I received a Divine Sign that winter is finally over.
A few days ago, when I went shopping in town, I bought some chocolate bars. They melted in the car before I got home. Winter has vanished, my friends.
Speaking of vanish - -
(notice how smoothly I make transitions?)
I also bought an expensive phone card for my cell phone and promptly lost it. I spent the past three days frantically searching but it completely disappeared. Most likely somewhere in the Walmart parking lot.
Will have to buy another one next week....
I'm kicking my sorry ass over this fiasco. I'm also cursing a lot - but you needn't hold your ears. I'll keep the profanities to myself.
Piles of books. Perpetual rain. Wonderfully comfortable temperatures.
I've been trying to arrange books in the new bookcase that I recently assembled (see previous post for the enthralling details).
Here's the (mediocre?) result.
Without a doubt, reading has always been the greatest pleasure of my life. I learned (almost) everything I know from books.
I'm extremely thankful that I learned to read at age four in first grade. I attended Rutgers Preparatory School in New Jersey, which - at that time - was probably the most prestigious private school in the country.
Unfortunately, prestige and first-class educations no longer exist. It's a different era now. A sorely tarnished one.
The tiny room that houses my new bookcase also has several other bookcases and one of my pianos. Many of my coveted books were "lost" when I moved to Tennessee, but I still have some from my college years - housed in the same old bookcase.
Took some photos of them yesterday (for no discernible reason).
I purchased them in Beverly Hills long ago at a time when I felt like a prince...
Ironically, I'm now a pauper.
When it comes to books, I'm also greatly indebted to fellow blogger Ron from Retired in Delaware
who - over the past few years - very generously sent me a lot of books from his collection that he no longer wanted (downsizing).
Anyway, books have always been one of my great passions. And I'm referring to real genuine books - I cannot tolerate ebooks.
Change of subject.
How about rain and gloom? I took these pics yesterday in my enchanting back "yard"
(wry *smile* inserted here)
The photos are in color, but look monochromatic because everything is so gloomy and misty.
I enjoyed a nice two weeks off the internet. It was so nice. How ever did you lose the photo card? Did you open the package it was in, because they are very tiny aren't they? That would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I think your pictures are always nice anyhow.
ReplyDeleteIt was a phone card, which would have added several months of usage (airtime) on my cell phone. I must have dropped it somewhere on the Walmart parking lot. It was a very windy and rainy day and I was loading lots of packages into the car. My hat blew away and I was running around trying to retrieve it.
DeleteBTW - the photo of breakfast on your recent post looks wonderful!!!
Cheryl and I were talking about books just the other day. She reads as she breathes! I...not so much. I like reading... Blogs, magazines, news feed and sometimes even a "how to" section... but rarely books. I have nothing against books... or the people who read them. I like writing.. Just not reading just for the sake of reading... ( Pleasure?) Every once in a while, I will get absorbed in a novel. But those days are few and years apart... Gloomy weather is the perfect time to read inside, though. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI used to read a lot of novels and all kinds of fiction, but in recent years I prefer non-fiction - history, biographies, etc.
DeleteI usually read in bed because it's comfortable. I hate ebooks because they bother my eyes.
Your title, "Books and Rain" sounds like a perfect recipe for mental health! I've probably less than a dozen hardback books remaining ... most went to Goodwill or the VA Hospital before we moved. (And now I wonder, with the pandemic if they weren't summarily disposed of.) I agree, there's nothing like the feel of a real book -- or, it's peculiar aroma. But given my eyesight rapidly going south, at least an e-reader enables me to enlarge the font.
ReplyDeleteHope and pray your SIM card shows up when and where you least expect it!
Rainy days and good books seem to go together. Unfortunately, my eyesight is deteriorating, too. Using the computer really bothers my eyes.
DeleteMy father gave away a lot of my books to Goodwill (without my permission) - including a signed copy of "1984" by George Orwell!!!!
Sorry about your phone card! What a bummer!
ReplyDeleteThe new bookcase looks nice and full already. I downsized a ton of books before I moved last time. A lot of them were from my recent college days and I donated them to the local library. I'm doing some downsizing again now, but not as many to go through.
The woods still looks beautiful to me. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. :)
Having a lot of books is admittedly annoying and downsizing is a good idea - but I always have trouble parting with things.
DeleteThe woods never fail to fascinate me. They are intriguing no matter what time of the year it is. Can't wait for the spring blossoms.
I hate losing things and it seems to happen a lot lately. I stick stuff in pockets or in a zippered part of my purse and then forget that I've done so. I like books of all types and e-books are much easier to travel with and take up to bed. That is a very gray photo; it makes me think of some of our days here. (although it's been beautiful weather lately)
ReplyDeleteI seem to be losing a lot of things lately, too. And when I go shopping in town my mind (or what's left of it) is always in a frenzy - trying to do too many things at once.
DeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteYou and I are one on books. I started reading books when I was in sixth grade and haven't stopped since. Just today I bought several more books at a couple of local thrift stores. Most of my books I buy from Amazon though, my one spurge at this time of my life. Books give me my greatest comfort and like you, I want the real thing, a book to hold in my hands. By the way, another shipment of books is soon on its way to you in those beautiful mountains of Tennessee.
Ron
Thrift stores are always a good place to find books - and you can find almost anything on Amazon. I never get tired of reading, and have read some of the books you sent me more than once.
DeleteI always enjoy your blog updates on caring for Bill. I appreciate all of the details and especially your honesty. Being a caregiver is extremely exhausting, mentally and physically.
I like the bookcase! I need a bigger one myself - either that or give some of my books away.
ReplyDeleteIt has still been very cold and windy here but I am hoping SOON spring will arrive!
I could easily use another bookcase, but I don't want things to get too crowded!
DeleteI think I spoke too soon when I said winter was over. Some of the days are mild and warm, but then suddenly it gets chilly again. Lots of rain and wind.
Should we do a Spring Dance?
I love to read as well, and have way to many books but just can't seem to part with them. I recently bought a shirt that says, It's not hoarding if its books. :-)
ReplyDeleteIts been off and on warm and cold here yet, but we are loving the warmer days cause here in Northern MN we don't usually have bare ground at this time of year and we have had it for a couple of weeks now. I fear what's to come yet, haha!
Dang on losing your phone card! that really stinks. Wendy
I admittedly have far too many books, but - like you - I hate to part with them. They are a source of comfort and emotional satisfaction.
DeleteI initially thought winter was over, but the fickle weather keeps changing - mild one day and chilly the next. Unfortunately, late frosts are common around here.
Now that the bookcase is filled, you may need another one soon. I have more cookbooks than reading books having given many away over the years. Most were ones originally bought at thrift stores, byt these days especially it is hard to even find thrift stores, let alone good books in them. My smallish collection consists of some Agatha Christie mysteries and a few volumes of short stories, which are great for bedtime reading. Over the past year I have grown fonder of e-books mostly as the local library was shut down, although you could reserve and pick up books, and my old Kindle received a workout. And I tried audio books which were very convenient to listen to when doing mundane household tasks like cleaning or folding laundry as no concentration was needed and I could pay attention to the narration. The great thing about a Kindle e-reader is that every book weighs the same and even multiple books all weigh the same, plus the backlight and being able to enlarge fonts is nice. The drawback is the smaller page size and so there seem to many more e-book pages then in a hardcover book. The Last Days of John Lennon book I showed in a recent post was very good and I learned a lot about Lennon from it.
ReplyDeleteI really miss the good ol' days when bookstores were popular and thrift stores had interesting selections of books. Most people prefer the ease of e-books now, but they seem to strain my eyes a lot. I occasionally listen to audio books, but never fully absorb details with this method of "reading". I much prefer to see the pages myself and have time to ponder them.
DeleteDespite my preference for "real" books, I'm glad that other options are readily available.