The History Book Club discussion

The first time I stood up to my parents, voiced MY opinion and realized the world wasn't going to disappear.

Being a patient in the hospital with what eventually turned out to be viral pericarditis and as I was walking down the hall to the nurse's station realized it was MY telemetry alarm that was buzzing.

Finding out that a shadow on my head MRI wasn't a pituitary tumor after imagining how I was going to deal with the surgery if it had been.

What are the 3 happiest moments in your life up to now?

Boy that was scary.

In all three cases my children coming into the world

Tell me three things about your state or country we would find interesting.

Nevada has the only complete skeleton of an Ichthysaur, which is an extinct marine reptile measuring 55 feet; we have more mountain ranges than any other state; and we have Area 51!

What are your three favorite movie characters - not the movie itself - of all time?

1. Cabiria from "Nights of Cabiria"
2. Mattie Ross from "True Grit" (either one will do)
3. Forrest Gump

What are your three favourite books with a nautical setting?

Master and Commander
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
The Odyssey


by Patrick O'Brian

by C.S. Forester

by Homer

Tell me your three favorite islands and why.

Rhodes, Saint Lucia and Topsail:

Rhodes, the eastern most point of Greece, for all it’s history including the Colossus of Rhodes (one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Biblical history and Knights.

Saint Lucia for all it’s tropical natural beauty, wonderful people and culture along with a bit of British and French history.

Topsail is always a favorite because of its easy access and decades of family memories. Historically the island is named for the “top sail” of pirate Blackbeard’s ship.

What are your three favorite poems?

Annabell Lee by Edgar Allan Poe - sadness and loss;
She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron - love and admiration;
Blessed Day by Nigel Obiya - happiness and contentment

What are your three favorite memories of your family while growing up?

Hello Joanne - make sure to add citations to message 110:

by Edgar Allan Poe

She Walks in Beauty by George Gordon Byron (no bookcover on goodreads)

The third poet does not appear to be on goodreads so there is no citation available - Blessed Day by Nigel E. Obiya

1. Grandparents - father's side - Grandmother was beloved in the community and a wonderful cook.

2. Grandparents - mother's side - Grandfather was my favorite sidekick.

3. Summers in Maine

Tell us three family or favorite recipes that you would like to share with the group.

1, Beef Stew (it is really more of an Irish stew)
2. Zucchini Casserole
3. Good Old Southern Brown Beans and Cornbread


We asked about favorite islands, now,

Tell us your three favorite beaches in US

Jill, where are the recipes - we want to be able to cook all of these - I am getting hungry already.

Ocracoke Island
Oqunquit
Kennebunk

Tell us three folks in the genealogy of your family that you found particularly interesting or you are especially proud of.

If you want any, I will PM you with recipes.

1. Great grandfather, the Hon. John D. Sutton, a member of the WV legislature, had the Droop Mountain Battle Field (where he fought in the War Between the States) accepted into the State Park System in 1928 where it is still a favorite travel site
2. My uncle, Felix Sutton, who was a respected writer of children and pre-teen books and appeared on the "Today" show several times.
3. My father, GM "Dode" Robertson, who was the finest man I ever knew and was a model for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Tell us three honors or recognitions you received of which you are proud

Terrific Jill - my family likes to cook so any great recipes are welcome. Thank you.

That is very interesting Jill. You must be very proud of your family.

I will leave your question to others to answer:

Tell us three honors or recognitions you received of which you are proud

Bentley wrote: " Ocracoke Island, Oqunquit,
Kennebunkport..."

Kennebunkport as in the Bush Compound? :-)
I'll keep your question open.

Tell us three honors or recognitions you received of which you are proud

Actually Kennebunk.

Grants and Scholarships
Public Speaking Awards
Awards for Achievements at Work and in the community

Tell us three things you would not leave the house without aside from your keys for the front door and car.

1.Lifeguard (when I was a teen)
2 CEO of WV Primary Care Association which represents all non-profit medical centers in the state.
3.Clinical consultant to HRSA on risk management and clinical quality assurance

Who were/are your favorite pets.....type and name

1. Nicki (short for Nicolina) - my first dog
2. Jason Luigi - my cousin's dog
3. Elliot - my friend Eileen's dog
(detect a theme?)

Name the three most extreme climates you have ever experienced

1.The Denali in Alaska...........brrrrrr
2.Washington DC in a non-air conditioned apartment in the summer
3. New Orleans in August.....heat and not a very pleasant smell.

The favorite cars you have ever owned

1. 1963 Dodge Dart with a push button transmission
2. Renault Le Car
3. BMW 325i convertible

three favorite desserts or sweet treats

Brownie with black walnuts
Chocolate Trifle
Chocolate mousse

Three favorite dances

Alisa wrote: "1. 1963 Dodge Dart with a push button transmission
2. Renault Le Car
3. BMW 325i convertible

three favorite desserts or sweet treats"

You had a Le Car!!!!!! I had forgotten about them.

Jill, it was bright yellow with a sunroof that ran the entire length of the top. The little spare tire was strapped to the top of the engine. Great mileage and it ran like a top. Great car!!

Oh, I want it. Weren't they too cute?
I love Renaults and had a 4 CV way way back in the day. It was about as big as a shoebox and went about the same speed......I remember I cried when I sold it. But the gas mileage was fantastic and it cost.......get ready for this......$1,200 brand new.

Well, back to the game. My three favorite dances?

1. Cajun waltz
2. Texas or Cajun two step
3. And whatever it is I do when rock and roll is being played, especially "My Sharona" which is the best song in the world to dance to..

Three famous or semi/famous people you have met or seen in person (concerts don't count)

Christmas when I was five and getting one of my favorite toy wishes which my parents hid and actually made me hunt for it stating that Santa left a note to look for a gift left in a different location - but boy was I a happy camper.

Many Christmases with my children growing up - always a big beautiful real tree - wreaths on the window - candles in the windows and midnight mass.

Thanksgiving with my brother and his children and parents and a big turkey to carve.

Tell me three vacations which turned out to be anything but and why that was?

1. Turks and Caicos Islands - there is nothing like snorkeling and looking down at old tires on the sea bottom or visit the island garbage dump which is beside the road in a field.
2. Myrtle Beach - the beach was so crowded that there wasn't room to put down a towel. The beaches above and below Myrtle Beach are very nice but the main beach at Myrtle is ridiculously overpopulated.
3. Ski trip to Snowshoe......broke my ankle. What fun that was!!

What are your three favorite hobbies?

Those are three great examples of what I was talking about - go on vacation and relaxation is either impossible or you were better off looking at the view from your back yard (smile). Sorry about the ankle Jill - was that your first trip skiing.

Your question is difficult - love reading of course, the History Book Club is obviously one, boating, hiking, 10K walks, running.

I have so many that three seems to limit me: but if I put them in the order of what I spend a lot of time doing it is:

1. The History Book Club
2. Reading
3. 10K walks

Tell me three "living authors or commentators" that you would enjoy spending a day with and why. The why is as important as who they are.

Laurence Rees: He is one of my all time favourite authors and I would love to pick his brain about WWII history.

Hugh Howey: I am a big big fan of this guy. It would be great to spend a day shooting the breeze with Hugh. I also would pick his brains about how he went about getting his work self published.

Paul Ham: My favourite Australian author. Once again being able to discuss his love of history with him. Also I would love to find out more about his small publishing house Hampress.

If you offered a 3 book publishing deal what would you write the books about and why?

Great choices Michael

Bentley wrote: "Those are three great examples of what I was talking about - go on vacation and relaxation is either impossible or you were better off looking at the view from your back yard (smile). Sorry about ..."

Not my first ski experience. Just my most unfortunate!!! I tried to take a turn too fast and when I attempted to correct, I overcorrected.....and "snap".....ouch!!!

That hurt - I can hear it from here.

Ethics in American Politics - is that an Oxymoron?

Trouble in Paradise - The Validity of Today's World Economic Policies

Russia - The Next Cold War

==================

The first one is obviously about the dearth of ethical statesmenship in the world of Congress and elsewhere.

The second one is important because frankly the world is adrift in competing economic policies which do not seem to frankly be working. What are these competing philosophies, what are the ones driving the economic directives of each country and what is working and what isn't and why. What should the new direction be?

The third one would focus on the current climate in Russia and the icy relationship that seems to be in play now. Why is Putin so interested in Assad and what happens in Syria, why was Kerry kept waiting for hours? Why is there a distance developing between the two countries in terms of world policy and why does there seem to be less cooperation?

Now all of these are non fiction books with fictional ideas (smile)

OK - now my question

Memorial Day Weekend is coming up and what are the three things that you plan to do this weekend to celebrate and relax.

First, I will start the Memorial Day weekend early by meeting with my U.S. Representative tomorrow. I hope to have a resolution passed for 2014 to have the American Flag lowered to half-staff from Friday evening until Tuesday morning to show proper respect for those who sacrificed their life for our nation. Memorial Day is different from Veteran's Day.

Second, last Memorial Day I was honored to be the guest speaker at the retirement facility of my friend Col. J. Shelton Scales USMC (Ret), who commanded the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines at Iwo Jima. Of the original 24 battalion commanders at Iwo Jima, today the colonel at 96 years of age is 1 of 2 still living. Reflecting upon D-Day at Iwo Jima the colonel once stated: "Feb. 19, 1945, is forever branded on my brain, and I could not let this date pass without acknowledging the enormous debt to those young men whose lives were so violently terminated. Those dead had their futures cancelled." This year I plan to visit with him or at least speak with him over Memorial Day.

Third I will enjoy some good quality family time. It has been months since my family has had the opportunity to be together and we will create some memories.

What are three favorite coffee table books you have in a room?

Terrific Mark - all three.

Let me see -

One is on Ancient China and the Forbidden City when I was in China last
Second one is on architecture - IM Pei

Third is on the Ancient Wonders of the World

The Metropolitan Museum bulletins

And a variety of photo albums here and there - I guess it depends upon which room you are in (smile)

Tell me three of your favorite pieces of clothing you love but everybody wants you to throw out. - of course we know throwing them out would never happen.

1. My 30 year old Birkenstocks
2. My 1992 Marshall University I-AA National Champions sweatshirt
3. My faded and stained Pittsburgh Pirates t-shirt.

And that is just the start of the list!!!

If you had to move, where are the three places you would choose in order of preference/

I think about this whenever I buy a lottery ticket!

1. Rome, Italy
2. San Francisco/Bay Area, California
3. Florence, Italy

Name your three guilty pleasures

1. The Nero Wolfe PBS series starring Maury Chaykin...I am obsessed and it was only two years in duration. How many times can I watch it?????
2. Twinkies (I wish they would hurry up and get them back on the shelves)
3. Reading in bed (but we probably all do that)

Name three habits that you have that you wish you could break

Jill, I love that Nero Wolfe series; heartbroken when cancelled.

Reading until wee morning hours
Drinking too much coffee
Coca cola

What are your three favorite wines?

Chateau Margaux
Chateau Latour
Sancerre

Tell me three beaches in the world that you love to go to or dream of going to.

Francie wrote: "Jill, I love that Nero Wolfe series; heartbroken when cancelled.

Reading until wee morning hours
Drinking too much coffee
Coca cola

What are your three favorite wines?"

Francie....I am so glad I'm not the only one.......Maury Chaykin was the perfect casting......plus I like big men!!!! The sets, clothes, cars, etc. were so well done....it was a great series!!!

Jill, Maury Chaykin was perfect. I also thought Timothy Hutton was great as Archie. It was much better than the 1981 William Conrad series, but I love William Conrad too

Jill - your alma mater seems to be well attended by Yangshou students which is right by the Li River and Guilin - I have been to all three and I am impressed that they have developed such a presence in these small Chinese areas:



Traveling down the Li river (Lijiang) is majestic.

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And these students are from this area in China. The mountains pictured in the background behind these students have the most magnificent limestone caves. I have art that was done by artists in Yangshou.

This area is absolutely gorgeous. I loved the River ride. And the caves inside of these mountains were magnificent.

The river people teach cormorants to fish and they tie rope on their necks so that the fish are brought back and they share them with the cormorants.

It is an ancient tradition.

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/...

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKWNx0...

The river people use these boats even today and the bamboo is tied together and they come right up to the sides of the boats going down the Li and try to sell things to the boat tourists - like limestone from the caves and all sorts of things. I did buy a beautiful piece from these folks, very inexpensively. I found the whole thing so educational for me. It was a beautiful sight to see the Cormorants doing their fishing and the river people treat the Cormorants as part of their family.

From their bamboo boats they climb up the sides of the boats we were on to sell us their wares.

Three great beaches

First things first - walk the dog
The History Book Club
Work

Then back to do the same three things again (smile)

If you could choose - three types of coffee from different locations or three teas if you are a tea drinker what would they be?

And Christopher have you been to all of these beautiful locations?

Coffee Arabian Mocha Java, Ethiopian Fancy, Sumatra, all French Roast

Yes it does Christopher - oddly enough (smile).

I was in Hawaii last year and went to a place called Kona Joe's Coffee and actually went on a tour of the coffee plantation, etc. I ended up being on a tour of one with the guide and he was very informative about Kona coffee. He showed me inside the facility which processes the coffee itself and the beans.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kona-joes-cof...

Someday you will get to all of those places I am sure.

Thanks Mike for your favorite coffees too. But what you should have done is to answer the previous question and then pose one of your own about three pieces of information that you wanted somebody to answer and provide.

OK three tech applications - hmmm - I guess you are talking about software and not hardware.

1) Microsoft Word if we are talking about a software applications
2) iPhoto
3, iTunes
4. Kindle
and all of my iPad stuff

If you are talking about things - then

1.iPhone
2.iPad
3.Kindle

Tell me three childhood stories that you were read but still remember today and why you think that is?

Bentley wrote: "Jill - your alma mater seems to be well attended by Yangshou students which is right by the Li River and Guilin - I have been to all three and I am impressed that they have developed such a presenc..."

We have a very good medical school with a family practice specialty at Marshall and many students from other countries attend. But I was really tickled to see that picture of those Chinese students with the Thundering Herd banner. My guess is that we had a couple of students from that area and it just grew from there. Plus we have some great endowment programs. But it is odd, isn't it, that they are all from such a small area in China.
Those pictures are beautiful. Thanks.