My hello

Post by **sarraphyna** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:27 pm

Hello!
I have decided to read the Thomas Covenant books again after 30 years, and I am sooo excited about this website. I am sure it will enhance the experience and (I am hoping) will help me understand what I remember to be rather difficult books.
BRIEF BIO: Oklahoma Christian, 48yo Fem, recent college grad (late bloomer), RN of 1 year, hairdresser of 25 yrs, recently single, 2 amazingly spoiled children: (girl 11/ boy 8), love fantasy and sci/fi novels: Tolkein, Lewis, Brooks, Heinlein, Asimov, Donaldson, loved Mordants Need duo, enjoy the heck out of Harry Potter, play too much EQ2 (Ellega level 80 Mystic, oasis), certified scuba diver, lousy snow skiier, camping/fishing rocks, wish I lived in a climate like Oregon or Seattle as gray and rainy is my fav weather, someday as God is my witness I will live by the sea.

Post by **lorin** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:14 pm

Hi sarraphyna, welcome to the Watch. I understand the desire to live by the sea. I live by the sea and love it, though it has its ups and downs.

Anyway, enjoy exploring the site.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:28 pm

Be Welcome to the Watch, sarraphyna.
Be Well Come and True.

If you are rereading the chrons after 30 years, does that mean you haven't read the first three books of the Last chrons yet? If so, be wary of spoilers on the site, although most Watchers tend to keep them in the Last Chronicles forum.

In the meantime, explore the rest of the Watch as well. We discuss just about anything and everything somewhere on the site.

Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:31 pm

Welcome, sarraphyna

If I may ask, does the thing about reading the Chrons again after 30 years mean you're only repeating on the old ones, and don't have the three new ones?

And there are disscussions here about some of the other writers you named, if not all of them - you're welcome to The Library and the General Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion forums.

Edit: Oh, I was slow this time, Menolly, I just second the question, not sure about the spoilers though, haven't seen any not covered with that dark stripe outside the forums about them.

Post by **Savor Dam** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:32 pm

Welcome. sarraphyna! On behalf of all Seattle Watchers, come on out. You and your kids will find it a far more conducive environment than Oklahoma.

lorin wrote:I live by the sea and love it, though it has its ups and downs.

That's called the tide, dear...

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:52 pm

Effaeldm wrote:Edit: Oh, I was slow this time, Menolly, I just second the question, not sure about the spoilers though, haven't seen any not covered with that dark stripe outside the forums about them.

A lot of times the moderator of the forum will add the spoiler tag, so it is wise to be cautious. But again, most of the times Watchers themselves are pretty good about them.

Post by **sgt.null** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:38 am

Hi sarraphyna

Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:46 am

Menolly wrote:
Effaeldm wrote:Edit: Oh, I was slow this time, Menolly, I just second the question, not sure about the spoilers though, haven't seen any not covered with that dark stripe outside the forums about them.
A lot of times the moderator of the forum will add the spoiler tag, so it is wise to be cautious. But again, most of the times Watchers themselves are pretty good about them.

Then sorry for making conclusions too fast - I just haven't seen a single spoiler without a spoiler tag on the Watch yet, not even once. Thank you and the other moderators.

Post by **sarraphyna** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:51 pm

Thanks for the warm welcome! WOW!! Actually it is the new books that have motivated me to read the series again, although the thought has been in my mind for years. I admit it is with some trepidation that I pick them up, because I seem to remember these books to be rather dark, and although good generally triumphs, it is not without terrible cost. I want all The Land healed, and all the good guys to live, but these just arn't those kind of books. Books I like, I tend to read over and over. I have read every Harry Potter book at least 4X, LOTR at least 3X, yadda yadda yadda, so why havent I read these even twice? I know I know I love these books, but I also know there seems to be something about them that kind of "hurts"....aaanyway...
Thanks for the warnings, but dont worry about the spoiler alerts, I combed this websight while trying to decide if I wanted to set out on this journey. I wanted a glympse of just how bad that "hurt" is going to get

You never know with Mr. Donaldson. Just when you think it can't possible get any worse, he shows you just how wrong you are. So I have already read quite a few spoilers. Thats ok, stuff like that doesnt bother me. Sometimes I like to be prepared before getting hit over the head with a 2 by 4. Truly the thing that bothers me the most and gives me pause is that the 4th book isn't written yet! I know I am going to be completely pissed off at myself when I get to the edge of that cliff and am left hanging. It is almost enough to make me wait...almost but not quite. I am already half way through the first book...it is too late!

Post by **sarraphyna** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:53 pm

Savor Dam wrote:Welcome. sarraphyna! On behalf of all Seattle Watchers, come on out. You and your kids will find it a far more conducive environment than Oklahoma.
lorin wrote:I live by the sea and love it, though it has its ups and downs.
That's called the tide, dear...

LOL!!!
So how is the nursing industry in Seattle? We are desperately understaffed, underpaid and over-worked here in Oklahoma.

Post by **sindatur** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:00 pm

Welcome sarraphyna

Something I found very entertaining when I picked up the Audio Books (No reading time, so Audiobooks are my only reading on my commute to work) and did a "re-read" was following each chapter on the "Discecting the Land" Forum. You may enjoy this very much, since you indicated you wanted to see a deeper understanding of some things that maybe you yourself haven't seen.

Post by **Savor Dam** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:19 pm

sarraphyna wrote:So how is the nursing industry in Seattle? We are desperately understaffed, underpaid and over-worked here in Oklahoma.

While this is not my field (so I really can't give you an inside perspective) and I don't know which sub-specialities of nursing are your forte, there were a variety of nursing want-ads in yesterday's Sunday Seattle Times (or Portland Oregonian, for that matter) and there are ample postings for that field on LinkedIn and other job-seeker sites.

Understaffed, underpaid and over-worked is part of the nursing job description, as it is for educators, nu? Still, I think you will be able to find good prospects, and certainly can make a good life for your family here.

Mountains, open water, and endless greenery. Think about it...

Post by **lorin** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:31 pm

Savor Dam wrote: Mountains, open water, and endless greenery. Think about it...

never mind all that, let's talk humidity. What is the humidity like? I feel like a wet mop here. New Mexico beckons...................

Post by **aliantha** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:11 pm

Psst, lorin, there's a reason why they call it the Pacific NorthWet...

Post by **Vraith** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:44 pm

aliantha wrote:Psst, lorin, there's a reason why they call it the Pacific NorthWet...

BAh...you say tomato, I say origami.

Post by **Savor Dam** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:57 pm

Uh, no, ali. The "wet" in Pacific Northwet is not the smothering humidity you and lorin experience this time of year. Instead, it refers to the misty precipitation (seldom does it rain hard) that keeps us emerald-green all year round.

Humidity here today is 50%; 68º feels like 68º. Ideal for the unemployed Watcher to do a little light yardwork, or just sit on the patio reading or surfing the net.

By contrast, DC today has 57% humidity and 93º feels like 105º. New York City is a little better; 90º feels like 94º.

As for Albuquerque, it is 45% humidity; 90º feels like 87º. Not stifiling, just a little warm to be very active -- and don't forget to stay hydrated!

Post by **aliantha** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:28 pm

Humidity or near-constant rain -- pick your evils, huh? The Southwest is sounding better and better!

(It was already hot and sticky at the bus stop this morning. At 9am. Tell me again why I continue to live here...

)

Post by **Savor Dam** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:52 pm

Yes. It rains here, although "near-constant" overstates the case a bit.

The thing about rain that I came to appreciate when I lived elsewhere (specifically Cleveland, OH) is that it doesn't need to be shoveled -- unlike the prevailing types of seasonal precipitation in some locales.

Post by **lorin** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:16 pm

Savor Dam wrote: The thing about rain that I came to appreciate when I lived elsewhere (specifically Cleveland, OH) is that it doesn't need to be shoveled -- unlike the prevailing types of seasonal precipitation in some locales.

Ya gotta give him that, Ali. Truth is I love the snow but I would have loved it more if I were retired and building snow men instead of shovel and shovel and shovel the drive.

Post by **Avatar** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:26 am

Welcome to the Watch. Here, the weather is always fine.

--A

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My hello

My hello