pontalba

Hot tea.

Someone stole my credit card number, and charged a couple of large charges to it. I caught it last night and phoned the CC company and they blocked my card. Went to the bank today and signed the papers for dispute of those charges. Now I have to wait for a new number and card to come in the mail. grrrrrrr! Funny the way I caught it though. Macy's sent me an email thanking me for shopping with them. Macy's had my email address because I'd ordered something from them in February. Anyhow, as soon as I received the thank you for the purchase I'd NOT MADE, I went on the bank website and saw the fraudulant charges. more grrrrrrr!

Nah. Not the only one. Me too.

I think it does matter what people read, just not to other people. Only themselves. People read for all sorts of reasons. Pure escape. Learning. To fill some time. To look "smart", or any certain way. I have no desire to either be judged for my reading material, or judge another for theirs. I come from a family of readers, on both side, in every direction, and I think that's great. IMO, those that do not read are really missing out on some good stuff. My opinion. Maybe they think I (readers in general) am a/are stuffed shirts. /shrugs/ So what. It's a free country.

My husband and I saw The Master at the theatre a while back. I haven't seen much of Phoenix, but read about his performance and how he had truly pulled off a masterpiece of acting. Well, it was all true, the way he took on the physical aspects of the character was absolutely amazing to me. No, it wasn't much of a stretch, in a way for Hoffman, but man, he was good. Well. As to the point or meaning of the film, I thought Hoffman took Phoenix's unformed character. He was rather a thuggish sort I thought, and gave him focus. At the end when Phoenix had left Hoffman's "organization" (which I thought was a total rip-off of Scientology) he was a different man. Phoenix became a hustler/confidence man like Hoffman was in the film. The scene at the end of the film, when Phoenix was in bed with the girl.........he was totally spinning a tale for her, with much the same "aura" that Hoffman had in the beginning of their association. So for me the meaning was Phoenix's morphing into a focused sort of confidence man. Becoming Hoffman's character in a large way. So, the con continues. And, btw, I'd actually like to see it again, and so would husband.

Peacefield, did your mother have cataract surgery? Or her eyes just improved?

I truly hated Wuthering Heights. Really and truly. Yes, it was very ugly, and all together mean.

Cheese, etc Omelettes.

LOL What I'm drinking now! What is that?? Sounds pretty deadly! ok, sorry for the deviation.....lol good wine.....

Whoa! Great stats Julie! Def GOLD STAR worthy! It's true though, many people I know don't read that much. Some because of long work hours, but some just don't bother. Chesil...do people really give you the "fish eye" because of the ereader????? Hah, someone that did that to me would get the evil eye right back at ém!

A nice sweet Riesling with some lovely Mr. Kipling mini battenbergs. yum

I really need to catch up on my Civil War history. I'm very spotty in knowledge and have no real good timeline for the battles. That's what I need to do really, organize myself. hah Interesting about Grant's writing. Sherman was a dedicated diary keeper himself. The bio I'm reading is taken directly from those diaries and his thousands of letters as well. But, right now I'm reading Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter. A ship load of people aboard a ratty ship leaving Veracruz going to Bremerhaven, Germany in August of 1931. I don't know if you remember the film made back in the '60's with Vivian Leigh and Oskar Werner. There are Germans, gypsies, Jews and an assorted bunch headed for Hitler's Germany. As I recall the film, they wanted to let some persons off before Germany, so they would not be hauled away to camps, etc. With no success, everyone ended up in Germany anyhow. That is based on real life incidents. Ship loads of people at risk from the Nazis were turned away from all ports. Horrible. No one would take them.

Very happy to hear he is safe at home Chrissy!!

Awww, sorry to hear that, but ya know...if it is bogging you down and is frustrating to you, as New Yorkers say.....fuggedaboudit! Life is too short.

It was pretty gorgeous for a few days, but now it's rained all night, and is forecast to keep it up all day....also thunderstorms threatened. Warmish in the day, but down to 36F tonight. Gak.

I remember you posting here before. Welcome back!

Sherman didn't attend LSU, he was a professor here. I think, even head of the school. I don't know much about Lee, he was a gentleman, and a pretty good strategist, but that's about it. Up till the last few years I wasn't much interested in the Civil War history, aka The Northern War of Aggression....... So, I'm in catch-up phase. That's interesting about Grant, I didn't realize he was held in such low esteem. I have read that Sherman said that since Grant had defended him when he was down, he'd always defend Grant when he was being attacked regarding his drinking. And he did.

First, thanks Julie! we are, we have, and I love the mustache too!! Secondly..... No, that is in our own study, and not 10,000 yet. Only 7,500(ish) so far.

Thank goodness! I thought I was the only one! I was disappointed in this as well. Then I was disappointed that I was disappointed.......lol

Actually, Sherman had terrible bouts of depression throughout his life. I'm thinking he was actually manic/depressive, or bi-polar, but by now, no one knows to what degree. Interestingly enough, he was at Louisiana State University when it first opened, just about the time the Civil War began. He did, as you say, like Southerners quite a lot and spent the first part of the War very conflicted about fighting his friends. I think that may be partially why he came down so hard, i.e. Sherman's March through Georgia, later in the War. He felt he had to prove himself loyal to the Union, and not influenced by his former friends. From a prior book I read I learned that Sherman actually wrote the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis et als a letter stating his intentions for the March. IOW, his "scorched earth" policy. He'd read of the ancient battles and types of warfare, and frankly, that was the most effective. If the enemy has nowhere to turn, no way to get supplies, he cannot survive. Now, how anyone can take such a hard hearted path is beyond me. And Davis et als didn't believe Sherman would do it either. But he did, and probably shortened the War in actuality. As far as Grant is concerned, he was evidently an alcoholic and Sherman shielded him as Grant had previously shielded him when he had the depressive bouts. Which, btw, were serious enough to warrant his dismissal. But his wife's family had political pull, so.....the rest is history.

chesilbeach, I cut out sugar/honey in my coffee/tea gradually, over the years. Now I don't even want it, or like it. Going cold turkey the way you do it is the hard way and maybe gives it more power than it should. ?? I'm only suggesting a gradual cut-down, it worked for me. Even though I don't take sugar or anything in my tea and coffee, I sure have been neglecting my diet too! What with the day trips we take and such.......it's difficult. Yeah, that's a heck of an excuse. At least I haven't gained too much, and my clothes still fit. heh

Hi Karen. Not totally sure, but I think I do remember your name. But no matter that, Welcome Back! And yes, there is lots of "drama" out there, that's about the nicest name I can think of for it. LOL But Michelle and Co. keeps this place spic and span I'm happy to say.

bree, glad to hear your partner's mother is doing well. Being far away has to be stressful.

Thanks Kylie and Inver! btw, in back of us is a portion of the mystery section.

Y'all are tempting me with the newer type Kindles. I have the one with the keyboard, and like it fine, but more is better.......