Read Tape

I have been on a bit of a music kick this week (see also Sad Songs and Waltzes, a Cake reference) so when a friend tweeted about this book, it jumped near the top of the queue: Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield. Be prepared to have a Kramer jump moment when you click this link as immediately the author will begin to speak, however it's worth the mild shock to find an except of the book to peruse before you commit. (Think of it as book dating.) The book has been around for a few years, published in 2007, which roughly coincides with the time that my life became one giant mixed CD with a few common themes. I would not recommend reading through the Amazon reviews as they seemed to be a bit of a spoiler.

As I have been typing, my shuffle went through The Turtles to Pavarotti to Dizzy Gilespie to Live. What's your mid-week mix tape?

Dream Weaver

"You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however."

- Richard Bach

taken from Active Dreaming by Robert Moss

The above quote for anyone else who had vivid dreams last night and went early to the gym to try to spin them out. Have a great Monday.

Sad Songs and Waltzes

In time for the holidays, The Guardian, The New York Times, Amazon and others are publishing their list of "Best Books of 2011." In perusing the NYT list, this book caught my eye. Released and reviewed earlier this year, it has just the right amount of sadness to pair with the newest Ryan Adams' album I'm listening to while typing. [I think I clicked the title because of the early 90s movie Man in the Moon; see also aforementioned sad album reference.]

The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Journey to Understand his Extraordinary Son by Ian Brown gives us a window to view his son's battle with CFC, an extremely rare disease which CFC International estimates to have affected 200-300 children worldwide. The book's been added to my reading list.

Thank You

Holiday reflections of gratitude include:

• venti lattes
• taking risks
• new friends
• old friends
• fizzy water
• loud laughs
• quiet walks
• full moons
• happy music
• sad tunes
• plane trips
• good listeners
• long runs
• honest feedback
• yoga poses
• nontraditional family
• Universal guidance
• new reads
• car dancing
• blog readers
• ice packs
• breaking rules
• little surprises

Hope you have a moment of quiet reflection today. We are each so lucky.

Food Comma

It is a week of cooking laughing running singing dancing cleaning talking staying up to finish the last few chapters of So Long and Thanks for All the Fish trying new things and having a glass of reading water with chocolates.

No commas. No pauses.

Living. Thankful.

A Trifle of Truffle

Sunday evening.

Reading recipe books with reading water.

It's the type of combination which makes me try Julie Child recipes for the first time for a group of unknowing strangers.

It also leads to discoveries of Mycophilia: Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms by Eugenia Bone. The New York Times has a review here of this "beguiling book".

I hear it's a fun(gi) read.

One for the Road

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

- Walt Whitman from

Song of the Open Road (1)

A photo from the open road for Friday:

Alabama, November 2011

Mid-West Fest

I heard just the end of this segment on my local NPR station yesterday and had to search out the other two books. "Hello From Flyover Territory: 3 Midwestern Novels" highlights a few (fine, three) authors who do not usually make those top 10 lists of books you want to take with you on a [insert: island, family gathering, plane trip, work retreat, first date etc.]. The author has a point - the only Midwestern writer who comes to mind at first thought is Nicholas Sparks and let's face it, he has his own niche. [Side note: my mother loves his books, I cry at his books made into movies and we share an alma mater.]

So this holiday season, as you pull your chair to tables overflowing with bounty, show a little love to farm country and pick up a tale from an unknown writer. There's a one in two chance, you might like the read.

Don't Skirt the Issue

Seeing a few moments of "Notting Hill" this weekend made me long for a few things British. One of the last times I was there, I visited a pretty amazing bookshop and purchased a £10 skirt that I only wear outside the US (because of its length). Viva British couture.

Continuing in the same vein this morning, you might enjoy this review of Londoners by Craig Taylor. The book is a series of interviews by people who well...the book cover seems to give it away.

Another moving piece with an English bent is this interview with Nicholas Evans from The Guardian. Imagine a story where you poison your story with mushrooms you collected for dinner. Now imagine that as life. I re-evaluated "lucky" this morning (and also eating mushrooms).

Running Down a Dream II

Some days you have to put the book down and run.

Today was one of those days.

A half marathon medal for the bookshelf and destined for a glass of reading water later.

Run down your dreams this weekend.

Weight Weight - Don't Tell Me

I am attributing my writer's block to the time change, lack of a proper coffee this morning, and the transfer of all energy to my legs as I prepare for a race this weekend. [Oh, and there might have been that conversation Monday with a boy, but that's an anecdote for the book. Besides, my gym now has photographic evidence of the moments just after so who really needs the words?]

This morning I am taking inspiration from a couple of nuggets shared by GBC P@1ge from Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, our November read:

"I'm naive enough to think that love is always good, no matter how long ago, no matter the circumstances." and

"I see that I must give what I most need."

It's all in the mantra.

Shorty Get Loose

This morning I needed inspiration to check me, more on the forecheck side, not the body check side for the hockey fans following along.

As we have had several Margaret Atwood books make the rounds in our GBC reads, I wanted to share this link to "Underbrush Man," a work in the Guardian's specially commissioned short story series. The opening line of "Light returns, oh how simple faith is justified!" is mantra worthy.

William Trevor has a story as well, An Idyll in Winter. When your schedule is short or your waiting time is long, either may fit the bill for a brief respite of the darker days of winter.

See Rocket City

I spent the afternoon listening to talks about rockets, quantum physics, psychology and how to measure a good economy. [The probability that I will have crazy dreams just sky-rocketed.]

A starting point for your rocket reading should include Dr. Travis Taylor. He's a pretty dynamic speaker who knows a thing or two about the universe, matter, and of course, rockets.

For a change of pace and a bit of motivation, check out Daily Feats. Their motto: "Go do good."

Hope you too found inspiration this weekend.

Because we Like You

Near the Monorail, Disney

October 2011

Fridays are made to be awesome.

To inspire you perhaps a little, today's Friday photo is from my first visit to Disney. Ten minutes later, I saw the castle for the first time. It was highlighted in purple against a setting sun skyline. That moment is on my list of Awesome.

Two other gems from The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha: "That one square in the waffle that's the most loaded with butter and syrup" and "Hanging your hand out the car window."

Hope you have an awesome weekend.

Thanks GBC P@1ge for the song-spiration on that trip which seemed apt for a title.

Hold On for One More Day

A quick reminder for the year end books for those reading along with the GBC:

• Nov: Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels [A few Guardian reviews can be found here.]
• Dec: Poetry of your choice (which means start reviewing now)

Just before the time changes, one fleeting glimpse of summer via Douglas Adams from So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish:

The summer sun was sinking through the trees in the park, looking as if - let's not mince words. Hyde Park is stunning. Everything about it is stunning except for the rubbish on Monday mornings. Even the ducks are stunning. Anyone who can go through Hyde Park on a summer's evening and not feel moved by it is probably going through in an ambulance with the sheet pulled up over his face.

Welcome November. You are here before I expected you.