123, 5, 3 meme

I've been tagged by David for this book meme. Just before reading his post, I'd been lying on the couch, Zanna sleeping on my belly, reading An Ordinary Spy by Joseph Weisberg. Spy novels are rare for me, but I was drawn to this one by the claim that portions of the text are redacted by the CIA's Central Review Board. I'm still not sure if that claim's legit or a part of the fiction but it drew me in nonetheless. And the story took over from there, consuming me for a few days as good stories often do.

My instructions are to open the nearest book to page 123, skip past the first five sentences, then give you the next three sentences. Here they are:

Bobby didn't understand the joke - it seemed to hinge on some sort of cultural reference that was lost on him - but he laughed appreciatively. It felt like a time to give TRACER exactly what he was looking for, not ask him to explain ____ culture. Back at the Station, he looked up TRACER's friend who had played the joke.

Nothing too revealing there unless you want to see it as a metaphor for the culture of blogging. We could - and some of us do - create inside jokes about blogging all day long. Or we could continue to spread this self-reflective memes over and over again in a way that non-bloggers would never understand. Yes, we could do that - and we will. I don't usually tag for memes, but this one is easy, and even those who've already done it can do it again with a different book. I'm tagging the last five commenters:

• Mich
• Sarah
• Rachel
• Lumpyhead's mom
• Kristy

Pick up the nearest book, turn to page 123, skip the first five sentences on that page, then type the next three sentences. (Non-bloggers are welcome, as always, to play along in the comments.)

Comments

[Rick/Dad]

Responder's challenge in fielding a 1 Diamond opening bid in the M.I.C.S. system is perhaps the most foreign to standard bidding theorists. Simultaneously, Responder must describe his own hand as it stands on it's own merits and also provide a clue as to the fit of the hand with each of the Opener's potential hand types. As opener cannot have a four-card major, Responder has diminished need to specifically offer four-card majors as potential trump suits.

[Kristy]

The second thing I told her that if life was as bad as she said, then things couldn't possibly get worse. There wasn't room for anymore failure--things had to improve. The final thing I told her was that I, or someone else close to her, would always be there, no matter what trials may come into her life.

[Alison]

Kris, Dad - what are your book titles? I'm guessing Dad's is the bridge book his writing. Kristy's I don't know.

[Kristy]

LoL! Well, you said to grab the closest book...Our computer happens to be set up in Colin's room since he's not here & so the closest book happened to be one of his, & obviously not one he cared to take to Texas with him. It's Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II. I haven't actually read that particular book, but have read several of the other Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

[Rick/Dad]

In a family of avid readers I'm always embarrassed to admit I'm not one. Stranger yet, 99.9% of the population never reads the few books I read. The bookshelf next to my computer has my small collection of bridge books. The one read from is entitled "Modified Italian Canape System". It's the first of three bridge books written by Ken Rexford, a bridge partner of mine. He wrote this book as a record of a unique bidding system he and I along with four other people designed and have used with success.

[karen]

"Although it is rarely appropriate to be aggressive w/horses, there are situations where you need to be assertive. Other times a passive, nonthreatening manner is more appropriate and productive. Your body stance and movements will tell a horse whether he should be afraid, attentive or relaxed."

This is a book written by Cherry Hill entitled How To Think Like a Horse. You'd probably think that knowing cows like i do-- i wouldn't need another big animal book-- but, they are definitely different critters: cows and horses :0).

Congratulations on Zanna, Ali. I've been "off the computer" since June-- just got back on about two weeks ago and still, i don't have my cyber-legs under me yet. I can't even comment on mr. g's site :0(.

[rachel]

There are lots of nice people. You'll make new friends. "Oh, that sounds very good." Thanks, perhaps to the Alzheimer's, she is not suspicious of our vagueness.

(Sorry I'm a little slow on the game! We had a pretty busy week.....Found out Gib needs his tonsils and adenoids out, due to sleep apnea!)

[lumpyheadsmom]

Hi! Sorry for being tardy, I had some catching up to do. I'm at work right now and I had to pick up four books before I found with with words instead of a table on page 123.

Warning: this is really boring.

Sugar Storage Facility Loans.—the 2002 Farm Bill directs that the CCC establish a sugar storage facility loan program to provide financing for processors of domestically produced sugarcane and sugar beets to construct or upgrade storage and handling facilities for raw sugars and refined sugars. The loan term is a minimum of 7 years with the amount and terms being determined as any other commercial loan.

As required by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, this account records the subsidy costs associated with the direct loans obligated in 1992 and beyond, as well as administrative expenses of this program. The subsidy amounts are estimated on a present value basis; the administrative expenses are estimated on a cash basis.

[jen]

I had no idea Bridge was so involved, but I hear there's a lady up @ P.I. B. with so many points that it's like against the law to trump her.
It's good that someone somewhere is keeping tabs on the sugar market. When sugar got so complicated I don't know, but please keep it coming.
Welcome back Karen, I like your farm-life stories !