I've been having so many problems with this blog lately that I've decided to quit blogging. I'm not sure I have that much to say anyway.
I'm not the only person with these blog problems. I'm getting tons of e-mails from the Blogger complaint forum. Others are just as puzzled and frustrated as I am. I'm not getting e-mail notifications when people comment on my blog and it appears that commenters must have a Google account to comment. I want everyone to be welcome and I want to reply to all comments.
My tolerance for technical problems is almost nil, so unless Blogger undoes whatever brilliant changes it's made to itself, I'm outta here! I don't care to spend time trying to make things like this work.
I'll continue to follow those of you whose blogs I like. If any of you know me only through my blog, feel free to stay in touch using my e-mail: joanehkyler@gmail.com. Until they make changes to that, too!
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Not Nice, Blogger!
For those of you commenting on my blog, you should be aware that Blogger no longer sends me e-mails when you comment. I thought it was just a problem with my blog, but at least one other blogger has the same issue. I've complained to Blogger, but, so far, it hasn't made a difference. If any of you know how to get around this, please let me know.
I will check the last few blog posts to try to make sure I haven't missed any comments, but if I don't respond to your comments, Bad Blogger is why. I'm annoyed by bloggers who don't engage with their readers. It's rude and self-centered, a one-way conversation, and I'm never interested in that.
I will check the last few blog posts to try to make sure I haven't missed any comments, but if I don't respond to your comments, Bad Blogger is why. I'm annoyed by bloggers who don't engage with their readers. It's rude and self-centered, a one-way conversation, and I'm never interested in that.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Books I Finished in May
My husband developed a back problem just as things started to become manageable and I thought I could get back to 'serious' reading, which, for me, means reading a lot of books including some classics.
He's had back problems for several years, but about three weeks ago, something very painful happened, but we don't know what. Off to the orthopedic surgeon, but we already know that back surgery seldom helps, physical therapy, two other doctors for other issues. Drugs for the back pain can sometimes make the other issues worse. It's very hard on him because he's a 'doer' and needs to be doing something - or sleeping.
My husband is not typically very descriptive, so we've developed the 'Ache', 'Pain', or 'Excruciating' scale to help. Today there's too much Excruciating. A call to the On Call doctor at the orthopedic place wasn't helpful, basically, wait to see how he feels tomorrow (Monday). I'm playing nurse and I'm not cut out for it.
But waiting for him during his hour long P/T sessions has given me time to read, if I can ignore all the other patients and relatives of patients in the room. So these are the books I read in May:
The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie
The Brandons - Angela Thirkell
The Lark and the Laurel - Barbara Willard
The Humane Gardener - Nancy Lawson
Calamity at Harwood - George Bellairs
The Globe Hollow Mystery - Hannah Gartland
I enjoyed The Secret Adversary very much. I don't think I've read a Christie for quite a while. Miss Marple is my favorite and this is a Tommy and Tuppence mystery. Hercule annoys me, but I'll give him another go since I bought several Poirots at the library sale.
I'm developing a fondness for George Bellairs. I have more than several of his as e-books on my Kindle. I think this is the third I've read and enjoyed. A haunted house! Several murders! Exciting!
I bought The Globe Hollow Mystery at the library sale. It caught my eye because of the title and the fact that it was an old hardbound book. I love old mysteries and this was a corker. A crotchety old uncle dies in a fire, leaving his estate to a nephew who's returned after having been reported dead in the war (WWI). He's cut his niece out entirely, very spiteful. But there's a web of deceit to untangle before the truth is discovered. It's all very mysterious. I can't find out anything about the author except that it seems this may be one of her two only books.
Do I need to say anything about The Brandons? If you're a Thirkell fan, as I am, I don't. Tony Moreland has grown up but is still a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, it seems all men fall in love with the widow Mrs. Brandon. She's lovely, she's kind. There's romance, there's minor conflict, there are gardens, there are books. Thirkell's novels always make me feel that there's a calm, peaceful world out there somewhere, so maybe there's hope.
I liked The Humane Gardener very much. In Massachusetts, I was a Conservation Commissioner and I've been an animal welfare advocate for thirty years or so. Since I moved to Lancaster, I've joined a native plants / wildlife habitat garden group. You can see why The Humane Gardener was perfect for me. I truly hope that more people can find and enjoy the peace between species.
I'll not say much at all about The Lark and the Laurel because I just wasn't into it. Maybe it's me because I know others adore this series. It just seemed it was written for children, and maybe it was and that's why I didn't like it much. But it was a short book, so I didn't waste much time on it.
There were at least three books that I started and discarded. I was feeling impatient and could see no reason to force myself to finish them. I want to be entertained or I want to read about something or someone interesting. I was about 100 pages into one of them before I almost threw it across the room.
So, here's hoping that Excruciating and Pain get downgraded to Ache or, better, No Aches or Pains and that we can have our lives back. My heart goes out to anyone suffering and to those who care for them. Thank goodness for the sanctuary of books!
He's had back problems for several years, but about three weeks ago, something very painful happened, but we don't know what. Off to the orthopedic surgeon, but we already know that back surgery seldom helps, physical therapy, two other doctors for other issues. Drugs for the back pain can sometimes make the other issues worse. It's very hard on him because he's a 'doer' and needs to be doing something - or sleeping.
My husband is not typically very descriptive, so we've developed the 'Ache', 'Pain', or 'Excruciating' scale to help. Today there's too much Excruciating. A call to the On Call doctor at the orthopedic place wasn't helpful, basically, wait to see how he feels tomorrow (Monday). I'm playing nurse and I'm not cut out for it.
But waiting for him during his hour long P/T sessions has given me time to read, if I can ignore all the other patients and relatives of patients in the room. So these are the books I read in May:
The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie
The Brandons - Angela Thirkell
The Lark and the Laurel - Barbara Willard
The Humane Gardener - Nancy Lawson
Calamity at Harwood - George Bellairs
The Globe Hollow Mystery - Hannah Gartland
I enjoyed The Secret Adversary very much. I don't think I've read a Christie for quite a while. Miss Marple is my favorite and this is a Tommy and Tuppence mystery. Hercule annoys me, but I'll give him another go since I bought several Poirots at the library sale.
I'm developing a fondness for George Bellairs. I have more than several of his as e-books on my Kindle. I think this is the third I've read and enjoyed. A haunted house! Several murders! Exciting!
I bought The Globe Hollow Mystery at the library sale. It caught my eye because of the title and the fact that it was an old hardbound book. I love old mysteries and this was a corker. A crotchety old uncle dies in a fire, leaving his estate to a nephew who's returned after having been reported dead in the war (WWI). He's cut his niece out entirely, very spiteful. But there's a web of deceit to untangle before the truth is discovered. It's all very mysterious. I can't find out anything about the author except that it seems this may be one of her two only books.
Do I need to say anything about The Brandons? If you're a Thirkell fan, as I am, I don't. Tony Moreland has grown up but is still a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, it seems all men fall in love with the widow Mrs. Brandon. She's lovely, she's kind. There's romance, there's minor conflict, there are gardens, there are books. Thirkell's novels always make me feel that there's a calm, peaceful world out there somewhere, so maybe there's hope.
I liked The Humane Gardener very much. In Massachusetts, I was a Conservation Commissioner and I've been an animal welfare advocate for thirty years or so. Since I moved to Lancaster, I've joined a native plants / wildlife habitat garden group. You can see why The Humane Gardener was perfect for me. I truly hope that more people can find and enjoy the peace between species.
I'll not say much at all about The Lark and the Laurel because I just wasn't into it. Maybe it's me because I know others adore this series. It just seemed it was written for children, and maybe it was and that's why I didn't like it much. But it was a short book, so I didn't waste much time on it.
There were at least three books that I started and discarded. I was feeling impatient and could see no reason to force myself to finish them. I want to be entertained or I want to read about something or someone interesting. I was about 100 pages into one of them before I almost threw it across the room.
So, here's hoping that Excruciating and Pain get downgraded to Ache or, better, No Aches or Pains and that we can have our lives back. My heart goes out to anyone suffering and to those who care for them. Thank goodness for the sanctuary of books!
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