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Post by sparklymouse on Jan 3, 2013 20:03:59 GMT -5
I assumed it was that Watson only had large bills. This was back when people still used cash more, but I have a hard time picturing Watson's wallet full of ones and fives.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Jan 3, 2013 21:55:45 GMT -5
Very true. Reminds me of the time when my sister's childhood best-friend asked her Dad for lunch money and he gave her a $50 bill. My sister and I thought that was the most incredible thing. But then again, her family was pretty well off so it probably wasn't a big deal to him.
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Post by sparklymouse on Jan 3, 2013 22:09:10 GMT -5
My dad is the opposite of well off, but he walks around with $50s in his wallet all the time. He won't get a debit card because, well, I don't know. He thinks someone's going to steal his identity. He's odd.
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scrounge
Sitter-In-Training
Boo and bullfrogs!
Posts: 414
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Post by scrounge on Jan 7, 2013 21:45:09 GMT -5
I did this book for my blog recently and figured out the timeline for it on some graph paper, based on the days of the week stated in the books. It's not unrealistic that Nannie might have felt unneeded after Watson started doing a lot of the housework, but the time frame is something like eleven days after he announced he was going to stay home, she had already signed a lease on a new apartment without ever saying a word to anyone. It feels so rushed.
I like this book up until that point, though. It just starts to feel really rushed and forced about 2/3 of the way in.
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Post by zoar3 on Nov 13, 2014 13:01:45 GMT -5
I just read through some of this thread as I'm planning to reread either tonight or tomorrow. I pray first off any of your (those of you who shared) family member's who had heart issues are doing gigundoly better. ^ Greer, thank you for this laugh! So funny and needed that after the sadness of the other. I wanted to say I remember in at least one (early, I think) BSC book a cleaning lady was coming to Watson's but don't think she was ever mentioned again. It is interesting to think about Watson's parents. if his dad was Jeremy Brewer, Ben's son, seems strange that there was never (outside of Karen's Ghost) mention of him, though Watson's mom, I don't think ever does make an appearance herself. I still think Karen's project in Field Day about an ancestor should have shared more about her ancestors and grandparents, too. I do wish grandparents in general had been more apart of the books, especially Mimi. Mrs. Marshall, I haven't read this book in a very long time. I am thinking she and her kids sort of disappeared for awhile after the early books? If so, maybe between then and now (of this book) she really didn't think a couple extra kids would matter and did forget how organized the BSC is? Whatever she may have thought, I still believe Mrs. Phillips (her friend) should have had some tiny, even interest in who would be baby-sitting her three very young children. I remember loving David Michael as a rooster so will add more after rereading.
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Post by greer on Nov 14, 2014 8:50:21 GMT -5
It's possible Watson's parents were dead. My dad's parents died more than a decade before my dad had kids. I didn't even see a picture of my grandfather until a couple of years ago when I found a box in the closet of my dad's stuff.
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scrounge
Sitter-In-Training
Boo and bullfrogs!
Posts: 414
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Post by scrounge on Nov 15, 2014 0:01:46 GMT -5
Watson's mother was alive, but I don't know if she was ever in the regular series. She was mentioned twice (that I know of) in the Little Sister books, first in LS #10, Karen's Grandmothers, where Karen just mentions her when she is talking about setting a grandma record, and then in LS #68, Karen's Angel, there is a one sentence mention that she calls the family on Christmas morning.
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Post by zoar3 on Nov 15, 2014 12:02:28 GMT -5
Hug, Greer. Scrounge, I didn't remember that at all. Karen's Angel is one book that I both love and feel so angry at the grownups with. I don't often pay closer attention to smaller details but will next time around. This book has a cozy and family feel. I love that we actually get to read about Kristy spending time with Nannie both at the Big House especially and at Nannie's apartment. Both Watson and Elizabeth are shown interacting with and caring for their kids. David Michael has a starring role. I felt horrible for him when he was forgotten at play practice. The only thing I didn't understand was why not one of the adults at the community center (I think that was where the play was being rehearsed) called the Big House? My Grandma once when I was in elementary school forgot a minimum day and the school called her after not too long. Ms. Colman calls Karen's parents in Karen's Birthday. We know people were home at the Big House. I know David Michael really doesn't know Lisa or Seth but how interesting it would have been had for some reason he reached out to them for help. Main story about Watson was so sad and I thought very well done. I would have loved reading more at home time and with Elizabeth taking time off from work. So sweet when Kristy calls him her dad and love, love, when Watson comes home to see his family standing on the porch and says how beautiful a scene that is. I will always feel awful for Karen and Andrew I don't understand at all, why they, maybe separately even, since Andrew goes to morning preschool, couldn't have spent even half an hour, an hour a couple days a week with their dad. Andrew, I wanted to hug him. I noticed in his intro how he was sort of glossed over and when he hurts his finger with the hammer, Watson's care doesn't last too long. Just bothers me, maybe a little more now that I am a LS fan and have gotten to know Andrew more how in the BSC books, Karen's character (through no fault of her own, just how she was written) is often at the forefront. Nannie...I'll just positively say I loved when she and Kristy raced down the stairs to get David Michael's autograph, so sweet. Nannie moving story line not so much and strange, too. I do think instead of Watson announcing at dinner that he would now, "do everything Nannie has had to do," He should have said how thankful he was to be able to better prioritize and that meant spending more time with his family and helping around the house. I could see how Nannie heard it as a dismissal. I also agree that it felt to me as though she were silently stewing the week away and suddenly decided to move and in so doing I felt as though (especially with how upset the kids were) Nannie was in a sense brushing off everyone and that was so wrong. Marshall's, I still wonder where Mrs. Phillips was especially when Claudia and Stacey came. Did she have no interest in who would be caring for her kids? Did she drop off her kids at the Marshall's, go to jazzercise, and wait there for Mrs. Marshall?? Where was she?! Maybe visiting the Ohdners
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dbug89
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 14
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Post by dbug89 on Feb 2, 2015 15:43:11 GMT -5
nannies name is janet taylor its mentiond in karens cooking contest
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Post by virgoscorpio on Feb 2, 2015 16:38:23 GMT -5
This book always gives me good feelings because I automatically think of the cover. I love the cover, it gives me a homelike vibe.
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LadyDru
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 373
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Post by LadyDru on May 17, 2020 11:13:20 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite Kristy books, but parts of it bugged me. Like Nannie wanting to move out, the sitting job at the Marshall's..(the last one was kind of funny, though). The heart attack was so scary to read about, was so happy it was only mild..but all its implications were strong about why it happened..had nothing to do with his age, but because of the stress on his job, lack of exercise and not the healthiest diet, but stress being the biggest issue here. It can happen to ANYONE who doesn't take care of themselves the way they should...of course some ppl can be born with defective hearts as well..like I know of someone who died of a massive heart attack at age 25, figure skater Sergei Grinkov died of one at age 28..not exactly the ideal ages, right? Anyway, I also felt for Karen being in a bad mood and don't think she was bratty, either..she's a daddy's girl, so of course she would want to be by his side..makes me wonder what Lisa told her when she was undoubtedly a sobbing mess upon hearing the news..Andrew, too.
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on May 17, 2020 17:32:43 GMT -5
I wanted to say I remember in at least one (early, I think) BSC book a cleaning lady was coming to Watson's but don't think she was ever mentioned again. I was just listening to the first chapter of Kristy and the Snobs today on Audible, and Kristy mentions that a cleaning lady comes twice a week. I don't know if it's ever mentioned again at any point in the series. Not that I recall, anyway.
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Post by oldmeanie on Jan 31, 2023 13:56:34 GMT -5
I actually really enjoyed this one. I like Watson a lot though, so maybe that's why. The only thing I didn't like was Nannie moving out then back in... it was a bit over the top. Moving is one of the biggest stressors to go through and she seemed to do both moves on a whim. I like Nannie and understand why Kristy likes her so much, but this was weird.
I also don't get why the household fell apart SO much. This book kind of makes me wonder why Watson and Elizabeth adopted Emily Michelle- it seems like they barely spend time with her and NEEDED a full-time caregiver for her. Idk, the situation is just weird. I get why Elizabeth didn't quit her job... it seems that it gives her purpose and she wants to be somewhat independent. Tbh I would've quit in her position, but everyone is different. I think AMM just wanted the Thomas-Brewer household to have constant chaos without it making much sense. Lol.
I do like the feel of this book though, the family trying to keep everything running (the food thing felt ridiculous to me though). I like the books that develop their families more. Pretty cool.
I enjoyed the subplot too for some reason. I remembered this one and was looking forward to it, but wasn't sure which book it was in. I do think that the BSC handled the situation very poorly, but they are 13 and 11 after all, so I give them a pass. I think normally Kristy would've talked to Mrs. Marshall earlier, but she was probably overly tired from helping more with her siblings, so maybe that's why. Idk. I just didn't love how Stacey and Claudia walked out on that job. It's one thing if Mrs. Marshall was aware of the 4 kids rule, but she wasn't.
She really should have told them they'd be sitting for 5 kids though. It's only fair. Also, how do their rates even work? Does sitting for, like, Charlotte pay as much as sitting for the Rodowskys? Idk. Speaking of the Rodowskys, they haven't made an appearance for awhile. It made me giggle a little when Mal split her pay with Jessi, because that's probably only, like, 3 dollars each. That sucks! This subplot did feel a little weird, though... I feel like we didn't really know the Marshalls at all before this, they were just kind of there.
Yeah, despite the weirdness, I liked this one. Also, I did feel a pro or emotional when Kristy called Watson her father when she called 911. Like when he called her his daughter in Shadow Lake. She does say step father later in the same convo, but it still shows how much she grew to care for him.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,263
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Post by oldhickory on Feb 2, 2023 11:51:39 GMT -5
Any home is probably better than an orphanage, but Emily Michelle deserved better than to be dumped off on her grandma. It seems weird that Watson can lighten his load at work in this book, but still didn't do it (even short-term) when EM was brand new and needed a parent? Only sorta related: I know Kristy called Watson her dad to save time with 911. She didn't have the luxury of spelling out all the details. The image of Kristy on 911 carefully explaining the family relationships, while Watson's on the floor next to her, does make me laugh though
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Post by oldmeanie on Feb 4, 2023 16:03:26 GMT -5
Any home is probably better than an orphanage, but Emily Michelle deserved better than to be dumped off on her grandma. It seems weird that Watson can lighten his load at work in this book, but still didn't do it (even short-term) when EM was brand new and needed a parent? Only sorta related: I know Kristy called Watson her dad to save time with 911. She didn't have the luxury of spelling out all the details. The image of Kristy on 911 carefully explaining the family relationships, while Watson's on the floor next to her, does make me laugh though Yeah it is weird. Like why did they adopt at all? Maybe he could only lighten his workload because it was a health necessity, idk. You're probably right, but I still found it sweet. It felt to me like she called him her father, then corrected herself. Either way, I really like how they grow closer over the course of the series.
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