Play Book Tag discussion

I am late today! Long work day and my Zoom discussion group on The Master and Margarita is on Tuesday nights. It was a hot discussion, as we hit some rich sections of the book. Only two more sessions...about 120 pages. Yup, we have one on US Election Night.

My big news: I voted early on Saturday, the first day of early voting in NY!
It eased some real anxiety to know my vote has already been counted. I was siphoned off to the handicapped entrance so avoided the mile long line, but still had a wait and took 40 minutes. Lines have been so long, they have extended the hours to essentially the same as on Election Day. Today a friend was online for 5 hours to vote. But she stuck it out, had a chair, was with friends.

You know, this is in NYC where we really don't have the voter suppression issues raging in PA and WI and elsewhere. We just have an incompetent mayor. An incomperent democratic mayor. And supposedly we are a ghost town according to Orange Cheetoh. I would hate to think how long the lines would be if we weren't a ghost town?

I am sorry, but the election and our voting is going to be the US members' obsession for the next week! One more US PSA and I will move on:

If you have an absentee ballot and it is not already in the mail, it is too late to guaranty it arrives to be counted. Find a drop box for it or plan to vote in person - either on Election Day or during early in person voting. Make a plan. Help all you know make a plan.

On to other topics.

@Amy - how goes teaching?

@ Charlotte - are you getting in some hikes and quality time with hubby and furries before work starts?

Here's a link to someplace I want to visit next time I get to London. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/l.... It is book related too! I do believe there will be a next time in London. Anyone else have bookmarked someplace specific they plan on visiting when freely traveling is possible again? Besides JoAnne's back porch, Charlotte's Little House, and a Broadway Show.

I'm thinking we should all start a special savings account towards that trip during these restrictive times.

Hearing about all the nightmare experiences with voting makes me grateful for my state’s procedures. We don’t have in-person voting, or they highly discourage it. We have mail-in ballots which can also be dropped off at one of MANY easy locations around the state. The hardest thing about voting this year was deciding which local judges to keep or no.

I’m so sorry to those who are experiencing voter suppression or horridly long wait times. I thank you for putting in the effort and enduring what you have to so you can vote. *hugs*

I don't mind hearing about the election. Voting is important!
Also, the news here is following, and it's nice to hear some more personal experiences as well.

And everyone I know is sort of holding their breath over it, the US politics has an impact outside US.

Johanne wrote: "And everyone I know is sort of holding their breath over it, the US politics has an impact outside US."

Thanks and I totally comprehend the international impact. I first traveled abroad when I spent a college semester studying in Paris and traveling around Europe. This was 1976 and quite eye-opening. Since then I have travelled many places including India, Egypt, Russia shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union but long before Putin, Jordan a year after it opened to the West, etc. Some trips being an American had you greeted with smiles and admiring conversations about our leadership. Other times, our leaders were not so admired. And some times everyone was just puzzled by what was happening ... specifically the Clinton Impeachment.

However, I didn't want this week to be only about the US Election for those not voting!

I'm really lucky that I don't live in an area where there is voter suppression. Our Republican Secretary of State did a really good setting up the 100% mail in voting and if you aren't registered, you can register and vote in person at the election centers all the way up to the end. We have ballot collection boxes at all of the local libraries and I handed in my, my mom's and my husband's ballots yesterday. She's also helped out other states with their plans around absentee ballots before elections started.

I'm working on wrapping up all of my clients that I was working on, and getting ready for my in-laws visit. They get here the day before my first day! LOL I have been making sure I take time to do things for me. I've been watching movies and making sure I take time to do nothing.

My in-laws are coming from FL which I'm a bit nervous about. They are just looking for an escape though. It's been a stressful year. He's a CPA and the extended tax deadline really exhausted him. She's a NICU nurse so she's been dealing with Covid there. My husband and I are going to take the risk and visit with them, but we aren't going to risk my mom. We'll make sure we wear masks if we go to her house and social distance when we visit. Once my husband's parent leave, we'll social distance/quarantine from my mom for two weeks.

Here in the Sacramento valley of California, our sister school to the north of us, where many more believe that masks are unimportant has been closed down because a staff member has Covid 19.

Voting in CA is easy and especially for me. There is a drop box in the grocery store across the street from us. We used it and registered to know when our vote was counted. We voted and it has been counted. I do miss going to our polling place, but it is important to be safe while you vote.

I made a call about retirement and representative I talked to said that I should read literature about it before committing to it, so I am waiting for that and will soon put the motions in place.

Congrats, Booknblues, on your upcoming retirement, whenever it occurs! I had figured out how long I planned to work and was just fine with it, but the last few months, I was so ready to leave. I had a countdown going for about the last 100 days. There had been a lot of changes in my organization shortly before so it was a great time to leave. Now everyone is working from home and they decided not to reopen the building, maybe even sell it, and maybe reorganization will even remove a lot of jobs. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that, although I am concerned for my coworkers.

Friends, hello! Agreed strange times in the US!

We had an incredible local book group discussion of Rodham, so interesting and powerful! I feel so blessed with the women in my life.

The course was October 2nd, all day, and I'm really proud of it. I feel like I was incredibly thoughtful about how to present a six hour course on zoom and keep it engaging. A lot of people stayed through the two breaks, and into the lunch hour, and after, to connect and talk, and one woman wrote me a letter to tell me that she enjoyed the course, So i am considering that a wild success. I really enjoyed it. Got my hair blown out the day before so there was one less thing to worry about. I really loved teaching that topic. Theresa, thank you for asking.

But on the other topic, I have some interesting news. My son and his launch to college. I say interesting because I still have faith, and believe, keep hanging onto to the rope, even when evidence seems incontrovertibly opposite. My poor wonderful amazing kid, my late bloomer who had worked and tried so hard, he tanked on both SAT's. Like unusable for the schools. And doesn't help the upward trajectory narrative. I had such powerful experiences of both days, me clutching the crystal heart that all my girlfriends blessed before he was born, that the child would have a good and healthy life, with all the dreams around him - while 20 women prayed white light for him. And you guys too... I called on my passed away grandparents, and my friend's mother who was a holocaust survivor. My friend had had a dream about her mother that she was blessing Jaden from the other side. I had the image of an overhigh intuitive number that came to me and wouldn't let go. And the other intuited sets of numbers written on a piece of paper, set underneath the amethyst stone that lives in the bookshelf in our living room. I have prayed for weeks, years, for this kid. And boom. It was devastating and embarrassing. So, we dusted ourselves off, and are applying to the schools anyway. As of yesterday 4/10 applications are submitted. I am so proud of his essays and who he is as a person, and the relationships he has created with the reps to express himself. Never ever has there been a time like this, where with Covid, all bets are off about what will happen with the schools. Schools need to fill their classes, and they will take a kid who wants to be there, who they might not have taken before. Demonstrated interest is everything these days. I just know he will end up at the right place for him and be happy. Despite what anyone might say, I still think we have the right ten schools. I still fully believe. But the assault on my intuition has been tough. Especially at a time when my intuition is so needed.

I have a work situation that is tearing me apart. Where like with everything else in the world and in our lives, where its not about fair and right, its about power and dark money and lies. I so believe that situation will work out too, even with incontrovertible evidence suggesting otherwise. At the center of this is a 2 year old child and mother who is in danger of losing each other forever, and for that I am fighting so so hard. Hanging onto my intuition that it will all be okay, and that truth, justice, and light win out, and that we are in a new era where the good wins - and that I can do something about it. But I have to admit, my intuition is both strong and shaky these days. I am left a little frightened. But we keep moving forward. Tuesday my husband and I will vote in person. Today, amidst patients, I am working on both college application submissions, and the 5th grade mystery book project (Who Stole Halloween - for the 3rd time in the 5th grade.) And writing this masterpiece letter to the court, attesting that injustice is happening to my patient, and to her daughter. I need your visualization, and energy and blessings - see how well it worked for Charlotte? You guys are already all over the Biden Harris situation. I need you to pray for my son Jaden, and for my patient and her daughter. That everywhere, we are working towards justice, light, science and evidence, anti dark power and dark money and lies, and that most importantly love leads the way. Please hold good energy for us. I am strong and shaky all at once. I am a fierce warrior, and an exhausted mom. Fighter, lover, healer, and sometimes I just want to curl up and watch my shows.... Now I have to go work on that mystery project. My heart is with all of you. Love, Amy

Oh Amy... I'm near tears and my heart is so with you. I think what helped me is continued visualization. I wrote a journal entry dated Dec 31st, 2021 and I described what I was doing at Amazon. I wrote about telling you guys and others. I wrote and visualized all the things. My trust started to waiver after the interview and I listened to happy songs (All I do is Win by DJ Khalid) while I read that future journal entry over and over. I even watched the movie 'The Secret' that just came out about the Laws of Attraction and continued my visualization.

I think the trust is the hardest. It's so easy to slide back into worry. I'm still struggling with it because I haven't started yet. It still doesn't seem real. I can't wait until Nov 9th when there is absolutely no question.

I will be sending so much positivity and light to you and I'm going to start visualizing a future post from you when you tell us that Jaden made it into more than one of the schools that he applied to and now you guys have to make a difficult choice!!

I really hope it works out with you work situation to. :(

Much love!!

@ Theresa, Leadenhall Market looks fabulous! Would be a great day of wandering aimlessly!

@ Johanne, these are the time we wish the whole world was not watching. IMO it get's more embarrassing every time Orange man opens his mouth.


@ Amy-Sending you hugs and bold white light. Remember, that all the mother-energy you have put into Jaden is there-always will be. He will find his spot in the next chapter of his life. I know how hard it is as Mom to watch your child get defeated-but remember,
great success comes only after small failures.

I'm also lucky to live in an easy-to-vote state. Dropped ballots in a dropbox last week, and we were able to see that it was already received. Such a different feeling from 2016 to today.

@Joanne- I LOVE Leadenhall Market! Went there last time in London, and had a wonderful meal there, but FYI- Many of the pubs require blazers! Which hubby was not wearing, lol. I'm ALWAYS compiling places I want to go, and this habit hasn't stopped with COVID.

@Charolette- so happy for you and the new venture. Hopefully we will still see you around a bunch after the new job starts!

@Amy- times are so wild for young adults transitioning into college. It's such an unknown going into next year how admissions will consider things.

I am the visualization intentionalization queen! Have been doing it my entire life! Now I have your guys support, its a slam dunk!

Hoping the best for your son Amy. And thank you for your work, to fight to keep parent and child together!

Gearing up for further covid-restrictions here in Denmark, the numbers are not looking too good, but still the death percentage is still low. We've been able to live relatively normal over the summer.

The darkness is descending on my mood, as happens nearly every year around november, and this year the things that keep me going like live concerts and seeing friends and family is limited. Waiting for the positivity to return. I know I am priviliged, but the body/brain's response to daylight receding doesn't really care.

Well, books, I have books! And you guys! And my husband and kids!

@ Johanne-how many hours of daylight do you get in winter? I remember when we visited Sweden, the long hours of daylight were very disconcerting - Hugs to you and hoping 'the slugs" slide away!

@joanne: Not Johanne here, but Denmark are quite similar to the south of Norway. In the south it's about 9-10 hours, so not to bad. Approx from 7.30 in the morning until 17.30-18.00 in the afternoon.

I grew up in the north though, where the sun is completely down now until late January. You still have a small window with daylight where the sun try to break through the horizon, but it's too low to quite make it. We call it the blue hour. The sky can get pretty great then, orange, yellow and quite often northern lights if it's clear, bright and cold outside. But yeah, it's dark.

And Theresa, I completely get the focus on the election, it's the major top news here as well (well, except for Covid, of course)! It's a show, that's for sure. But you know, even though we can "laugh" about it over here, it's actually pretty scary to see the direction the world politics is moving in. So we sit tight, hold our breaths and hope for the best.

In regards to Covid, we are also entering more restrictions and are back to not meeting people after having it relatively open during the summer. I agree with Johanne that it's tougher now that winter is approaching, the home office has really lost all it's appeal by far at this point. But the bright spot is that Christmas is approaching (Thanksgiving is not a thing here), and I am very much looking forward to it. Crossing my fingers our travel plans can occur as planned. But yeah, it's getting harder and harder to keep up the spirit.

At winter solstice we have around 7 hours of grayish daylight from 8:30/9 - 15.30.
My husband loves the dark so at least we're not both glum. I once travelled to Greenland in summer where the sun doesn't set, it was rather wild. Every year around october there is a job offer for the library in Nuuk, Greenland, and I'm thinking - 'oh another one couldn't handle the three months of complete darkness' (Greenland is an autonomous part of Denmark and some jobs get offered here as well).

@Hilde, I know Denmark is not that bad, compared to othet parts in our north. I think I just have to get used to it every year. And this year with more restrictions, a lot of Christmas celebrations are in danger, and that's usually something that keeps my mood up.

@Johanne: No, I get it, I feel the same way. It was much easier in the spring when we had the long, bright evenings (and nights). It's getting increasingly harder to keep the spirit up.

Thx Hilde :)

And that's it. It's a lot easier to find the positive in spring and summer. You can be outside more and the light, the light.

Yup, absolutely! 😊

I’m finding myself slowly becoming a hermit, which doesn’t sit well with my nature 🙈

Well I do go to work at least, for now, so I have some social interaction, apart from my immediate family.

Hilde wrote: "@joanne: Not Johanne here, but Denmark are quite similar to the south of Norway. In the south it's about 9-10 hours, so not to bad. Approx from 7.30 in the morning until 17.30-18.00 in the afternoon. ..."

Wow, that's pretty good.

In Calgary, Alberta... I just looked up our shortest day in December and we'll get just under 8 hrs of daylight, from 8:37 am to 4:31pm.

Today, we're getting almost 10 hours. From 8:22am - 6:16pm.

A few people have mentioned "voter suppression" for this US election. I haven't heard that that was happening. People are actually being stopped from voting? What is happening there? Or am I taking the phrase too literally? Thanks.

Johanne wrote: "At winter solstice we have around 7 hours of grayish daylight from 8:30/9 - 15.30...."

I figured you should have less daylight than I would here! I was pretty sure you were further north!

One thing I do like with more dark during Christmas is all the Christmas lights. I'm sure, even if celebrations are muted this year, people will still decorate. Or, I hope so, because I love how Christmas lights look and I think it really "brightens" things (like my mood, anyway! LOL!).

Yes, LibraryCin - the 9-10 hours I mentioned applies for now in October, the day light hours gets fewer in November and December.

I love the Christmas lights as well, it’s so cozy :) The balcony is all lit up here with lights already.

I love Christmas decorations with candles, that we do every year. I also just received some zombie pixies for Christmas decorations with a book order :D
And we bake Christmas cookies every year. All good things we can still do.

LibraryCin wrote: "A few people have mentioned "voter suppression" for this US election. I haven't heard that that was happening. People are actually being stopped from voting? What is happening there? Or am I taking..."

It is partly misinformation (telling people that if you vote, your info will be passed to bill collectors), partly making it physically difficult (closing polling places so voters need to wait in line for hours), partly removing names from voter rolls for no good reason, partly challenging ballots if a name is listed differently or a signature isn’t identical to a past one. All these things are targeted to neighborhoods where there are mostly Black, Latino, or student populations.

A positive thing is that people waiting in lines have documented them as a triumph of democracy. In some places, there is music, dancing and free food.

The short daylight hours are similar here in the PNW.... it was a bit weird moving from a city that has the Guiness Book of World Records, record for the number of days of sun to someplace that because of the mountains, it feels like the sun is setting at 3pm.

Our shortest day is 7:54 a.m. and set at 4:20 p.m but because we are surrounded by mountains it seems much less.

I got a SAD light and during some of my conference calls I'll just sit there and let my light shine on me. I also try to get outside in the middle of the day every day that it is possible. That usually helps me.

In other news... I'm listening to Frankenstein... my first time "reading" it... and my heart is breaking for the poor monster!

This is the time of year I need to start taking big dose of Vitamin D for my SAD. I have a full-spectrum light in my bedroom but I'm not sure if it really helps. I can't keep it on too long or I get a headache.

Help! My husband discovered "Dad Jokes" and every day he reads them to me. Some of them were jokes he's already told me many times in the last 40 years.

Robin P wrote: "It is partly misinformation ..."

Thanks, Robin. I was just taking the phrase too literally. But, wow. What is wrong with people!?

I look at the people with guns standing outside polling places (has that really happened or am I imagining it?) and I think about corrupt military governments in Africa, you know? Sigh...

LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "It is partly misinformation ..."

Thanks, Robin. I was just taking the phrase too literally. But, wow. What is wrong with people!?

I look at the people with guns standing outside ..."

Umm, you are not far off in some places. I think it is Michigan which has open carry laws meaning you can openly carry your assault rifle with you to the grocery store or buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks or take a book out of tbe library, not that anyone who would open carry READS. There was a law passed recently there to ban open carry at the polls...because you know, there are threats to voters and gee golly to kidnap and kill the governor because she enforces masks and social distancing. Guess what? That new law was struck down today by Michigan's courts and is now on its way to the US Supreme Court where as of yesterday the 3rd justice was sworn in planted by this administration, who is in the pocket of those seeking to suppress the vote.

I am just a little upset here, you can see. And I live in a city with little issue.

In short, voter suppression is any act or failure to act that limits, prevents, subverts, restricts, impedes or in any way interferes with your right to vote or have your vote counted. The ways being used now are legion.

Amy! Just remember your Harry Potter! A mother's love was the strongest most powerful protection and support Harry had, and it helped him to defeat Voldemort! That is all Jaden needs!

And we got your back!

@LibraryCin - the tilt of the earth gives Europe longer days at more northern latitudes. In Paris for example, it is light far later in summer than in NYC, even though Paris farther north.

And who says you have to wait to put up those Christmas lights? Put them up inside now. Drape the bookcases and TBR Towers. I am trying to find time to put up some myself. I might even leave my tree up for months..swap out ornaments (I own enough to decorate 4 giant trees). Add some seasonal flowering plants like Christmas cactus to bring outdoors in.

Charlotte wrote: "In other news... I'm listening to Frankenstein... my first time "reading" it... and my heart is breaking for the poor monster!"

One scholar said that the book is really about a case of child abuse. It's interesting to note that Mary Shelley's mother died days after Mary was born. So it may have felt that she was created and then her "creator" abandoned her, just like the monster.

Earlier this year I read Shelley's other novel, The last Man. It is absolutely terrible! Everything is way overwritten, the characters are like puppets, the story is episodic, the dialogue is unbelievable. The only interesting part was seeing how people reacted to a pandemic (not that different from today.)

Frankensteins monster my heart bleeds for you.

And we've seen coverage of the gun carrying by poll places in Michigan, and like WTF!!! Oh hello dictatorship associations.

LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "It is partly misinformation ..."

Thanks, Robin. I was just taking the phrase too literally. But, wow. What is wrong with people!?

I look at the people with guns standing outside ..."

The Michigan Supreme Court just shot down an action to prohibit guns in and around polling places. That's how insane the world has gotten. Sure, take a gun with you to vote-just incase you need to shoot someone! Like I said-if all my wishes come true and the orange blob is escorted out of the White House, I am staying in doors-The Militia here in Michigan is going to explode-

Joanne wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "It is partly misinformation ..."

Thanks, Robin. I was just taking the phrase too literally. But, wow. What is wrong with people!?

I look at the people with gun..."

Joanne, I saw the article yesterday about it. It's terrible that guns should be allowed into any public place, let alone voting places. I have also followed the news about the foiled plot against your governor and the chanting led by Trump of "Lock Her Up". It's unreal and should never be.

Amy wrote: "Friends, hello! Agreed strange times in the US!

We had an incredible local book group discussion of Rodham, so interesting and powerful! I feel so blessed with the women in my life.

The course w..."

Amy, I hope your son will get into the college of his choice and do well. His desire to succeed is very important. He will find the right path for himself.

I also think that your letter to the judge will help your client. I've had occasion to write too, on behalf of others. Letters can open minds and doors.

Joanne wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "It is partly misinformation ..."

Thanks, Robin. I was just taking the phrase too literally. But, wow. What is wrong with people!?

I look at the people with gun..."

Oh, yes, that's where you live!
Argh. Take care!

@ Amy ... continued prayers and positive thoughts as your son finds his path to success. It will work out. My baby brother also suffered great test anxiety. He did not get into his preferred choice(s), and instead when to the local college for his first year. But he did his BEST work. And was able to transfer to his top choice in his sophomore year (where he graduated and then continued for his MBA). At the first school they insisted he take a "remedial" math course, which he did ... and found they were using the exact same math book he had used in high school. He aced the class. Then when he transferred to the university of his choice, he took the "regular" math course ... and ... again .. they were using the same book he'd had in high school. Aced that one as well. Today, that baby brother is 56 years old, a manager at a major utility company, and chairs their pension fund board. As he put it ... eyes on the goal and do whatever work you need to get there.

Here in Wisconsin we have one of the worst outbreaks of COVID and a Republican legislature that won't even schedule a session to work out any sort of plan. Instead they just sue the Governor every time he tries to issue an emergency order (and the Rep dominated state Supreme Court sides with the legislature).

Hubby and I requested absentee ballots early in the year ... for all elections. Our ballots for the Nov 3 election arrived on Sept 20, and we dropped the completed ballots off at village hall's drop box on Monday Sep 28. A week later I double checked through the website and both ballots were shown as received.

Wisconsin does not allow any counting of absentee ballots until the actual election day. Also requires that ballots must be RECEIVED by 8p on election day. So the still outstanding 300,000 absentee ballots that were mailed out to citizens will have to be returned in person at drop boxes (or the person can still show up in person to vote). Early "in person" voting started last week. In my village about 75% of voters have already voted (either submitting their mailed-in absentee ballots, or in person).

Wisconsin DOES allow registration at the polls, however. So if someone hasn't even registered yet they can still do so in person on election day and vote that day. ID's required, etc.

I just saw a post from someone on the Nextdoor website asking about getting an absentee ballot for someone who is waiting a COVID19 test result, but presuming it will be positive (as everyone else in that family has tested positive). Of course, they were originally planning to go in person, and now won't be able to due to quarantine. SOooo glad we voted early.

And talking of voter suppression ... a friend who lives in another village went to her village hall to vote on Oct 20 (first day in Wisc that in-person early voting was allowed). She was the ONLY person at village hall, but the clerk refused to let her vote because she did not have an appointment! Clerk claimed everyone (meaning throughout the state) required an appointment. When she asked to make an appointment the woman said she didn't have a schedule ... someone else had the schedule. THAT second person told her the first available appointment date was a week later on Oct 27. So my friend said, okay ...how about 9:30? The woman said "you can't just ask for a time, I have to tell you what time is available." So my friend asked what time was available and the woman said: "10.15" My friend agreed and got her appointment.

Bear in mind during all this exchange she was the ONLY person in village hall. She could have filled out her ballot and been out of there faster than this exchange happened.

THIS is voter suppression. Making it difficult for people to vote. Making them jump through hoops to cast a ballot so that they get disgusted and give up. (To be clear ... my friend is a white woman, so this was not racially based.)

@BC-Had I been that friend there would have been "An incident" at the town hall😤

Never in my lifetime have I seen such voting suppression efforts. It's shocking and may lead to skewed detestable results.

On a brighter note, on Saturday, VP candidate Kamala Harris came to my city's Board of Election site to cheer on long lines of voters who were waiting patiently to cast their ballots. She also thanked them.