pontalba

Ahh, well then, you've got it covered. LP.....20C below?? When are you moving?

I actually just read the foreword, and it looks good! I hope you are able to find it Athena.

coffee w/ cream

Sausage and scrambled eggs w/ cheese.

I hope Coran feels a lot better soon. Acid Reflux is an awful thing to have. Good luck with the advice. I was so thankful that some OTC pills help me. At last I could sleep laying down instead of sitting up.

I've begun All Souls by Javier Marias. Great.

That's a lot added! You're back!

That's true. Oh, I guess I just have a "thing" about reading in order... I'm always nervous I'll miss something!

I missed talking to you too Eleonora. Relaxing helps everything...reading stops the mind from spinning.

Ellen Ullman's Close to the Machine: Technophilia and its Discontents is autobiographical, yet is written in a erudite, breezy style that comes off the page as though she is actually sitting there, on the couch with the reader, who just happens to be her best friend. I'd almost say stream of consciousness. Her manner is personable and although much of the information given is technical, it does not come across as technobabble. The author does not wear her brilliance on her sleeve, she glows from within without burning. She makes us feel the adrenalin rush of overcoming technical problems she has faced, and gives us an understanding of the tightknit world of programmers. We learn of her life path, her love for family along with her frustration with same. We learn of her reaching middle age and the fear obsolescence in her chosen field. Then the overcoming of both the fear and the obsolescence. I've read one of her works of fiction, By Blood, which exhibits the same 'pull you in and along' sort of prose. Completely different, naturally, but just as compelling. Highly Recommended. 5/5

so far............................

Oh, meant to mention. I'm reading Close to the Machine: Technophilia and It's Discontents by Ellen Ullman. She is the same author as By Blood I just finished. This is more an autobiography. Well written, but I can't make my mind up as to whether I like it or not. I'm wondering if one has to be more of a geek to truly appreciate it. If so, husband will love it. lol

We watched a few episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent last night. I guess next is Burn Notice, we have the season on Amazon instant video.....it's their last season. Phooey

Aww Elenora! I bet it's an interesting Italian classic! What is it? Very happy to see you again!!

Gosh, I must have 3 dozen purses....various sizes and shapes and colors.....I'm quite shameless about them! lol Whenever we pass the purse department in a store, Charles takes a tighter hold on my hand and says softly, you have that color, you have that color........hee hee Seriously though, Gaia, all of the purses I've bought the last several years are long handled, cross body strap purses. Makes a world of difference, they balance nicely. The one thing I don't like about rucksacks is the accessibility to people in back, or to the side of you. I worry about someone stealing a wallet or something out of something like that. But we have a friend that always uses them too. She says there is not a problem. /shrugs/ I'm a worrier.

The price differences don't seem fair, especially for kindle books. It doesn't cost anymore to send it to the Netherlands than across the street. Nutz.

Oh, piffle! I'm still waiting for mine to arrive!

LOL Well, two do at any rate. I have the cats sort of divided up, due to their history. The three calicos were originally outdoor cats, not loose, but in a sort of large cat barn. When the hurricane came along, they came in the house, but separate as they didn't like the indoor cats. (we had more cats then) I never had the roof (storm) damage of the cat barn fixed, so they stayed indoors, in a separate gallery/room. The room is quite large and airy with lots of jalousie windows. They still don't like the other cats, so they have their own little world on the gallery. The 6th cat is our old lady cat, 20 years old, and quite frail, but still argumentative and feisty, so she has to be kept away from the other two...Goldy and Twinkletoes. Her name, aptly enough is Tuffy and she has her own room.....really it's the television/exercise room with a couch, but she considers it her own. I used to have dogs as well, but the last one died about 4 years ago, and really, the cats are enough to keep us busy. Not only that, it's easier on us travelling wise with just cats. When we go out of town, a lady I trust comes in and feeds and pets them up for us. Conveniently, she works for our vet, so if something comes up, she can take care of it. Long answer to a short question.

That may well be Raven, I'm not sure. But the thing I'd consider is the back stories. Even if Smiley is not in it that much, all the events would affect the stories afterwards.

LOL But only about a third or so of LeCarre's books! Smiley is a wonderful character. My husband has read all of LeCarre's books, and thinks of them as the Gold Standard of spy novels. I think he is right.

Thanks Athena, but honestly, I think part of my problem is I have too much to choose from that's handy. I'm finding It difficult to focus. Can't say I'm too worried though.

The truth is, I believe one has to read all of the Smiley books to get the full flavor of the story. The film kind of explains some of the back story not in the lone book TTSS. Here is a list of the Smiley books..... Call For the Dead A Murder of Quality The Spy Who Came in From the Cold The Looking Glass War Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy The Honorable School Boy Smiley's People The Secret Pilgrim I haven't read them all yet, only the first three, but pretty much know the story.

Yes, kindle loves to be under a pillow. Keeps it warm and cozy. King size bed is much easier. That is still a good percentage Athena. Ahh, so you do have to pay extra overseas...not fair! Good idea Julie!

Good find Frankie! I just downloaded it for the kindle...only 4.99 USD. Athena, can you put it on kindle there? I'm not sure how it works overseas. BTW, the sequels were available on kindle as well.

Cute pictures of costumes Athena. Mardi Gras is mostly celebrated in New Orleans. A few other cities have what they call a Mardi Gras...I think they have a few parades on the day itself. Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday actually. But the celebrations in other cities isn't much as far as I can tell. A shadow. Ours is more like the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. A regular 4 day blow out, with parades for about a month preceding, every weekend. Blocks and blocks are shut off from vehicular traffic, and the crowds are huge and thick. Oh, and at least 75% are either drunk, or well on the way to same.