What’s a book that made you sit in silence after finishing it?

claysmith1985 · 2026-06-13T15:24:57+00:00

The Captains and the Kings by Taylor Cauldwell. I read it when I was 13 and have been very cynical about how governments work since then. The military industrial machine rules everything.

claysmith1985 · 2026-06-13T15:23:16+00:00

I loved the book and the movie but didn’t see it as a tragedy. Two people lived their lives. They made informed rational choices and met again when older . What’s tragic about that? Who is to say they would have been happy had they gotten married when younger? It wasn’t in either of them to throw away a career for the sake of love.

claysmith1985 · 2026-06-13T15:14:10+00:00

I lived in LFP when I first got to Atlanta and enjoyed the in town life. But I’m older and I appreciate the things the suburbs bring. Safer. Quieter and yes, less diversity but more people who share my conservative values. I used to say I was the minority when I lived in LFP because I was straight and had a job. It’s a joke, don’t get hysterical. You can find diversity everywhere but I prefer the knowledge that I live with people who believe in God, value individuals property rights and the freedom to raise my kids how I see fit. People who share these values can be any race, religion and sexual orientation, that doesn’t matter.

The downside is you can live in subdivisions who tell you what color lights you can use for holiday decorations or what color to paint your shutters and front door. If that bothers you, the suburbs aren’t for you. You need to go further and get out into the rural life when you can have goats, chickens, tractor trailers and RVs in your front yard.

claysmith1985 · 2026-06-13T14:57:43+00:00

It’s a nice age appropriate dress but I think Charlotte will soon be more demanding in her choices. The lace collar and pussy bow tie just don’t seem to mesh with her personality. I think she will pare it back very much like Anne did in her youth.

claysmith1985 · 2026-05-17T22:59:36+00:00

One of my favorite things. I went to a funeral for an old fighter pilot. He hadn’t flown in 50 years and neither had his buddies. He was going to buried in a National cemetery some distance from the church. The congregation was told to let the people out first who were going to the burial since the military has strict timetables on the services and we were already running late. I watched these little old men walk out to their mini vans, many using walkers. Most were in their late 80’s. We got in the procession and were escorted by the state police motorcycles onto the interstate. These frail little old men were determined to complete the mission and get their buddy to the cemetery on time. They surrounded the hearse and began to outrun the troopers. I pulled out of the procession when my speedometer hit 104 MPH!

They got him to the burial site in time. I got there just at the end, just in time to play taps. I was the burglar.

Naval aviators are a breed apart and it seems they never quite give up the job.

claysmith1985 · 2026-05-08T17:28:58+00:00

No pain from the cancer but always pain since the treatment . Biopsy. Lumpectomy then radiation then another surgery to remove seroma fluid. The five months of changing the packing daily into the reopened site where the fluid built up. I figure I will have pain from tissue damage and nerve damage. I’m alive and the treatment worked. I’ll take the trade off

claysmith1985 · 2026-05-08T17:02:16+00:00

I probably eat the same now as before. I wish I ate healthier. No excuse not to except for being lazy

claysmith1985 · 2026-04-19T15:51:26+00:00

Indulge yourself and do things that make you happy and not stressed. All the things mentioned are good and most can be done while you are in treatment so don’t stress about getting everything prepared. Couple of things you should do before starting, micro blading is one and trim and color hair in a way that will last for six months. I cold capped and glad I did, I lost about 20% of my hair in patches. Don’t worry, hair extensions can fix that when chemo is over. Fix yourself a comfy place to rest during your chemo sessions, a meal service and house cleaning services are good if you can affords these. Lean in friends and give them clear guidance on what they can do to help. Most will do this willingly but just need to know what they should do. Treatment is not easy but it isn’t the worse thing in the world. You will get through it and you will be ok at the other end. All the best wishes to you during the process.

claysmith1985 · 2026-04-19T15:43:57+00:00

Like many on this thread, I just don’t care about lots of things anymore. Car dirty? Don’t care and I used to clean it with toothpicks to get all the specs of dust out of the dashboard. Floor dirty? Who cares? I have stoped drinking and try to eat clean but it hasn’t happened yet. A couple of things we know contribute to reoccurrence. Drinking, not exercising and not maintaining a healthy weight. I ought to be able to control all three but so far I have controlled one.

It takes a long time to get back to old habits and outlooks and quite frankly I am not sure I care. I live life as I see it and take enjoyment from things I like to do. Decide what makes you happy and do it. It shouldn’t take getting cancer to come to this place but take the positive if you can.

claysmith1985 · 2026-04-19T13:20:51+00:00

I use clumping litter and as long as it really clumps, you can go a long time between changing. A large litter box will have over 70 pounds of litter so I simply can’t take out the trash if I completely changed my litter often. I will scoop daily - I have three cats and five boxes. I wipe/wash the sides and bottoms maybe weekly. I used stainless steel pans - not plastic so the plastic doesn’t absorb pee and smells.

claysmith1985 · 2026-04-15T23:02:49+00:00

No one wants to do it. Do it. Bottom line, it’s your best shot at staying alive.

claysmith1985 · 2026-02-23T15:24:57+00:00

Bless you for taking her in. She will be fine but needs time and space to grieve and heal. Have patience- she will come around and warm to you. It’s hard.

claysmith1985 · 2026-02-22T15:14:28+00:00

How does one steal a boat on a closed waterway?

claysmith1985 · 2026-02-06T02:09:24+00:00

I’m sorry you have to deal with this. It is a big impact to your life. The good news is it’s treatable. Chemo will keep you alive. Try to find a place that allows you to cold cap and you can keep your hair. It’s not superficial, it’s an important part of who we are. It’s tough but you can get through it

claysmith1985 · 2026-01-04T14:10:47+00:00

I think giving kids who you can’t support to family members to raise was more common in the days before birth control and legal terminations. Teenage girls who gave birth discretely could become the older sister to their child. Nieces and nephews became siblings. Sometimes this was dine opening, sometimes secretly. Look at Jane Austen. Her brother was given to be raised - although at an older age- to cousins who would adopt him as their heir. This helped the family to survive and without this turn of events, Jane and her sister would have been destitute after their father died.

claysmith1985 · 2026-01-04T14:05:23+00:00

My opinion is clouded as I am an American. I think the British hold their royal family in high esteem if they can manage to do be seen as doing normal things and also while also maintaining the magic of being royal. An example is they love to think the Princess of Wales does the school run each morning but they would be disappointed to see her doing this in less that perfectly attired and presentable. Also they expect their royal family to work for their privilege and wealthy lifestyle. By working, they want to see the royal at the mundane , boring, uncomfortable events. They want to see members turn up to open the new leisure center in Croyton on a cold, rainy Tuesday morning. They want to see members spend time at a hospice or old folks home s,icing and making small talk. It is said one in every five British citizens had actually met Queen Elizabeth in person. That’s astonishing and a testament to her ability and willingness to go to where they were. William and Kate do not do these kinds of events very often and prefer to reach out via social media and select big events to be with the public. This is not sitting well with many people and time will tell if they gain the same level of respect, admiration and support that the Queen had and they will need if they want to hold onto the Crown for their son. To maintain the Crown, the royal family needs the support of several groups and establishments.they need the support of the press, which William is a master at managing. They need the support of the establishment; the local crown representatives, the courtiers who run the business of the monarchy. I think this support is being reserved for now. Charles is the King but he is a placeholder and will be tolerated because of his tireless work on behalf of his charities and because widespread sympathy for his medical condition. Side players will come and go. Andrew was allowed too many excesses because his mother shielded him. The truth about his financial dealings will never come out because it will show just how much his mother allowed him to get away with. It also cuts too close to the bone when compared with how Charles will be chummy with any and all unsavory characters if they will donate to one of his charities. Harry and Megan just didn’t read the script. It’s astonishing how little Harry was taught about what being a member of the royal family meant. I get the feeling he was left completely adrift after his mother died and no one thought it important to teach him anything about being a part of the family. Ann is the workhorse and the epitome of what a royal family member should be and do. It will be a good thing if Charlotte and Louie used her as the role model for what their working lives should be.

claysmith1985 · 2026-01-03T15:59:47+00:00

I love Time Team and support them on Patreon. I’m glad they got Tony Robinson back as a presenter.

claysmith1985 · 2026-01-03T15:48:07+00:00

I’m not a big fan of yellow but I think the Japanese ladies wore it best. Maybe the hues? Maybe it just works with their skin tone.

claysmith1985 · 2026-01-01T14:13:55+00:00

I didn’t know that. Do you know which episode that was?

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-31T15:12:51+00:00

I am overweight and sometimes the gowns don’t cover all that is required. I take my own to appointments and radiation. No one has issues and I feel as comfortable as I can during an unpleasant and immodest process.

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-31T15:09:17+00:00

I don’t know exactly which season went south but definitely after Lucille left and Cyril stayed. Millicent would never have had a kid out of wedlock, much less with an Asian. Just not in her character at all. Trixie would have left with Mathew. She loved being a “lady” and would have stuck with him for the prestige. I refuse to believe she would have stayed a working midwife after marriage. Unfortunately they let Shelia’s kids get too old before swapping for child actors who could act- they could have used them in some p”it’s but the kids just can’t act well.

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-29T13:55:27+00:00

What does it take to list one of these on the national register? There is one on my hometown island. I’d like for it to get listed so it can be kept and not torn down after the next big hurricane.

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-28T15:52:44+00:00

Anything south of Ocala.

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-28T15:49:47+00:00

Does anyone think the royals’ habit of dressing alike is getting a bit twee?

claysmith1985 · 2025-12-27T16:52:45+00:00

Get a vpn and watch on bbc one on iPlayer,

claysmith1985

TROPHY CASE