Reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything and enjoying it. I admire writers -- scientists or not -- who can translate heavy science to lay persons without overly dumbing it down, like Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, and Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Bryson's writing is clear and effective. I don't always follow the seeminly abrupt jumps he makes from one period of scientific exploration to another, just following along for now. Nearly half way through it. With these books, particularly Mukherjee's, I have to re-read several times to understand. (It's not Mukherjee's fault, he's a brilliant writer, he just writes at a higher scientific level than Bryson or Gould, for instance.)

@nutsaboutplants

A long time ago, a question was posted as to what author would you love to spend a day with. I would certainly pick Bill Bryson. He must be an incredibly interesting person to write as fascinating as he does. Often laugh out loud hilarious too.

I have to thank Annie and all the posters who contribute to this thread. I check here several times a week but seldom post and I now have a notebook full of titles that have been discussed here over the years. After years of involvement in books clubs I've dropped out and I find some freedom in reading what I want whenever I want.

So here's a big Thanks!

Bill Bryson is one of my go-to authors. If I'm stuck waiting for a Libby loan I know I can find one of his 20 or so of his titles available. My son has most of the print editions and every now and then I'll bring one home with me. He is one of the few writers where I feel comfortable reading in spurts knowing that I won't miss a key plot detail. I recently read A Walk in the Woods again and still found myself just as entertained as the first time. It probably annoys my husband but I'll often tell him about some esoteric tidbit from Bryson's book that I find so fascinating that I have to share.

A few months ago I read or I should say tried to read the updated edition of The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee - the author Nuts mentions in this thread. The man is brilliant and I found the first half of the book compelling especially the historical features and developments of cancer. I found myself admiring the tenacity and adaptability of the cell even though I know the heart breaking reality of the disease. I couldn't keep up as the book delved more into the medical aspect of the disease. I'm not scientific by nature and even with DH's patient explanations (also a Hem/Onc physician) it was more than I could comprehend. I was amazed that he personally knew many of the physicians named in the book until he reminded me that hematology/oncology only became a formal subspecialty of Internal Medicine in 1972 - the year he started med sch.

Finished Mad Mabel by Saly Hepworth this week and enjoyed it. There were a few plot twists that I anticipated and a few ones that I didn't but that didn't diminish my enjoyment. It was funny and sad at the same time but I liked how the characters and friendships developed.

Also finished The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. I had read his previous The Midnight Library which was published about 5 years ago and liked it so I thought I'd try his newer one. The premise is similar - the main character has the opportunity to re-live moments from life and perhaps change things. In the earlier book the character finds herself in a mystical library in this latest book it is now a mystical train. They were both quick reads and while I found The Midnight Library to have an interesting time concept it became more gimmicky the second time around.

I would not do the green with those floors so I vote all one color and I guess the white but honestly I would think hard about painting at all. It looks like the cabinets are 2 colors of wood is that right ? If so I would just have them stained all one color unless you are changing the floor.

This would be fun to try! Made me smile.....the things people come up with!

The children were lined up in the cafeteria for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.

A nun had left a note posted on the apple tray.

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table, was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note next to them.

"Take all you want. God is watching the apples!"

Right off the bat? Against the Wind. Sweet Caroline. So many tho.......

Sad to admit - I can't sing. But if I were home alone and had the music turned up loud it would be rock - Joan Jett's I Love Rock and Roll, Bob Seger's Old Time Rock and Roll, or anything by Queen.

What would I do if I had to sing at karaoke? I’d go home. 😁

Rusty

For years I have said teachers shoud earn the salary of pro athletes and vice versa.

A sign in a shoe repair store:

"We will heel you. We will save your sole. We will even dye for you!"

At an Eye Clinic:

"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed."

In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."

In the front yard of a Funeral Home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

Sign on the back of Septic Tank Truck: "Caution - This Truck is full of Political

Promises."

On a plumber's truck "Your poo poo is our bread and butter"

Neighborhood septic pumping truck had a sign on the back that said "stool bus".

"I think Mapquest knows which way the wind blows "

Or certainly where all the hot air is coming from!

Are those glass on the side that look black? Not really sure what you are concerned about for style of door to this house . NOt your typical MCM so maybe a bit more info. Those fancy lacey fronts for sure do not work. Something like this would be my choice

I would just sell them, if possible, hopefully you can recoup some $. I don’t think they look good with your table even if they were sized right.

Mmmmmmm

I would not cling to the table .

Some editing is in order - its fine to be eclectic, but not to the point of ” what is happening here!?

.We need a much improved sketch / all the familly room. :)

I like the color of paint and hardware you choose for your cabinets. Definitely keep the granite and replace the ugly and non functional backsplash and install a neutral backsplash. This is not your forever home and that will bring you the biggest return on your investment. It will also look good. Your granite is busy but it is also beautiful. The hideous backsplash just clashes with it.

I too would suggest you keep the granite but that backsplash needs to go.

I love your granite. It is stunning. Please don't remove it. It's refreshing to see a kitchen with personality instead of being plain vanilla.

The “struggle” isn’t real. :)

There is no need to decorate the mantel. But if your tv is not a tv that displays art, or even if it is, you could cover the tv with some type of art when not in use. To tell you the truth, I am not a big fan of digital art on the tv. It is a nice option to have; but I also like the idea of real life art of some sort. Etsy.com has a lot of options for “art to cover tv” and you can do a search there.

This is actually a tv dust cover type of thing.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4532693704/coastal-landscape-tv-cover-case-subtle?

And the Seller also offers custom options, so you could also create your own art.

As I said, you do not need to decorate the mantel. But for a bit of ambience, a couple of flameless candles on the mantel might be nice.

ETA:

The TV and firebox already make a strong black stack, so I wouldn't put matching objects at both ends of the mantel. The two floor lanterns are already doing that job. If you want something there, I'd use one long, low piece in the center, maybe a shallow wood bowl or tray, and leave plenty of space below the TV. The left corner is much busier with the cabinet, lamp, clock and leaning art. I'd move one taller item to the open right side of the fireplace instead, or add a slim floor lamp there. That would balance the whole wall without crowding the mantel.

The decision is made. It's your tv, and it needs nothing else.

^ agree to be patient and do it right, they seem functional and bright

Waht are the other issues you NEED to deal with ? THe bathrooms are definately a bit much but look clean and workable so I garee live with it for awhile . BTW that glass block wall makes so much sense in that space just enjoy all tha light it gives no matter else you do keep that .

NOthing needed other than maybe some art it is a small space do not make it smaller even the chair just magnifies the small space .

A young man goes into a drugstore to buy cOndoms. The pharmacist tells him they come in packs of 3, 9, or 12 and asks which he'd like. "Well," the young man says, "I've been seeing this girl for a while, and she's really hot. I think tonight's the night. We're having dinner with her parents, then we're going out afterward. I've got a feeling I'm gonna get lucky... and once she's had me, she'll want me all the time. Better give me the 12-pack."

So he buys the cOndoms and leaves. Later that evening, he's sitting at dinner with the girl and her parents. He asks if he can say the blessing and they agree. He starts praying... and keeps praying..and praying... for several minutes.

Finally, the girl leans over and whispers, "You never told me you were such a religious person." He whispers back, "You never told me your father was a pharmacist."