Play Book Tag discussion

I feel as if January is just racing by while at the same time it's nuts for only being the beginning of the second week of 2022. I'm talking about work, not really anything else. It's interesting, exciting, challenging but also frustrating at times, and exhausting. Life of a lawyer - what else is new.

Enough whining - and without a glass of wine in hand no less - there has been some good benchmarks this past couple of weeks amidst the too frequent alerts of people testing positive for breakthrough COVID (see the links I posted in Kaffeeklatsch to some good posts and info from a doctor friend of mine - an excellent pediatrician in fact.

One was catching up on zoom with a friend in London and a friend in Toronto. Jackie and Shila are of Indian descent but grew up together in Kenya. I met them on a cruise down the Nile 25 years ago when we were all on vacation. We have been good friends ever since. It was so good to chat although the news of increasing lockdown in both cities was not happy.

I also caught up via zoom with my Jesuit friend in Toronto. His contract as President of the Jesuit graduate college there ends in June and he'll be back in the US - probably the northeast. Half his tenure as president has been COVID and it was not easy, even though graduate programs only.

It was also good to catch up with my Feminerdy Book Club on video call to discuss Dune. Our last meet was November as we always skip December to allow reading a longer book. We decided we are going to do some changing up of the group's FB and GR pages -- new image, new logo maybe, organizing the library better. We also patted ourselves on the back that we never stopped virtual meetings! Feminerdy is also going to try out Discord for our meetings rather the FB rooms through messenger. Since FB upgraded or as I call it messed around with rooms, I have not been able to access from my laptop, only tablets or phone. Which is fine but irritating. I had not even asked about shifting to a new medium when our admin suggested trying out Discord.

I'll let you all know. Anyone have any experience with Discort?

I'm curious if any of the rest of you have longtime friends you made in travels or when attending some event (one of my best friends I met in 1981 at the Central Park Reunion Concert for Simon & Garfunkle - we were on blankets next to each other for hours. ) and if you find yourself reaching out to talk or zoom? I find COVID is pushing me to set up zooms or calls with more distant friends rather than rely on email and social media.

Now I have another photo for all of you, but especially for Meli: This is the actual view from my apartment - that's the unique luxury condo made from the Victorian era TB hospital. To the left is Central Park - it's looking over W. 106th Street. This was taken last week after the light snow. There is no snow how.

I love that building Theresa, it is spectacular! Would love to see the inside!

Joanne wrote: "I love that building Theresa, it is spectacular! Would love to see the inside!"

I would too! One of the apartments encompasses the chapel with its 2 story stained glass windows. I will see if I can find links to building sale listings ...there was one recently ... and with a feature article from years ago about the apartment that includes the chapel. They have photos.

To the right is a modern highrise of condos that is connected...part of same condo association. The developer who restored, renovated, and converted the hospital basically built the highrise to make the luxury uniqueness of the TB Hospital condos viable .... this is NOT a fancy luxury condo neighborhood at all, but one with a lot of limited income properties in it. The hospital had been an abandonned eyesore for decades.

I had a strange thing happened to me today that maybe only you guys would appreciate. I completely lost my phone TBR list. Truth is, I get a lot of enjoyment, every day, Multiple times a day, playing around with my list. What’s gonna go on the goodreads TBR next, what gets moved up higher, how my priorities shift. I’m actually sort of obsessed with it. And the list is doubled on my computer notes and on my phone notes, so I never really dreamed it would just disappear in an instant. I don’t really know why it disappeared. But it was gone. I tried to react like a normal human being, thinking, you have Health and safety. You have worse losses. Your son wants you to sign him up for the ACT and that’s your most important priority today. You have five patients today. Maybe there’s some thing about this that’s freeing? Maybe the list that you remember, and I did remember a whole lot of it, it’s more important than some of the things that maybe never should’ve been out in the first place. It was unsettling, but I was proud of myself for the way I was handling it. By the time I emerged from the shower, I realize that sometimes your notes go into a recently deleted folder and maybe I could get them back. So I did find them, which made me think would have been better if I never found them again? But I took the time to retype a lot of it. Actually took me half the day. And I still signed up my kid for the ACT

My phone did not give me more room than that. I just wanted to say it was an interesting thing to recognize at something like that was gone and that the world had not ended. But also to appreciate which I sort of have been recently, just how much time I spend on that crazy list. Anyway I hadn’t told a soul about it, because to anyone else other than you guys it would have sounded strange. I did say to my husband that I lost a document in my notes that was really important to me. But I didn’t say more because I was too embarrassed. He would not have gotten it. But you guys do right? Anyway, all is well in the world and I close to 9 PM I’m heading home from my office to do my French and re-join my family. Lots of love to you all whatever you’re up to. Love, Amy

Oh my. Totally get it Amy. But isn't it backed-up automatially to the Cloud? If your photos are, so is everything else.

Oh Teresa, if only you could help me with my photos in the cloud. Yes for normal people there might have been a way, and I did actually recover the list. My body and photos are actually my plan for 2022 although as of January 11 I haven’t got close at all to either. Someday… Actually I like to think I’ve gotten way better in the world as far as technology goes.

Amy - I do not keep my lists on my phone. I am just not a technical person. I write my WTR list hand written. I do not trust the computer, the cloud, The stuff is written, usually with note about who told me about the book or where I read about it. But I am old, not trusting of new stuff. This is why I will not buy a new car. Too many things to learn about it in order to drive it. But I know the inner fear/pain when I think I have lost something. Panic. I am glad that you recovered it. We are nuts about books and I understand having a list of what you are going to read next. In fact, I have a little write in calendar for book group meetings and for the two book discussions I am following on Goodreads.
I am thankful you found the list. Take care of you. peace, janz

Amy, we know how important your secret phone TBR list is to you. I've gone through something like that twice.

I used to keep my books read list on index cards in file boxes and then when I bought a computer, I switched over and kept in on the computer. When it died I lost it all so I lost several years of books and this happened with 2 computers. Then I kept it on Shelfari and we know what happened there, but I did get it transferred.

Theresa wrote: "I'm curious if any of the rest of you have longtime friends you made in travels ..."

I've tried to keep in touch with some people I've met on cruises. Have a few on facebook, but I think really only one where we occasionally chat.

Amy, we do understand!

And maybe it's because I don't have a smartphone, but a tablet. If anything I have goes to a "cloud", I have no idea how to access it. Actually, if anything went there, it recently got deleted. I got messages about it and such. I think I was supposed to log in to get it if I didn't want to lose it, but I have no idea how to log in... or if I even have an account to log in to!

Anyway, my tablet is mostly for games. Sometimes for looking online. I don't really keep anything on it. I do have some photos, but I did make sure I uploaded the ones I wanted to keep to dropbox.

We made friends with a three generational family that we met on Mexico 8 years ago, and we still not only go to Mexico with them every year, we see them all the time on the east coast. The grandparents and one family live in NYC, the other family in New Rochelle. We have many examples of this, but that by far is our favorite. We like to say they are our friends from Mexico, but we are all Tri-State (now extension) Jews. Their whole family are readers too.

I'm with you Cindy. But the TBR is back safe and sound so far. And i think I've learned I will survive it it disappears. but so glad you guys "get" it.

With an issue like that, a phone tech (Apple or whatever) can often help you find the missing item. I had something happen where all my recent emails disappeared. Turns out, I had inadvertently pressed something that hid them.

I don't think you should feel bad about how much you enjoy your list, Amy. There are much worse things you could be doing with your time and energy! I have hundreds of items on my GR TBR, but I don't do a lot with the list. It is helpful if a book goes on sale and I see that it is on there. As far as what to read next, I've never had a system, but for the last year, I have been in a challenge group on GR. I use a spreadsheet (I think I got the template from Book Concierge) and on there I have a list of upcoming reads that will work for the challenges, around 4-8 of them. I never used to be that organized about what to read next, but I like having something in place, so I don't spend a lot of time figuring out what to read. I try to balance it with any online & in-person group reads, which is sometimes challenging. Of course, then a brand-new book might come out from an author I love, or I might see something irresistible at the library!

That building is SO COOL!
These pics are getting me excited for some books set in NYC. I hope I have some this year. Can't recall off the top of my head if I have any planned yet or not.

Every time I see "106th St." I keep thinking of that song "Across 110th street..." 🎶 Good song :)

Meli wrote: "That building is SO COOL!
These pics are getting me excited for some books set in NYC. I hope I have some this year. Can't recall off the top of my head if I have any planned yet or not.

Every ti..."

If you have not read it yet, The City We Became is an excellent use of today's NYC as setting. You could do a walking tour from it.

Also a quick cozy mystery set in NYC at Christmas and is a real loving homage to NYC set here about 10 years ago - The Oxygen Murder - part of a series but you can read as a standalone.

Theresa wrote: "If you have not read it yet, The City We Became is an excellent use of today's NYC as setting. You could do a walking tour from it."

This is on my TBR and I want to get to it as soon as I can!

The Oxygen Murder might be good to get in the holiday spirit.

Just spent the afternoon with my daughter. Cooked dinner early and we had a wonderful day. Too funny to see the satisfaction on her face after a home cooked meal by mom.

How absolutely wonderful Joanne! Had a quick mother son lunch that was the fastest in history, but I will take what i can get.

Amy wrote: "How absolutely wonderful Joanne! Had a quick mother son lunch that was the fastest in history, but I will take what i can get."

you betcha, Amy. The time I spend with her is precious

Joanne wrote: "Just spent the afternoon with my daughter. Cooked dinner early and we had a wonderful day. Too funny to see the satisfaction on her face after a home cooked meal by mom."

Oh, I miss having a home-cooked meal with my Mom!

@Theresa--what a great view! I love that building.

Yes, I do stay in occasional contact with a few people I have met while travelling, but mostly with friends from various places I have lived or university. But your situation reminds me of my parents--they kept in touch with two different sets of friends we made while travelling to and from Europe by ship for many decades by snail mail.

@Amy--yes, I totally understand about a. your missing list and b. a husband and kids who wouldn't understand that kind of a loss.

I am in a conundrum. We switched cell phone providers since our old plan was going the way of the dodo but, strange but true, my new cell phone gives me a migraine whenever I use it. I paid for it in full and it wasn't a really expensive phone, but my next task is to get a different one. The settings are all fine, so it's not that. I am guessing it's the screen, but have no idea why.

I don't use my phone to go online, but I do need it for texting and calls when I am out. I can go online if I am somewhere with wifi, which will be a huge plus when travelling, plus I can call and text Canada again with this plan.

I have heard of people having issues with cell phones causing headaches if the screens go in and out fast, brightness could also be an issue. There are probably "accessibility" settings on your phone, for instance maybe white on black or "night mode" might be better. A decent cell phone company should be able to advise you.

I changed carriers last summer from a smaller company to a very famous one. I was quoted a certain rate and got a bill much higher. I was told it could take a while for the discounts to kick in, it actually took 5 months. The service quality is inferior to my previous carrier and the customer service is lacking. (I worked in customer service for 3 phone companies over 20 years, so I know what I expect.) I was promised callbacks and corrections that never happened. Then my husband lost his phone and the company dealt with that badly, not turning it off soon enough, and when it was recovered, they kept thinking it was still lost and turning it off for hours or days. No apology, no followup. I am just waiting to see my latest bill and demand some credit for the problems. Then I am switching away even if it costs me for the phones.

Robin P wrote: "I have heard of people having issues with cell phones causing headaches if the screens go in and out fast, brightness could also be an issue. There are probably "accessibility" settings on your pho..."

Thanks--I am thinking its the flicker frequency :)
We have it on night mode with the blue light filter on and I even used my Theraspecs. It is just this model that we got because it's durable and both my husband and son are used to flip phones (but this one is a smart phone and you can opt for data or use wifi with it)

I'll see if they have any LG phones which I have used before (but of course if it's a different model it could have a different screen. We moved from Cricket to T-Mobile so it's the same kind of whatever it is (can't recall) because for both you can take an unlocked AT&T phone and use it if you want to.

If you have a few minutes, please spare a thought for our folks in Tonga after the undersea volcano eruption and subsequent tsunami. Communications are still patchy (and next to nothing for the outlying islands) so we still don’t know how bad the damage is though lots of houses will have been affected. The immediate concern is drinking water as the ash has contaminated the water supply so our Air Force is rushing fresh water and desalination equipment out there today. But there are lots of people on islands quite close to the volcano and we don’t know whether they are ok.

The eruption was a sudden and huge explosion - the volcanologists reckon it’s the biggest since Pinatubo 30 years ago. I actually heard it here - it was a weird deep boom (the sound wave took 2 hours to get here).

KateNZ wrote: " I actually heard it here - it was a weird deep boom (the sound wave took 2 hours to get here). ..."

Wow! I think they had a tsumani warning for the west coast of North America, too, but I'm not sure if anything came of it.

I saw on the news that they don't know yet about whether or not the people are ok.

LibraryCin wrote: "KateNZ wrote: " I actually heard it here - it was a weird deep boom (the sound wave took 2 hours to get here). ..."

Wow! I think they had a tsumani warning for the west coast of North America, too..."

They had some tides and flooding in Santa Cruz, but nothing catastrophic.

Thoughts with all in the area Kate-looks scary!

Thanks for giving an update, Kate. I'd heard about the tsunami / volcanic eruption but didn't realize quite how devastating it was.

The satellite pictures of the explosion looked massive. I hadn't heard about the effects on the island nations, but I assumed it must be bad given that we had tsunami alerts in Hawaii and for all of the west coast of the USA.
It was the focus of a weekend text session with my far flung family. My daughter and I at different ends of the California coast, my daughter-in-law playing Navy wife at Pearl Harbor, while my son is in Washington State for additional training. Easy for us to joke about staying off the beaches, not at all funny for those truly impacted.

I hope some good news comes out of Tonga soon.

NY Times hasn't a lot of news but did mention 2 deaths on beaches in Peru from tsunami. Peru did not close its beaches or issue an alert as the other west coast South American countries did.

I watched that satellite video of the explosion. Enormous!

The fourth eruption, the one on Saturday (this set started in December), is the worst one this planet has had in 30 years. So far it's not clear how people are there due to the fact that communications are down and there is a lot of debris in the air. I hope that there are no major fatalities, etc!

Jgrace wrote: "I assumed it must be bad given that we had tsunami alerts in Hawaii and for all of the west coast of the USA...."


Warnings included the west coast of Canada, too.

More news, but not a lot--I guess a large cable was broken during this eruption. Three confirmed dead, but they still don't know much. The photos of all of the ash, etc, are tragic.

Yes, the warnings are for the west coast of Vancouver Island as well as the Juan de Fuca Strait to Greater Victoria (Victoria, being on the southern tip of the Island is the largest Canadian city at risk).

For those who aren't familiar with the west of North America, the Juan de Fuca strait is in both Canada and the States.

On the American site I found, it's not a major tsunami for most places, but puts people on the water and the beach at risk. Victoria, BC has an average elevation of 39 feet, which is signifcantly lower than the average elevation of most coastal cities such as Seattle and San Francisco, etc.