maryz - thanks for the update on Sue's sister.  Now all sisters are accounted for!   My granddaughter goes to LSU, so I have heard about the clean up there, but only because she has kept us apprised.  Nothing at all on any of the news sources.  When a tornado rips through a town and totally levels it, the coverage lasts for one day . . .  then we never learn if the town/city was rebuilt. (schools, churches, homes, etc.)  I say, "poor Haiti", because it seems that they are constantly getting hit with one disaster after another.  Remember the devastating earthquake that happened there about five years ago? . . . now the hurricane! 

MarsGal - I've never read any books by Dean Koontz, but my husband is a big fan.  Yes, Koontz does live in Southern California.  I think that lots of writers settle there, because in between books, they can get work writing screenplays for the movies.  I'll have to look him up online, and see if he has Welsh ancestry?  The name Koontz, is unusual.

Marilyn: I was not aware that you have a grand daughter going to school "way down here in Baton Rouge".  How did
she happen to enroll here and where from? I guess she
filled you in on the flooding here because the newspapers
gave us about a one-page write up only.
Joy

Joy ...  I found these pictures
out on Google Images:     

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1718&bih=788&q=baton+rouge+flood&oq=baton+rouge+flood&gs_l=img.3..0l10.3613.9159.0.9555.19.12.1.6.7.0.138.1210.1j10.11.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.18.1237...0i10i24k1.-Eqg88VlkVQ


I am sure that this is just a sampling of the
horrific damage that Flooding has done
to Baton Rouge.

So sad,  so very very very sad.   

Sandy   

Joy - My granddaughter is in her fourth year at LSU, and she really loves it there.  She visited many colleges and universities across the country, before choosing LSU.  She knew nothing about it at the time, and didn't know anyone there - she just had a good feeling that it was the school for her.  When she started as a freshman, she went through "rush", and joined a sorority, so she has become close friends with lots of girls.  This, her last year, she is living in an apartment off campus with three other girls from her sorority. 

She and her friends have worked since August, in helping to clean up and rebuild since the flood.  She has told us a lot about how devastating it has been for the city of BR.  She stayed there over summer, and worked (did her internship) at Aflack Insurance, in BR.

I should mention that she was born here in California, and has always lived here, so everyone was surprised when she chose a school so far away from home.  Our son and dil go back there quite often to see her, and will be going again in a few weeks for all the Homecoming events.   
   

My youngest grandson, Nick, wants to attend LSU next year after he graduates from high school in New Orleans. He will major in Math--wants to be a math teacher.  Hopefully he'll get a scholarship.  His older brother Alex is on full scholarship at Birmingham Southern University here in Alabama--about 100+ miles from me.  Last year I visited him about once a month on Saturdays.  I'd take him out for lunch and maybe a movie or visiting an attraction in Birmingham.  I haven't been up there yet this year because of the fall I had in April (I can't drive yet).  His mother is coming up from N.O. for homecoming at BSU and will take me with her for homecoming weekend festivities.

Sue

I'm curious as to what you all think of Bob Dylan, receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature?   
I like him a lot, and have a special place in my heart for the song Like a Rolling Stone, that was popular way back in 1964/65.  At that time, we had a 16 year old foster child living with us, and she was so crazy about that song, that I bought her the 45 record.  Well, she played it so much that it about drove me crazy at first, but then I started liking it, and it became one of my favorite recordings from that era. Of course it always reminds me of her when I hear it.  I also like Blowin' in the Wind. 

As far as Dylan getting the Nobel Prize for Literature . . . that is something to wonder about?  I don't have a problem with it, but I think it would have been better if he's been awarded the Nobel Prize for Music.

Personally I think that his lyrics are more powerful than his tunes even though they are catchy.

My Publisher's Weekly newletter had this to say about Dylan's bibiographical output.

QuoteA prolific songwriter whose lyrics have been acclaimed since his earliest work in the beginning of the 1960s, Dylan's discography is remarkable for both its quality and scope.

His bibliography, on the other hand, is significantly slimmer. And it's notably smaller than any other winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Dylan is the author of a single work prose poetry, a single work of adult nonfiction, various art books, and of five songs that have been adapted into six children's books.

Readers have pointed out to PW that they didn't include a book of his lyrics. Others chided the article author for his apparent narrow definition of literature.

As for myself, I have for quite some time thought that music lyrics in many cases could be thought of as poetry set to music. I think it might be fun to pick out song lyrics that could qualify as poetry on their own if they. Folk music, blues and the old country and western songs might be a good place to look.

Yes, I agree with you MarsGal

bubble and MarsGal - I like both of your comments on Bob Dylan.  I do hope that our other regulars in here, will have an opinion also? 

MarsGal - I agree with you, that there are a variety of songs that have lyrics, that would be good examples of poetry, set to music. Many love songs, as well as the older Country/Western and folk songs.  I hope that you and others, will name your favorites and post the lyrics.        

When I was a young girl--probably 7 or 8--I lived with my grandmother and her niece--who was my Dad's first cousin.  Frances May was a beautician and on Saturdays only worked until noon or 1:00.  My next young sister and I would walk up town to the beauty shop about noon and wait for Frances to finish work and close the shop.  She would take us uptown (about 2 blocks away) and let us each buy a comic book and a booklet with all the hit parade hits.  The booklet was usually printed in orange or green--kind of rough paper.  We knew all the lyrics and tunes to big hits.  One of our favorites was Chickoree Chick, Cha La Cha La.  We would practice and then perform for her and our grandmother.  Lots of fun for us.  Do any of you remember those song books?

As for Bob Dylan, I loved his voice and his songs.  I was a bit surprised about his winning the Nobel Prize.  He was quite a presence on the music scene, though, and his lyrics were wonderful. 

Sue

I did a little checking around and discovered that the Nobel prizes are a bit short on the arts and humanities, with Literature being the only one. Also, it turns out that Lyrical Poetry has been around since at least the Greeks. Here is what Wikipedia has to say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyric_poetry Also, found this explanation for, it looks like, 9t grade students http://study.com/academy/lesson/lyric-poetry-definition-types-examples.html

http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/explore_21_song_examples.html Keep on scrolling down to see contemporary examples including one by Dylan.

MarsGal - Thanks for posting the links to the lyrical poetry! Now I can understand why Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature.  When I clicked on the first link, it describe the three categories of poetry: lyrical, dramatic and epic. Bob Dylan certainly does belong in the lyrical category.   Also, I learned something that is obvious, but I hadn't known before . . . the word lyric, is derived from the ancient instrument, the lyre.  Also, I didn't realize that Literature, is the only category in arts and humanities, eligible for a Nobel Prize.

Nobel Prizes are for chemistry, physics, literature, medicine or physiology, economics, and peace. I wonder if there is some prohibition from adding music and art.

Most probably a lot more competition in the Music/arts writing field. Be hard to pick.
   not that many in the Medical, chemistry. inventive etc. I should think.

Sue - Thanks for reminding me of those Hit Parade song booklets . . . I had forgotten all about them. Brings back some fun memories. I think a new issue came out every week, and were available at the local drug store magazine section. As you said, they were made out of rather flimsy paper that was just a little heavier than newspaper, and the song lyrics were printed in different colors.  My cousin and I would buy one every week, and memorize the lyrics, and then take turns singing.   I remember, "Accentuate the Positive", and "Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice, Kiss Me Once Again, It's Been a Long Long Time".  Must have been right around the end of the War? Probably about 1945?  I turned eleven that summer, and my cousin turned 13. 

I replied to this earlier from my Kindle but guess I didn't have a good Internet connection.    I don't recall the little song booklets that you have been mentioning here but in the '40s we had a couple music stores within an easy walk of our home.   My sister and I bought sheet music of the Hit Parade tunes so that we could play them  on the piano.   Of course they  had words as well and often a picture on the cover of a current celebrity singer who had made a hit with that song.    It was fun and easy music for young players.     I still have a few of those in my piano bench.    Sometimes we traded with our friends to expand our collection.    Fun times!  My sis was four years older so she was all into the latest music and led the way for me.    Whenever I hear  I'll Be Seeing You I think of her.   She has been gone for 17 years but it is one of the early songs that reminds me of her and it is a favorite.

maryc - We also had music stores in the town where I grew up.  Now they are a thing of the past?  We used to buy sheet music and piano books, as well as 78 RPM records and albums. They also sold and rented musical instruments, and gave lessons in the back of the store.  Do you all remember those little soundproof "listening booths", where you could sit and listen to a record, or records?  We didn't always purchase anything, but the store personnel didn't seem to mind. 

Two sheet music songs that I can remember buying and learning to play on the piano,  were "The Gypsy", and "Near You".  I never did very well with the boogie-woogie bass on "Near You", but I loved "The Gypsy", and played it until  I finally got tired of it!  I'm sure that everyone in the family was begging for mercy! LOL
I still have the sheet music for that one, as well as many other pop songs from the 1940's.     

Yes we did sometimes use those "listening booths" for checking out new records that we might or might not buy....usually not!    I agree that our family probably got pretty tired of hearing those songs over and over as we learned to play them.  I couldn't master that boogie woogie left hand either Marilyne.  (:   

    Funny thing we have a music store now in our small town but it mostly sells electronic equipment that we all know allows for loud, loud and louder vibes etc.    They do give guitar lessons there but it is nothing like our old haunts.   I would say that if you wanted to buy sheet music now you would have to order online. 

  I have some very very old sheets that were left in a house that we rented furnished during the early war years.    Those folks were a family of a career navy man and when he was called up to active duty they left Niagara Falls and went to live with family in the east.    Housing was in short supply and my father happened onto this place when we were moving to N.F. and we rented it for a short time and then purchased it. 

Today I finished an excellent and unusual book that I am recommending to all of you. It's titled Mary Coin, by Marisa Silver, and is a fictional story, based on a real event in history. 

Most people in our generation, are familiar with Dorothea Lange's famous photograph called, Migrant Mother, that was taken by Lange in 1936, when she was documenting the migrant laborers in California.  She was commissioned by the US Government, to take pictures of families and children, who were desperately trying to survive by working in the fields and living in sub standard labor camps. At the time that Lange took the actual picture, there was no personal information exchanged between the two women.  Lange, simply took the picture, along with others, and then moved on,  so neither of them had an way of knowing that the picture would become the most recognized image of the Depression years. 

As I said, Mary Coin, is a fictional novel, not a documentary. The story simply imagines the lives of the two women . . .  Mary, the migrant worker, and Vera (Dorothea Lange) the photographer.  The story starts when they are both young women, and follows them throughout their lives.

Here is an NPR review of the book, showing the famous photo.
http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/172905580/a-new-focus-on-an-old-image-in-mary-coin

Marilyne,   I was interested in your little book review here today.    I've had a soft spot in my heart for the migrant families for some time and our church women prepare health kits each spring for the incoming people of that season,  including a new bath towel and sundry necessary toiletries.    In our morning paper yesterday one of the regular local columnists wrote a very good article about the farm workers and the kind of reception they receive in our area.    Here is a link to that column.  http://www.niagara-gazette.com/confer-treat-migrant-farm-works-as-your-neighbors/article_431c37d4-0092-52e4-8926-a905ff30c8d0.html

This afternoon I finished reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.    I know that we discussed this book quite a while ago when it first came out but you know that I'm not always "outfront" with the newest books.   A while back Debby came across it and found that her library had it available.     She finished it quickly and passed it along to me.    I did enjoy it but found that it did rerun a lot of what was in the first book.   That was ok as it has been many moons for me since I saw To Kill a Mockingbird.    As I read I could still picture Gregory Peck as Atticus.....in looks and in manner.   That was nice.

mary - That was a good, well written newspaper article!  I find it very interesting, that the migrant workers in your area, are from Jamaica!  I had assumed that all farm/orchard workers were from Mexico, as they are here in California. Just shows how little we know about different regions of our country. Now I'm curious as to what the crops are that are being picked in your area?  Here in CA and in the other Pacific states, it's an endless year around job for the workers. Lots of Fall and winter vegetables and fruits right now. As soon as one crop is finished, another is ready for harvesting.  It never ends, because of the mild climate.

I haven't yet read Go Set a Watchman, but would like to someday.  I didn't realize that it was about the same characters that were in "Mockingbird"?
Today I received a notice from the library, that They Left us Everything, is finally in!  I've been waiting a long time, and I'm really looking forward to it.   

Marilyne,   I suspect that the origin of the farm workers here in the east is about geography.   There could be some Mexican workers among them but I would think they would be coming up from the south here on a route that would include Florida in the winter and up this way in the summer months.    As for right now,  the grape harvest has just finished and some of the later apples are still coming in as well as the cabbage crops.  The cabbage is harvested right up to the first hard freeze.

We watch David Suzuki's documentary last evening about the drought in CA.    It was an eye opener to see the miles and miles of orchards and produce and  sobering to hear the scientists  forecast about the changing weather conditions.

  In spite of rumors about the N.E.  we sometimes have pleasant weather through the end of October at least.    We keep our outdoor living room (which is our attached  garage in winter)   ready for use on any nice days right through Oct. and most years can open it again in April with a few days then nice enough for enjoying the outdoors.  I'm beginning to think we will have to put away our furniture and roll up the rug pretty soon.     This week has turned pretty wet and cool but at the beginning of the week it was beautiful and warm.  Year around we snatch at any sunny and decently warm day to get out in the sunshine.

Marilyne, I read in an article that some areas of the San Joaquin valley has sunk 28 ft. because of farming usage of water and the drought.  The Calif. agriculture is so important to this country, I hope they can find a solution.  My oldest daughter lived in Santa Cruz for many years and I love that area. 

In the area of my home state Virginia (Yorktown)they are working on cleaning used water and then sending it back into the aquifer to replenish the loss of water as the land is sinking.

FlaJean,   There was mention on that show that we watched about how much the earth had settled.   It was quite astonishing.     It seems like what you said  about the filtering of waste water and returning it to the underground sources makes more sense than trying to use it directly even for farming.    I know that they say that it is safe for certain purposes but it is early in that game and you do have to wonder.

I hope that you enjoyed your Sinatra concert this evening.   There is a man who performs regularly here in our area and he does Sinatra quite well.    He has come to our Senior Center for special occasions and we alway enjoy hearing him.

Quote from: maryc on October 21, 2016, 03:14:37 PM
We watch David Suzuki's documentary last evening about the drought in CA.    It was an eye opener to see the miles and miles of orchards and produce and  sobering to hear the scientists  forecast about the changing weather conditions.

mary - I would love to see that documentary. Was it on PBS or one of the other channels?  I looked On Demand, but didn't see it.  Lots of programs about our drought, but they don't really seem to look at the "big picture", which includes not only the farmers and ranchers, but the millions of people living in the big cities. When your realize there are now estimated 12 million people in Los Angeles County, alone, it's shocking.  Think of the water that those millions use every single day of the year - and newcomers are still arriving every day, from across the US and from other countries.

FlaJean - Yes, Santa Cruz is a lovely beach city.  We live less the 20 miles away, and love to drive over there for the beach and for the seafood restaurants. They are extremely low on water there, and are taking steps to build desalinization plants to supplement their supply. It's not a total solution, but it helps. Extremely expensive, and is only practical in coastal cities.   

Marilyne,   Yes the program was on PBS  but I can't seem to find it in last weeks schedule.  Anyway they did talk about the population explosion and the challenge between the large need for water for personal use and that of the agriculture.   It is a huge problem.   

On another subject,  we had lunch today with our daughter, son and DIL at an interesting place in a little Village on the lake.    This place was formerly an old Cold Storage building.    It has been refurbished into a lovely building using the old with the new.    It houses a craft brewery and restaurant and shops.    The restaurant specializes in pizza made in wood burning ovens as well as their own beers.    They did offer other things but we all decided on pizza which was very good.   I ordered a special drink called Autumn Sangria.   It was a blend of Pinot Noir with apple cider and chopped apples and spices.    We all sampled and thought it would be a great hot drink as well.  It was a fun change for a cool Sunday afternoon.

mary - your lunch at the converted cold storage building sounds like fun.  Does you son and dil live near you?  We are fortunate that our son and his wife live only about three miles away, so we do see them quite often.  Our daughter lives about ten miles from us in San Jose.  She'll be coming over tonight to do her laundry and will have dinner here. 
Older daughter is way over in the Central Valley.  I'm sure that was the area depicted in the documentary you watched. The farmers and ranchers in her area, are now in extreme drought. 

I finally read They Left Us Everything!  I liked it okay, but it wasn't at all what I was expecting.  I'll have to look back at your comments on the book, to see if you liked it or not? 

For those interested in a little more information on AR and ASR wells, here is information on the EPA site. Notice on the side bar, they list the different classifications of wells. Under Laws and Regulations you can find information on the Clean Water Act which regulates just what must be removed from the water before it is injected into aquifers and, of course, what needs to be removed when it is taken out before it goes out to your tap.
https://www.epa.gov/uic/aquifer-recharge-and-aquifer-storage-and-recovery

Oh gosh, I found a YouTube explanation for my favorite ASR project (it was part of paper I did in college for a Technical Writing class.). There are lots of other videos about the subject too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZflOM2P1PG8

Here is another one that talks about the wells along the coastline (here it is Florida, but you can find them along the East and West Coast too). These wells are not only for storing drinking water, but to keep back the salt water from the oceans from encroaching into natural  fresh water aquifers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ivLMtkMto

BTW, you may have noticed the bit about keeping brackish contaminated water out of the system in Wichita. Theirs is a problem of contamination from very old oil well containments that have leaked into the river system upstream. So their ASR serves two purposes, to help provide enough drinking water for Wichita and to keep the brackish water from contamination their aquifer.

MarsGal,   This is some pretty interesting stuff though it is pretty technical for this old brain.    In our part of the country there has been quite a flap about Fracking procedures to obtain access to natural gas.   It has not been  allowed in NYS, to the best of my knowledge.   In PA where there has been or was Fracking for a while now seems to be having some second thoughts about the benefit.   Our civilization is so anxious to get at the minerals in the earth that it is a little scary when you think of the possible results of too much of a good thing.

Marilyne,  Yes our son and DIL lives about 30 minutes away and our daughter just 4-5 miles.    We see our daughter quite a bit.   She is single and she and I enjoy shopping, music etc.   Al goes with us sometimes but isn't up for much of a stretch of time.   Our son drives truck for a new car carrier company so he is away several days a week.   His wife has a Day Care center and works long hours.     We often get together with them on Sunday for breakfast or just a visit.   Our youngest son and wife live in Charlotte, NC so our visits with them are mainly by phone a couple times a week.  I think I mentioned earlier that we have a DIL and grandchildren living in San F.    She calls often to keep us up to date on her family which I appreciate.   When I hear of some families and the stress,   I feel very lucky to have the arrangement that we do with our children.     I did get Mary Coin at the library today so will be reading that tonight.   It looks promising.
"They Left Us Everything"  was not the story that I expected either.    She detailed stuff that seemed unimportant to me and didn't talk about what I thought she would.