Chitchat

Good to know! Thanks Badger!

The name of the book is "Too Soon To Say Goodbye". No, I've never read it.

Here are a couple of editorial reviews from AMAZON:

Quote :

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. "Being in the hospice didn't work out exactly as I had planned it," begins Buchwald in what may or may not be his final book. In February 2006, Buchwald was told he would need ongoing dialysis, which he promptly decided to discontinue, moving into a Washington hospice to die on his own terms. What was intended to be a three-week exit for the Pulitzer Prize-winning author turned into months of visitors, rumination and writing. The result is this hilarious, sobering and unconventional study of the issues that accompany the end of life, such as living wills and surrogates, funerals, food and even sex. As he has throughout his career, Buchwald pares down overwhelming topics into manageable steps, gently and with humor, noting that, for instance "the beauty of not dying but expecting to, is that it gives you a chance to say goodbye to everybody," and it's these goodbyes that provide Buchwald with the framework to revisit his storied career-spanning two continents, populated by global luminaries and celebrated with multiple awards. Though entertaining as a talented satirist's retrospective, it's also a valuable primer on how to meet death with bravery and grace, reminding us that "the big question we still have to ask is not where we're going, but what we were doing here in the first place."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quote :

From Booklist
Leave it to Buchwald to have a laugh at death's expense. The longtime humorist, suffering from kidney failure, checked into a Washington, D.C., hospice in early 2006. Confounding medical prediction, he rallied; his unexpected reprieve gave him the opportunity to write one more book, and as might be expected, his short, comic vignettes are slightly morbid. Buchwald first extracts the comedic potential of his funeral arrangements. The humor revolves around Buchwald's badinage with well-wishers, with whom he discusses appointments for pallbearer, eulogist, and recessional chanteuse. Teasing readers who somehow think that a person on the brink of death has a better view of what's on the other side, Buchwald spins out the conditions he expects to find in heaven, naming who he wants there (Rita Hayworth) and who he doesn't ("the lady who hijacked my parking place"). And with mock self-centeredness, Buchwald also explains how to take advantage of the kindnesses thrust one's way in a hospice. Occasional allusions to his past, luck with the opposite sex included, will fondly remind readers of Buchwald's memoir Leaving Home (1993). A humorous valediction. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Thank you! I am going to chek the book out!

Update on Chris Allport the actor who died in the avalanche.

He really did go off into the beyond doing what he loved.

He was 60, looked 40, and a great day to him was surfing in the morning, auditioning around noon, and driving up to the mountains to ski in the afternoon, and home with the current lady and kid(s) at night.

He loved the solitude surfing and skiing provided, even though he was also very friendly, had a wife and kids (or a couple of wives at different times, and kids with both).

SO that one is not so bad.

Thanks Badger, I am going to look for that book.

You're welcome, everyone. I hope you enjoy it.

Can I brag a moment? My son has the lead in the play Tom Jones at his school. He is so cute I wish I could show you his pic but he will not allow it. But I am so proud of him. Smart and talented. I hit the jackpot with this kid.


On a personal note for me I am training to run in a 5k . My sister is going to run it with me . I hope I don't embarass her and me. I've been running for years but never in a race.

Sounds like your friend had an amazing life Frazz! He did go doing what he loved the most! Still so sad to be gone at 60.

Congrats Aerwin on your son's winning the role! That is so exciting! I bet you all have a blast. What a part! He sounds amazing!

Good luck with the race!! Good for you doing it!! I run to the store

Aerwin, you won't embarass anyone in the race. I think it's great you entering and if you run anyway, you'll be good! Congrats to your son!

TOM JONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How very cool! Congrats to him and you!

And running a race? SUPER COOL.

A funny!

.

Quote :

Tiffany's Store




A lady walks into Tiffany's. She browses around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more closely she inadvertently breaks wind.




Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn't pop up right now. As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her.




Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady with, 'Good day, Madam. How may we help you today?'




Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her little 'accident', she asks, 'Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?'




He answers, 'Madam, if you farted just looking at it, you're going to shit when I tell you the price.'

That's a good one!

My best friend emailed that to me tonight! I cracked up!

Thanks everyone for the Birthday wishes. I had a great day yesterday. I was all upset about turning 44. But My husband brought home dinner and cake with huge candles that said 44. Ha! I told him not to tell anyone my age but he bought the biggest candles he could find. Lucky it was just us.

He also bought me a new food processer! I am so excited I can't wait to try it. My son gave me three cds , Radiohead, HIM, and that Ringo Starr Liverpool 8. But is really cool it is a wristband you can wear and put in your computer for mp3s and burn a cd. I am very lucky.

WOW! Sounds like an amazing day Aerwin!! I am so happy for you!

44!! You are just a child!! Hey, anyone who rocks like you is very young! Sweet of hubby to bring the big candles!! I will never forget when I was at the Jewel Deli with my youngest. He was 4 and I was 39. He was learning how to read his numbers. They were calling out numbers for who was next. They had this big light up board for the number and it changed to 39 and Justin yells out "Look mom - 39! Just like you!" Everybody looked at me and started laughing So they whole deli knew I was going to be 40 soon!

I was with a friend the other day who, for some reason, always makes herself older than she is. She started to freak because she figured out how many years she had till 50 and she freaked.

Then last night I'm talking to her and she's picking up a prescription and I hear her give her birthdate. I point out to her that she has another year to add on to her road to 50. I made her feel a lot better.

Funny, she was the engineering major and I was the English major who couldn't do math.

HAPPY VD DAY!

We put in an application to adopt a little male 1 1/5 year old chihuahua named Robbie from a rescue operation here in Washington today. I don't want to jinx it by posting his photo just yet. His previous owner passed away and he is in a foster home now waiting to be placed. We live about 2 hours from where he is, so I doubt they will hassle with us since they come out and do a home inspection before they decide whether they will let you have him or not. Keep your fingers crossed for us..but honestly I am not really getting my hopes up. We have been jerked around by other animal adoption agencies that say they have the dog, then when they find out where you live, they magically have another home for it. It is a pricey proposition to even adopt one from the pound these days, but this will be the third rescue animal we will have gotten if we get him, and it is so worth it.

Those of you who don't have'nt been on forums with me for very long may not have seen my dog Chloe who passed away this fall at the ripe old age of 18 1/2! I feel I am ready for another in door doggie now. We
have an 10-11 year old outside dog named Ancha, a rottweiler.
Chloe, may she rest in peace. *sniff*


Ancha

Aw, Chloe was just so beautiful RIP sweet Chloe.

The Omen dog!! Kidding! Will Ancha like the little doggie?

I wish you lots of luck!! I hope you get your baby! I know you are awesome mommy!!

Ancha "the omen dog" is the sweetest, gentlest girl who wants to be everyone's friend. She is used to seeing the "inside dog" coming out the doggie door and was always good with Chloe when we put them together under controlled circumstances. Ancha does not come in the house very often. She gets restless after about 1/2 hour, so we let her back out. They would not ever be together unless I was holding Robbie because Chihuahua's are very fragile critters. Ancha could accidently step on her and hurt her. Ancha is the horse's companion and likes to be with her horsie herd. She likes playing and going for walks with her human herd too though.

I doubt it will happen with Robbie just because of the logistics and how things have gone before when we have tried this process before. I thought it would be worth a try one more time though... for Robbie. We would love to get a dog this age since it is hard for us to have the time it takes to be home with a little puppy. We will do it though if we can't adopt one that we want.

OMG FC! I always call Rottweillers "The Omen Dogs". Too funny!

I know they can be gentle. I'm also the biggest dog lover you'll ever find. I stick my face in theirs all the time, which I know is incredibly stupid. I'm that trusting. Still, every since The Omen, Rottweillers scare me a little.

Sorry about Chloe. That 94-year-old lady I dogsit for had to put her little Pomeranian down recently. The dog was old and really sick, so it was merciful and she said she felt so much better afterward. I'm gonna miss that little toothless dog. She named her Mitzi Gaynor. How cute is that?

Can't wait to see the pic of Robbie and feel the need to shmush him!

Chloe was beautiful.

Ahh, yet another thing we have in common GE...we are both dog lovers! I am one of those animal fanatics without kids that would have my own private animal santuary if I could afford it and had the time to devote to the upkeep of all the creatures!

Thank you for saying Chloe was beautiful...she was about 17 in that photo and still looked pretty good. That is how I choose to remember her. She got very thin and frail her last year. Just like your friend's dog Mitzi (that name is priceless BTW!) it was a blessing when she passed. She was hardly able to walk, was deaf, almost blind, had renal insufficiency, and had lost most of her teeth. She was still pretty fiesty though on some days...she is one of those dogs that lived to eat. She ate and drank right up until the end!

I hope i will be able to post photos of Robbie here at some point because that will mean he is mine or is going to be! He looks like Mr. Personality plus! He is black and tan...I always go for that look in a dog it seems! I'll keep you posted!