It was Thirty Years Ago Today

I am a baby boomer.  I "grew up" during the decade between 1960 and 1970.  Even though my parents say that the 1940's were the best time to live, I know that the 60's were, without a doubt,  the most exciting time  to be a younger person albeit not the safest.

It was 1963 or 64 when the Beatles took the US by storm.  I was taking ballroom dance lessons at Bette and Glen Dance Studio when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was released.  I remember the guy who had my interest at the moment telling me it was the "dirtiest" song he had ever heard.  Ha! We were just coming out of the 50"s -- no songs were dirty.  Since this was well before the advent of cable , satellite or the internet we had to rely on Ed Sullivan and movie and teen magazines to keep us up on what was happening on the entertainment scene.  We did ok, though, with our precursors to the ipod (called a transistor radio) glued to our ears we would spend hours at the magazine stand at the grocery store reading every article on whoever was catching our eye at the moment only taking out a bit of time to flirt with the package boys.

I wasn't a Beatlemaniac.  I didn't have a favorite although I guess I gravitated toward Paul -- "the cute one".  It was really interesting, however, to be able to see and hear young people from another country doing the same things that we did here.  I bought the records, saved the magazines and got all caught up in the British Invasion (especially the clothes) but I never lost interest in our homegrown groups. 


Time moved on, The Beatles broke up, I grew up and that was that.  My interest was piqued again in 1969 when it was reported that Paul McCartney had died in a car accident three years prior and was replaced with a double.  This news was only of passing interest -- however, I now believe the story to be true.  In any event, not much thought was given to the Fab Four or any of my other favorite entertainers until 1977 when Elvis Presley passed away at the age of 42 -- absolutely ancient to my 27 years.  I cried and tried to explain to my two year old what was wrong.  He didn't get it. 

He didn't get it in 1980 when I cried again on December 8 when a special news report broke into regularly scheduled programming to announce the murder of John Lennon at his home at the Dakota Apartments in NYC.  Suddenly the years melted away and I was 13 again listening to the "dirtiest song" ever.  This couldn't be -- not only couldn't John be 40 years old he certainly couldn't be dead -- especially at the hand of another.  The next day or so I sent my dear, long suffering hubby out in an ice storm to buy a copy of "Double Fantasy" -- I hadn't bought an album in forever -- and I was quite taken aback.  It was great - - well most of it anyway - pick up a copy and you will know what I mean.  I hadn't seen a photo of Lennon in a while and was surprised that he had aged nicely

and he still looked like himself, unlike Paul. There was lots of talk about him turning into a house husband and being a has-been but the album proved that as he aged he mellowed but he was still capable of producing fantastic music but, sadly, there would be no more.

Lately I have had a renewed interest in the Beatles and have done some reading and movie watching -- "A Hard Day's Night" to be exact, which I had never seen before.  I have watched some documentaries leading up to today and see this group in a whole new light.  Of course, I guess my aging has skewed my viewpoint as well.  They were a great little group that possessed a lot of talent and I am proud that they were part of my generation.

Rest in peace, John and yes, we are all still trying to imagine.

Change is In The Air

I have been playing around, changing things here and there on this blog. Don't you love my new header photo? It is the same as on my Wordpress blog but you can see more of it here. It is a little bistro in London. We didn't eat there so I don't know if the sign is correct when it says "great British food". I intend to find out if I ever return.

There was one place that had excellent food. It is the pub that my daughter's family goes to all the time. I believe the name is The George and Dragon. It was a cozy little (well, not really all that little) place where I had this lovely chicken and mushroom dish --- no photo.

I do, however, have a photo of what my husband ate -- he didn't manage the whole thing and ended up sharing which made everybody happy but it made a great photo!

Well, this was my experiment to see if I could do photos again on this blog and it appears that I can so I may be posting here more often.

Ok, so I can now post pics on this blog -- wonder if I should move back or should I maintain two? Funny question since I can't maintain one but I will have to give it some thought.

Sometimes I really miss this blog but it won't let me post photos so I decided to move to wordpress. Come visit me there at http://brinkleysplace.wordpress.com. It is a bit lonely over there so Leave me a comment so I know you were there!

come visit me at http://brinkleysplace.wordpress.com and give me a comment so I know you were there!

Blogging about food and quilting over at http://brinkleysplace.wordpress.com. Come and join me.

Hi, there! Please join me at my new blog over at wordpress. The address is http://brinkleysplace.wordpress.com. I don't have a counter there to let me know I have had visitors so leave me a comment to let me know you were there!

Well, alrighty -- blogspot won't let me put up pics. Actually, I can't find the button to add the pics. It just isn't there. So,I have jumped on over to wordpress -- follow me there. You can find me at http:/brinkleysplace.wordpress.com.

I promise I won't move again. I don't have a counter over there so if you visit, leave me a comment so I know you were there. Please. Thanks.

Booking Through Thursday -- fini


32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? French

33. Most intimidating book you have ever read. "London"

34. Most intimidating book you are too nervous to begin. "War and Peace"

35. Favorite poet. A.A. Milne -- "Christopher Robin is Saying His Prayers"

36. How many books do you have check out of the library at any given time? Not more than six.

37. How often do you return books to the library unread? Often. Quite often.

38. Favorite fictional character. Fr. Tim in the Mitford books.

39. Favorite fictional villain. Gentleman in "Fingersmith"

40. Boooks I am most likely to bring on vacation. Whatever I am reading at the time but it doesn't matter, I don't go on vacation.

41. The longest I've gone without reading. Don't know because I am always reading something.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish. "London" but I am hopeful -- "London" and I are just taking a break.

43. What distracts you easily when you are reading? TV

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel. "The Haunting of Hill House" -- the original in the theater, not on tv.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation. "Flowers in the Attic"

46. The most money I have ever spent at the bookstore at one time. Close to $200 but it was Christmas and I like to give books as gifts.

47. How often do you skim through a book before you read it? Usually choose books by their cover but I am doing more skimming now because Nook has a preview feature.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through? BOREDOM but I am usually pretty determined to finish -- note "Bramwell Valley".


49. Do you like to keep your books organized? Yep

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away. I prefer to keep them but due to space limitation, I do give some away but it is a traumatic process.

51. Are there any books you keep avoiding? Countless.

52. Name a book that made you angry. See #48.

53. A book you didn't expect to like but did -- many

54. A book that you expected to like but didn't. Again #48

55. Favorite guilt free pleasure reading. I never feel guilty reading -- that is just silly.

VOILA! Done!

Booking Through Thursday -- 19 Aug 2010 -- Continued


21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? It really has to move me == really.

22. Favorite genre? I don't know that I really have a favorite. I get on kicks where I read certain things and then move on.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)? Uh, if I wanted to read it don't you think I would?

24. Favorite biography? Well, this isn't technically a biography but I really always liked "The Diary of Anne Frank" but I would like to read "Kate" about Kathryn Hepburn.

25. have you ever read a self help book? Hahahaha! I am overweight -- what do you think?

26. Favorite cookbook. I don't like to cook

27. Most inspirational book you have read this year. Bible -- but not all at one time.

28. Favorite reading snack. I would have to say a nice cup of tea.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. I don't know that I would call it hype but I saw the movie version of "The Notebook" before I read the book and now I don't have the desire to read the book.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book. I don't read professional reviews. I read my cousin's reviews and go from there.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? Well, since I don't generally read bad books I would have to say that I don't feel anyway about it because I usually don't give bad reviews. Except for poor "Bramwell Valley". I don't know that it was such a bad book, it just wasn't for me.


Ok, more tomorrow -- wow, this is a very long meme.

Booking Through Thursday

I haven't done a BTT for a long time and, of course, when I visited today I found this super long questionnaire.  I will try.  It might take a couple of edits.  Ok, here goes.

1.  Favorite children's book -- The Bumper Book -- a compilation of stories and poems

2.  What are you reading now? -- "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress"

3.  What books do you have on request at the library?  None, they are planning on closing our neighborhood library which will leave this side of town without a library.

4.  Bad book habit -- buying because I like the cover

5.  What do you have currently have checked out of the library?  Nothing -- see #3.

6.  Do you have an e-reader?  Or does it have me is really the question.  Quite a tempermental thing -- but yes, I do.

7.  Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?  One at a time -- I confuse easily.

8.  Have your reading habits changed since you started a blog?  Not really except now I look at books and think about whether they are blogworthy!

9.  Least favorite book you have read this year.  No doubt -- "Bramwell Valley.

10.   Favorite book you have read this year.  I have no idea -- I read so slowly that my readings can overlap years.

11.  How often do you read out of your comfort zone?  What does this mean -- location or genre.  I never read out of my comfort zone on either.


12.  What is your reading comfort zone?  Again -- my chair is my favorite place to read.  As to genre -- I like many things -- historical fiction, biography, current novel fare and how-to books involving my favorite things -- quilting and embroidery.


13.  Can you read on a bus?  Don't know -- never tried.

14.  Favorite place to read -- my chair, my house

15.  What is your policy on book lending?  I lend books to a select few. Namely daughter and daughter in law

16.  Do you ever dog ear books -- I try not to but I used to as a child

17.  Do you ever write  in the margins of books?  Not when reading casually.

18.  Not even with text books?  Well, of course, with text books but it was hard when having to chisel on the stone tablet.

19.  What is your favorite language to read in?  Well, I prefer my native tongue which is American English but I can handle a good dose of British English as well. 

20.  What makes you love books?  Ah, well, the love of reading was cultivated in me at an early age.  It began with a fascination of watching my mother read the newspaper and then watching my cousin read and get lost in her stories.  When I learned to read I was fascinated that books could take you to places you would probably never go and, if you didn't devour the book, you could stay in that place as long as you wanted and you could revisit without checking your luggage.  I love books that make me completely forget where I am when I am reading them.  Another place, another person, another life......and all for about $14.95 or a library card.

Ok, I will publish this now and finish later.