booklovers! whatcha reading? weekend~ 4/13-4/14

Karen, hope it all works out with the new guy. Enjoy your dinner out tonight.

Pinky, wondering how it all went yesterday with the memorial. How's your DS?

Going to be a beautiful weekend. 80º through Mon. Storms predicted Tuesday. Love this time of year. Before bugs and humidity.

Karen, so exciting about this new guy, and it sounds like it might be just the thing for you. As they say, maybe not a Mr. Right, but a Mr. Right Now. Companionship, conversation, and someone who pays, how can you go wrong? And he is happy to meet you at the preserve to walk. Of course we know he needs the family test, but it all sounds so good. Oh well, about the HR thing. Maybe you can ask them to take care of it, so you can be done with this. I know how all these things are bad when you are going through them, then all the stress manages to disappear. Enjoy dinner tonight.

Anngie, that is how it always works out, you plan and then they plan differently for you. Glad you are getting it done finally. As you know, this is close enough that I have come up myself, but with a 13 hour drive, I don't think I would do that.

Carol, I am not used to your type of house, having what sounds like a crawl space underneath. Most houses by us have a basement, as we do, but there were some that were built right after WWII, that were just built on concrete slabs, but they had no crawl space.

I am trying to remember when my DM started wearing pants. She was never one to wear a house dress, but we used to sell them in our store. My grandmothers always had an apron on, but I don't remember them wearing housedresses, but I would say the one from Brooklyn probably did I remember when we were able to start wearing pants to school when I was in Jr high. We could wear pants, but they had to be a "pants outfit". No jeans of course. These days it seems like anything goes. 

Gareth, I would love an 80 degree day, but that would mean more AC. My DH put the AC on immediately.

Our trip up yesterday was the best we ever had. DH only wanted to have a smoothie for lunch, at a place that is next door to the deli we usually stop at. The smoothie place had nothing but smoothies and ice cream, and I didn't want a smoothie, so I called in an order for a turkey sandwich to the deli, and we ate in the car Including the stop it took us less than 3 1/2 hours, so we made really great time. There were odd spots of very dense fog as we got closer to Boston, but it didn't really slow us down much. We really lucked out at one spot, just as we were passing one spot, there were trucks moving over that were closing off one lane for construction. 

The party was this morning, they all had a lot of fun. Everyone went home to rest afterwards. I am waiting to hear when we are expected at DDIL's parents house. DH is not feeling great, so he is happy to rest at the hotel. I will read. Reading an interesting book, The House of Doors. It's historical fiction about W Somerset Maugham. 

Robin, your trip sounds great! How is DH feeling after being in the hospital for so long?

The bathtub is finished finally. They had to re-grout where they replaced some tiles right around the tub. Luckily, we had plenty of tiles from when we replaced the tub earlier. Anyway, the grout was the wrong color so they had to remove it. It wasn't dry so it wasn't a big job. Then they re-grouted and caulked. We were told to let it dry thoroughly so we decided to wait until Monday before using it

Our house was built in 1968. I don't know when they started building on slabs. There are some on our street built later and are on slabs. Our part of Texas for the most part doesn't have basements. I can think of maybe 5 houses in town that I have seen with basements. It has something to do with the soil. DH grew up in Kansas and the houses had basements. When we lived in Dallas and started looking at houses, DH asked about basements and the realtor said, "not here."

We went to an estate sale but didn't buy anything. The wife had been a county extension agent and had a lot of sewing and cooking stuff. It seemed like thousands of cookbooks. Some still had the plastic around them and were duplicates of others. The house was big but needed a lot of work.

Same here, when we could finally wear pants to school, they had to be pantsuits which were popular anyway at the time made from polyester double knit.

Pinky, good everything went well yesterday.

Good morning.
43, clear, going to 73.

Gareth, thanks. Dinner was good. Howie sprung the reason he wanted to take us out, as he was celebrating the fact that his divorce was finalized this past week. He was very happy. 
Omg, I had not given that a thought, but you are right! I will enjoy my walk through the woods today, knowing that the bugs and humidity will be here pretty quick, unfortunately. 

Pinky, goodness, you have the warmer temps too. Isn't that nice? I was hoping I wouldn't have to worry about taking the a/c cover off before I move out, but it looks like I will need it off tonight. 
Thanks, about the evening, it was a nice time, and thank you about Tony and everything else. 
How was the baby shower? Twins! Lots of work coming for them.

Robin, apartment office is waiting on HR to email them a form stating how many weeks per year I work. There really is nothing they can do but wait. And me too, lol.
Thank you, about the dinner, it was a nice time.
Nice that the trip to DS was so good. I hope your DH felt better after resting up. How was it at the in-laws?
Do you come home today?

Carol, yay on your tub being finished. 
Ok, I am stumped as to why someone would have so many cookbooks, and some still in brand new shape, and duplicates too!! My goodness. 
About pants, I remember in the very late 60's, a big group of teens fighting our city hall to allow the kids to wear jeans to school. We were allowed to wear pants, but heaven forbid! Not jeans!! Those were what "those boys that rode motorcycles" wore!!! So, it was a hard-fought battle that the kids won, and every teen in town was so happy!! But I can say for sure I never saw either one of my grandmothers with any kind of pants on. I sure am glad I did not live in that generation!!

Anngie, according to my map app, Tony is 8 miles away. It seems further, as the highway to get there is just a 2-lane road, not a nice 4 lane highway. And the speed limit is just 55. 
He did warn me that he is a hugger, so I am sure I will get hugged when we meet, out in the parking lot, lol.
It is supposed to get to 73, so I am hoping and praying that my sweat issue does not embarrass me too much!! 
This will be another man that is taller than I. Of course, every single man I meet is taller than I, with being 5'2", that is a safe bet, hahaha, but anyway, Tony is 6'. 
Thank you, about dinner, it was a nice time. 
I know what you mean about staying with the family, or not wanting to overstay. If anything happened where I had to leave my apartment for overnight, I would get a hotel room. No way do I want to stay with my family. 

The day was just beautiful yesterday. I got a lot done around here, and now the living room looks like a bomb went off, with boxes of stuff waiting to be hauled down and taken to the resale store. I will take them down before I go to the sanctuary later, then drop them off tomorrow after work. Lots more to box up for them, but that can be done during this week. I am so happy the girls are taking a lot of things from me. I might end up not having a lot to move to wherever I end up. 

Do you all do what I feel I should do when someone else is paying for your dinner? The last time we went out and Howie was paying, then last night; I order something that is a lower priced meal. Of course, I love baked or steamed haddock, but I make sure it is cheaper, so I do not run up the bill. I cannot believe the prices of some of those steak dinners! I could pay my WIFI bill with that, hahaha!!! 

Beautiful day already. Just a little breeze and should get to 75 degrees. It actually was 86 degrees here yesterday and tied or broke the temperature from 1908. It is going to be a little cooler each day as the week goes on and actually be below normal temps at the end of the week. Crazy!!!

Gareth---as I listened to my book last night I got to thinking I never answered you yesterday about The Berry Pickers. I am listening to that right now and 75% into it. I questioned it at first but it does just keep getting better. Can't say I love it but do like it and now I have been to a part that I have to finish to see what happens.

Robin-----Yes my niece did make it and she is doing well. My sister lives in a twin home but you would never know it as it is huge. There is a lower level too so it has a lot of square feet. Two bedrooms up stairs and 2 downstairs along with a family room and office down there. If she didn't have a cleaning lady she would never be able to take care of it herself with her being on oxygen all the time. Hope your trip home goes as smoothly.

Carol---Glad your bathroom project is done. How is your DDIL feeling? I suppose the home extension lady at that house just had an interest in all the cookbooks but man that is a lot.

Anngie--I am sure you seen what I typed to Robin about my Dsis home to answer your question. Yes we are pretty lucky that we sisters are very close and always there for each other.

Thanks to all about how the funeral went. Glad that it is finally behind us.

Karen, hope the day went well today. I guess with HR being probably centralized for your district, there isn't much you can do, but honestly this is what I was trying to tell you the whole time, especially that you had 6 weeks of paystubs that were probably 5 day a week stubs. As far as dinner, I would try to wait until towards the end of them taking orders, have a few things in your mind, then order something similar to what everyone else is ordering. If they are all going with the burgers, you don't want to be the one ordering the steak, but if everyone else is ordering the steak, then order whatever you want. We went out with 2 other couples one time. Of course 5 of us were drinking, but 1 guy ordered this huge steak that was really supposed to be a steak for 2, so really expensive, and we have mentioned it off and on ever since, but in reality, he wasn't adding the prices of his drinks, but it was just the idea that was quite surprising. 

Pinky, is a twin what we would call a 2 family house? I agree definitely your DSis should have someone in to help her with cleaning, even some laundry and changing the bed. I'm glad your niece was able to make it. 

Gareth, I can't believe how warm it is by you. How is your DGD doing, is she still sick? And Karen's DGD too, hope they are both better. 

We are home. The ride home, with 2 short stops. was only about 3 hours and 40 minutes. DH was uncomfortable while we were there. When we were at DDIL's parents yesterday he wanted to leave earlier than they really wanted us to, but he didn't want to go to the bathroom in their house, and wanted to stretch out. On the way home he said that he guesses he should do what the doctor said and have 4-5 smaller meals. Well, why didn't he say that sooner and I would have made sure that's what he would have. I made up a list of some meal ideas to keep it easier for him to digest. On one of the sample lists I saw online, it actually said just want I made the other night, tomato soup with grilled cheese. We don't have haddock here usually, but we do have cod that is very similar. I don't think I'll get that tonight, but another night during the week. I want him to see that fish is easier to digest. 

Karen, glad you had a good time!  I had to wonder, was Howie so happy about his divorce from your son-in-law to be’s mother or was it from another marriage?  (or was this DD2 DFIL?) sounds like a nice evening out. Hope you’re enjoying your walk!

Re dinner out - when it’s a group that I already know someone will be paying for, I listen to what the others are ordering and then order something priced similar. It’s never a problem because (good or bad) I can ALWAYS find something I’ll like!

Here’s my beef, though - when it’s just us and another couple we more often split the bill. Even then I tend to find something middle of the road to order. However, I’m finding I’m not ordering what I really want because it might be more expensive than what the others are ordering. I don’t want to be the only one to suggest separate checks, though. It’s a bit of a dilemma but I’m tired of not always ordering what I really want. 

Pinky, wow your weather really fluctuates!  Is this every spring for you or just this spring?  I’d love a 80degree day!  It’s raining and cold here. I was wondering also if a twin is a duplex, two family, condo or some other build. 

Robin, good that you made it in such good time. I can understand how DH felt at someone else’s home. When you’re not feeling up to par, it’s hard to be somewhere other than home. Looks like a learning experience, though, knowing now it’s best to eat smaller meals more often. I’ll bet you told him this, right!? The good things was you went and enjoyed the time you were there.  

Gareth, same with us - I love the warm temps as long as there is no humidity - and if there is then the AC goes on!  

Carol, glad your bathroom is done and you’re happy. Ours starts tomorrow. I’m still on the fence as to what to do with the window.