Agree, Patricia. I am not particularly fond of Cruise. I didn't realize that the next Olympics will be in Los Angeles, but I did get the Cruise/Mission Impossible connection. Meanwhile, my sister watched the closing ceremonies, but I don't know for how long. She only mentioned the a French singer who she thought was spectacular. I only watched a few minutes a day or two in. Either the feed I saw was jumping around from one event to the other, or I just happened to catch the last of an event I wanted to see then it went on to indoor games. I tried to find event replays that I was interested in, but was unsuccessful. So I gave up rather quickly.

It was a nice day yesterday with the humidity and temps down considerably. Sue and I went to Crackerbarrel for lunch. I had a new dish called Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's Pie. It is basically a thin layer of mashed potatoes topped with beef pot pie, and topped with hash browns and a dollop of sour cream (or whatever passed of sour cream, absolutely tasteless). It was okay. My taste buds aren't what they used to be, so I imagine it was better than I could taste. Plenty of it, though I was disappointed that there was so little of the mashed potatoes. I had to bring half of it home.

Temp says it is 59^o. Think I will go open a window or two for a while.

Mars and Patricia,  I agree with you on Scientology/Cruise.   It's a mighty strange lifestyle, and why so many are drawn to it, and stay with it for a lifetime, is a mystery to me?
I haven't seen any of the "Mission Impossible" franchise,  nor any of that type of movie.  Cruise was in some good stuff early-on in his career.  "Magnolia" was excellent, but it's the only one that really stands out for me.

Mars,  speaking of Applebee's - we've lost most of our national chain restaurants in Northern Cal, in the past couple of years.   Red Lobster,  closed all of its sites this year, and  The Outback,  closed a couple of years ago.  That was my favorite and I really miss it.   Even  Denny's  is closing just about everywhere.   There is one Applebee's  left that I know of, but too far from here to ever go.

We're having the same here. After Covid's heyday, we lost most of our small or family businesses, as well as most ophthalmologists. Now it's grocery stores, Kroger and Albertsons' big merger and all the antitrust suits going along with it. Of the more than 400 stores to be sold off with the merger, fourteen are in Alaska, with two Safeway and two Krogers locally, leaving us, other than Costco, with Walmart, if the merger goes through.

You can see most if not all past Olympic events on YouTube. I don't have a TV, and watched all the Olympics there.

We still have an Outback or two in the area and a Longhorn Steakhouse and a few Applebee's. One Hoss's Steakhouse is still hanging on along Rt.15 near me. The others have closed a here and there. I am really going to be bummed when decide to close one of the two Red Lobster's Sue and I eat at on occasion. Oh, I forget to tell you. The Cracker Barrel gift shop was packed when Sue and I left yesterday. They were having a big Christmas in July sale. The Christmas trees where out and decorated, one with a Halloween decoration instead of an angel or star. Looks like Sue and I got in at just the right time. The restaurant was busy but not crowded. That didn't stop it from being its usual noisy self.

I don't think there's  ever been a  Cracker Barrel,  in Northern California?  I've never seen one?  Maybe in Southern Cal?  Although Red Lobster has closed here,  The Olive Garden ,  is still open and doing well.  There isn't one close to where I live, so I haven't been in many years, but I used to like it. 

Mars -  Remember when we were all reading the book, "Last Night At the Lobster", here in the Library discussion?  I liked that little book a lot, and still have it around here somewhere. 

Rick - That's one that I think you would enjoy.

I still have my copy of "Last Night at the Lobster".  I thought it to be a wonderful book, very people oriented with lots of inside info about restaurant stuff.  Now I have to dig it out and re-read!

I read a new book by Robert Harris titled "Conclave". It is a "deep peek" into the goings on when a new Pope is to be elected.  We think our politics is messy...need to think again! LOL.  All in all a very, very interesting book, although I didn't care for the twist ending, which is all I'll say about that.
Robert Harris wrote "The Fatherland"; also the great one about the eruption of Vesuvius (and I can't think of the title--I lose at least one factoid each day I think, LOL).

Anyway, it was a really interesting book that I totally enjoyed! Downloaded it to my Kindle for like $4.99  thought once I might order in hardcover, but saved a bunch with the Kindle, and I feel it was worth it. 

What's with all the restaurant chains going out of business there in Northern California?

One quick thought on the closing ceremonies...yes totally weird. Did anyone think about the traffic involved with 2028 Olympics, when LA just barely moves now?  Oh, well.  Not my monkey, not my circus!!

Oh, now I remember the Vesuvius title:  "Pompeii" -- awesome book.

Quote from: Tomereader1 on August 16, 2024, 10:52:04 AMNot my monkey, not my circus!!

I like that saying.
The point you referred to will be interesting to observe (from across the Country).

Marilyne, I never read Last Night at the Lobster although I do remember some previously commented on it.

I believe Sue was out to lunch or breakfast everyday this week. Yesterday, she and her movie buddy went to see a movie, which was It Ends With Us I think, and then had lunch at Macaroni Grill. This morning she was heading out to meet another friend for breakfast/lunch. She really, really likes to eat out.

I read Harris's the first two of his Cicero series, but do not recall whether or not I read the last. I had an interest in An Officer and a Spy, but there again, I don't think I read it. Instead, I have The Affair: The Case of Alfred Dreyfus, the English translate by Jeffery Mehlman which was first published in the US in 1986. I am guessing that I decided that one non-fiction account trumped the fictional account.

Good Afternoon.  "Feel like" temperature is 112º and it's very humid!  I'm not sticking my nose out the door even through the birdbath is empty. Birds will have to go elsewhere to drink and cool off!

Used to love to go to local Cracker Barrel with a friend. It's still open but other businesses have built up around it on I-35 and friend died. So that ended that!

I read "Last Night At The Lobster" (probably when we were discussing it) but forgot the story and have just checked the e-book out again.  Three of the OKC Red Lobsters have closed but the one closest to me is still open.  Haven't been there in ages.

I found frozen Red Lobster biscuits at the grocery store and had a box of 8 delivered this week.  Biscuits are baked and then there's a package of spices to mix with melted butter and brushed on the tops.
Just baked all of them and they smell delicious. Intend to have some canned stew with one or two for dinner.  Hope they taste as good as the ones in the restaurant.

I just finished reading "It Ends With Us".  It's the sequel to "It Starts With Us", which sounds backwards but isn't.   Good story but too much explicit sex and "angst" to want to see the movie - either of them - if they make the other title.

May have to "test taste" one of those biscuits!  LOL

OMT:  When I was on a tour of New England, a group of the old S & F took me to lunch when we were in Hershey, PA.  They told me they were taking me to a brand new restaurant and bragged about the food.  I was expecting something Amish but it was....a Texas Steak House!      I didn't tell them there was one near me in OKC and I had practically memorized the menu.     We all enjoyed it - and the visit.

 

Callie -  Good morning to you!  Looking forward to my next Safeway visit, in hopes of finding the frozen Red Lobster biscuits.  I've never seen them, but I did purchase a box of R Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit mix, a few months ago.  Sad to say I never made them.    I ended up giving the box to my granddaughter.  I'm an,  "accident waiting to happen"  in the kitchen now, so rarely ever cook anything anymore.  I searched the house, but couldn't find my copy of "Last Night At the Lobster"?  I most likely gave it to one of my daughters or dil?  I'll check with them today, an d if not, I may just order it again from Amazon. 🤔

Mars - you and Callie both mentioned  It Ends With Us,  and I've never heard of either the book or the movie?  I'll see if they have it at my library, and check it out.  Be sure to mention it in  Library~Bookshelf], as well as the other titles you named. 

Joanne -  Hoping you also take those interesting book suggestions to the Library~ Bookshelf, and talk about them there. 
Your comment,  "I lose at least one factoid each day I think",  is my problem too!  I lose MORE than one factoid every day!  Names and titles are the worst.     Google is my friend!

Marilyne, I try very, very hard to NOT depend on Google.  Sometimes if I just think for awhile, or not think and just let the day, hours, minutes pass, whatever I was trying to call up from my memory bank, will come to me. Sometimes not.  I was thinking last night, do you remember, if it was Senior Learn or Seniors&Friends, where there was a Book Exchange?  And who was the Leader of it?  My thinking cap has not broken through on this factoid! The temperature here right now is 98 degrees at 12:44, supposed to get in the 100+ lane.  I've done my two errands..library & Walgreens, and am back in the A/C.  Hope you and AJ are doing okay.  Football season is upon us, for good or ill! Big hugs to you.  I miss our long-winded PM messages and/or Emails!

Marilyne, I only ate 1 biscuit for dinner. It was okay but not like I remember them being at the restaurant. Topping didn't taste the same.   I plan to eat the other one with a tilapia filet tonight. I did put the rest in the freezer. 

Started "Last Night At The Lobster" and didn't recognize it at all.  Think I must have started it and then stopped reading.  I don't like text written in Present Tense!   However, I'll stick with it this time - or skip to the last chapter and see how it ends  .

Joanne - The book exchange you asked about was definitely NOT here in S&F, so must have been Senior Learn?  I was not a part of it, and never a member of Senior Learn, so I don't remember it at all?  I belonged to the original book forum on Senior Net,  but didn't follow on to Senior Learn when it opened.
I opened the Library~Bookshelf, here because I felt we needed a book discussion in S&F,   but it was never patterned after the original from Senior Net.   Always much more casual here.  Totally different vibe.

Callie - so far I haven't found my copy of "Lobster", so I must have given it to my dil?  Speaking of . . .  yesterday was her birthday, so went to Barnes & Noble, and bought her a couple of books.  While there, I looked for Lobster, but couldn't remember the name of the author, so never found it.     I'll probably order it on Amazon later this week.  I'll read it again, and then then pass it on to my younger daughter.  I'm sure I've mentioned before, that she worked at the Red Lobster, way back in time when she was very young.   

Joanne and Marilyne or whoever remembers, wasn't there something like a book exchange on Senior Net? I seem to remember sending postage stamp to cover postage. Also, I remember that they had some kind of book thing going to send to prison libraries. Anyway, I don't think we had anything like a book exchange on Senior Learn except that Ginny had sometimes sent Latin students necessary books for the classes if a participant couldn't get one.

What I miss most about Senior Learn these days is that we don't have enough people to do the monthly book discussion. That kind of fell apart a while back after we lost a few avid readers and a discussion moderator or two. They changed from giving us a chance to recommend or vote on a book to read after we lost enough people so that we couldn't seem to get a majority vote on a book. Well, that was my take-away from the loss. Now we are down to only a few and often the discussion has nothing or very little to do with books. I think the only active discussions there are the Library and, occasionally, the Movies forum. And, Ginny's Latin classes are still going gangbusters as best as I can tell.

Mars - As I've said,I never officially joined Senior Learn, but I used to like to read the book discussions.   Sometimes I had already read the book, and other times the discussions inspired me to get the book.  I did enjoy reading what everyone had to say.  I don't look into SL much anymore, because there are just a few messages, that  have nothing to do with books.
One thing I've always noticed about SL, is that the members are devoted to any series or show or movie on PBS, and it seems to be the only channel they watch?   No mention of any other TV channel, or seeing any movie unless it's British.

That reminds me of a foreign movie that I might mention in our Library,  to see if anyone has watched it, and what they think about it . . . "Wings of Desire"?     

That is about it, Marilyne. It makes me wonder why I still post there, sometimes. Barb and Bellamarie usually have the most to say when they sink their teeth into a subject. PatH pops up now and again, as does Tomereader. One or two others show up, very, very briefly, and are gone again.

I've missed Ginny's posts this summer. She usually participates more during the summer break from Latin. She admitted recently that she hasn't been reading much, but has been watching lots of the British programs. Most of that I am not interested in.

It is really sad to see what was a great book discussion group dwindle down to just a handful of people. Still, Barb, Bellamarie and I (or a combination there of) do still get into some good discussions on occasion. Barb and Bellamarie recently had a lengthy faith-based discussion, while Barb just put me onto Professor Douglas A. Irwin who has a number of books out following Free Trade economics. I am thinking of getting his 5th edition of Free Trade Under Fire, although, if he follows previous edition spacings, the 6th edition is likely to be released next year. Over the last few years, I have been spending some time reading some books that follow the growth of trade, especially as pertains to the British East India Company and its' rivals, the Spanish and Portuguese traders. And then there is the Silk Road.

Marilyne, are you talking about the recent restoration of the original, in German with subtitles?  I just found out that here in the US the movie City of Angels is the American remake of the movie. I thought the plot sounded familiar; I watched City of Angels years ago.

Mars,  the movie I'm thinking of is a German film, called  Wings of Desire.  I saw it for the first time in the 1980's  playing in an art house theater, and yes, the dialogue was/is in German, with English subtitles.  I've seen it a number of times since then, on TV movie channels like TCM and others.  It took a few viewings for me to begin to understand it, and appreciate it.  Now I watch it every time I see it playing.

It takes place after WWII, in Post War Berlin.  You see lots of reconstruction going on,  in the background, but that's not the focal point of the movie. 

The film is really a modern day fantasy, about two invisible, immortal angels who glide through the streets of Berlin, listening to the thoughts of its human inhabitants.  The angels provide comfort and invisible rays of hope to the distressed people, but never actually interact with them.

Yes,  "City of Angels",  is an American remake, that is "cringeworthy", in my opinion.  It just doesn't work for me at all. It does not have that magical feel of the original "Wings". 

I don't imagine it would, Marilyne, not after seeing the original. I wouldn't say that the Cage/Ryan movie was so much a remake as a "inspired by" movie. The premise may be the same, but the backdrop is entirely different, modern LA vs. the after war reconstruction of Berlin. I plan on watching the reconstruction of the original. Oh, the other book/movie that City of Desire reminds me of is The Book Thief, different and yet similar, where Death while discharging his duties follows the life of Liesel who seems something of an obsession with him.

Mars - I responded to your message about "The Book Thief", on Library.   I looked for "Wings of Desire" on all of my many TV channels, but don't see it playing anywhere?   It does cycle through on Turner, so I'll let you know when I see it there.

Marilyne, I could have swore I saw the original whole movie posted up on YouTube, but I can't find it now.

And speaking of wings, anyone who is interested in migratory birds will be interested. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/28/northern-bald-ibis-bird-back-from-extinction-now-scientists-in-a-glider-are-teaching-it-to-migrate-aoe Hope you can open this.

Mars,  The link opened okay for me, and looks like a fascinating article.  I'll read it later and comment.

I found out that,  "Wings of Desire", is only available on the Max channel.  I never had heard of it, but found out it used to be called Cinemax.  It was purchased by HBO a few years ago,  and was changed to a streaming channel.  I was surprised to learn that I have Max, because it's part of the HBO family of channels!   Now it's strictly a movie channel, showing "Quality Films".   That would be a matter of opinion, of course. 🤔 

YA books are generally aimed at age 12-18.  The designation is set by the publishers.   Acquisition librarians generally go by publishers designation but some librarians will change that to fit their particular patronage but will most often just follow publishers' recommendations.

I only post in Norm & Seniors & Friends Leisure Activities these days, & these infrequently.  I have no idea why this is so, except for old, old age.  I keep up Norm in salute to the Past & to him.  And Dot.  Remember Dot?  Well, I had tons of fun with all of the forums once upon the day.  & the get togethers & the Bashes & the tours.  Wow, thank you Senior Net!  Now I am ninety-five & counting, & I have something important to warn you of:  DEMENTIA!  It took a long while for me to awaken to the fact that I am afflicted with it.  I call it "my forgettery" and tell people I have "lost my mind."  My memory is what I have lost, & I want to warn you.  This will not necessarily be YOU, but it might.
Back in April of this year, early April, I relinquished my independent living situation & moved in with a daughter, who gives me full care.  She also takes care of her husband, who has Parkinson's.  She labored for several months & got my condo cleared out & cleaned out & turned back to the owners.  Bless her boots!
I had disposed of a great deal of personal items, but not all by a long shot.  I was beginning to realize I was lacking any detailed memories of my entire life.  I did not forget who my most loved persons were, but most of me was gone.  Disappeared into the foggy past.
Debi brought tons of paper files & small sets of personal stuff to her house for me to go through & dispose of.  I had had a habit of keeping, not dairies, as such, but one of those spiral-bound annual engagement calendars put out by art places.
You know, about an inch for engagements each day for a week on one page, & a lovely painting on the other.  Most of these I had thrown out back in the beginning of my clear out. Turns out she had discovered and brought back here about 7 years of these books I had missed.  Wow!  I read and rediscovered those years completely forgotten!  What a blessed boon!  I had been worrying myself into a great anxiety over whether or not I had attended friend's funerals, & remembering whether I had looked after my dearest family members before they passed, and when HAD they passed, and how.  Reading those diaries relieved me of a HUGE amount of that!  I did!  I did!  I did really well by them, & showed them the love I felt for them.
My purpose in telling you this is to wave the flag of This Might Be YOU! & urge you to keep diaries against the day.
Enough said!  Love to all.

Mary Page -  So good to see your message here, and in Library~Bookshelf, this morning.  I was beginning to worry about you, because it had been a long time since you had posted here or anywhere in Seniors and Friends.  In spite of some memory loss, it looks like you're still doing a great job of remembering all of your loved ones, and the important events in your life.  Keep on keeping on!  We look forward to hearing from you in Library or here in  Norm's B&T, whenever you feel like writing! 

Okay, I am getting very frustrated at my new CVS pharmacy. This is the third prescription the eye doctor ha sent (on Thursday). The first was sent back because my insurance won't pay for it. The second, which was sent to Rite Aid,  needed clarification from the doctor. The third one the eye doctor's office checked first with both CVS and Rite Aid and was told by both that it was in stock. Since I generally do business with CVS I stayed with them when they indicated it was in stock. Ever since Thursday the online status and the phone robot keep telling me they are "preparing". Tomorrow I am going up in person to see if it is sitting on the shelf and no one bothered to change the status. Eye procedure is on Monday. Actually, frustrated is putting it mildly. 

It turns out that I am not the only one having trouble getting prescription eye drops from CVS. The office person at the eye doctor told me there have been a lot of problems with CVS lately, and when I was up getting my antibiotic for the tooth procedure, the guy in front of me was told his stuff wasn't in either. 

Marsgal, I've had recent problems with prescription refills at CVS, also. Refills are supposed to be automatic a week or so before current supply runs out but I've been getting texts that say "they're working on it" and then one that says something like "it may be ready" by such and such a date.  I've never run out but have come close.
My doctor switched one to Walgreen's because CVS never had it in stock or could order it, but Walgreen's could.

Good luck with your eye procedure.

Mars - So sorry you're having prescription problems, when you need to prepare for an eye procedure on Monday!  Hoping you can get the script from another CVS pharmacy somewhere near you, or that you can have it transferred to Walgreens?

Callie - Good to see your message here!     Hope that all is well with you, and that your three grandchildren are all doing okay, as well as your  dil?

Don't have Walgreen here. Rite Aid is supposed to have it in stock, but I did the stupid thing and went back to CVS because they said they had this third prescription med in stock. The med is a combo prednisone and antibiotic, but the doc says not to worry because if worst comes to worst he will prescribe them separately. Still, it is stressful, and I am already on an antibiotic until Thursday for the tooth business. 

Which reminds me, we are finally getting Wawa in our area. One is opening in Middletown in a few days and the company expects to add a dozen more in the Central PA area by the end of 2025. This is a company born in Philadelphia, but never spread west, but stayed in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. I personally don't care for another gas station/convenience store chain around here, but it will finally give Sheetz a run for its' money.