Bg's Random Ramblings And Thoughts 3

[TheresaThoma]

BG these book sales sound WONDERFUL (103 books for 77 dollars!!). I wonder if the have something like that near me. Or maybe it might be a good thing that I haven't found one like that near me, I would buy too many books. 

[AnneLine]

Book Buffets are dangerous for AnneLine.... worse than the food kind.

 

Amazon is bad enough... but I do better if I just put 'em on the wait list and see if I REALLLY want 'em in a few days.

 

I have NO self-control around books!

 

Sadly true about the blood and money, my friend. 

 

Do you know, BG... the day my mother died, and I was waiting for the mortuary people to come take her away, her phone rang, and I picked it up.  The guy on the other end asked to speak to her and I said, "Uh, well, she can't come to the phone right now." (understatement of the year...).  "Well, the is St. X hospital collections, and we need to talk to her right now.  You make her come to the phone."  Gulp.  "Uh, well, I need to tell you my mother passed away this afternoon.  This is her Daughter, AnneLine.   Can I help you?"   Those @#$%^&* collections people actually started in on me that she was a deadbeat and that now I was responsible for her unpaid bill!  

 

I took a deep breath and said, voice hard as steel... "Well, she is here on the floor right now... you better send somebody over here.  If you come quickly enough, you are welcome to take her blood ahead of the mortuary."  Full stop.   Just let 'em stew in THAT statement.  After about 30 seconds of silence, I continued, quietly, "Maybe we should work a different plan.  I will give you my name, address and phone number.  I will promise to contact you within 10 days.  If I do not do so -- but only after 10 days -- you can contact me.  I will deal with this, but first, I have a funeral to attend to."  They agreed.  8 days later I called the hospital and asked to talk to the collections supervisor.  He was very embarrassed, and said it shouldn't have happened ( :doh: ) and that he would make sure it didn't happen again... and cancelled the bill.  Which was decent.  I also asked him to put up a sign in the collections office that said, "IF someone tells you someone died, offer condolences and ask if you can call them in 10 days."  He agreed.

 

Now If that just worked with 2013 bill people!

 

Unfortunately all that I have left is prayers and FLYLady wisdom, and they are welcome both.

 

My parish bundles the Secret of the Rosary with some $10 donation rosaries made by one of our parishioners as a fundraiser for our roof (we needed $8 million in roof repairs... and got the $$$$ LITTLE BY LITTLE doing things like this.... and so I have about 5 copies of the Secret around the house....

 

Hope you all have a good week!!!!!!

 

 

[AnneLine]

BG!!!!  This is too funny!!!!! 

 

Do you remember the old Bewitched TV Series?  Little Tabitha, the child? 

 

Well... she has grown up and has an ALPACA ranch!!!! You have to see this!!!!

 

http://screen.yahoo.com/yo-show/yo-hosts-horrid-alpaca-kiss-080000060.html

 

Now if that didn't make you smile!!!!!

 

EDIT:  Unfortunately, it won't let me post it as video, but it is worth clicking on it!

Edited September 25, 2013 by AnneLine

[MissyP89]

Do you have a Kindle/Nook?

 

Should I get one?

 

I was originally strongly against e-readers because I like being able to hold books, smell them, etc. Plus I already spend tons of times staring at screens. Actual paper gives my eyes a break.

 

But...after the wedding, B and I are going to be living in a small apartment, and the idea of lugging my entire collection to NY seems both daunting and impractical for space reasons.

 

Mom said she will gladly keep my stuff downstairs and I can swap books whenever we come home, but I'm wondering if it's worth the investment. 

[AnneLine]

I don't, and I find it hard to read books on the internet...that glare factor.... but I do find it fascinating to see HOW MANY people are reading them on busses these days, Missy!   And my Seculars all want to NOT buy the Liturgy of the Hours Books...just want to use apps.  We are standing firm that they MUST at least get the one volume Christian Prayer, and learn how to use it, but they can use the App the rest of the time.  It just looks too silly to have people in community all standing around staring at tablets!

 

One thing you might want to think about.... last year I gave the Seculars the option of buying their homework books as books or as Kindle, Nook, etc. books.  Several of them went for the Kindles and Nooks... and every one came back and said that they did NOT recommend it for the study books.  Why?  Because it was so hard to find where they had questions and things like that.  The notes were in odd places.  It was really hard for them to look at 'footnotes' if they were on a different screen.  So... depending on what kinds of books you are talking about, some might not make the transition well...

 

Having said that.... you will have limited space, you parents are willing to let  you leave your 'library stacks' at their house to page at will... sounds like that and a nook or kindle might not be a bad option!  You might think about one of the ones that also lets you stream movies... and/or get on internet.  Make it a true beast of burden....

 

This sounds exciting!!!!!!!  Getting more real!

Edited September 25, 2013 by AnneLine

[BG45]

TheresaThoma, it is wonderful to have it nearby!!  Though I always spend too much, so I know your very real fear in a personal manner haha.

 

AL, that is absolutely awful and I'm sorry you had to go through it with your mom!!  Dad had to go through similar with Sears when his mother died.  They kept threatening to sue us (prior to the funeral even) over her bills if we didn't pay them off.  We never got the apology that you did though...and when I was at K-Mart, I did everything I could to not try and sell people the Sears credit card.  Only had one person ask my opinion on if it was worth it and I told them, "According to corporate, sure.  But they tried to sue my family before we could even bury my grandmother over her unpaid bill."  The person didn't apply for one after that.  Wish more place were like St. X's!  And that's neat of your parish to do that, but holy moly at the roof price tag!  And little Tabitha's alpaca farm did make me smile!!  Thank you so much my friend, it's been an extremely long day, and I needed that. :)

 

Missy, I have a kindle and it really is useful, but I still prefer the feel of a real book in my hands, like you said.  I have the cheapo Kindle with ads on it; but the ads only appear when you're not reading.  IMO it's well worth it to get the cheaper one with ads, because it saves you money and they're really not intrusive at all, they just act as a screensaver.  Sometimes they even put ads up for free stuff!  I don't know about the Kindle Fire, but the basic one is a lot like staring at a normal book, because it isn't a backlit or LED screen like a computer screen would be, and might give your eyes that break?  I know the feeling, not having room for books in my apartment, so I can't imagine two book lovers in a one bedroom!  I'd respectfully disagree with AL and say, at least while you two are living in an apartment while he finishes his PhD, that it might be worth it.  And AL, that's kinda sad people want the LOTH app for their spiritual reading for a secular Carmelite community...maybe I'm biased because I have no smart phone, however.

 

--

 

27 comments done today. Can finish off Lit Review comments tomorrow in office hours before the student/faculty get together. Then Saturday before Mass, I can work on methods comments, then again all day Sunday. Should have it turned in before the Breaking Bad finale...and if not, it can wait an hour while I watch the end of an epic series.

[MissyP89]

My Missal app has saved me so many times at Spanish Masses. LOL

[BG45]

I am somehow unsurprised there's a missal app lol.  If I ever get a smart phone, what app am I looking for Missy?

 

 

I feel like a jerk.  Tonight game night is guy's night, because the women are both off at their Mormon women's dinner thing and one of the women asked if we could still play tomorrow night.  Everyone else is part of a couple and were like "oh yeah, we can play!"  Meanwhile I'm like "Uh...I can't, I'm kind of talking to someone on Skype then.  But you all can go on without me if you want."

[BG45]

So true:

 

[arfink]

I am somehow unsurprised there's a missal app lol.  If I ever get a smart phone, what app am I looking for Missy?

 

 

I feel like a jerk.  Tonight game night is guy's night, because the women are both off at their Mormon women's dinner thing and one of the women asked if we could still play tomorrow night.  Everyone else is part of a couple and were like "oh yeah, we can play!"  Meanwhile I'm like "Uh...I can't, I'm kind of talking to someone on Skype then.  But you all can go on without me if you want."

 

False. You are not a jerk. ;)

 

If you'd told them you had a date, they would never be upset with you. Don't sweat it.

[AnneLine]

I feel like a jerk.  Tonight game night is guy's night, because the women are both off at their Mormon women's dinner thing and one of the women asked if we could still play tomorrow night.  Everyone else is part of a couple and were like "oh yeah, we can play!"  Meanwhile I'm like "Uh...I can't, I'm kind of talking to someone on Skype then.  But you all can go on without me if you want."

 

Maybe I am missing something, BG, but I don't know why YOU would feel like a jerk... they obviously want to do something with their guys, and you want to do something with your girl.  :)  You  are cool with them taking the night off for something THEY want to do, why can't they let you take the night off for something YOU want to do???

 

:hug:  being your own person is tough sometimes, isn't it.....

 

 

And I just learned this morning that the one remaining person in my mother's side of the family with whom I am in contact passed away this morning.  I think Joan was in a good place... she had an incurable disease, and I think she wasn't in a lot of pain and had people with her, and that is good. 

 

The sad thing is that, while we got in contact a few months ago after about a 20 year separation--she reached out to me, ironically reaching me through my PARISH --  (see below), we never managed to actually get into the same room.  We connected by phone and email, and really had re-established a good relationship, but we just couldn't get our schedules to match.   We tried a bunch of times while C. was so sick and I was having to do the 3xweek days with her... and then Joan got sick and couldn't be around people because of the danger of us giving her a bug while being treated...... and I think we both stopped trying to make it happen.  "there's always more time..."

 

A week or so ago I got an email from her saying she was going on hospice and was in a good place; I responded but never got a response to my email.  I realize now she probably had that prepared to send out to the 'herd' a long time back, and she was obviously getting toward the end so her closer friends sent it out to all on her list... but I had no way to know it was past time for a meet up.  

 

But I have been praying for her & thinking about her... a lot.  And strangely enough, knowing how poorly my mom's family deals with death, I've been checking the obits... because that is usually how I find out about the death of a family member.  Usually weeks after the funeral.  I think I just kind of knew at some level....   But no one is ever ready....

 

Sad thing is that the last contact I had from her was a kind of snorky email during the papal elections... before the election of Pope Francis.  Joan had some really bad experiences with Church, and didn't have a whole lot of positive feelings about the hierarchy (I'm just saying this, not agreeing... it was her experience, and I think she had a pretty good reason to feel the way she did... read between the lines, people...it is what I am NOT saying that is critical here.)

 

So... I understood why she didn't have much patience with the time & expense of the Papal Elections, but I still was peeved at the email, because she knew I do value the Church.... and I didn't respond.  In retrospect, I feel badly that that was our last written communication.  BUTwe have always communicated more with the heart and soul than phone or email.   I think she was a good woman who tried to serve God and others as best as she could.... and I am praying for her and all her friends and family.  I pray that any purgation she may experience may be short... and sweet in that it leads her home to God.  I hope that my own anger at her email and choice not to respond didn't cut off a chance for what could have been a better reconciliation with me and/or with Church.  

This is a big reminder to me that we just don't know, and how important it is to put out those olive branches while the options are available.... and I share that reminder with all of you.

Pray for me, everyone, as I do for you...

[BG45]

Thanks AL!  And my prayers *hug*  That sounds like an awful situation... :(  Glad that even in tragedy, you turn to find solace in Him and that you're praying for her even now.  I'm sure all of us would be happy to do the same.  :console:

[MissyP89]

False. You are not a jerk. ;)

 

If you'd told them you had a date, they would never be upset with you. Don't sweat it.

 

Word. It's about give and take. You'll catch them next time. If things were different, you could bring her with you, but you can't ... so sometimes there are sacrifices. Remember, you've done this before. You'll fall into the rhythm again.

 

As for the app, guess. It's overwhelmingly, stereotypically obvious. 

[BG45]

Arfink I'm so sorry, I just saw the new page and didn't see you saying I'm not a jerk too, until Missy quoted it!  Thank you!

 

Missy, you're right...hoping it ends up going well (like better than last person I visited).  And umm, "Roman Catholic Missal" is the app name then, if obvious?  Oh and though I told you all I hardly use my Kindle, I bought a book on it the other night, Slimed:  An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age. 

[MissyP89]

Nope, it's iMissal. ;) It's like $6.