scaifea's thread #23

Welcome to thread XXIII!



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-15 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books
c. The Newbery Honor books
d. Cooperative Children's Book Center list

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

6. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

7. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
d. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
e. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. The NEH Timeless Classics list
g. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
h. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)
i. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)

8. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book.

9. An unread book from my shelves.

10. A book from my Classics shelves.

11. A book from our Science Shelves corner.

12. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

13. Book-a-year challenge: Two years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've decided, again, to follow Paul's lead and try to fill in some of those blanks, and so I'm adding an entry here to my lists.

14. An audiobook for the car.

15. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

16. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books and easy readers, which Charlie and I read together. I've decided again this year also to list our re-reads, but I'll just list them each day and not number them.

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!



What I'm reading now:
-Andersonville (Banned Books)
-King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (1001 Children's Books)
-The Complete Sherlock Holmes (1001 Children's Books (sort of))
-The Gods of Pegana (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy)
-The Worst President: The Story of James Buchanan (Presidential Challenge)
-I Am Legend (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-Beyond Apollo (Campbell award)
-Collected Stories and Other Writings (Pulitzer)
-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Charlie's bed-time book)
-No Such Thing As a Witch (another Charlie bed-time book)
-Don Quixote (an unread book off of my shelves)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (from my Classics shelves)
-Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics (from the Science Shelves)
-Old Path White Clouds (Buddhism list)
-A Lear of the Steppes (books by year, 1870)
-Dropped Dead Stitch (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-Prairie Tale (from the Read Soon shelf)
-The Odyssey (everyday audio book in the car)
-The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare re-read)
-War and Peace (because Charlie wants me to)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Books Read:

JANUARY

1. The Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfoot (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
2. Slaves of Quentaris (audio book/1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
3. Runner of the Mountain Tops (Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
4. The Blue Cat of Castletown (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
5. Princess Academy (Newbery Honor book/ audio book) - 8/10 = B+
6. Olive's Ocean (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 7/10 = C
7. The Wanderer (audio book/Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
8. The Terrible Two (potential Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
9. The Puppy Place: Scout (Charlie's bedtime book) - 8/10 = B
10. A Daughter of the Seine (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
11. Roller Girl (Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
12. Abe Lincoln at Last! (Charlie's school library chapter book) - 8/10 = B+
13. How I Live Now (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10 = B+
14. The Terrible Two Get Worse (loaned to me by a school librarian) - 8/10 = B+
15. Ella Enchanted (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
16. Echo (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A-
17. Bone Gap (Printz award winner) - 9/10 = A
18. The Ghosts of Heaven (Printz Honor book) - 8/10 = B-
19. George (Stonewall Award winner) - 9/10 = A
20. The Return of the Native (audiobook for the car/book-a-year challenge, 1878) - 9/10 = A
21. Hoot (audiobook, Newbery Honor book) - 8/10 = B
22. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
23. Magic Tree House #17: Tonight on the Titanic (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
24. The War That Saved My Life (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
25. Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Abraham Lincoln (public library book) - 8/10 = B+

FEBRUARY
26. Crenshaw (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
27. Noah Barleywater Runs Away (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A-
28. The Midnight Dress (Blind Date with a Book) - 8/10 = B+
29. Twilight (audiobook, 1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
30. Don't Break the Balance Beam! (public library book) - 8/10 = B
31. Hattie Ever After (sequel read) - 8/10 = B
32. A to Z Mysteries: Secret Admirer (Charlie bed-time read) - 8/10 = B
33. A Good Night for Ghosts (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
34. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
35. Zachary Taylor (Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
36. Books Can Be Deceiving (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+

MARCH
37. The Magic Tree House: Leprechaun in Late Winter (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
38. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (school library book) - 8/10 = B-
39. Bink & Gollie (school library book) - 8/10 = B+
40. The Magic Tree House #3: Mummies in the Morning (school library book) - 8/10 = B
41. The Spoonflower Handbook (just because I wanted to) - 9/10 = A-
42. The BFG (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
43. Circus Mirandus (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
44. Mr. Pants: Slacks, Camera, Action! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
45. Hour of the Olympics (school library book) - 8/10 = B
46. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
47. The Puppy Place: Patches (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = B+
48. Black Boy (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A-
49. The Religions Book (Charlie book) - 8/10 = A
50. The Boy Whom Swam with Piranhas (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
51. Blizzard at Black Swan Inn (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
52. The Nest (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
53. Belle Prater's Boy (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
54. Pax (potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
55. Fleece Navidad (series I'm reading with my mom) - 9/10 = A-
56. Dandelion Wine (NEH Children's Classics list) - 10/10 = A+
57. The Crystal Cave (Mythopoeic award list) - 8/10 = B+
58. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A

APRIL
59. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave (Jeffers/Boyne bibliography) - 9/10 = A
60. The Naming of Tishkin Silk (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
61. Minn of the Mississippi (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
62. High Tide in Hawaii (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
63. The Apple and the Arrow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
64. My Side of the Mountain (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
65. Rascal (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
66. Millions (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
67. The Magic Tree House #10: Ghost Town at Sundown (Charlie's school library book) = 8/10 = B+
68. Davy Crockett (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
69. To Be a Slave (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
70. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (Charlie's bedtime read) = 10/10 = A+
71. Serafina and the Black Cloak (book fair purchase) - 8/10 = B+

MAY
72. Detective Gordon: The First Case (CCBC list, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
73. Grimpow (audiobook/1001 Children's Books list) - 7/10 = C
74. Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
75. Enchantress from the Stars (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
76. To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Hugo Award) - 9/10 = A-
77. Millard Fillmore (U. S. Presidential Challenge) - 8/10 = B-
78. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
79. The Arrival (1001 Children's Books) - 10/10 = A
80. Finding Serendipity (book fair purchase) - 9/10 = A
81. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (bought as a potential Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
82. Magic Tree House #44: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborne (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
83. Ollie's Odyssey (William Joyce bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

JUNE
84. E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core! (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
85. The Knight at Dawn (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
86. Moby Dick (audiobook) - 9/10 = A-
87. The Three Muskeeters (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
88. Memoirs of Hecate County (banned books list) - 7/10 = C+
89. The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection (audiobook) - 10/10 = A
90. A Fine White Dust (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
91. The Sonnets (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A
92. Five Days at Memorial (from my Read Soon shelves) - 8/10 = B-
93. The Light of Asia (Buddhism reading list) - 8/10 = B+
94. The Centaur (National Book Award) - 8/10 = B
95. The Sign of the Beaver (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 9/10 = A-

JULY
96. The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
97. Nimona (checked out from the Lancaster public library as part of our Library Visiting Adventure) - 8/10 = B+
98. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
99. The Waters of the Wondrous Isles (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
100. The Sandman: Overture (Gaiman bibliography) - 10/10 = A+
101. The Kalahari Typing School for Men (series I'm reading with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
102. Not My Father's Son (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
103. Graven Images (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
104. Far from the Madding Crowd (Book-a-Year Challenge) - 9/10 = A
105. The Fledgling (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
106. The Gods Themselves (Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards lists) - 8/10 = B+
107. Danny the Champion of the World (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
108. Dear Committee Members (Read Soon Shelf) - 10/10 = A+
109. The Silver Dream (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
110. Eternity's Wheel (Gaiman bibliography) - 9/10 = A
111. Phoebe and Her Unicorn (75er recommendation) - 9/10 = A
112. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (audiobook, The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B-
113. The Path to Enlightenment (Buddhism reading list) - 9/10 = A
114. Attack of the Monster Plants (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
115. The Miss Liberty Caper (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
116. Clues in the Woods (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
117. George's Marvelous Medicine (audiobook for the car) - 10/10 = A+
118. A Necklace of Raindrops (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
119. Inside Out and Back Again (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
120. The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (Boyne bibliography) - 10/10 = A+

AUGUST
121. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (because one must, of course) - 8/10 = B+
122. Puppy Pirates: Stowaway! (Charlie read-aloud) - 8/10 = B
123. A Newbery Zoo (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
124. The Bluest Eye (Banned Books, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
125. Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
126. Audubon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
127. Justin Morgan Had a Horse (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) = 8/10 = B
128. Due or Die (series read along with my mom) - 9/10 = A
129. The Catcher in the Rye (Banned Books list) - 9/10 = A
130. Gone-Away Lake (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
131. Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth (audiobook/Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
132. Red Moon and Black Mountain (Mythopoeic award) - 7/10 = C
133. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
134. My Brother Sam Is Dead (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B
135. Across Five Aprils (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
136. The Coral Island (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
137. The Knight of the Swords (BFA) - 8/10 = B
138. Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet! (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
139. Penn (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-

SEPTEMBER
140. Arabel's Raven (because it's illustrated by Quentin Blake and I love him) - 9/10 = A
141. Amelia Bedelia Unleashed (Charlie's read-aloud book) - 8/10 = B+
142. The Perilous Road (audiobook, Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
143. The Railway Children (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A-
144. The Well at the World's End (Green Dragon Fantasy list) - 8/10 = B
145. Around the World in 80 Days (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
146. The Singing Tree (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
147. Rendezvous with Rama (Nebula, BSFA, Hugo, Locus & Campbell awards) - 8/10 = B+
148. The Elements (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
149. The Sandman and the War of Dreams (Charlie's bedtime book) - 10/10 = A+
150. Thanksgiving on Thursday (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
151. Blue Willow (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B

OCTOBER
152. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Charlie's bed-time read) - 10/10 = A+
153. High Rise (audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A-
154. A Scanner Darkly (audiobook, BSFA) - 8/10 = B+
155. A Clockwork Orange (audiobook, Banned Books) - 9/10 = A
156. So You Want to Be a Wizard (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy) - 8/10 = B+
157. No Such Thing As a Witch (Charlie's bedtime read) - 8/10 = B+
158. Franklin Pierce (U.S. Presidential Challenge) - 7/10 = C
159. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (everyday audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A
160. The Bell Jar (Banned Books, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
161. I Capture the Castle (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
162. Fog Magic (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
163. Wonderstruck (Charlie's book club book) - 9/10 = A
164. Some Writer! - 9/10 = A

The Charlie, Mario & Tuppence Toppers:

Bonus Question:

Favorite Fall/Halloween Movie?

I'm first! I'm first!

ETA: Practical Magic. I love how all the women get together to help even with their differences, I love the aunts, and I want that house.

Happy new thread!

ETA: Probably Hocus Pocus, though I haven't actually watched it in years.

>5 _Zoe_: That was my second choice.

Happy new thread, Amber!!

Hmmm, The Shining, perhaps.

Happy new thread, scaifea! I hope you had a great weekend! Great toppers. I love the filter on Charlie and that hair on Tuppence (?), looks like windswept clouds.

Happy new thread, Amber! Cute photos!

Happy new thread! No specific fave movie for Halloween, but I usually watch some scary stuff.

Happy new thread, Amber. What a bunch of cuties.

>4 Morphidae: Woot! Morphy's first!! I LOVE Practical Magic, but haven't watched it in years.

>5 _Zoe_: & >6 Morphidae: Zoe & Morphy: That one's on our Scaife Family Halloween Movie List! We love it, too.

>7 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! The Shining, eh? I loved the book, but I'm really not a fan of Kubrick, I'm afraid. Apparently neither is Stephen King. Ha!

>8 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Yep, Tuppence has that devil-may-care hairstyle most of the time.

>9 Thebookdiva: Thanks, Abby!

>10 drneutron: Hi, Jim! No scary stuff for me, thanks. I do love so-bad-they're-funny horror movies, but not the actual scary ones.

>11 BLBera: Aw, thanks, Beth!

Happy New Thread, Amber!

Good tips on Elizabeth George Speare's winners on the last thread; I WL'd them.

>13 jnwelch: Joe: Oh, yay! Those are good ones and I'm certain you'll love them!

Hi Amber, happy new thread my dear and great thread topper photos. Hope you are having a good Monday, sending love and hugs.

It's sacrilege, I know, but I'm just not a fan of Hallowe'en, nor, hence, of Hallowe'en movies. A movie I barely remember from my childhood as featuring glorious fall scenes (mostly I remember geese sailing over water with fall foliage reflected in it) was Disney's "Those Calloways". I think it was ultimately a tear-jerker in the "Old Yeller" vein. I don't think I'll revisit it, but it has made me a life-long lover of the sight and sound of wild geese in flight.

Happy New Thread!

>15 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>16 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: I've loved fall itself since I was a kid and it meant cool weather, jumping in huge leaf piles and going back to school, but I was never a big fan of Halloween until Charlie came along. And now I LOVE decorating the house with him and making his costumes.

>17 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!

Happy New Thread, Amber!

>19 msf59: Thanks, Mark!
You know, thanks to you I didn't waste a walk out to my mailbox, but I *didn't* manage to think that a drive to the bank would be for nought. Ha!

So, Charlie's pajamas for the year are finished!



Next up - a Hogwarts Robe. Right now, it's just a ginormous pile of fabric (that's a lot of fabric, folks, whether it looks like it in the photo or not):

Great shot of Charlie, as usual. The Mario shot reminds me of ET hiding in the pile of stuffed toys. Tuppence looks like she's wondering where her treat is.

I'm not a fan of scary movies at all and not a huge movie fan in general. Can't think of any fall themed ones, but Holiday Inn at least touches base. Oh, and the Halloween scenes in Meet Me in Saint Louis!

Speaking of which, has Charlie read the Bunnicula series yet? Should be at his reading level now: Bunnicula, Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight?

Happy new thread! Glad you are enjoying I Capture the Castle. I should reread it, as I liked it very much when I read it a few years ago.

I can't think of a fall movie that I really love, not being a fan of horror, or even of Halloween all that much.

>22 ronincats: Roni: Funny, Charlie and I were just talking about ET today - he hasn't seen it yet and I was wondering out loud if he would like it.
I haven't seen Meet Me in St. Louis, but we did watch Holiday Inn with Charlie last Christmas, only to discover there's blackface in it! Yikes!
And no, no Bunnicula in this house, I'm afraid. I never read it as a kid, but Tomm had to endure endless car rides as a kid with his mother forcing them to listen to the audio tapes of those books, and so he hates them with a fiery passion. And since MIL keeps asking if we've read them to Charlie, of course my natural inclination is not to do so. Ha!

>23 foggidawn: Yep, I Capture the Castle is pretty okay so far, although I'm hoping for some actual plot development soonish (I'm not very far in, I'm afraid).

ET freaks me out to this day. *shudder*

>24 scaifea: Oh, that's too bad. It wasn't written yet when I was a child, but my nephews were the right age for it, and it's a really cute series if it isn't being shoved down your throat.
>25 katiekrug: What freaked you out, Katie? I do think Charlie would really enjoy it. Especially the heart light.

Good morning happy new thread. Finally caught up arfter being MIA for 2 months. The PJ's are cute as for the bonus question Hocus Pocus always Hocus Pocus. Have a good day.

Happy new thread, Amber. Love the photos, as always :-) I don't have a favourite fall movie as fall in NZ is May(ish), which is pretty unexciting as a month :-)

>25 katiekrug: Katie: Tomm's like that as well - he's never liked E.T.

>26 ronincats: Roni: Maybe Katie doesn't like the same thing that Tomm doesn't, which I think mostly has to do with the camera angles: Spielberg wanted it shot pretty much all from child-eye-level, so the adults look slightly menacing, and it fairly well works out that way.

>27 BBGirl55: Hi, Byrony - good to see you!

>28 susanj67: Thanks, Susan! And hey, at least trick-or-treating would likely be more comfortable. Here, most kids need their winter coats over their costumes! I just make Charlie's out of super-warm and layered fabrics, so the coat isn't necessary and wont ruin the effect. Overboard? Me? Never.

On the agenda for today:
I have my annual eye exam this morning, then I'll head home for a bit of cleaning, some PTO work, some writing and some sewing before picking Charlie up from school. I need to squeeze trips the the bank and to the library in there somewhere, too.

On the reading front:
I read a few more pages in Franklin Pierce last night before falling asleep, oh, and I listened to a bit of A Clockwork Orange, too, which is shaping up to be a nice follow-up to A Scanner Darkly, really.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Russell Freedman was born exactly 35 years after Eleanor Roosevelt. The biography written by Freedman, Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery was a 1994 Newbery Honor Book."
I haven't gotten round to this one yet, but I am excited to learn more about her.

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Shy Scarecrow
-Duck & Goose Go to the Beach
-Some more of Wonderstruck
-Charlie read aloud a bit more of Herobrine Goes to School
-Chapter 16 in No Such Thing as a Witch
-The first half of chapter 7 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! We are starting work earlier now, so I have to wrap up my A.M. activities a bit quicker now. Glad I am a morning person.

>32 msf59: Mark: Wha?! That's crazy! Does it mean, though, that you'll be finished earlier, too?

Morning Amber, good luck at the eye doc!

Happy New Thread, Amber. I was for too long absent on LT but I try to do better in the future. I'm not a movie fan so there won't be a suggestion from me for your BQ.
I wish you a wonderful week.

>34 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! Just a routine annual exam and I'm expecting no shockers. I'll eventually need bifocals, but my doc, bless him, believes in waiting until the patient says, "Yep, I need 'em" before prescribing them. I think I can wait a bit longer - it's working out fine for me to lift my glasses up to read fine print up close.

>35 Ameise1: Oh, thanks for the gorgeous photo, Barbara - and it's so good to see you!

I am getting to the "lift my glasses up to read fine print up close" stage, too! *high five*

Re: E.T. - I just find the alien super creepy. Not cute at all. My family likes to torment me with all things E.T. - related. My uncle once hung up a big beach towel with E.T. on it right outside my door when we were on vacation, and it was the first thing I saw when I left my room to go downstairs in the morning and I shrieked like a little girl. I was 27 at the time :-P

>37 katiekrug: Katie: Aw, poor E.T.! He can't help that he's not exactly handsome...

Good morning, Amber!

Wow, A Clockwork Orange after A Scanner Darkly. You have an impressively strong reading constitution. I probably would've had to turn to something light after the PKD.

>39 jnwelch: Joe: Well, I *am* also reading I Capture the Castle, which seems pretty light in comparison... Ha!

>24 scaifea: It's interesting, I took the kids to the 20th anniversary showing of ET, not having seen it since the original run when I was 10. So that means that Emily was 8 and Jacob was 6 or 7 when we watched it. They liked it, but I had to explain what was going on with the frogs at school. The kids weren't raised in such barbarous times. :)

>41 ursula: Ursula: Ha! I forgot about the frogs!

Some other possible Halloween movies are below. The movies with asterisks are ones I haven't watched. These are all from lists of "non-scary" Halloween movies. I'd still watch them beforehand to make sure they are Charlie-friendly if you haven't seen them already.

The Nightmare before Christmas
Ghostbusters
Beetlejuice
Casper
The Haunted Mansion
The Addams Family
Edward Scissorhands
The Witches
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Little Shop of Horrors

Paranorman*
Frankenweenie*
Buffy the Vampire Slayer*
Coraline*
Teen Witch*
Hotel Transylvania*

Happy new thread, Amber.

As for the bonus question, I'm a fan of both Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp (although I think Christopher Walken is terrifying even without the pointy teeth they give him in that one).

>43 Morphidae: Morphy: Thanks for the list, but ALL of those (with the exception of Hotel Transylvania, which we all love) are too scary for Charlie. He is super-duper-prone to nightmares. I wish he weren't quite so sensitive to the scary bits, because I know that otherwise he'd love some of these. We have to skip select scenes in the HP movies, even, although I'm very proud of him for suffering through the Dementor scenes this week on a re-watch of #3. Maybe in a couple of years...

>44 MickyFine: Oooh, I love BOTH of those movies! I like your style, lady.

Eye Update:
My left eye, which is the weaker one to begin with, is ever so slightly more weak-er since last year, but not enough to mess with a new lens in my glasses. Otherwise, I have very healthy eyes. WOOT!

>46 scaifea: These are good news.

>46 scaifea: Great news! I went through a 10-year period in my early 30s-early 40s where my prescription didn't change at all from year to year, which was great even if it meant my glasses got increasingly outdated (my frugality far outweighs my fashion sense so it never bothered me at all). Of course, since then my vision has gotten a little bit worse every year, so you have that to look forward to. :-)

>47 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! I agree!

>48 rosalita: Julia: Yeah, well, my left eye is very gradually getting worse, and I'll eventually need bifocals, but my doc is a believer in letting the patient decide when those are absolutely necessary, and I'm still okay lifting them up when I need to read up close. And I LOVE my frames - the technician chuckled at me today when I told him that I *really* don't want to give them up, ever.

Happy new thread Amber!

>12 scaifea: I do love so-bad-they're-funny horror movies, but not the actual scary ones.
I am the same.

>21 scaifea: I like the potion and penguin pajamas :-)

>46 scaifea: That is good, Amber, that reminds me that I should have my eyes checked... last time was 4 years ago I think..?..
I have one bad eye too (that got better in the first years with glasses), but they both haven't changed the last 15+ years.

Congrats on the good results of the eye exam!

I am not a fan of scary movies, either. The Wizard of Oz used to give me nightmares, especially when the witch's face replaces Auntie Em in the crystal ball. Ugh! I always enjoyed It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

>50 FAMeulstee: Anita: Thanks! I love the penguin ones, too.
I like having my eyes checked every year, just to be on the safe side.

>51 cbl_tn: Carrie: Thanks! So many folks are scared of the Wizard of Oz, but mostly, as I've heard, because of the flying monkeys. And yep, that particular Charlie Brown is my favorite.

Penguin pj's! Oh I am a little bit jell of Charlie.

Does Bedknobs and Broomsticks count as a seasonal film? Love it.

>45 scaifea: Casper has scary bits? I only saw it once and don't remember.

Happy new thread, Amber! I am not much of a movie watcher and definitely *not* a scary movie watcher so I'm afraid I have no answer for your bonus question. I can say that the 1963 version of The Haunting is absolutely terrifying and completely scared me off horror when I was 16. Nopenopenope. So I look forward to seeing what other people say about timely (but not scary) movies ;)

Oh, how about Blackbeard's Ghost? I loved that one when I was Charlie's age! I don't remember it being very scary.

I also loved The Ghost and Mr. Chicken but that one does have some scary scenes.

Happy reasonably new thread, Amber, dear.

I suppose for Halloween movie, any scary one will suffice. The Conjuring had me quaking. It is the only movie that I have seen without company at the cinema (Hani was in Egypt with the kids) and I spent most of it with eyes firmly shut tight regretting my decision.

>53 charl08: Charlotte: Tomm is jealous of the penguin pj's too.
And YES! We LOVE Bedknobs and Bromsticks! We'll be watching it later this month!

>54 Morphidae: Morphy: Oh, actually I don't know about that one - I missed it in the list and I haven't seen it.

>55 bell7: Mary: The Haunting (the original) is The Scariest Film Ever Made. And, oddly enough, I love it. But, it's based on a Shirley Jackson novel that is excellent, so that may have something to do with my love for it. Scared the pants off me.

>56 cbl_tn: Carrie: I haven't seen either of those, I'm afraid.

>57 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! Ooof, I'll give the Conjuring a pass, I think.

On the agenda for today:
A bit of cleaning, some treadmilling, some PTO business, some writing, some time in the sewing room. I also need to do the menu-planning and get my grocery list organized for next week, since Charlie and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon for Indiana for the long weekend (he as Friday off). Right after school today is gymnastics, which will give me a good hour and fifteen minutes of uninterrupted knitting time (must get cracking on this Hogwarts sweater).

On the reading front:
I listened to more of A Clockwork Orange (brutal in lots of ways, but the language is a treat), listened to a bit of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (a favorite that is lovely on audio) and read a bit more of Beyond Apollo (still very weird - I'm not sure that I get it yet).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Patricia McLachlan's fortune cookie message at lunch, just before she heard about winning the 1986 Newbery for Sarah, Plain and Tall, read, 'Your talents will soon be recognized.'"

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Ant and the Grasshopper (one of Charlie's read-aloud homework books this week)
-Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs (one of our all-time favorites)
-Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever!
-Charlie read a couple more pages aloud in Herobrine Goes to School
-A few more pages in Wonderstruck
-Chapter 17 in No Such Thing As a Witch
-The second half of chapter 7 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Good morning, Amber. I loved the reading of A Clockwork Orange I hope you like it, too. As I could see then, the European edition contains far more than the American one.

>61 Ameise1: Barbara: There was an excellent forward in this edition, by Burgess himself, about how and why the US version is different from all the others (in short: his NY publisher thought Americans would like a more brutal ending, and would think the last chapter(s) would be a cop-out ending). I'm happy to say that the version I'm listening to has the original ending restored!

Morning Amber! I would love to revisit A Clockwork Orange on audio. I am also a big fan of the film.

To answer your question from yesterday: We are starting at 7 now and getting off at 3:30, which is perfect, especially in the winter. Obviously, this could change at anytime.

>63 msf59: Mark: I loved the movie, too, when I saw it, oh, ages ago. The audio is excellent so far, by the way.
And that *does* sound nice - practically the entire afternoon will be yours for reading!

Morning, Amber! Happy new thread. I love Charlie's pajamas - so fun. My favorite fall movie would probably be Arsenic and Old Lace, but I also have big love for Practical Magic and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which was my Dad's favorite. He kept his own vigil for the Great Pumpkin every October, complete with signs and post-it notes stuck everywhere - still makes me laugh when I think about it.

>65 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Oh, I love Arsenic and Old Lace! Such a good one! And I like your dad more and more with every story you tell about him.

Good morning, Amber!

Love that Patricia Maclachlan story. Her talents sure have been recognized. I don't know how she does it. That very economic but deep style of storytelling is unique, as far as I can tell.

>67 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I agree - she's a special talent, for certain.

Another non-scary movie person, who will probably have to go with watching "Buffy" on Netflicks. But I do like "ET", if that counts.

>69 banjo123: Rhonda: I love Buffy lots, but it's not for Charlie just yet. And yay for E.T.!

On the agenda today:
I need to pack up our things, because Charlie and I are headed to Indiana to visit my parents this weekend - we leave today right after school. If I get things packed up and have time left over before my Thursday afternoon library volunteering, I'll probably spend it in the sewing room.

On the reading front:
I listened to more of A Clockwork Orange and read a bit more of War & Peace. Again, most of my would-be reading time right now is being used as knitting time. That Hogwarts sweater needs to be finished soon, and I'm doing pretty well so far: the back and front are finished (well, except for the ribbing round the neck), so I just need to knit the sleeves, block all of the pieces and sew it together.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Maja Wojciechowska (Shadow of a Bull, 1964 Newbery Medal) became interested in bull-fighting during visits to Spain."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read aloud from Herobrine Goes to School
-He also read aloud his reading homework easy-reader: Cousin Kira by Joy Cowley
-Tikki Tikki Tembo
-Hotel Transylvania 2: Meet the Monsters
-Some more of Wonderstruck
-Chapter 18 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The first half of chapter 8 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Sweet Thursday. Looks like a cool one today. At least it will be dry. Enjoy your day.

Good morning, Amber. I wish you a safe journey and a fabulous time at your parents place.

Morning Amber! Should be a beautiful drive to Indiana. The trees are really popping.
>36 scaifea: It's nice to have control of some things in your life, right? I've been refusing bi-focals too. Mainly my glasses are useful for driving and I have prescription reading glasses when I think I need them but more often than not, I don't.
Happy travels!

>73 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yes, we've got a good frost going out there this morning, and I've asked Charlie to make sure he has some gloves in his pockets today, too.

>74 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara - and thanks!

>75 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I sure hope there's some tree color today, although I don't know, since there's not a lot up here just yet, and Indiana (at least where my parents are) usually follows us in that respect.
I need my glasses on all the time, but yeah, I'm just not reading for bifocals yet.

Hi Amber! All those pj's of Charlie's make me really, really, really want to order a bunch more fabric and make a half dozen pajama pants for myself.

Favorite Autumn/Halloween movie? Definitely Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp. I love the look of it. For some reason it makes me think of autumn at my grandparents' house when I was a child - so rural and chilly with piles of leaves, pumpkins, harvesting the last of the cow corn, first frosts, baking smells and really nice old creaky houses. No headless horsemen, though.

>77 Fourpawz2: Charlotte: Do you have a Joann Fabrics near you? If so, wait until their Black Friday sales - that's when I buy all of my flannel for the next year's pajamas, because they usually have it for between $1 and $2 per yard.
I love Sleepy Hollow, too, but I love all things Depp.

Morning, Amber! I am another who does not have bifocals yet - I really don't see the need since my glasses correct for distance, and my naked eye works just fine for the close up stuff. When I wear contacts, one corrects for distance, and one is for closer stuff, and they work fabulously - LOVE them.

Wishing you and Charlie safe travels today.

I had lasik surgery about 10 years ago to correct my near-sightedness. So now I wear reading glasses and that's it - monovision or bifocals would have driven me crazy, I think.

Good morning, Amber!

I'm like Mamie - my glasses correct for distance, and I often just take them off for reading, because I see fine up close. Madame MBH had cataract surgery, and for the first time in her life has 20-20 vision. But she needs reading glasses. So often she'll be putting on her glasses to read while I'm taking mine off.

>79 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I have no desire for contacts, I'm afraid. I really like the way my face looks with glasses. So vain, eh?
And thanks for the travel wishes!

>80 drneutron: Jim: Ooof, eye surgery sounds just awful and makes my skin crawl. You brave thing, you. But I do agree that I think the bifocal will drive me crazy whenever I finally do need them.

>81 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Yep, I'm near-sighted, too, but I still keep mine on when I'm reading, unless the print is very fine.

Okay, don't laugh, but I like to wear contacts because I have a deep affection (and slight addiction) for sunglasses. If I am already wearing the glasses, then I can't wear the sunglasses. Heh.

I got progressive lenses for my glasses a year or so ago because I got tired of looking over the tops of them when I'm drawing, whether it's from life or the computer screen. I really need to have both things in focus, and although my astigmatism is not bad, my distance vision could use some correction. So they work for me, and I have the advantage of having gotten them while both prescriptions are pretty minor so that I'm already used to using them for when they get stronger.

I had to admit a while ago that I'm getting to the point where my arms aren't long enough to hold things where I can read them. My phone is a problem, a book is a problem... although when I read in bed at night I do use just dedicated reading glasses since I only need to focus on one thing.

>83 Crazymamie: I have prescription sunglasses. I do get a kick out of wearing them.

>83 Crazymamie: - The only thing that would maybe get me to consider contacts is the ability to wear different sunglasses :) As it is, I have a pair of prescription ones that I love, but it would be fun to have more than one option...

Just can't keep up with you, Lol

Probably one of the cutest photos of Charlie ever at the top. Love the hula hoop, gum boots, stripey pants. Fabulous.

>3 scaifea: I don't do horror movies. My idea of a good scary movie is Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark. For Halloween, now that my kids are older, we love a Harry Potter Marathon. Miss M has just finished all the books, so this year she might get to finish the films. Maybe. Mr. E can watch up to #4.

Love the PJ's. Oh how I miss my sewing machines. One more month. I can make it. Right?

Enjoy your visit to your parents! Drive safely. :)

>85 jnwelch:, >86 katiekrug: I have prescription sunglasses, too, but I love wearing different sunglasses, and prescription ones are too expensive for that. Also, with the prescription ones, I have to remember to have my regular glasses with me to switch out with indoors - I'm really bad about putting the prescription ones on and then forgetting to take the regular glasses with me for inside. And then people think that I think I am just too cool to take off my sunglasses in the store, but really, it's just that I cannot see a thing more than a foot away without them. And they're polarized, so they make inside very funky indeed.

>88 Crazymamie: prescription ones are too expensive for that. Truth.

Yeah, switching the sunglasses with the regular glasses is the hassle. I try to remember to take them off in the store to avoid that "too cool" effect, and when we're sitting around outside talking with people.

>88 Crazymamie: I realized halfway through our August graduation ceremony that I was still wearing my prescription sunglasses and my regular glasses were in my purse in a locked room on another floor. I wondered why none of my faculty colleagues brought this to my attention before we lined up, when I could have done something about it.

Just ready to head out the door, folks, so sorry for not responding individually.
I have prescription sunglasses that I love, and I don't have any desire for more than one pair, so I'm set.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

>88 Crazymamie: This is my daughter's problem, too - always having to remember to keep both pairs with her. She is like you - she just won't be able to see anything if she doesn't have her glasses, so if she's stuck with sunglasses, she's stuck with sunglasses.

>78 scaifea: - Yes, I do have a Joann's near me, Amber. In fact I just came from there, having bought a really nice box to put my cookie cutters in. It's not too big and not too small, but is just the right size. Now I need to find a small dog bone cookie cutter for Christmas. I made some treats for my dog friends last year and I want to try that again. Dogs are the best to give edible presents to - they snaffle everything right down and make me feel as if I really did a great job.

Hi Amber, have a nice trip with Charlie to your parents my dear.

Happy Friday, Amber! Safe travels.

Morning, Amber!

Morning Amber! Happy Friday.

i liked "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and also the "Munsters Go Home". (1966) The scene where they were racing the Drag-ula car and they were falling behind and Grandpa says, "I guess it's time to get out of first" was my favorite. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munster,_Go_Home!

My, it was a long time since I saw that! (50 years!)

Safe travels, Amber dear. xx

Happy Saturday, Amber! Hope you're having a good trip!

Somehow I managed to miss this thread for 100 whole posts!

Anyway, to answer the bonus question: It's more a Christmas movie than Halloween, but it was a family tradition growing up to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas sometime between October and December. :)

Oh, and Hocus Pocus! That was a big one in my family growing up as well. I think I'm just as enraptured by Sara singing "Come Little Children" as I was when I was when I was 12. :P

Hi Amber, hope you have a fabulous week.

Hi, everyone - we're back home safe and sound, and although we had a wonderful time, as we always do, I'm completely knackered and also completely frazzled and, well I'll just admit it, scared about my CT scan tomorrow morning. The scan itself isn't what's making me nervous - it's the IV, which, after not being able to eat or drink after midnight, is traditionally a nightmare for me (they have difficulty finding a vein Every. Time.). So forgive me for not responding individually; I'm scared and therefore cranky and on the verge of tears, and will be all evening and tomorrow morning. Gah. Such a wimp.

I did manage to finish one book this weekend:

155. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (audiobook, Banned Books) - 9/10 = A
Wow. Excellent stuff. I love the language, of course. And I'm very grateful that this version was a complete one - I loved the original ending.

>103 scaifea: Sorry about the nerves, and the CT scan. Have you tried getting yourself REALLY well hydrated before you have to stop eating and drinking? Drying out does flatten those veins, unfortunately.

>105 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda - that's just what the radiologist told me this afternoon when I went to pick up the contrast stuff I have to drink tonight, so I'm drinking as much water as I can possibly hold now until I go to bed. I'm really hoping that helps.

Good luck with the CT--- hope it goes better than expected.

Good luck Amber, hope it helps to know we are all here thinking of you!

Sending good wishes from me too. Hoping for a really good vein finding medical professional for you.

>107 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda - me, too.

>108 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura - it most certainly does help! I appreciate the thoughts - and the thinkers - so much!

>109 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Here's hoping!

I've drank so much water this evening that I feel like I'm floating from the inside out. I hope it helps...

#1 You are not allowed to call yourself a wimp. As a "difficult draw" myself, I know how anxiety provoking it can be. I've had medical personal GIVE UP on me and not do the required labs. I won't go into the horror stories because that will just make your fears worse, but being afraid of the IV is not an unreasonable fear. *hugs*

#2 When your mouth gets dry, a) when at home, swirl water in your mouth then spit it out, b) fill a travel mug with crushed ice (either from frig or convenience store) and suck on a piece of ice (but not too often.)

I have to look away when they are looking for a vein or else the veins see the needle coming and they hide. Good luck with your CT scan, Amber.

For the bonus question, I don't usually like scary movies but I do like the original Ghostbusters.

As for the glasses thing, I refuse to get progressives or bifocals. I can read just fine without my glasses and if I have to drive or see distances then I put on my glasses. Without my glasses I can read fine print and thread a needle so I think I am fine.

Amber, all the best for your procedures today. Surely a big treat is in order for when it's all over.

Thinking if you, Amber and sending lots if positive thaughts. I'm sure everything will go smoothly. xx

>111 Morphidae: Thanks for that, Morphy. I drank TONS of water last night and even set my alarm for 11:30 to get up and drink another 16 oz while I still could. I'm hoping that has hydrated me enough to make the veins not shy. I'll all be over in 5 hours...

>112 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg.
And I LOVE the original Ghostbusters - I can't wait to see the new one, too.
And yes, I'm putting off the bifocals until I just can't not have them any longer.

>113 susanj67: Thanks, Susan. My treat will be to come home and work on Charlie's costume (which is, for me, an actual real treat - I love this stuff), which NEEDS to be finished by this coming Saturday.

>114 Ameise1: Thanks so much, Barbara.

On the agenda for today:
The Scan, of course, then working on the costume, then going in at 2pm for my Monday afternoon volunteering.

On the reading front:
I started listening to So You Want to Be a Wizard during the car ride home, and I'm really enjoying it so far. Enough so that I've looked up whether the library has the sequels (they do, for the most part). I also read a bit of I Capture the Castle, which is starting to pick up a bit.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Jean Craighead George used her experiences as a child living off the land with her father and brothers in the Potomac River wilderness to write My Side of the Mountain (1960 Newbery Honor Book)."

Morning Amber! Good luck with the procedure. Gentle hug to my pal.

What We Read Yesterday:
-The Hueys in What's the Opposite? by Oliver Jeffers (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
-Charlie read aloud a couple of pages in Herobrine Goes to School
-A few pages in Wonderstruck
-Chapter 19 of No Such Thing As a Witch
-The last half of Chapter 8 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

>117 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark.

Good morning, Amber! Good luck with the scan today.

Madame MBH and I both really liked My Side of the Mountain. I checked, and Onion John won the Newbery in 1960. George's sure seems to have lasted better with readers.

Hi Amber, I hope today all goes easier than you anticipate... (((((hugs)))))

>120 jnwelch: Joe: Thanks.
I wasn't a huge fan of Onion John. It was okay but not great.

>121 FAMeulstee: Thank, Anita.

Update: Charlie woke up not feeling well, so I'll be going to the scan by myself, since Tomm has to stay home with the wee sickly one. Gah.

>122 scaifea: be strong Amber! You can do this!!! (((HUG)))

Good luck, Amber! Hope all goes well and as planned. In spirit, there's like 300 lter's with you!

Hoping everything goes well today!

Whew, well, THAT'S over. IV went in first try with no problems (woot) and the actual scan only took maybe 8 minutes. Back home with my slightly puny munchkin. Thanks so much to all of you for you kind thoughts and words - I needed them and appreciate it so much!

>123 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura - I needed that hug!

>124 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! This community is amazing, isn't it?

>125 drneutron: Thanks, Jim - it did! Well, at least the actual scan - we'll see about the results soon, I hope.

Great news that it went so smoothly, Amber, and that your veins co-operated. That water trick is a good one to remember!

Woot!

So glad to hear that it went well!

Excellent news!

Glad to hear the test went smoothly. Hugs for you and the poorly feeling munchkin. :)

Yay for a smooth test!

>127 susanj67: Thanks, Susan! Yes, I think all that water helped!

>128 lauralkeet: Laura: I second that woot!

>129 _Zoe_: Thanks, Zoe!

>130 katiekrug: Katie: I know, right?!

>131 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Munchkin is starting to perk up a bit, too.

>132 drneutron: Jim: Yay indeed!

156. So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane (audiobook, Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy) - 8/10 = B+
A good middle grade fantasy novel with all the required elements (young 'uns discovering wizardry, magic in the every day that leads to travels to strange lands, tasks that seem impossible for ones so inexperienced but that turn out to be possible all the same,...), although I thought it got a little slow toward the end.

Phew!

(I'll be remembering the water tip too. Good stuff)

Woohoo, it's over.

>135 charl08: Charlotte: I know, right? Very good to know.

>136 Ameise1: Barbara: Yes!!

Good afternoon, scaifea! I hope all is well with you and the fam.

Just because I'm full of recommendations, though you plan well ahead, I wanted to let you know of a book I have enjoyed with the kids. We are still reading it and should finish up in the next couple of nights. Medusa Jones is and elementary age chapter book and features a young Medusa who is the object of bullying from the Champions (Perseus, Theseus, and Cassandra). Medusa has friends, Chiron and Mino, who help her weather the storm. The bullying is light stuff and it appears that the bullies and the bullied will have to work together to solve a problem. It is fun, silly, thoughtful, and does not follow the mythological story you know. I hope you'll give it chance.

Glad it all went well! Nothing like your LT pals, sending good vibes. Grins...

>138 brodiew2: Brodie: Ooof. Thanks for the recommendation, but I'm not really a fan of the Percy Jackson type liberties with mythologies. If Charlie sees it at the library and wants to read it, I won't stop him, but I certainly won't be reading it myself. I appreciate the thought, though!

>139 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Yep, those LT vibes are The Best!

Yay for the IV going in slick as snot on a doorknob! Being well-hydrated really does help a lot.

I'm not sure if you've read it yet and it might be a year or two too old for Charlie, but I'd highly recommend Wonder by R. J. Palacio. Charlie is such a tender heart that I think he'd really get a lot out of it. I gave it 9/10 stars. You should read it first though.

>141 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy. I've seen that one around but haven't picked it up.

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning, then a (hopefully) quick PTO meeting, then back home to spend the afternoon in the sewing room until time to pick up Charlie. Pizza Casserole for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I started listening to The Bell Jar while knitting yesterday, and I also read a few more pages in I Capture the Castle.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Walter Edmunds didn't think he was writing for children when he wrote The Matchlock Gun (1942 Newbery Medal)."

What We Read Yesterday:
-A couple more pages of Herobrine Goes to School (read aloud by Charlie)
-A few more pages in Wonderstruck
-Ella Sets the Stage
-Froggy's Halloween
-Chapter 20 in No Such Thing As a Witch
-The first third of chapter 9 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Loving this little warm-up. Back to shorts for now. I know it will be short-lived but it feels good.

>145 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm happy for you, but I'd prefer for it to stay chilly...

Good morning, Amber!

Oh, I second Morphy's endorsement of Wonder! It's a special one. My whole Chicago family has read it.

Good morning, scaifea! I hope all is well well with the family.

>147 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I'll try to pick it up at some point.

>148 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie!

Hi Amber, hope all is well with you and the family my dear, and hope you have a good day.

>150 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Came to this too late to be part of the support system, Amber--sorry about that. I know, I'm also a very hard draw and have had my share of botched IVs, so I sympathize and I'm very glad everything went smoothly.

So You Want to Be a Wizard is indeed an excellent middle-school book. The best thing about the series is that it deepens and grows along the way, becoming much more. Hope you'll follow along.

>152 ronincats: Roni: Thanks for the support - I'll take it any time!
And ooof - I'd just decided not to go on with the series because I thought the ending of that first one was too drawn out. And now you've got me re-thinking that decision... Ha!

On the agenda for today:
This is a Stay Home and Sew/Knit (and Possibly Also Make Brownies) Day for me. I NEED to get this costume finished by Saturday, when we're heading up to LaCrosse to meet the Charlie-friend who moved, for a trick-or-treat/fall festival at Myrick Park. I'm nearly finished with the robe - just need to hem the bottom and the sleeves and sew the Hogwarts patch on. As for the sweater, I only need to stitch the arms in and then stitch up the side-and-underarm seams. So I think I can make it. Gymnastics tonight, too, which means Eggs and Bacon for dinner (our now traditional post-tumbling meal).

On the reading front:
I listened to more of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths in the car, listened to more of The Bell Jar (which is quietly excellent so far), read more of I Capture the Castle (which keeps getting better), and a few pages in Franklin Pierce (which is hopeless - I can't concentrate on these pre-Lincoln slump presidents).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "While reading Eleanor Estes's manuscript for The Middle Moffat (1943 Newbery Honor Book) on the subway, illustrator Louis Slobodkin laughed out loud. Other people on the train made sure they knew how to leave quickly just in case he *really* went crazy."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Worm Loves Worm by J. J. Austrian (public library book, picture book) - 10/10 = A+
Oh, this one is excellent, friends. Sweetly and subtly says that it's okay for anyone to marry anyone, no matter how many people say, "But that's not how it's usually done." Should be required reading for all kids - and parents.
-Pumpkin Hill
-Charlie read aloud a few more pages in Herobrine Goes to School
-A few more pages in Wonderstruck
-The middle third of chapter 9 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

And we finished:
157. No Such Thing As a Witch by Ruth Chew (Charlie bed-time read, 115 pages) - 8/10 = B+
A witch moves in next door to two children, and helps them see magic in the everyday. Sweet but a bit dated. A nice read for October, though.

Morning Amber!

Morning, Mark!

Good luck with getting the sewing done on time, Amber. You can do it!

>158 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! The robe is now very nearly finished (I just need to sew on the frog clasp and need Charlie to try it on first so that I can figure out just where to put it) and the sweater only needs to be sewn up the sides and sleeves, which I think I can get finished this evening. Woot!

On the agenda for today:
Menu planning and writing up my grocery list for tomorrow's shopping, then finishing up both the robe and the sweater (and then the costume will be complete! WOOT!) before time for my Thursday afternoon library volunteering.

On the reading front:
I *finally* finished Franklin Pierce (more on that one later), finished listening to D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, listened to more of The Bell Jar (which is fantastic so far), read a good little chunk of I Capture the Castle (which has also turned quite fabulous), and read a bit more of Beyond Apollo (which is beyond strange).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Monica Shannon based Dobry (1935 Newbery Medal) on many of the experiences of the book's illustrator, Atanas Katchamakoff."

What We Read Yesterday:
-One Snowy Night
-Max's Halloween
-A few pages of Herobrine Goes to School (read aloud by Charlie)
-A few more pages in Wonderstruck
-Chapter 1 of The Witches
-The rest of chapter 9 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Sweet Thursday! I have the day off. Cool and damp but I will manage.

I am going to see if I can find an audio copy of The Bell Jar.

Morning, Amber! You are making quick work of that costume!!

The audio of The Bell Jar sounds worthwhile. I think both Gyllenhalls are great actors.

>162 msf59: Mark: Yay to a day off! I think you'll love The Bell Jar.

>163 Crazymamie: Mamie: Needs must, my friend. It's got to be done by Saturday!

>164 charl08: Charlotte: Maggie is doing a wonderful job of this one, and I love her voice. I agree that they're both great actors, too.

157. Franklin Pierce by Michael Holt (U.S. Presidential Challenge, 154 pages) - 7/10 = C
UGH. This presidential slump is The Worst. Will I ever make it to Lincoln and therefore something readable?! These last few biographies have been so dull it's darned near actually painful. Blech.

158. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (everyday audiobook for the car) - 9/10 = A
I LOVE the D'Aulaires and their gorgeous books. The audio, of course, lacks the beauty of the gorgeous illustrations, but makes up for it with the voices of Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Kathleen Turner and Matthew Broderick...

>167 scaifea: - Oooh, must look for D'Aulaires on audio... My sister and I both loved the giant oversized hardcover we had growing up. I wonder what happened to it...

>168 katiekrug: Katie: I didn't know about the D'Aulaires until I was in grad school, but Charlie of course has one of those large hardcovers, one each of the Greek Myths and the Norse Myths.

The robe is finished!

>169 scaifea: - HOLD THE PHONE! There is one of Norse myths?!?!?

*scurries off to Amazon*

*scurries back*

Nice job on the robe!

*scurries away again*

>170 scaifea: Awesome job! That beats wearing my masters robes all to heck. ;-)

Glad your scan went well! I, too, am a "tough stick." I don't mind an IV and getting blood drawn if they can do it in one go, but the having to try over and over is just awful. Once in the ER they used an ultra sound to find the vein and place the needle. Fastest stick ever! I wish they did it that way all the time, but alas. Expense, probably.

>171 katiekrug: Katie: Ha! Yes, the Norse Myths is even better than the Greek one, I think. And thanks!

>172 lycomayflower: Laura: Thanks to a friend's gift of a generous Joann Fabrics card for my birthday, I was able to buy really nice fabric (from the suiting section, even!) instead of flimsy stuff, so this is a *substantial* garment. It looks great (if I do say so - mind, I'm talking about the fabric, not the construction so much), but I predict that by the end of the day, Charlie will be slightly grousing about its weight. I plan on informing him that with great trick-or-treating awesomeness comes the great weight of responsibility, or something.

And yeah, I'm glad it went smoothly, too. I lay most of the thanks on your own mom's excellent advice to drink lots of water the night before.

>170 scaifea: That looks amazing, Amber! Great job!

>173 scaifea: Thanks, Micky!

>173 scaifea: Heh. At least he doesn't have to be like Canadian kids who have to make sure their costume fits over a snow suit...

>176 MickyFine: Micky: It has snowed here before Halloween in the past, so I generally make his costumes out of flannels and warm fabrics. This, along with the sweater, will keep him nice and warm if it turns cold between now and Halloween.

>170 scaifea: classy robe!

and good morning Amber. I've been MIA to a certain extent on LT for a while, and slowly trying to catch up.

I loved Halloween as a child till about 9 or 10 - then I enjoyed it a bit when the kids were little. In recent years not much at all. My wife and daughter however, even if not being Halloweeny themselves have this insatiable love for Hocus Pocus. The charm of it is lost on me. They were happy as clams last night watching it together. My daughter, really truly, waits all year for it to come on TV.

>170 scaifea: Wow, nice robe. Where did you get the patch?

That robe looks awesome! Nice work, Amber! "...with great trick-or-treating awesomeness comes the great weight of responsibility..." made me laugh out loud.

I've commented on the robe elsewhere, but just gotta say again it is AMAZING.

Hi, Amber!

I have D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths - should I read it?

Love the Robe my dear, you are a very talented lady indeed.

>178 RBeffa: Thanks, Ron! I like Hocus Pocus lots, but there are other Halloween family movies I like better. Charlie Brown, of course, comes to mind. And we watch Escape to Witch Mountain for Halloween, too, and I LOVE that one.

>179 Morphidae: Morphy: Etsy, of course. OF COURSE.

>180 Crazymamie: Mamie: Glad to be of service, lady.

>181 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura! I can't wait to see the cutie in the entire ensemble.

>182 jnwelch: Joe: Um, YES. And the run out and get the Norse one and read it!

>183 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Charlie and I made Hocus Pocus Potions for an after-school treat today:

So orange sherbet and ........ ?

>186 katiekrug: Katie: Vanilla ice cream blended with blueberries

Nice!

>188 katiekrug: Katie: It's delicious!

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning, then weekly bills and photo-organizing before time for my Friday afternoon volunteering. The sweater is finished, so I'll try to post photos later today. Split Pea Soup for dinner tonight, I think, per Charlie's request. Funny that we're reading The Witches right now, but haven't gotten to the pea soup part yet...

On the reading front:
I listened to more of The Bell Jar, which is still fabulous, and read more of I Capture the Castle, which is also excellent. Loving my reading right now.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Meindert DeJong had two Newbery Honor Books in 1954: Shadrach and Hurry Home, Candy. The following year, his The Wheel on the School received the Newbery Medal."
I haven't read the two honor books yet, but I did really enjoy The Wheel on the School.

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read a few more pages in Herobrine Goes to School
-Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin (Charlie's school library book, picture book) - 910 = A-
-Inside a House That Is Haunted
-A few more pages in Wonderstruck
-Chapter 2 of The Witches
(We skipped Harry Potter last night because, uncharacteristically, by the time we were finished with our Witches chapter, Charlie was falling asleep!)

Morning Amber! Happy Friday. Back to long pants and jackets. Should stay dry though.

>192 msf59: Morning, Mark! I love this cool weather! Sorry about the pants, though.

Morning, Amber! I can't wait to see the sweater.

>194 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Soon!

>178 RBeffa: Added Escape to Witch Mountain to my Halloween movie list. I loved that movie!

Hi, Amber!

We're just taking it easy down here in Tennessee. :-)

>196 Morphidae: Morphy: We love the sequel, too - Return to Witch Mountain!

>197 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Sounds wonderful!

Well, here's the sweater, folks, which means that the costume is complete!

>198 scaifea: What about the new one with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Race to Witch Mountain?

>200 Morphidae: Morphy: I haven't seen that one yet, but I'd love too - I love The Rock to bits.

160. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (Banned Books, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
Ooof, this is a good one, folks. An autobiographical novel that is full of stark and matter-of-fact and at the same time completely gorgeous writing. I was fascinated and entranced from the beginning. Maggie Gyllenhaal's voice is perfect for this one, too, and she does a perfect job of it. Hey, Mark; Hey, Joe; and Hey, Ellie - if you haven't - do! You'll love it, I think.

>199 scaifea: That looks fantastic! Yet another amazing job, Heather!

Love love love that sweater!

>205 scaifea: Ha! Thanks, Micky!

>204 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

Oh, sorry I missed that bit about your CT scan and the IV in your elbow, if my experience is anything like mine was. I was anxious too and fortunately my brother in law was able to fill me in on the details and he was quite encouraging. I was still surprised that the IV thing went into a big vein in my elbow and I had to wait over a half hour that way, due to an emergency coming in that took priority over me.

Gorgeous sweater!

'lo, Amber.

>3 scaifea: love these questions. depends on the mood but The thing (1982), except i don't watch a couple of really oogly bits, or the original (1956) Invasion of the body snatchers, or as we call it, 'invasion of the snoddy batchers.' :-)

re: book toppers. it never occurred to me that knowledge could have an archaeology. i may say that although i often, or maybe sometimes, think about what we actually can know, what i can be sure of as known (basically, nothing), i think reading Foucault would simply make me more befuddled than thinking about the things he thinks about already makes me and it might make me have to lie down very quickly in a fainting chair with smelling salts and a lace hanky. i reckon i just have to take things on faith . . . sort of. like whoever it was who said that an architect, or more directly, a builder, might know that the steel beams she is using in a building are largely empty space, yet she must act as though they're solid or, really, we'd never get anywhere at all.

this whole thing makes my head spin. always has.

>103 scaifea: i'm so sorry IVs are scary for you, sorry i was in absinthe while it was going on and delighted it went as smoothly as those things can. there's nothing wimpy about not wanting to be hurt. sounds pretty high on the "things you have to be to survive" list, if you see what i mean.

anon.

>206 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! And gosh, I'm sorry you had to wait so long with the IV in - mine went in smoothly and didn't have to stay in too long, but it was certainly not comfortable for the little time it was in there. Gah.

>207 mirrordrum: 'lo, Ellie!
I love both of those movies, but haven't seen them in a very long time.
Foucault takes some getting used to, but I just love his stuff to bits. Perhaps my feelings for his writings are related to the fact that I like feeling dizzy sometimes? Head-spinning can be fun under controlled circumstances.
And thanks for the IV sympathy and support. I like looking at it as a survival skill. Ha!

Great sweater and cape and done with time to spare. You did good!

Love the jumper. Hope he has fun wearing it too.

Good morning, Amber! Amazing work on the Hogwarts clothing - the FB pics were wowsers, too.

Thanks, Meg, Charlotte & Joe!

Sorry no updates today - we had to be up and out early to make the 2.5-hour drive to meet Charlie's friend for the trick-or-treating (they had a blast), and I managed to catch a nasty headache on the way home, so I'm laying low for the rest of the day. Photos tomorrow...

I didn't realise that Hogwarts was really in Wisconsin! Great job on the costume and what a lucky little fellow Harry Charlie is to have such an enthusiastic and caring mom.

Have a great weekend, Amber and boo to the headache.

Wonderful costume, Amber. I'm sure, Charlie will be the best looking child at Halloween.
Happy Sunday.

Amber, what a great costume! (I love the clasp on the robe too). I hope you're feeling better now.

>212 scaifea: Good to read that Charlie and his friend had a blast, Amber, and hope you feel a bit better soon!

Morning Amber! Happy Sunday! You did a wonderful job on Charlie's costume. He looks perfect.

Happy Sunday, Amber! Hope the head feels better. I bet Charlie was a hit!

Thanks, Paul, Barbara, Susan, Anita & Mark! Headache is better this morning, thank goodness.

Here's our little Charlie Potter (I'll try to get better photos outside next weekend, when we go for more trick-or-treating):

On the agenda for today:
We had Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits for breakfast, and later I'll make some Chocolate Malted Cookies and and Chocolate Creme Brulee for tonight's dessert. I also have a bit of PTO work to get finished before tomorrow, and some laundry, and then it's sitting in reading and knitting and watching Halloween movies with my two favorite Scaife Men. Tomm is grilling burgers for dinner tonight.

On the reading front: I finished I Capture the Castle yesterday - more on that a bit later...

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Hendrik Van Loon (The Story of Mankind, 1922 Newbery Medal) was once seriously injured in a boat explosion."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read a bit more of Herobrine Goes to School aloud
-Elmo's Monster Mash
-Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
-A bit more of Wonderstruck
-Chapter 4 of The Witches
-The rest of chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

And Joe? We cross-posted (see >218 jnwelch:). Or "and Jim", if you prefer.

>219 scaifea: Charlie looks great! Enjoy your quiet-ish Sunday.

>222 jnwelch: Ha! Sorry, Joe! I think we must have cross-posted, because I didn't see yours before!

>223 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

161. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (1001 Children's Books, 343 pages) - 9/10 = A
A lovely little novel, written as installments in a young girl's journal, about adolescent first loves and disappointments. The real star, though, is the castle itself, the thought of which would, I suspect, make Cassandra proud.

>219 scaifea: I love Charlie's costume!! Great job! I saw your post on facebook and just wanted to come tell you that you are AMAZING!!!

>226 ChelleBearss: Aw, thanks, Chelle!!

Great costume!

>228 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!

AMAZING costume, Amber! Did you knit the sweater too? Good lord! You really rock motherhood, my friend!

>219 scaifea: Oh yeah, Charlie looks the part. Amazing costume, Amber.

>219 scaifea: Oh, those are great pictures! Great costume and great model.

>230 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda - yep, I knitted the sweater, too.

>231 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

>232 ronincats: Thanks, Roni!

On the agenda for today:
Once I drop Charlie off at school, I'll head over to his old school to work on some book fair business (copying and distributing flyers to go home to families, copying handouts for teachers and such), then home for some treadmilling, some laundry and some work on the Latin book before heading in to Charlie's school for my Monday afternoon volunteering. Smoked Sausage Gumbo for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
I started listening to I Am Legend, which is quite good so far, although the reader is a little histrionic for my tastes, and I started and finished Fog Magic (more on that one later).

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Shortly after she sent Amos Fortune, Free Man (1951 Newbery Medal) to her editor, Elizabeth Yates had a vivid dream of hitting the bullseye with an arrow. Her husband said the dream was easy to interpret, but he wouldn't tell his wife why until the book won the Herald Tribune Spring Festival Award."

What We Read Yesterday:
-Charlie read a few more pages aloud in Herobrine Goes to School
-Trick or Treat with Elmo
-We finished Wonderstruck! More on that one later, too.
-Chapter 5 of The Witches
-Chapter 11 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber!

Howdy, Amber! have a great Monday!

>236 msf59: Morning, Mark!

>237 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda!

Hi Amber, hope you all had a great weekend my dear, We both thought Charlie's Harry Potter outfit was stupendous, what a very talented lady you are. It looks like you have got a busy day from looking at your agenda, hope you are having a good day and send love and hugs.

>234 scaifea: Hello scaifea! I love the I Am Legend audio. What a cool story, and a much more intimate a story than we have seen on film. I love his internal dialogue. Quite compelling.

>239 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John!

>240 brodiew2: Brodie: I'm liking the story very much (of course - it's Matheson, after all), but the narrator is driving me a bit batty. I think he's a bit over-the-top.

162. Fog Magic by Julia L. Sauer (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
A girl who is born with a natural love for the thick fog that frequently covers her village one day discovers the magic it brings with it, and then spends those foggy days in another time and in another village that no longer exists. Very cool little story and well told.

163. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (Charlie's book club book, 637 pages (but tons of illustrations, of course)) - 9/10 = A
Just as wonderful and imaginative and his other books. I'm definitely a fan, and Charlie is now, too.

Charlie's costume is fantastic! You did such a great job with it--I'm sure Charlie is thrilled.

Karen O.

>243 klobrien2: Thanks, Karen! He loves it!

On the agenda for today:
Some cleaning, some laundry, possibly some work on the Latin book, and then I need to head into school early to help set up for the Fall Festival this evening. Right after school, Charlie and I will hustle home, have a quick dinner with Tomm and then we'll all head back for the festival, but then leave a bit early to hustle Charlie to the library for his monthly book club. Whew!

On the reading front:
I started Some Writer! and read a bit of Cheever's Collected Stories.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Carolyn Bailey's grandmother made the doll that became the basis for Miss Hickory (1947 Newbery Medal).

What We Read Yesterday:
-Margarito's Carvings by Shepard Barbash (Charlie's read-aloud homework, easy reader) - 7/10 = C
Charlie really dislikes this read-aloud homework he gets every week. The little easy readers are way out-dated and the stories are never very good at all. He was so unhappy about having to read this last night instead of the book that he's currently reading to us that he read it out through tears. Now, honestly, how is that helping anything? This is a kid who LOVES to read. What's happening to those kids who *don't* like to read and who bring these ridiculous little books home? Yeesh. Out educational system sometimes makes me pretty frustrated and sad.

-We're Going on a Ghost Hunt by Susan Pearson (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
-The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
-Chapter 6 of The Witches
-The first half of chapter 12 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Morning Amber! Hooray for Wonderstruck! Such a beautiful edition too.

>247 msf59: Morning, Mark! Have you read his others? They're all gorgeous.

>246 scaifea: This irks me. It's not fair to the kids who like to read or the kids who don't like to read. It's not fair to the kids with a high reading level for their age or those with a low reading level (particularly for those who struggle with reading and their parents don't know good strategies to help them... or just don't care.)

I mean, the kid reads War and Peace for pete's sake. It's not like he's deprived of either the written word or quality literature.

Sheesh.

>249 casvelyn: Yes, it irks me, too. They give them these standardized tests (argh!) to determine their reading levels instead of just, well, um, paying attention to how well they read over the course of a few weeks, and then they give them 'books' to read based on how well they perform on those bogus tests. Charlie does not do well on those kinds of tests, mostly because they always give them at the very beginning of the year, and he has to take it with a new teacher (=strange adult) proctoring it and he turns completely shy and clams up. So he ends up getting crap to read that is way below his level and not at all interesting. This is the second year in a row this has happened to him and it's totally frustrating. I hate to have to teach him to think of some (read: school) reading as a chore and just don't worry about it - when you're at home you can read whatever you like. *shrug*

Morning Amber! Yeah, Wonderstruck is a winner for sure!

>250 scaifea: Oh the reading level tests. *eyeroll* By 4th grade, I tested at a post-college level, and no one knew what to give me to read because I had the vocabulary of a grad student (that was the year I read the dictionary cover to cover twice) but the emotional maturity and life experience of your typical 10 year old.

Happy Tuesday, Amber!

Thank goodness Charlie has you at home to give him appropriate reading, and encourage his love of it.

Poor guy. Maybe by next year he'll be old enough to understand the situation so he make it a goal to push past his fear/shyness so he can get books that are more suited to him?

>251 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Have you read Selznick's other stuff? It's all excellent.

>252 casvelyn: They really need to throw out this system. It stinks.
I don't get that they didn't know what yo give you to read: high vocabulary levels shouldn't mean that you can't read age-appropriate stuff when you're 10. Lots of adults (I count myself among them) enjoy kids' lit. I don't really see the issue there.

>253 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

>254 Morphidae: Morphy: Well, at least he knows he can read what he likes here at home, and the librarian is amazing at his school and lets him check out anything he likes. So, really, he's fine. It's just the system that's frustrating.

>256 scaifea: I just hate to hear that he's crying over a book. :(

Oh! Did you hear anything about your CT scan?

>255 scaifea: My parents were okay with me reading whatever; it was the librarians who were confused. I was homeschooled, so there weren't any teachers to have to deal with. I kept telling them I wanted books that had big words and long sentences, but the main characters needed to be children who had interesting adventures. Did not compute. Eventually, I just went over to the section of the library where they kept the books that contained lists of books to read and started picking things that sounded interesting from those.

And this is why I became a librarian. Because I had been my own librarian for so long, I figured I might as well get paid for it. :)

>257 Morphidae: Morphy: Yeah, but I think he gets that it's just a stupid think he has to do for school. He still loves 'real' reading.

Yes, I did. I have some sort of ovarian cyst that my doc thinks may be causing the issues. So I'm off to see a gyn tomorrow morning...

>259 scaifea: Oh, what a pain in the... butt. I think I've had one for decades. Not bad enough to do anything except cause discomfort sometimes when I need to have a bowel movement or cause excruciating mid-cycle pain when I wasn't on the pill. I hope the gyn can find a quick and easy solution for you.

>260 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy. Me, too. I'm sorry you've had to go through this, too.

Hi Amber, just stopping by to say hello and admire Charlie's Halloween costume. It's fabulous! Does he realize how lucky he is to have such a talented mom? :)

I had an advanced reader, too, and I know how frustrating it can be for everyone. Now my advanced reader is creating curriculums and choosing books for his classrooms of young readers (6th through 10th grade) and trying very hard to choose wisely.

Good luck at the docs! :(

>262 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! Thanks!
Good for your son - I'd love to know what some of his favorites are for those ages.
And thanks again - I'm hoping maybe I'll get some actual answers soon...

Fingers crossed for actual answers Amber. Ideally accompanied by non-invasive and painless treatment options. (And good morning!)

On the agenda for today:
I have the gyn appointment this morning, and then since it's in Dubuque, I think I'll do a little shopping while I'm down there: some Christmas shopping for Charlie, possibly a dip into the fabric shop and yarn shop, and definitely a poke around _target. No idea how long I'll be, but if I have time when I get home before needing to pick up Charlie from school, I should probably do some writing. Then, Charlie has gymnastics this evening.

On the reading front:
I finished Some Writer!, read a bit of the Sherlock Holmes collection, listened to more of I Am Legend and read a few pages in Beyond Apollo.

The Newbery/Caldecott Trivia: "Jerry Spinelli based Amanda Beale's mother in Maniac Magee (1991 Newbery Medal) on a male dentist that Jerry's mother had gone to. Spinelli couldn't forget that dentist's kindness."

>264 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte!

What We Read Yesterday:
-Made's Birthday (Charlie's reading homework)
-Meg and Mog
-Chapter 7 in The Witches
-The second half of chapter 12 in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Amber, I hope your appointment goes well. It's good that you managed to get one so quickly. Enjoy the shopping!

>268 susanj67: Thanks, Susan!

Morning Amber! Looks like a wet one today. Ugh!

You asked if I had read Selznick: I have and Hugo Cabret is hands-down my favorite. Looks great on shelf too.

Good luck with the gyn Amber. I'm sure it's no fun, but it's good to see progress towards diagnosis and treatment.

>270 msf59: Morning, Mark! You should give The Marvels a go, then - it's pretty wonderful, too.

>271 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. You know, I honestly don't mind gyn visits. It's not my very favorite thing in the world, but I'm relieved that I'm going there and not to the urologist. That one scares me more.

164. Some Writer! by Melissa Sweet - 9/10 = A
From the same illustrator who magicked The Right Word, the Caldecott-winning biography of Peter Roget, this is a gorgeous tribute to the life and writings of E. B. White. Just wonderful.

Good luck today, Amber. Charlie's costume is amazing - totally awesomesauce. And I love the sweater.

I really enjoyed I Am Legend, but I read it in print form - no annoying narrator. May the Force be with you, girl!

>274 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie - I've had so much fun making his costumes each year - I hope he keeps letting me for many more to come.
And the narrator's no so bad that I have to stop, or maybe the book is just good enough that I can suffer through...

Good morning, Amber!

Agreeing with the awesomesauceness of the Charlie costumes. I'm sure you're saving a load of money, too.

>276 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!
Thanks! But, yeah, it depends on how you look at it. Those cheapity, store-bought costumes are, well, much cheaper; fabric and yarn are, um, not. I did get some pretty good deals this time around on both the fabric for the robe and the yarn for the sweater.

The new thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/237675