September 25, 2008
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Really Dull Bits–But with Headings!
Doesn’t that title entice you to want to read further? I had an English professor in school who was convinced that a good title was the key to the whole essay. I think he was wrong. He also had a deep love for Melville, and really, Melville is boring.
Lucy Retraction
Okay, I made Lucy sound worse than she was, maybe. She’s really okay. Yes, we have a soggy bit of carpet every other day. Yes, I have a bruise with bits of broken skin on my leg from where she leaped and bit me while playing instead of going for her chew rope. Yes, we have a slobbery kitten from her gnawing, but in general, she’s pretty good. Well, she’ll turn out pretty good! (bad grammar intentional) TGD, wise man that he is, moved her crate into the garage. I am sure she still yips and whines, but we don’t hear her. Sleep–amen!
Mike
We had a friend from Australia who was visiting for the month. He stayed with us one weekend, and the rest of the time was at a bed and breakfast (that didn’t serve breakfast). Mike was here to do research with James, but he came over most nights for dinner, unless he took TGD and me or our whole family out. One of the most relaxing times I had lately was last Friday when he took us all out to Olive Garden. Before he left, he took James and me to the Down Under Steakhouse, which was very appropriately named.
A Cheery CrowdHere you can see the crowd I’ve been hanging out with of late. Quite a disreputable bunch, eh? We have three practice nights a week and a game on Saturday or Sunday.
Look, Ky! You got your picture on my website!
One Funny Story
I’ve been collecting novels by Patricia Veryan, an adventure/historical romance author who is good with non-lascivious stories (not so easy to find these days). Her books are all out of print, but you can usually find them on Ebay or half.com. I had all but one of them, and this one sold for $50 used in paperback and $90 or more in hardback.
Last week, a paperback went for auction on Ebay. I watched it all week and planned to make my move on Saturday morning. The bid was only up to $10.50. I was elated. With 15 seconds to go, I hit “submit. Immediately, the screen said, “Auction over.” WHAT! It wasn’t over! And the book only went for $12. I was so disappointed, but I decided it wasn’t worth whining over.
Well, Monday, I went on half.com to just check (as I do every day or so). And someone had listed a hardback copy of the book for only $7.97! I was more than thrilled, ordered it, and now my collection is complete. (Or it will be once the book arrives.)
Have you had any found success stories?
Comments (14)
You have the personality of a cheerleader. I bet they love you!
No, no found success stories, but I’m thrilled about yours. And what kind of a Bed-N-Breakfast is that, to not have breakfast? Shame on them! Your guest could have had some of my toast!
Olive Garden is one of my favorites! The Down Under place sounds interesting. So how down were you?
As always, great pictures – thank you for sharing. And your blog is always interesting, whether you give it a heading or not.
Hugs, Tea, Cookies, Prayers & Blessings…And A Loving Pat On The Head To Lucy!
Cookie
I love your blog. It’s an antidote for my self-wallowing pity. Thank you.
I went to my first game on Saturday and really wanted to be a cheerleader for Penn State, because I liked the idea of getting lifted and thrown in the air and caught again. (The differences between your former student and your former student’s sister…) Then I found out they did all kinds of gymnastics…oh well.
I’ve had some success stories on eBay, too – Cherry Ames and Dana Girls, both rare books that can get bid up pretty high. I once bought two lots from the same seller and paid maybe $16 for 5 (slightly beat up, but I didn’t care) Cherry Ames, 1 Vicki Barr (similar series, except she’s a flight stewardess instead of a nurse, but same authors), and 7 or 8 Dana girls. I was beyond excited. =)
No success stories, but a stack of books two feet high that I’m reading through. I just finished ‘The Enemy’s Cradle’ and it was really good.
God bless you Mary.
Well, so far this year I have found “Shakespeare without the Boring Bits”, one of our all time fav, out of print, library reads for like $2 on one of the used book sites. I also found one of the Kay Arthur Inductive Studies for kids 9-12 years, that we use for our bible cir. on the same site for $1.99 and another for free on PBS, which is where most of my find happen!
Where did TGD’s beard go?! I loved the beard! Beards are so sexy and manly, although they do cause chafing which can be painful, but such is the price of love. Not that he is not perfectly cute without it. I don’t do well with change.
I like buying old records of my favorite bands. I’m always happy when I find one of those, although I usually just use Ebay.
THANK YOU for saying Melville is boring. I feel so vindicated now. I get looks of horror on occasion when I admit it…shocking that someone with an English degree and a former English teacher has never read Moby Dick…I’ve read excerpts and that’s PUH-lenty. I do use him when I teach American Lit to teach students how to research literature to grow their understanding of it, so that when a prof assigns them a piece of literature when they’re away at universit, and they “just don’t get it” they can research their way into understanding. So then we research Moby Dick until they can understand cultural allusions to it, and then we are done! It’s one of the few units I used to show a movie in. (I’m the anti-movie teacher until 12th grade. Or was anyway.)
My dad has a similar victory story on a cookbook that he learned to cook from in the 50′s. It’s super-gourmet and called With A Jug of Wine. Nearly every recipe uses wine or other alcohol to season food. I grew up using that book. Dad searched used bookstores for each of his kids and found one for everyone except my youngest bro. He’s an abberration…we have no addiction in the family, but he is an alcholic (recovered/dry). So Dad wasn’t going to find him the book anyway
@BigToePeople -
Actually, I didn’t think Moby Dick was too bad, but the others–Typhoo, Omoo, Mardi. Yuck.
Isn’t that great? There is a reason for everything!
No big success stories here; just busier than I like to be. It seems like school starts back and life just gets going too fast and there is very little down time. So I guess that is my success for today………I made it to Friday.
How are your children adapting to public school classes?
What a nice lineup of news!
TGD shaved! I don’t think I’ve ever seen his face. -That is TGD, isn’t it? I’m not very good with faces and Mr. M. has execptional talent recognising people… Mr. M. shaved off his mustache once and the little ones cried.
Out here there is an Aussie themed restaurant called Outback Steakhouse.
I didn’t think you post was boring (though I’ve never made it through Moby Dick) and I liked the headings. Great deal for you on the book. My kids would like to find a deal like that on the book Lark.
@mamaglop -
Yes, that is TGD. He shaved in May before we got back from England. I guess in his birthday picture, his chin was covered with presents.
Lark? I’ve not heard of that book. Who wrote it? What sort of book is it?
Hey Mary ! Thanks for stopping by my xanga…And thanks for your comment.
) I know I haven’t posted on your site for a while and I’m sorry about that. Hope your ok… 
) Have a wonderful day my friend. 
D