tour (with golf clubs) of Scotland and its islands.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?
Either Canadian Club Manhattan on the rocks, or a nice Shiraz.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
Couldn’t possibly choose, mysteries, SciFi, bestsellers, politics, just about anythiing. Favorite authors: John Sandford, Richard North Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Jodi Picoult, Sue Grafton, Jonathon Kellerman, and except for her last couple, Patricia Cornwell.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
I’m long divorced and very content, so I’d be fixing myself mac & cheese or anything with noodles.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
All of the states in the US that I’ve never visited, plus Australia. Always have wanted to go “downunder.”

Not understanding your assumption about folks in So. California. My sister and her partner are both teachers. She – 4th grade. He – Doctor of Theology. They are almost always reading and grading papers, but I don’t think they worry about the end times.
I would hate to make an unintelligent generalization about people in Baston. Care to share?

live coverage of obama speaking before the parliament of ghana. quite an amazing speech he’s giving.

I’m usually the designated driver here, too — club soda, twist of lime and, if I’m feeling racy, a splash of cranberry juice. lol

Oh, wow. What a wonderful new/old world awaits you! When is the surgery?

Thanks. I can see HP is a whole alternate universe!

Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a gummint job. Don’t pay much, but the benefits can’t be beat. :)

Oooh, Marx Brothers — haven’t watched any for ages, but am going ot have to dig out a DVD now. Thanks for the reminder.

Once on a business trip, as the airplane was descending toward Glasgow, I saw about 4 golf courses on the Scottish coast. Have photos taken from the plane window somewhere.

OOPS. Forgot Harry Potter. I couldn’t get through the first volume. Neat story about that one: my son’s second boy and my son-in-law had a special bond over Harry Potter. My son-in-law even took my grandson to camp out at a local bookstore to get the very latest of one of the HP books. My son-in-law has two daughters who weren’t then of reading age, so it was cute to see him “adopt” his nephew for some Harry Potter fun.

I had the best Pimm’s Cup in NOLA at the Napoleon House. It was fantastic — they popped in a cucumber spear, and it was a wonderfully refreshing twist on the usual.

Good Morning….Ive been trying to get rid of a bunch of books..that may mean just room for more…for a long time I was totally moved by Eudora Welty’s The Optimist Daughter. It has one of my favorite lines…worth the read (then my book group was not very fond if the book!! Yuk)

Drink…o well. I drink little, but usually wine…good white or Merlot. But to confess, since I lived years in New Orleans….I can remember (almost) being introduced to Kahlua & Cream and Harvey Wallbangers…. And, I loved Norma Rae when I became a Sally Fields addict.

Oh, yes it is! One literally enmeshed with our own. The conceit of the series is that wizards and witches walk among us, but their existence is kept mostly secret from us non-magic “Muggles”.

And their world has amazing depth for a kid’s series, with a ton of memorable characters. Most of the novels, in fact, were more character-driven whodunits then anything — Agatha Christie would have been proud.

Oooooh, collards. I boil ‘em for a good long while in a big pot o’ water with olive oil. Raise ‘em in the garden every fall to have with black eyed peas and “hog jowl” (ok, bacon or ham) on New Year’s Day. As the black folks in town taught me when I was growing up, the peas is for my pennies and the collards is for my dollar bills in the year to come.

Hey, welcome! Beware the big books if you read in bed. I have an ongoing fear that I’ll fall asleep and be crushed by the likes of “Edgar Sawtelle” or even Harry Potter, hard cover.

Australia is awfully tempting — and that cross-country train that ArchTeryx mentioned sounds too wonderful to miss!

Thanks for comin out. Nice to see I’m not the only mid-50’s technical type that hangs out here.

I hope this isn’t an awkward question, but I’ve been wondering why I haven’t seen Looseheadprop around the threads lately. Anyone know what’s up? It is possible I’ve just missed her, but I’m at FDL regularly so that’s unlikely.

How about a mid-60s technical type? *g*

Saw someone reading a kimble on the subway last week. You might try that for the heavier physical books for bedtime reading.

Make that kindle, not kimble. Don’t see any edit button.

So, should I read Welty? Particularly “Optimist’s Daughter”? She’s part of the missing link in my reading chain. Oh. G’morning to you!

Love Lawrence Block. I saw him speak at the Washington DC book festival. It was right after his latest ‘Burglar’ book came out. In his speech he said he’s often asked about when another ‘burglar’ book will be released, that women tell him that, while they like Tanner, they want to marry Bernie. (I think he cleaned that up a bit.)

Not an awkward question at all — life came up. LHP is welcome any time, but life has gotten in the way for the moment, at least.

I’ll have a glass of Griottes-Chambertin, a ‘99 from René Leclerc if you’ve got it.

George F. Kennan, Memoirs, 1925-1950

peanut butter and bacon sandwich, “Chinatown.”

I don’t have an opinion about Harry Potter books.

Corniglia, in the Cinque Terre, just to watch the Mediterranean from up high.

I did not know that about you. I’m in manufacturing, how about you?

And back to you…yes, it’s short and special, I think. And, I welcomed your post; it was clearly provocative, yes?

I love my kindle. I inherited Mr. ReddHedd’s old model when he received a new one for his birthday. And I absolutely adore it for that reason — I can read an enormous book in bed without any strain at all. And when you are traveling and finish a book? You can download another to read almost instantaneously.

It’s a brilliant device.

The man gives a great speech when he wants to, but as a big reader of John, Joe and Chris at AmericaBlog, I’m getting fed-up with the way he is back-pedaling on much that he promised during the campaign – gay rights and health care are the prime examples.

Shhhh, don’t tell. I have one. And though I love the streamlined thingie (it will define any word in the text, underline, make notes, read out loud to you if you love stilted, mechanical voices, change font size, etc., etc.) I still feel like a traitor to my “real” books.

OT: If you did not see Bill Moyers last night…..Please find it online….a great guest with background in health insurance talking about the health reform debate. Remarkable..

The response totally surprised me. A topic for the times, I guess. Christy, folks said some very nice things about you!

Very long time mostly lurker.
1. not a drinker but would probably pick a beer – Harp or Bass Ale
2.am also a bibliophile and couldn’t pick just one – I also find an unread author and read all they have written. Am considering getting a kindle after trying a friends.
3.love it – am not a movie watcher but even have them all.
4.turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing. I’d rather read than watch a movie.
5.to the world dog show someplace interesting. It is held in a different location every year.

Looking forward to next Friday when I will get a new hip. I have been having more and more pain and am looking forward to being pain free for the first time in about 8 years. I will miss FDL lake while in the hospital although there may be accessibility there. I haven’t found out yet.

Oooooh — Chinatown. Love that one. Some amazing acting in that, and a script to die for — excellent choice.

CHS & barbara, I’m still procrastinating on buying a kindle. I’ll get one eventually, as they sound great and books in any form (listen to around 50/year & love audio books) are fine by me. Just haven’t had any particular spur to do it.

August 19th, with the preop workup a week earlier. August is one long paid “vacation” month — a week in California to see friends, a week with my mother, then surgery and recovery.

Oh — what? I completely missed it…where?

I love the Napoleon House. I can sit in there and nibble at my muffeletta for hours watching the world go by. But then, I love the Quarter during the day and can gladly leave it to the rest at night!

Hi Christy and everybody!

1 – Peroni beer

2 – Charlotte’s Web – not only best kids’ book ever, best book ever period

3 – Half-Blood Prince was the best, finally lost interest after that – anyway just yay for Ms. Rowling

4 – Beef stroganoff over rice, All About Eve

5 – no idea .. when it’s time for me to die though, i’d like to be in Amsterdam

Happy Saturday and viva FDL!

Coffee’s gone and another fabulous day awaits me for outside tasks.

A big welcome to all the lurkers who came out this morning, and thanks Christy for making it happen.

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1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is a nice cabernet.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what? Not much of a fiction guy, so I’d sit down and read ‘Le Grand livre de Cuisine d’Alain Ducasse, and then probably cooks something.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

Love it

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch? A giant plate of oysters with fresh horseradish, hot sauce and drizzled with a little olive oil. Watching, Rear Window….AH. Oh and the oysters probably wouldn’t happen because he can’t really open them although for me he might go out and have someone do it.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

Continental tour of Africa with a 3 week layover in Paris.

Do take care — may the surgery be as easy as possible, and the physical therapist tough enough to get the job done but not some evil bastard. *g*

Hey, welcome to the surface! And very best wishes on your new hip. Please let us know how you’re doing. “New” author to me is Elizabeth Strout. Happened to pick up “Olive Kitteridge” on my Kindle, having no idea whatsoever that she won the Pulitzer or it. She’d be please to know I liked it, I’m sure. *g*

I was thinking about Kindle for the website access as well. But then I read there was a fee to subscribe to certain sites. Now, if that fee goes directly to FDL, I have no problem with that but if it goes elsewhere I might hesitate. So, tell me…..will I be supporting liberal sites if I subscribe or amazon.com?

Just another mid-60s here.
Vacations: African safari to see the wildlife; Alaskah taking amphibious plane lake to lake. Alaska is the only state I have not been to. Like to tour old places – new stuff is all kitsch. Greek Isles would be great.

Good luck on that hip….amazing what they can do, isn’t it? Blessings.

I have spent 20 years in higher-ed information technology. Not so deep into the techie, more in the support side, mainly devoted to support for the academy (as opposed to administrative computing). I used to do some networking stuff too, but now my job is IT policy.

We just watched the original Charlotte’s Web again yesterday, The Peanut and I. She adores it. We tried reading the book, but she’s not quite there yet. Soon, though…that and Stuart Little are just around the corner.

I posted a diary at Seminal. Yesterday, I think. You need to know/internalize the immense esteem in which you’re held here, ma’am. Small wonder, I say. But guess what? I really do want to be like you when/if I grow up. You are an incredible role model in multiple ways. There! I said it and I’m glad.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

Sorry–never got a taste for booze. Now if your bar has some other good stuff….

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

Hands down–The Instinct of Workmanship by Thorstein Veblen. It is the perfect antidote to the crazy economics that have been taught on the last 35 years.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

Absolutely loathe Harry Potter. If you are going to have a child read a big fat book, PLEASE let it have ideas more substantial than the fantasy you can make brooms fly by saying the “right” magic words to it. Oh. Mah. Gawd!

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

Tuna hot dish made with egg noodles and a really silly / fun movie like Slapshot or Blazing Saddles.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

Scandinavia. The people and scenery are SO beautiful, folks are SO well-read and literate, the environment is so cared for, there are NO slums and other signs of extreme poverty to depress you, and at least once a day, someone will provide you with an insight that will leave you stunned by the awareness of it all.

Ooooooh, Ducasse. Damn, now I really am hungry for something complicated and wonderful…

I think Amazon gets a big chunk of whatever is downloaded, though less sure about the news sites. So far, I’ve just done books. There’s a new, larger Kindle for larger publications (e.g., NYTimes, Newsweek, The Nation…pretty much anything that starts with N *g*).

And ecahnomics, the price on Kindles has just been reduced by (oh, lord, barbara, do the math in your head) ummm, nearly 20%.

There is a fee for things like the NYTimes and the WSJ as a subscription and such. I don’t know about blog/journal access because I don’t subscribe on mine — I do most of my web browsing by computer so I can cut and paste if need be for an article.

But I don’t know the answer on the fee question. I know it is something we’ve at least looked at — Jane might know the answer on that one.

Amen! We have to get ready to take my (29 year old birthday girl) daughter, her husband and the 4 year old granddaughter to Lake Winnepesaukah (a fun old amusement park). Thanks for the company this morning.

You are such a sweetie. *blushing* But really, you all are. We have such a great set of commenters that shows up for PUAC on Saturdays, don’t we?

GM, Christy and welcome to everyone. I’m a Corona girl, extra lime.

A book I read in the last year or so, “How the Irish Saved Civilization,” was really excellent. I recall from years ago that “Sophie’s Choice” was a real page turner. Love books.

I have not read Harry Potter. I think I went to see one of the movies with some very young friends from Oslo. I think it was a little lost on me. . .But if it has inspired young people to read, so great.

I would be ice cream (chocolate mint) and Altman, I think Gosford Park is one of my all time faves.

I would have to try a new place that I have never seen. I would like to go somewhere in the ME, but Thailand or India would be pretty great. I have never been “down under.” And there are plenty of places in the US that I have not seen. I love travel.

Speaking of good books, I just read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the sequel. Anyone tried those yet?

Y’all come back now, you hear?

Sorry to hear that. I hope she’ll be back!

Now, I’m off on an adventure! Going 50 miles away to pick out the granite slabs that will be my new kitchen countertops. It is kinda awsome to think of having countertops that were MINED from the ground — in this case, Brazil, I think!

I expect to go directly home as I have some friends staying to dog sit and help. The PT will come to the house initially. The surgery is with the small incision and I should heal quickly. Thanks.

1. gin and tonic
2. a few: William Least-Heat Moon, Prairy Erth; Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (loved the book; hated the movie); Doctor Zhivago (Pasternak) and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (bookends of the Soviet state)
3. Loved it only because Rowling did such a masterful job of closing out the series and tying up the loose ends. Actually had a well worked out back story instead of just grandiose plans.
4. Grits with butter and black pepper; anything by Fellini
5. With no constraints, everywhere; choosing in order: a walk through the United States; riding the Trans-Siberian railway; Longyearben, Spitsbergen, Svalbard; freighter down the the South Atlantic Islands; Brazil; Argentina; Indonesia…

I have to learn to read faster. Got to “granite slabs,” and thought OMG!!! Who died?

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is ________?
kettle One martini up with olives

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

It used to the phone book until the internet took over. From Pizza to Puppys it has it all, or the dictionary.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?
Neutral

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
Tomato soup and grilled cheese, and Young Frankenstein

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
The Iberian penisula, and I would spend months there living there to feel the soul of the culture.

I first discovered Block through his Tanner books way back when and enjoy Bernie as well. But both of those are more brain candy. His Scudder books also speak to his skills as a Noir writer.

Oh and Christy? Do someday take an Amtrak cross country. You can get double sleeper cabins. You will meet an interesting mix of folks in the lounge and dining cars and just be able to relax and enjoy the conversations and passing countryside.

1. Not much of a drinker but if someone’s mixing, one of those fancy, fluffy, feminine sort of things where ya can’t taste the alcohol. Wouldn’t turn down a good healthy slug of Benedictine either.

2. Book selection for a desert island – dictionary (minimum thickness – 10”)

3. No children or grandchildren so I’ve just never got around to the Potter books but consider them wonderful for the same reason others have mentioned……encouraging children to read.

4. Chicken & pastry (but, like dakine01, only if I make it). Chicken & dumplings does NOT qualify! diablesseblu – iirc, you’re in NC; we need to get together and sample each others’ cooking.
I’m with Christy on the period movies with their glorious costumes.

5. Back to England……. to the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwell which, based on the books I have, looks to be a truly magical place. The trip would, of course, be timed to coincide with the Chelsea Flower Show. :-) Thinking back on it, iirc, it was one of Christy’s PUAC garden or meet&greet threads when I first delurked to talk about the CFS…..long ago and far away. *g*

Second on list – probably Australia to see the gorgeous places filmed in LOTR.

I live between southeastern and southwestern NC. No, I don’t live in an RV; just spend part of the year in each end of the state. Taught university for 30 years and now enjoying retirement.

Pleased to make everyone’s acquaintance. :-))

I’ve always wanted to do that — especially if we could get a train that has one of the view cars that have the glass tops for scenery. I saw a PBS special about them ages ago and they looked wonderfully comfy and beautiful.

Good morning all!

1. I’ll have a Hendricks martini with a slice of cucumber, gives it a completely different flavor. Later, a Macallan 21 yr or other single malt, or some good wine.

2. The Stand. Unabridged.

3. Disinterested in Harry Potter, don’t have an opinion either way.

4. Hungarian Ghoulash with egg noodles, and Moonstruck.

5. Europe by train, or New Zealand. I WILL make it to Middle Earth!

No BBQ this week, giving the smoker a rest. But a co-worker is making a brisket for me, can’t wait.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

My drink would probably be Rum and Coke but if they had Clicquot champagne then I’d have to go for that because I can’t afford to buy it on my own. LOL

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

There are so many that I love but if pressed I’d have to choose Lord of the Rings.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

Neither. I like Harry Potter but there are other fantasy novels that I like better. Like someone else said, I’m also very happy that Potter made kids want to read. That’s great!

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

If I was down in the dumps or had a cold I’d want Empress chicken and a couple of egg rolls from my favorite Schezuan Chinese restaurant with hot ooh long tea. I’m afraid with my love of movies that it would be a movie marathon. We could start with a couple of ThinMan films then go from there – Tracy, Hepburn, Bogart, Cagney, Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, etc.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

I would go to Napier New Zealand for the Art Deco weekend. Check it out. It’s so cool if you like the 1920s/1930s and of course Art Deco.

http://www.artdeconapier.com/D…..d_116.aspx

Ooooh, a tour of Gertrude Jekyll’s gardens in Britain would be awfully fun.

I also love dictionaries. I have a collection of them, none far from my desk.

I finally finished the E.L. Doctorow book, City of God I’ve been working on for three weeks. While I was stumbling through it, I read a Robert Parker and a Sue Grafton. Anyone else here ever read Doctorow?

When I was a GI, I had a single sleeper from Chicago to San Francisco (while on my way to a flight to Hawaii). Two day trip that left Chicago on Sunday evening and arrived San Francisco Tuesday afternoon.

It was supposed to be one of the dome cars but that particular train, the dome was under repair so not available.

But even with the standard cars, it was a magnificent trip

I only caught the last half but it *was* a great program. And Moyer’s comments on the selling of wapoo’s soul was exceptional!

I’m fascinated by them. I find them inspirational a lot of times when I’m blocked creatively.

Wow, 111 responses and it’s only 6:40 here in the West.

I just finished “Assisted Loving” by Bob Morris and I recommend it to everyone for a good laugh and look at life. The author is a gay writer who helped his widowed dad screen for eligible women to date.

Moonstruck? “Snap out of it!” hehehehe

Oh, now that sounds like a book that would be a hoot and a half! Thanks for the tip!

Well, since my drink would most likely be a clb soda with lime, you can have whatever you want.

LOL. Some dinosaurs, probably. Urk. I should read up on where granite comes from…

Twisted @ 113 -

If I had a memory, I’d be dangerous…….New Zealand, of course, for LOTR.

Mornin’, Christy, pups

Late gettin’ here this morning.

The quiz first.

1. Single malt Scotch

2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

3. Love Harry Potter.

4. Mandarin duck and Harold and Maude

5. Beijing because I’ve always wanted to see the Forbidden City and the imperial museums.

Now to read all the comments. Nice to see so many folks here this morning.

I missed the whole thing. The mister watched it. I was busy trying to get my big young hound dog and my very old cat to get along. Cat used to run this place until we brought the hound home from the pound a year and a half ago. Cat got really p o’d. Has mainly stayed outside and sulked. He got into a cat fight the other day and I’ve been nursing him in my bedroom ever since. So, the dog’s been sleeping right outside the bedroom door and whining, crying and so very sad. Last night I got both of them to lay on the bed with me. I gave them a big talking to. About sharing and getting along. Although I think it was the barbequed salmon that did the trick.

Ooooooh — Thin Man. Is there anything better than a snarky Myrna Loy? Honestly?

Sorry to be so late. Being 58 in a household of 18 to 25 year olds coming and going all night is rough on my usual pattern of early to bed, early to rise. I finally got some sleep when they quieted down. I suppose I’ll miss them when I finally get moved in a few weeks.

Have Austen fans seen the movie “Lost in Austen”? An Austen fan falls into Pride and Prejudice while Elizabeth Bennett falls into her 21st Century world. There is one scene that will cause anyone familiar with Colin Firth’s Darcy portrayal to howl with laughter.

A rather insufferable status climber sniffed that New Zealand had such low wages that no one who valued “his” career would go there (I was inquiring if he knew of hydrogeologists who needed a job as my husband may need to hire another one and NZ doesn’t educate their own, as I understand it). Well, yes, the wages are lower and yes, the money is worth less then most on the global market. But on a day to day basis, I was happier there than any place I’ve lived. No worries, mate. I’ll be arriving back on Aug 8. I’ll need to send pictures, too right?

That book looks pretty good. I may try it.

ooh, sounds great!

We found a great train called the American Orient Express where the cars were fixed up like the old Pullman cars but unfortunately they went out of business. One of these days when we win the lottery (LOL) we will take a train trip. We both love the sound of trains and the time period when train travel was widely used.

I’ll second that for the Thin Man. I think there are six of them, right? Grand ones, all of them.

Would love to do one of those speciality garden/great houses tours but the ones I’ve seen are frightfully expensive……but you *did* say no matter how pricey. *g*

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is ________?
I’m hooked on black strap rum and Coke (no pepsi please!)

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
Too many to choose, but I love a good space opera (cotton candy for the mind!). Say, Doc Smith’s Lensmen? Totally prejudice in all the ’50’s WASP ways, but a ripping yarn.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?
Love it. Can’t finish it, though, for whatever reason…

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
My partner doesn’t cook, but I’d probably have a huge plate of home-made (by me) spaghetti.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
Australia and environs: Need to see Ulhuru and am curious about a place with that many poisonous (and bizarre) animals.

I DO comment on (very) rare occasions, but I’m comfortable to read the writings of my betters ;) I’ve been in high tech (programmer and tester) for 36ish years and am currently working for the Great Satan (Microsoft).

You got that right! Isn’t she a jewel! We just love the snappy comebacks from both Loy and Powell. We must have seen those films 100s of times and we never tire of them. I’m the same way with Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes movies.

Mornin’, Dragon -

5. Beijing because I’ve always wanted to see the Forbidden City and the imperial museums.

Would so love to see the terracotta warriors on site.

They are horribly expensive aren’t they? But as long as we’re playing “money is no object,” let’s throw in a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show while we’re at it. And a side trip of a luxury train ride around Scotland’s highlands. *g*

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is
For a summer party: a margarita, or that Corona with lime would be nice, or Dos XX

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
I loved Shogun, but there are so many wonderful reads. Have been saving some Thomas Hardy’s for “just the right time.”

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?
The excerpts I’ve read are so rich, must be wonderful.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
My sister’s chicken pot pie; and it would be Heaven if she would serve it.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?
Gee, hard to pick — have to do Ireland, want to do Italy and Greece, definitely Crete. I guess that’s a good start.

It’s fun to read everybody’s replies and a delight to meet new faces. :)
And to be reminded of great movies and books, and also to get new ideas. I love Pull Up A Chair, thanks Christy.

And tragic….and Moyers has certainly been around. Im usually mostly an optimistic… where do we go from here? Maybe he will get around to that as well.

Got to be stunning. Just thinking about the sheer magnitude of the task gives me a headache.

Dial-up so I can’t watch vids on computer but, iirc, don’t they do a transcript? Moyers’ delivery is a big part of his appeal which unfortunately doesn’t come with the t-script. ;-(

Well, my husband doesn’t cook either. But he can order some mean take-out. *g*

If no one is going to talk to me, I think I’ll go make something to eat. A salmon omelette maybe.

That would be magnificent, but would also like to see what surprises are still buried there *s*

Hey, Demi, was it you who got that stunning vessel bowl sink and faucet awhile back? I bookmarked the photo, but now I can’t find it. I’m not in the market at the moment, but one of these days (after my home equity line recovers from the countertops…).

Christy @ 138 -

And the CFS ticket would be for the *entire* week, not just one day. Or, if we’re going whole Dog, one of the pre-show tickets when the crowds are lighter.

LOL. Is the salmon leftover from the cat/dog feast? Try offering it to everyone here.

Saw your note about Angela yesterday. It’s so nice when they accept a new home right away. Takes a lot of stress off the new slave.

You would love, love, love the Highlands! What a fabulously rugged, broody, moody, historic site.

I’m off for a bit. Today is my mother’s 80th birthday. Need to do a few things to prepare for party.

Ooooohhh! Luxury train rides in the Scottish Highlands. I’m for that. When do we leave? LOL

I comment little here anymore, but do want to thank Christy for the whole aura she established here at fdl from the beginning. It is humane and compassionate, with a zeal for straight down honesty. When I read her, I am reminded of the teaching emphasized in my church while growing up “When you do this unto the least of these, you do it unto me” where Jesus was talking about feeding the poor and clothing the hungry. I also thought it meant that abusing those who suffer is akin to abusing the divine. If the divine is truly within all of us (latent or evident), then I think that is true. Christy has embued that deep compassion for life into this blog, and particularly this recurring thread. On your down days, if you have down days, Christy, know that many of this drink at this well for its needed sustenance and refreshment.

Do you have an “edit” button that works?!? I could swear that message was blank a few seconds ago.

The Lake and the tubes in general seem to be a bit wonky this a.m., at least at this end of the line.

Oh my — I can’t possibly live up to that billing. But thanks. *blush*

I’ll talk to you to save you from eating a salmon omelette. YUCK! Sorry, just teasing. I’m not real big on salmon. LOL

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Refresh your screen — whenever someone uses italics or bold, or quotes something in a blockquote, things get hinky until you refresh. Sorry — we’re working on it but the front page redo had to take precedence.

Hey, Can I come?

AdAstra @ 153 -

Well and beautifully said!

Off to get a paper…..tho’ they’re probably all sold out by now – it’s near on impossible to leave one of Christy’s PUAC thread.

bbl

1. Favorite drink is probably a nice IPA, though I’ve been known to favor both Guinness and really expensive Burgundy wines

2. My favorite book from back when I was a pro was Karl Capek’s War with the Newts–though I haven’t read fiction in years

3. Read Harry Potter during the period I was diagnosed with cancer. It was very distracting (so good, for that reason), but the early books were too Manichean for me (later ones got better). I think they’ll foster an unhealthy sense of black and white in children.

4. Mopes and movie? Probably pot roast or roast chicken and V for Vendetta.

5. Travel? I think I’d like to LIVE in NE France for a time, and/or spend 2 months traveling around India on the cheap.

The gremlins like to play on Christy’s page. If you see something weird just refresh. That cures all ills.

hmmm, I didn’t edit it.

Sometimes at Christy’s I have to reload the page for the most recent comments, but I don’t know why that is.

T’weren’t me.

Yep, she is hysterical and a beautiful face (Im a pushover); she does not seem to mind when I sometimes call her Emily…..her predecessor. All part of lovely friends and memories. Thanks….how is Gigi?

I have the same problem. I always have to refresh to see updated comments unless I post a comment and then it refreshes on it’s own.

Well, you know I’m getting mentally dyslexic. Feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. Sigh.

I love the movie V. Great choice!

Yes, and you are welcome to have some. And, now that I’m cooking it, guess who all has come to “help” in the kitchen?

Christy @ 158 -

we’re working on it but the front page redo had to take precedence.

And very nice, it is!….have been remiss in passing along compliments for all who’ve worked to make it so. Don’t think the problems stem from the Lake; the lefty sites I’ve hit this morning have been simply dragging.

Oh, Marcy — allow me to introduce you to the vacation I can’t afford, yet covet: the river barge cruise through the Loire. Or pretty much anywhere else in Europe.

Gourmet meals. Nice wines. And waterways. Ahhhhhh….

Good morning Christy and pups.

Late to this due to that mountain being climbed by the Tour de France cyclists, great race this year.

1) I stay away from open bars, I don’t suffer bad drinkers in the most civil of ways at times. But, a Boréale noire, a Guiness style beer, with a good food.

2)I still think that Antoine de St-Exupery’s ” Le petit Prince” still resonates with this person as quite the achievement.

3)I have no opinion on Harry, never read a sentence.

4)A well seasoned pho soup, with raw beef slowly steeping in it. I can still watch “Alone in the wilderness” with the same sense of awe as the first time I saw it.

5)I’d isolate myself for a few months, taking pictures of the wildlife, Hudson Bay would be just remote enough.

Have a great weekened. Jazz fest is finishing.

Thanks for mentioning the Prince…..I find I still often quote from it. What a delight…

You are always welcome.

Oh man, I sure would love to go along on some of these trips, garden house tours, Scottish Highlands, the Orient Express, how about tracks across Canada…

If you liked V for Vendetta, I bet you’d like these movies too. They both have the good guys getting their revenge on the bad guys a la Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Executive Suite

From the very moment I started watching Executive Suite until the very end, I was amazed at how accurate the producer and director and the stars of this film portrayed big business as it has always been and unfortunately as it always will be! Big business films are never dated! The same backstabbing political games were there then and are still there now! Sure, this film was made in 1954 and it is now almost 50 years later and the way in which business is transacted has changed but big business itself hasn’t changed a bit. Watch the movie and you will see. Everyone was superb in this film and even though Paul Douglas didn’t get very good reviews, I personally thought that he was one of the best actors in this great film. Barbara Stanwyck whose screen time was very short, turned in a grand performance as a family stockholder. Nina Foch was never better in the role of the secretary of the big boss and more than deserved her academy award nomination for best supporting actress even though she did not win. I also liked the casting of William Holden and June Allyson together; at first I thought an odd combination but they worked well together! You gotta see this one! Lots of suspense!

The Solid Gold Cadillac

Laura Partridge is a very enthusiastic small stockholder of 10 shares in International Projects, a large corporation based in New York. She attends her first stockholder meeting ready to question the board of directors from their salaries to their operations. These are not the questions which the board expected to be asked of them, especially since they are all crooked, except for Edward McKeever, the current CEO who has resigned in order to take an advisory position at the Pentagon. Following the meeting, he bumps into Laura and offers to drive her home. On the way there, Laura displays her enthusiasm for being a stockholder, as a result, Edward takes a liking to her. With Edward in Washington, John Blessington and Clifford Snell establish their hold on International Projects – They see greater riches now that Edward has influence with the US senate, especially with the awarding of federal contracts, unfortunately for them he is honest, and won’t do their bidding. In the meantime, Laura continues to be a nusance to the board. Blessington believes the only way to silence her, is to give her a high paying position with the company. The idea is for her to do absolutely nothing – Laura has other plans. She begins to correspond with other small stockholders in the company – a problem for the board. They decide to use her influence on Edward and send her to Washington to get contracts. Laura now knowing their true intentions for her, has her own agenda, that is, get Edward back in charge of the company.

Christy – I love a good snark, but I’m straight on serious that there is another dimension to your writing that I often miss in the snarky ones and that is the compassion and fierce protection of those in need of it. The prosecutor still lives on. And it comes through without the sanctimony of religion, which makes it so decent and powerful.

I often muse about the indefineable part of people’s writing style. I read thousands of student produced words per year. I ask my students to write pages and pages that I read, but don’t grade or mark. Over time, a sense of the person emerges from the shape of the sentences, the choices of words. I am intrigued with the way we get a sense of a person on the internet…..words and sentences and choices shaping an identity and persona, in absence of any evidence other than the characters appearing on the screen.

I comment little here anymore, but do want to thank Christy for the whole aura she established here at fdl from the beginning. It is humane and compassionte,

AdAstra, Darn it, now you have ruined Christy’s chances at ever getting 60 votes in the Senate.

Sooooo, be careful. Thanks. Any more information about classes?

Came home yesterday morning with a new feeding tube. Sutured in better this time I think with collar and wrap rearranged. Vet said she wasn’t gaining enough weight so its 2 1/2 cans fancy feast every day. She’s never eaten that much in her life. Tolerates it very well. Surprisingly she was out looking for breakfast this morning. Usually takes her a day or two to recover from the sedation. The techs gave her a nice bath since she can’t groom herself and my brushing her doesn’t quite fill the bill. She’s now zonked next to the base of the waterbed.

Hi demi!! How ya doing this AM??
Open bar?? can’t drink so Calistoga lemon of course.
Books too many to have a favorite… Mitchner? Herbert, Asimov way too many good books!!
Harry Potter… liked the movies and I agree anything to get the kids reading… Had one son who thought books were a bunch of word… I could have strangled him… glad he grew out of it and now loves to read..

Sick ?? if ya can keep it down my home made chicken sure does the trick… just made some this week with lots of veggies and wing drums and cut up breast meat.. I love to cook… in fact I am making jambalaya for the Bear Creek meetup at my place on the 25th, but I love to cook and I love to make the whole gamut of things especially Cajun food and and shit I really don’t have a favorite.. Oh and IT IS my kitchen so stay outa my way!!
Travel?? Seeing as me and the cold are not friends any place warm like Hawaii, Mexico would love to travel all of South America!!

Morning, demi! How’s it going over in your corner of Hot?

Great observation!

2)I still think that Antoine de St-Exupery’s ” Le petit Prince” still resonates with this person as quite the achievement.

Oh, that one’s a true keeper. Have to make myself a note to find the copy……it’s at the other end of the state…which seems always the case no matter which place I’m in.

Long time reader, lately invisible lurker. I’ve never found a community like this.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is
For a summer party: 10 years ago, a nice syrah or a single malt. Now, ginger ale with lime.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
Today, my favorite book is actually two that I read as one: The Bean Tree and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. Ask me tomorrow and ut might be different.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?
LOVE it
4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?
In case of the mopes, graham crackers and a glass of milk for dippping and Mama Mia. No one can have the mopes very long watching Meryl Streep and the beautiful scenery and infectious music.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why? That’s hard, I want to go everywhere. Italy and Greece for sure, and Egypt. One of Sprout’s classmates has returned to Saudi Arabia and we’ve been invited to go visit next summer. Not sure about that.

Christy, I love PUAC. Now, back to read all the delicious comments.

3.

Not yet, but it’s still on the table. I’ve got my fingers in too many pots maybe. Am doing research for a book I want to write. Haven’t even been to the gym this week. I got a nasty burn on my arm and have had to curtail arm movement. So much to do. So little time.

Well, she sounds very comfy…..I’m sure the rest will do her good. Tell her that Angela and I are pulling for her.

I better start my day. Thanks, all.

Solid Gold Cadillac – love Judy Holliday
I remember the first time I saw that, on the afternoon movie show.

A marathon of movies from that era would be a real treat.

I’d agree with you on the infectious music up and until the part where Pierce Brosnan begins to sing. He’s so hot — why didn’t they dub someone with a better singing voice in for him?

SIGH

1. Elijah Craig Bourbon on the rocks
2. Brother to a Dragonfly by Will D. Campbell
3. Love it
4. Spaghetti to eat and High Fidelity to watch
5. Continental Europe because I have yet to the Continent(I have been to the UK)

Oh. . .High Fidelity. Don;t you find yourself doing those top ten music lists after watching it? I know we do. *g*

You shall be rewarded for all your good care. When I come back as a cat, I hope I have such a devoted owner human as you are

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

Depends on the party, whether I’m driving, and how I feel. Lemonade, tea, soda, or one of the following: one bottle of beer (import, microbrew, or Anchor Steam), one glass of wine, or one shot of single-malt or Irish.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

I have to choose one?
(My never-lose-these set includes all of Duane’s Trek books.)

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

‘Love’ is too strong. ‘Like’ works.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

I should be so lucky.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

I’d like to visit Europe someday.
I’d like to see more of the US, too.

Hi, you. Long time, no chatty. I’m doing very well, thank you. I just made some cinnamon biscuits to go with the salmon/eggs. My house smells gooooood. How’s the weather up at the Bay?

We were talking last night that you used to be able to see all of those old movies on network TV. Now you have to pay extra for Turner Classic Movies. I think they don’t show them anymore because so many of them have a “liberal” storyline that they don’t want people to see. We have a whole generation growing up without seeing these wonderful films. It’s really sad.

Very hot yesterday. Prolly the same today. I’m good. Do you still have those plants?

Christy:
Tell us about the Peanut’s reaction to her New Room. Please?

Bit cool this AM 555 but the days ahve been very nice high 70’s to low 80’s perfect weather here in Redwood City (best weather by Government Test!)… Garden is doing great had lots of tomatoes but had sudden influx of daughters, son and kids here on Thursday… six girls and one boy .. oldest is 7 and they had a great time picking all the little ripe tomatoes… barley had enough for last evenings dinner for me and my sweetie!!
demi you do know you are welcomed on the 25th if ya can make it up here… we all would love to put a real face on all the words we have swapped!! let me know??

Oh yeah. Left addy on last weeks OUAC, but will repeat it here: ”pj” dot ’evans’ at ”usa” dot ’net’ (also in phone book, but if I’m not home, it’s going to go into voice mail and never get heard). The rhubarb is having a hard time; I was going to see if I could make a shade screen for it.

Dang EDIT is missing!! now what will I do??

I suggest you turn on the AC !! ;)

She absolutely loved it. I still have the tie backs to get up for her curtains, but that’s the last little bit.

We played up there all afternoon yesterday. :)

and Waccamaw @ 184.

I read this book in th fourth grade,it’s lessons and philosophy has accompanied me ever since. Curiosity, respect and love…

Wow, late to the party this morning. Which is too bad, since it’s my kind of party.

I’m particularly happy to see ArchTeryx01 mention my dear departed friend Janet Kagan’s books. She was really good.

Drink: Calvados

Favorite book: How could I possibly decide? Really, it’s an impossible question.

Harry Potter, love it or hate it: Yes. They drive me crazy, but I’ve read them all.

comfort food and movie would be mac and cheese, and The Princess Bride. Or maybe An American In Paris.

Travel! Everywhere! But first, Egypt, on an antiquities tour.

Oops, sorry I missed it last week. Will call or write.
Woo Hoo.

1. My drink will be seltzer with a splash of cranberry and a twist of lime. That way I’ll enjoy the party and not BE the party…and I’ll get home safely.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, “Balm in Gilead” by Sara Lawrence Lightfoot

3. Harry Potter — Loved the first book but not enough to read the rest.

4. “Legally Blonde” with a bag of salty pretzels…followed by “Whale Rider” and chocolate ice cream.

5. I would travel to China. I’ve never been there and it is different from what I know. And, hang the expense, I’d take a crash course at Berlitz so I could talk/listen to people I meet in their own language. I’d bring my paints and easel and travel (mostly along the rivers) for a year before I go to Beijing and spend another year.

You’re having a meet-up? Tell me about it. Who’s coming? Probably too far for us to drive. But, boy howdy, am I looking for to meeting up with PJ Evans. A twenty minute drive from here. *g*

Hi all,

I’ve been a Firepup on and off since 2005-back in the Plame days. Formerly known as “southpaw”, I’m pleased to see that one of my personal fave Senators was here yesterday. Keep up the good work!

Drink? Nuthin’ fancy-it gets HOT here in Tejas, so you want something light, therefore, Tecate with lime.

Book-too hard to pick but Grapes of Wrath kicks bootay.

Never read the Potter.

Travels? I love San Franscisco but I’ll pick a place I haven’t been: Scotland.

Cheers!

Back in the EuroRail days you could get on one of those cheap–on the deck, though. Did it with a friend, who loved it. Then we went to Beaune, which is where I really want to live for a while.

Who’s coming?? Suzanne, Teddy, Egregious, Spurious, Emerson & PPDCUS… at least so far. Haven’t heard from Dr Kirk yet but I have heard he has been studying for the Canadian medical board stuff so he can relocate up there. Hoping for more pups but hey this is a great start… we still have two weeks to get more pups to show up. If ya can make the trip demi I can be reached at nahanter at the G mail thingy!!

Christy, I love it that he did it even with that foggy voice! He’s still my hero.

I, however, am prejudiced. Back in the Remington Steele day, I was in a discount store in West Hollywood called ABC premiums, buying a clock radio. I was the only customer. Over the clerk’s shoulder, I saw a dark green MG pull up outside and watch the driver vault over his door and stride into the store.

He made a bee-line for us and I realized…it’s him! He took my hand in his, all the while looking into my eyes, kissed it and asked, in the most old-world way, if he could steal the clerk. He was on his way to his first Bond audition, had just gotten word, didn’t have time to go home to shave and needed to buy a plug-in.

I stammered and blushed beet red, then stood there cradling the hand he had just released while they did their business. As he strode back out to his car he raised his hand and said “You have my eternal gratitude, mademoiselle.”

That and his real world humanity make me love him in spite of his froggy croak.

*sniff* We need more pups in central FL.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

I took the decision back in January, to become active here at the Lake despite my busy schedule. And by way of personal background, my late Dad was Yaqui Indian and my blessed Mom, an Apache, achieved her 92nd birthday last month. And now to the questions.

1. Soda Pop. Now if I were hard-pressed, I would opt for some cactus juice of for even some sweet-flavored Sangre de Cuahtemoc.

2. Literature. My own. Okay it’s arrogance on the surface, but in actuality, it for posterity’s sake of my immediate and extended family. I have two completed manuscripts and with the third to be completed later this year. Thusly, the Chicano Veterans Organization has agreed to shell out the cash and do the ‘first’ printing. And as to Harry Potter, Potter has become one of many invaluable tools since I have a considerable number of members within the Immediate and Extended Family, and as such, the door always remains open.

4. I much prefer chopped-up corn torillas cooked among scrambled eggs and with a sizable dollop of jalapeno salsa on the side.

5. Travel. I do that already as I much prefer to go out into the Sonoran Desert during the late night, and especially when the water freezes, and by sitting on the highest sand pile I can find. Thusly, I can contemplate, communicate, and sing the praises of Big Mama Good in the fond hope that She will reciprocate. And She can be a difficult task master when it comes to according America its well-deserved “good” citizenship.

Jaango

We always need more Pups everywhere!! How else to advance our progressive agenda to help make this a better country for all our citizens not just those with the big bucks!! Do wish You could make it SD but FL IS a bit of a stretch…

I can’t relate to your questions, although I would put “Life on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain at the top of my book list.

I move pianos these days, but I am also a famous mountain biker. Thirty years ago a couple of friends and I started a business where we built custom off-road bikes in a garage, and we called our business “MountainBikes.”

We’re featured in an award winning documentary film, and give the filmmaker the site hits.

Far out. Gave the site a hit.

1. Conway’s Irish Ale from Great Lakes Brewery.

2. Catch-22.

3. Don’t care.

4. Beef stew with dumplings and Animal House.

5. Valley Forge and Gettysburg to feel the history and pay my respects.

Ooohh, not to late again?

Questions,

Darkest syrupiesty beer in the house

Russell’s “why I am not a christian” brushed away lots of cobwebs in my teens.

Liked the first H Potter, enuf

“Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin” reruns.

Rainy misty Northwest where I am headed right now.

Would you believe an early 70s technical type?

Avid lurker, just dipping my toe into the comments.

1. Bombay martini up, with olives.
2. Couldn’t possibly pick just one. Currently stuffing my Kindle full, trying to convince myself I’m not breaking my pledge of “no more books until I weed some out.”
3. Love HP.
4. Mac & cheese and “The Princess Bride.”
5. Lots of places I’d like to see, but if you’re footing the bill I think I’ll take a genealogy tour and visit my Czech and Polish roots and find some ancestors at the same time.

Thank you so much for all you do.

Techie geek since the sixties and still banging away on computers, house networked, server running MS small business, wireless router with streaming anti virus,spam filter and really good firewall, supports VPN, gotta keep the gray stuff sharp!

For all those who love Egypt, I downloaded some of my Egyptian shots to my Flickr acct. I’m new to all this with Firefox, so forgive the crummy link, but please do take a look.

http://www.flickr.com/lilysmom60/

Christy, I uploaded the photos of flowers for you last month and was waiting for the right time to post them. They are at the bottom of the photostream.

Favorite drink? Tito’s(the BEST) vodka mixed with 1/2 freshly squeezed white grapefruit and 2 torn up fresh basil leaves over ice. Perfect

Favorite books? LOTR, anything by August Wilson, especially Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Favorite Movie? Wall-E and Schindler’s List, anything with William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Comfort food? The salsa and chips from our local Tex Mex place with a combo # 8; tamale, cheese enchilada, rice and beans. Ummmm

Dream trip? New Zealand and Antarctica. Tel el Amarna in Egypt, the site of Akhenaten’s city and palace but also the home of the Egyptian Brotherhood. Dangerous place.

Harry Potter? yes, yes, yes

I love reading your posts. Thanks to all.

I could live anywhere in the Cote d’Or but do also love Beaune. When you return to that area, be sure to check out Lameloise in Chagny. One of my favorites stays/ food ever.

http://www.relaischateaux.com/…..lameloise/

Happy, happy memories.

1. Margaritas ..loved ‘em even before I moved to the SW for awhile
2. Changes several times a year…currently rereading the marvelous Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters
3, Never read Potter…loved the first movie…magical…after that, not so much
4. Any homemade soup containing all the refrigerated leftovers…old time Richard Burton & very young Clint Eastwood Film “Where Eagles Dare”
5. Northern rural Japan; Russian steppes, St. Petersburg, English public/private garden tours. Scandanavian countries in winter & northern lights tour

Hi all, been a lurker since the days of plamegate,the ultimate betrayal by our government. I thought I lost my mind reading MSM-bs until I came upon the writings of Ms. Wheeler. Her courage, clarity and obsession to get to the truth gave me a foothold to find my way back from opposite-world. Having been raised in a fundamentalist, hypocritical family of lying criminals, I couldn’t get far enough away, so I chose to study chemistry and physics part-time(@ night) while working as a bench chemist for over twenty years. Raised my own coupla lil peanuts while working and schoolin and pretty much ignored anything ”soft” like history or politics.

The damn Bush crime syndicate precipitated a PTSD event for me. I left my graduate studies in 2002 (ABD) and refused to leave my house due to paralyzing fear and anxiety. I was one of the first people to apply for SSD benefits via the internet, so new that they insisted I come to a field office with printouts of my application, no small feat for someone who most likely would have been institutionalized had Reagan not decided that those people can do fine with meds. Docs gave me every med that a rep gave them, all free, all garbage.
Its been a slow, deliberative process, one where the body and mind can heal but the stressors have to be minimized and at least for me, I have to be on solid, verifiable ground. Due to early childhood experiences of ”do as I say, not as I do” hypocrisy I have to be able to connect information outside of my own ”beliefs”. That’s why Marcys’ writing was so important to me. She has an excellent clear mind and an ability to write, all aspects I admire and envy.
So I have to admit, I go to her columns first, sometimes multiple times a day, and she never disappointes (me). Christy, I read yours second, cause your just such a nice, kind soul and I like encountering nice people so I hangout for some chicken soup for the soul.
My mind is still not back to the brilliance it once was, may never be and I never could write much except technical procedures and mathmatical equations, but I’ve been lured out of lurking today with your kind invitation to tell y’all my story of why I love your blog and appreciate your hard work and efforts to get the truth out there. Peace.

Morning Christy. Morning Pups.

Diet coke, Harry Potter, of course harry potter. I get a partner? Cool? Who? Oh, no I forgot the other question.

Back to the beach. Or to China. Or possibly Australia.

1. Blue Nun Liebfraumilch or Reisling

2. Gary Jennings – Aztec, Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe, Linus Pauling – Nature of the Chemical Bond, Carl Noller – Organic Chemistry, The Source , geology books like Origins, by Redfern. As we travel, I like to study how local geology was formed.

3. Love it. Just for JK Rowling and her gift to kids. I have not read them.

4. Tapioca Pudding and Ovaltine. Walkabout, Dr. Zhivago, Out of Africa

5. I’d join the Pups on Lake Superior, or Iceland. Also the Coliseum in Rome.

I love FDL, and have read it every day, for years now. I am retired, at home in Western WA. I have had a few lives as a Dr’s wife and Mom, med office mgr, research chemist, owner of a general aviation shop and avionics. Now I do lampwork (glass beads made in a torch), woodworking using exotic woods, and other crafts. Trying to convert from left brain to right brain.
This site, especially PUAC and Marcy, has been a great comfort to me when my Mother died and in the past year through my heart blockage and stent, and the accidental death of my older son. I am getting back to my optimistic, hopeful self, and enjoying speeches by our new leader who is intelligent and articulate. Thanks to all the Pups who are faithful in contributing.
Karen

Hi Metal:
I spent many years at the bench also. Good to hear from another chemist. I’ll probably go back to lurking, but I’ll look for you.
Karen

1) Pita Rita. 3 parts Pure Blue Agave Tequila, 2 parts Cointreu, 1 part fresh lime juice, shaken on ice, strained to chilled martooney glass.

2) Books? I’ll go with high entertainment value for me, and old school. Cannery Row/Tortilla Flats.

3) Potter? Ehh, don’t care. Movies are nice wouldn’t pay to see them.

4) If I have a cold, I won’t want to eat. So, a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Barrell and Bill Murray’s ‘Where The Buffalo Roam’. I’m old school. Did I mention that?

5) If I had time and money, I’d walk the Sierra Nevada Tahoe to Whitney. And take months to do it. Again. *G*

Course, I’d do The Islands Mahn, Carib, Hawaii and New Zealands.

I think that I had a very similar experience. It was terrifying. It isn’t over, but it is one heck of a lot better.

Hang in there.

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

I’m glad that you’re here metalmaven. You picked a great blog to join.

Myers Briggs temperament breakdown of four Hogwarts houses:

Gryffindor – SP – Liberal – Dionysian – Sanguine
Slytherin – NF – Authoritarian – Apollonian – Choleric
Hufflepuff – SJ – Conservative – Epimethian – Phlegmatic
Ravenclaw – NT – Libertarian – Promethian – Melancholic

Welcomed metalmaven glad you stopped lurking!! We are a family here at the Lake and we have some of the very best writers on the net. You will find many like minds here and do keep commenting we all started with baby steps but ya get used to all the chatter and you will learn a lot from them. From your comments it seems you are in California? You might try the Late late nite threads (after 10pm) where off topic is the topic and you are free to talk about what ever is on your mind!
If you are in northern California I am hosting a FirePup meetup where you can meet other Pups. These meetups are always fun. I can be reached at nahanter at the G mail thingy or Facbook… just click on my Fb link next to my name..

1. Dry, crisp Italian white like Vermentino

2. Non-fiction history, any.

3. Incomprehensible! I have no imagination!

4. Smoked oysters & Champagne, The Way We Were

5. Iles de Porquerolles, off the coast of Provence. No cars, hardly any people and a 4 Star restaurant at the end of the island. Heaven on earth.

You are really a glutton for punishment, Christy. Please, be careful, dealing with the things that I have read on this site, you are getting more than your share of hear about things that are just plain evil. Blogger burnout should be classified as PTSD.

In support of the psychiatrists at the Veteran’s Administration, whom I personally hate, but spend all day every day hearing about things that warp their minds.

We need to retire a lot on full pay for retraining in dealing with the homeless, the children who are losing it in school, the marginal but productive part of psychology pro actively applied. They should, also, retain their pay rates and benefits. Those people that deal directly with the war torn vets deserve a fair shake too.

We, also, need a national relief program for all of the emergency room staffers, they suffer, we must recognize it and find them less stressful positions with pay and benefits.

Love your blog but, please, have someone near and dear look for depression, irrational actions and an inability to leave the job at the job.

Thank you.

Long time lurker….not even signed on till today! Your ice breaker intrigued me, so ….

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

Depending on the night, an old vine zin, a pint of Smithwicks, or an 18-year-old Oban.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

I’m with most in that I have so many, it is very hard to choose. Fiction…would have to be Lord of the Rings or Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein. As a student, I don’t get much chance to read fiction tho! Non-fiction…my favorite of all time is Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad.

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it? Love the movies, never traipsed through the books.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

Ärtsoppa (swedish green pea soup) with swedish mustard, side of swedish pancakes with lingonberries and cream, and an ice cold scrumpy English cider. I’d watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

I’d start in Cinque Terre, by train to Germany, catch the ferry to Malmo, then train up to Stockholm, ferry to Helskinki, ferry to Tallin, train down to Calais, then chunnel to England. Pick up my SO and fly to Australia for a trip around the islands, a little scuba and a lot of sun. Back to the states, Key West, in time to catch the Blues Cruise.

Since time is not an element, I’d have time by train stop and visit friends along the way and lounge. The ferries are nothing but parties with duty-free as party favors! Australia is on my ‘to do’ list as is the Blues Cruise. Can’t imagine a more care free time than cruising listening to blues and no designated driver required. ;)

Hey nahant, thanks for the encouragement. I did want to respond to the comment that I might be in CA. I would love to be in CA, was born there as a navy brat but the fundie Mom moved back to Ohio then to NJ. I’m currently in Ohio, remember I went crazy so I’m not sure why I’m here but I had my event in NJ. Applied for and received SSD when in NJ but couldn’t afford to live there on the stipend, so I’m here in Ohio since 2004, just in time to cast my stolen vote for Kerry.
I’m ready to move on, I haven’t had much contact with folks out here but the little I have had makes me appreciate the public schools in NJ. My partner and I (another medical case) are considering a move outside the US if the public option is defeated. We just aren’t dying fast enough and now we want to live and maybe work again. Right now I’m so unemployable with multiple science degrees and a history of ”pre-existing” conditions: I don’t suffer the fools so well. Canada has said they can employ both of us and he has a relative, long lost but about to be found again, so that’s the big move we’re gearing up for.
My reservations are I have two sons both mortgaging themselves into slavitude for their working lives, in college. Oldest will graduate next year and then pick a grad school, youngest is just starting his second year. I think I will forge a new path and be their refuge from capitalism, if they would want that. They have strong family ties on their dads side of the family so I’m not sure if they would come. They want me to move back to NJ and if my partner gets his disability, maybe we could live near the PA border, but if he doesn’t (major hassles with that program due to the economy) then we have to emmigrate, he’s had a heart attack, has diabetes, crushed vertebrate, and a mental condition. He should qualify but he lost a job, then had all these events at ER rooms, so very little follow up. We have both been living off my benefits and he sees Drs for cash when we can manage it. Even though I have the single payer Medicare, they want back about 35-40% of the monthly stipend in copays, pharmacy, and premiums. Aint much for two people, no matter how dirt cheap housing is.

Sorry this is so long and o/t, guess I haven’t had any human contact or done any writing for a bit now. I have an email if you want to contact me to give me any advice or direction, or just to tell me how wonderful CA is. Again, thanks for the shout out, I am an introvert but today I feel out-loud and proud! More communication today than in the last month, does yelling @ the TV count? Peace

does yelling @ the TV count?

But of course it does!! I have been know to do it especially when one of those ReichWing pundits says we can’t afford Single Payer!! I say we can’t afford not to have good comprehensive health care with NO co-pays and NO preconditions just a monthly fee based on ability to pay!!… We must get PROFIT out of health Care… Profit IS Killing people!!
If you would like drop me an email at the gmail dot com place under nahanter..
I have been in California for 30+ years now …came from the Boston area when the DOC’s said the cold will shorten my life…
I just love the Redwood city & Bay Area!! Great for my veggie garden… there are a few Pups in Ohio and if you keep reading you will find them!!

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?
The Monkey Wrench Gang.

Aha! I love that book.

Favorite books: Almost Adam, anything by Lois McMasters Bujold, Wind in the Willows, The Skull Mantra…many more.
Drink: bourbon with lime and tonic water, but mostly just coffee.
Food: pinto bean soup and cornbread
Harry Potter: love it
Travel: Spain. Or Armenia…can’t decide.

Metalmaven, welcome! I’m in Ohio, I hear you and we just have to get health care.

Hey Margot you are the first Ohoian I thought of but didn’t want to impose(:>)) Glad you caught her comments.. she needs some pup support!!

Look up the Moyers’ piece from last night to refurbish your arguement. Just remarkable.

Plus, to the powers that be: I do believe the Sotomayor picture has been filed away. I am so glad; it defaced the site.

I just watched his comments over at YouTube!! I also just watched Rep Ellison of Minnesota who took his video camera to the house floor!

We need of our elected officials to get behind Single Payer andgive the People what they are demanding!! We also must get rid of the big maney bags out of oue elections, they OWN OUR Government not the people. Check out http://youstreet.org/ You can help to make a difference!!

1) Diet Coke. I’m not a big drink of alcohol.
2) Tao Te Ching. The water way resonates with me.
3) Harry Potter is a great series – both the books and the movies.
4) Home Made Salsa (one tomato, one clove of garlic, one jalapeno thrown in a blender) and Chips while watching Blade Runner.
5) Hiking the Appalachian Trail (damn you Mark Sanford for making this a euphemism).

Love your writing Christy. Thanks.

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

Ice tea, unsweetened, natch.

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

Stephen Jay Gould – The Structure of Evolutionary Theory

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

Which Harry Potter book? Some were really good, others not so much.

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

Blue Bell (Only a Texan would understand) and skip the movie. Get me a Falco book – Lindsey Davis

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

Uruguay because our daughter-in-law makes it sound like a nice place to be, at least up country.

I first came to FDL because I read that it was one of the top blogs going. It lives up to its reputation. I like the idea of being able to reply to comments, but it would be easier if one could see the responses in sequence. I also like the fact that in general the bloggers have given their positions a good amount of thought and can defend their positions with a reasoned argument. Not enough of that these days.

Christy -

This has been such a wonderful thread….with old and newly delurked pups. It’s a testament to who you are as a person to be able to bring forth the very best in people. If one were to classify your PUAC posts into a small group of topics, may be the meet&greets are the most fun, tho’ you probably have some idea how much I also appreciate those that deal with gardening & food.

Much love and many thanks! I’m thankful every day to have found the Lake.

As usual, I’m late in responding…had to take my granddaughter to her favorite haunt…Payless Shoe Store. I’m just back now after a day filled with lunch with a group that calls ourselves the Bitches Bunch where we have stimulating conversation. This time about the patent unfairness of Medicare offering Viagra etc and not birth control or generally supporting women’s medical health.

Although I occasionally comment, I rather enjoy reading yours and learning so much. Sometimes the depth of knowledge about our issues is both intimidating and comforting.

Q/A: Diet Coke or any Texas wine. Any book by P.D.James. Nix on Harry Potter, I’m jealous of the author and have a bad case of “I could have done that”. Can’t name just one book, I was an English teacher. Any cine noir movie. Garlic pasta with maybe grilled shrimp. Tropic isle but not hardscrabble. I’m going to Brooklyn in September to attend an orthodox (ultra) Jewish wedding, and I will be the outsider. What is there to do in Brooklyn on one day I will have free (a Saturday)?

Loved reading all the new (to me) names of commenters. This is a real community. Thanks for asking.

Marilyn

1. You are at a party with a well-stocked, open bar. Your drink of choice is _________?

2. Your favorite book of all time, ever, in the history of literature in the universe, because it’s so damned awesome is. . .what?

3. Harry Potter — love it or loathe it?

4. You have a horrible cold or a case of the mopes, and your partner offers to get you your favorite comfort food and a movie. What do you want to eat and watch?

5. If you could travel anywhere, and expense and time were no impediment or concern, where would you go and why?

1. Bailey’s on the rocks

2. “The Great Book of Amber” by Roger Zelasny. Swords and Sorcery, Magic and Mayhem, Computers that destroy universes, and the eternal battle between Chaos and Order. If this doesn’t fire up your imagination, check for a pulse.

3. Yeah, I telegraphed that punch, didn’t I? Shame I’m still a Muggle.

4. “The American President”, KFC, and a Coke. If its a cold, then “Spaceballs” or “Young Frankenstein”, chicken soup, and 7up.

5. I would take mankind to Mars on the way to Proxima Centauri. I know how to get there and would build our space infrastructure en route.

Marilyn, you sound fun!
But, Texas wine? Please educate! :)
I hear they are growing these days in Baja…..which varietals? Tempranillo?

“You don’t have to get tough, Mrs. Mulwray.”

“I don’t get tough, Mr. Gittes. My lawyer gets tough.”

I am no expert….I think rec. TX labels may be Llano, Falls Creek; there are others.