From A Wide Spot In The Road

Discussion in 'Personal Diaries' started by Bill Boggs, Mar 25, 2019.

  1. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    Need a tablet to read and listen to books on local library system and possibly download books from Amazon.
    All I’ve ever had is Apple iPads but this seems a little expensive for only reading and listening to books but
    I have no idea what else is available. Others may have information but I have previously tagged @Yvonne Smith
    as the resident specialist, but there are a number of members I do not know well. I’d like to hear from you.
     
    #1231
  2. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    By preference, my favorite tablet for reading is still my iPad Mini, @Bill Boggs ; however I also use my Amazon Kindle Fire, and it works fine, too, and is a whole lot cheaper to buy.
    The Kindle comes in several sizes and styles.

    The Kindle Fire is a whole little tablet, and you can watch movies, listen to music, browse the internet, and most of the basic things that you can do with an iPad. They start from around $50, and sometimes less when Amazon is having a sale.
    There is also a basic Kindle e-reader,a Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis, all of which are only for reading and not for any other kind of internet use, and the prices vary depending on the model, with the Oasis costing over $300 (which seems pretty exorbitant to me for something that is just an e-reader), and the basic model at somewhere around $80.
    I think the e-reader kindles are about the 7” size, but the Kindle Fire also comes in a larger 8”, and really large (for reading) 10” size. I have tried the larger ones, but find that I prefer the lighter weight of the 7” Kindle, and you can adjust the print size and lighting on any of them so that it is easy to read.

    I also think that you can get the Kindle to read audiobooks, but since I do not use audiobooks , I don’t know anything about this. Maybe @Ken Anderson can tell you more about the Kindle , since he uses them also.
    Another thing that I do not know about, is whether you can get the library books with a Kindle, like you can with the iPad. I believe that you could with a Kindle Fire, since they are an actual tablet, but not sure about the e-reader ones.

    Since I read a lot, for both pleasure and education, I have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited, and you can borrow up to 10 books at a time, and they have literally thousands of books that you can choose from, in all kinds of categories.
    it costs about $10 a month, or less if you pay by the year. You can keep the book for as long as you want, so not a limited time like library books.
    When you read a book, if there are other books in the series, or by the same author, it shows you the rest of the books, which I really like a lot. You can follow through the whole series of books, and not just stumble across books that you like; although you can also search for books by title, author, or by category.

    Also, if you have an Amazon Prime account, they include what is called Amazon Prime Reading, which is just like the Kindle Unlimited, but has fewer books available, and it comes free with your Prime membership.
     
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  3. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    Thanks for the comeback, Yvonne. Actually I said reading and listening but in fact listening to books is all that will be involved. Ann can no longer read but must listen to Audiobooks. I have been getting her books to listen to on this iPad but she wants her own so as not to deprive me from reading. I’ll workout something in the next few days.
    Thanks for the information.
     
    #1233
  4. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    You're right. The 10" Kindle is a little large and heavy to use while reading in bed or for anything that involves holding it in your hand. I have a stand for it, which doubles as a charger, so I use it when I want to have a book available for use in something that I am writing, or as a second computer, since it doesn't take up much space on the desk. I use one of my 7" or 8" Kindles for reading, usually.

    I broke my first 10" Kindle Fire less than a week after I got it because I fell asleep while holding it in my hands, reading at night, and it broke after hitting the floor, despite the protective case. Although I admitted that I had dropped it, Amazon replaced it at no charge.

    The Kindle Fire 10 has good audio and video, but I don't use it for that. I played one movie on it once, but only because I wanted to see how well it worked. I prefer a larger screen size for movies, so I haven't done that again but the audio/video is pretty good. I have never gotten into the habit of using the audio for reading a book to me because I can't follow it very well that way. If Michelle is away, I could see myself having it read a book to me while I was sleeping but I expect that I would absorb only bits and pieces of it. The audio on a Kindle is good so if you're into audiobooks, I don't think there'd be a problem with it.
     
    #1234
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2022
  5. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    Thanks for all the information on book listening devices.
    I'll make a decision soon.
     
    #1235
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2022
  6. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    We got new help this morning. The last agency we used could not fulfil our meager requirements. We're off to a good start today.

    I got out all my harmonicas and warmed them up.They are all about worn out, out of tune. I've had some of them for years and
    played them regularly. About played them out. I don't plan to replace any of them but I will always keep two or three that play well
    and I can keep pumping a little air in and out of my lungs. That was the original purpose of having a harmonica in the first place.
    This bunch at the VA thought they helped my situation.

    Lunch is coming up soon, around three pm. I'm having a porkchop, red beans, okra, and mac & cheese. I'll probably skip the mac
    & cheese, and have a cup of coffee.

    I did shave this morning. Was looking pretty ragged. Sad to say it didn't seem to help much.
     
    #1236
  7. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    If the iPad is working for your wife for audiobooks, you might consider getting an e-reader for yourself, since you will just be reading and not listening to audiobooks.
    I usually use my ipad when looking for a book to read, but then it goes on my Kindle app on the ipads, and also on my Kindle Fire. You would be able to do the same thing, and find books for both yourself and your wife with the iPad, and then read them on the Kindle while she listened to audiobooks on the iPad.
     
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  8. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    My nurse practitioner dropped by yesterday. She asked. if I was still playing my harmonicas.
    I told her not so much She said we think those harmonicas have contributed more than a little
    to your longevity. Keep playing them.

    I think I have two harmonicas that all the notes work, aIl the reeds. I went on line to buy A couple of Suzuki
    Harmonicas. No one has them in stock and the prices are out of this world: $99.99 to $159.99 for a
    Promaster, 350 Model.
     
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  9. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Bill--I never paid much attention to breathing; it's just one of those things we take for granted. However I recently have been concerned about the possibility of developing lymphedema (which is sometimes an after-effect of cancer treatment.) I had an appointment with a physical therapist who recommended that I learn "deep belly breathing" to help move the lymphatic fluid, and it's surprisingly more difficult than I expected. Since we typically expand our chest with a deep breath, it's harder to focus on pushing the air down into the diaphragm, pushing the stomach out instead of trying to hold it in.

    All that to say... they recommended that I get bottles of bubbles (like children play with) and spend a few minutes each day blowing bubbles. So, I did. :D
     
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  10. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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  11. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    I finally bought another reader. I got a generation 4 iPad Air. I looked at all of them and finally decided to stay with Apple. When I kick the bucket my granddaughter can have it. Now that that is settled. I listened to the Nitty Gritty Dirt band,
    Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff and all the singers they could round up, sing, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." It 's an rousing adventure.
     
    #1241
  12. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    Bill, I finally figured out what is wrong with the world a few minutes ago. It's because they don't make music like that anymore. :) All you can find now is that gawd awful racket that they call music. No wonder people's minds are messed up.
     
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  13. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    @Nancy Hart - Due to events beyond my control a package was UPS’d today.
     
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  14. Marci Miller

    Marci Miller Very Well-Known Member
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  15. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    I am repeating one of my favorite posts of Bill's. It is #58 and was written May 1st, 2019. I sure do miss him.

    C7994CF8-DBE7-4090-B9F7-E3800DF68056 Bill Boggs.jpeg

    In earlier times old man Hollister Almond panned for gold in many of northern Idaho’s creeks and rivers. He never told anyone about his endeavors except his granddaughter, Allison, and he didn’t tell her about discovered gold. What he did say was, she should come out west,

    and raise her family in some of the best country in God’s creation. She should get away from the city with its hustle and bustle and harsh atmosphere.


    Part of the family thought Hollister Almond was crazy. Most never heard much of anything from him after he went out west. Hollister was a loner, a never-do-well who would never about to much of anything except a drifter and railroad bum.


    Hollister’s only son, Braydon Almond, made his mark with a brokerage firm then accepted a position as Vice-president, managing the bank’s investments and has done well. He had put his daughter through years of college. They had a falling out when she would not consider her dad’s insistence she take a Master’s in business or economics and when she would not consider her dad’s pick for a possible marriage, would not even date the man, he cut off all funds and support to her. Told her hatred to help her but she wouldn’t listen. He told her she was on her own.


    Allison worked four years for a law firm part-time while getting a law degree. Afterward she continued working for the firm. One morning when she came to work her boss asked her to take on another case. An associate had fallen ill and would she take over his case? She could have said no but that would have put a negative mark on her record with the firm, so why not. She could handle it. She asked an assistant to handle the case she had been working on, who eagerly agreed.


    The case she was taking over for an ill associate was in its later stages. Allison reviewed the case. The city wanted another three hundred hundred acres to expand a park and include a golf course. Her firm’s position was only an advisory role to give legal advice and assistance if necessary and to help avoid any embarrassing mistakes or errors. Leslie assisted with the summation which was mostly already written. Allison finished the summation, went over it with the mayor and the city attorney. The opposing side presented several objections but the judge rejected them. City wins. Case closed.


    But for Alison it wasn’t. She learned the properties the city claimed for a park expansion had numerous families who had nowhere else to go. Two small firms closed down because they couldn’t afford rent in other parts of the city. This is not fun lawyering. Actually, Alison was sick over it. Alison resigned her position with the law firm and give two weeks noticed. She was dismissed immediately. She took a cab home and realized on the way she would no longer be able to afford the apartment. Although she needed a job and no longer had one, she felt a sense of relief and freedom at leaving this firm.


    At home, not sure what she was going to do or what she could do, she poured herself a gin tonic. No need to worry about any thing until the end of the month. She had some small savings but not enough to live very long without bringing in some income. At any rate she would need a cheaper apartment. Philadelphia was growing and properties and rents were shooting sky high. She’d have to pack up. She had boxes she had not opened since moving into this place. And she remembered a small box or package she had received from her grandfather in Oregon or somewhere out west. Now thinking about him she wondered why he stopped writing. What was in the package? Did she open it? She didn’t remember. She wondered about that now and why had he stopped writing. She finished her drink and went to bed.


    She awoke next morning to the ringing of her phone. It was her dad.


    “What trouble are you in now,” he asked. “Some lawyer has been trying to get in touch with you. Do you need some help? If so, we can talk about it. You know where to reach me. Here’s the attorney’s phone number.”


    Ashley didn’t recognize the 208 area code. She dressed for work, made breakfast, poured another cup of coffee and went into her office. She picked up the phone and dialed the number. One, two, three rings. On the seventh ring someone picked up.


    “Hello,” he said in a soft voice.


    “Yes, hello. Who am I speaking with, please?”


    “Who did you wish to speak with,“ the soft voice asked?


    “I had a call from someone named Jacobi Birdfeather. I wish to speak with him.”


    “Yes, how can I help you? Are you per chance Ms Almond?”


    “Yes, I am.”


    “Ms Almond what I am about to say to you, I was instructed to say by my client and friend, Hollister Almond. He left you some property and he wanted you to come here and decide whether you wanted to keep it or sell it. I have some personal effects he left. He has arranged funds to pay for your trip here and return if you wish it that way. Can you possibly find a way to come here?”


    “He’s dead, then?”


    “Yes, almost three years now. Hollister died in a blizzard up near a national forest. He wasn’t found for months.”


    “Still, that’s a long time, don’t you think, to wait to call a relative after his death?”


    “Indeed it is, but I was following you grandfather’s wishes,” the attorney went on, “You have a birthday this month. You grandfather left instruction to call you a few days before your birthday and to tell you if you came out to Idaho, he has a birthday present for you. You will be twenty-five this month, won’t you?” It would be nice on your birthday but I understand arrangements are sometime hard to arrange with a family and work and all.


    “Mr Birdfeather, I was fired from my job yesterday. This is an excellent time to take a few days off. I’ll make arrangements and call you when I know. Is that all right?”


    “I’ll be expecting your call soon,” the attorney replied. Allison hung up, her mind racing.


    Then she thought again of the package her grandfather had sent her. She rummaged thru closets until she found a manila envelope with her name on it. and only an address in the top left corner. Banners Ferry, Idaho. It had never been opened. The postmark was almost four years earlier. She opened the envelope at her breakfast table. The envelope was dusty, its ink faded. She cut it open with her scissors. Inside was a note and a number ten envelope sealed up. The note read, in case you have to get out of some guy’s car and catch a cab home. Here’s some cab fare money. Enjoy.


    Hollis


    Enclosed was a five hundred dollars.


    ***

    To be continued.


    #58
    Bill Boggs, May 1, 2019
     
    #1245
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2023

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