Friday, October 31, 2014

Hallo

Hoping your Halloween not bland
and that costumes are nothing but grand
And if travel you do,
hope all on time too
and music is only the good bands.


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Husky Finish

Four flights later, I've finished The Boys in the Boat.  I cannot recall the last time I felt such suspense and thought "what will happen" to a story to which I already knew the ending.  Hailing from modest beginnings, I rooted for the guys from UW like brothers and more than once, I found myself using a Delta cocktail napkin to guide away an errant tear.  I was proud to be wearing purple at the finish.

This evening, I can't quite find the words to give a proper review but it's the kind of book that will give you heart on a discouraging day and cause you to want to read all the reference notes at the end.

Well done, Mr. Brown.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

To Live Crew

My current book in progress is The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown.  This title was a recommendation from a running friend last March.  I took a photo of the cover so I'd remember to re-visit and I'm finally working my way to reading it.

The book is fantastic.  I'm a little over the half-way mark and I'm completely absorbed with the characters and the small details about boats and rowing.  [I'm also enamored that the writer will make an appearance at The Whidbey Island Writers Conference.  I love that island.]  During my undergraduate degree, one of my fellow engineers was a coxswain.  At the time, I was not impressed but I have a tremendous amount of respect for her now that I have a little more insight into what she was doing.  

I'd recommend this book as an addition to your winter reading lists. It will inspire you.

Friday, October 24, 2014

On My Way to a Hotel in California

If a picture contains two words, is it still worth a thousand?

Grafiti, Somewhere between Carlsbad & Encinitas
October 2014

Hope your Friday is Super Awesome.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Monday to Sunday

I've been a bit off schedule this week with heavier than normal demands. [Work hours that rhyme with Katy, for $100, Alex.]  This morning, in my horizontal reading of news and email before coffee, I was happily surprised to read this NPR headline which made the rounds this week: 'As You Wish': Take A Peek At The Making Of 'The Princess Bride'.

As You Wish by Cary Elwes made its hardcover release on the 14th and this is a title I'll definitely need in book form.  It will take a slight re-arranging to get it to sit beside my anniversary edition of The Princess Bride but I'm always game for a challenge.

I've already shared that I'm fond of the book, but I honestly cannot count the number of times I've seen the movie or listened to Mark Knopfler's original score.  I'd put both in a Top 10 category.

Hope your weekend was restful, that you didn't need to use Bonetti's Defense, and that if you were scheduled to marry someone who didn't hold your heart, a pirate, a Giant and a dueling Spaniard came to your rescue.


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Sundays to Mondays

Sundays and suitcases and selections for Kindle.
Coffee and cakes and watching time dwindle.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Ode to a Samsonite

Samsonite
2006-2014

Dear Samsonite red bag of courage,

You've been my trusty companion for nearly nine years of travel.  We've been through countless cities, you've helped me increase my checklist to 47 states, we've hit four continents, and you survived my most expensive airline ticket ever for the around the world trek.  (Sadly, our book didn't make it due to that unfortunate seat incident that involved Airline attendant extraction.)

You were wheeled through parking lots, security cues, gravel roads, snow, and puddles without complaint.  You were satisfactory for an overnight adventure but capable enough for a two week carry-on to Australia.  You lost zipper handles and had one unused pocket in the back (that had to be a design flaw).  Still you were with me.  You were my footrest for overnight sleeping in LGA and cat naps in DCA.  You handled the weight of my backpack tirelessly and somehow we made it through those tight little metal cylinders on the Chicago CTA.

You were content with repeat journeys and were alongside me for the  new ones which required fearlessness.  Even when stranded in Solvang, we found a way to make friends.  You weren't mocking when we arrived to an important meeting without suit pants (though clearly there was plenty of room to pack them).  You helped me build arm strength up and down stairs, lifting into overheads and carrying you over things that I couldn't wheel through.

You were unique, never to be confused with various plane-checked luggage and easy to spot on those few times you rested in the hold and had to be retrieved from a carousel.  You fit in every trunk or backseat.  You were never a burden, even when technology rapidly advanced to lighter weights and the wheels got a little loud at the end.

My relationship with you lasted longer than any I've had with a man.

I was a bit sad not to use you on yesterday's flight.

Thank you for memorable journeys and for keeping me safe.
LD


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Sister Love

Last night at dinner a friend mentioned that she liked to read.  I said, "So do I!" (perhaps a little too nerdly emphatic) and we launched into a conversation about recently read books:  thrillers, biographies, sports training, and Scandinavian authors.  She mentioned she gets a lot of suggestions from her sister and of course, so do I.

This morning, my sister is on my mind and I'd like to give a special nod of appreciation to the older sisters who teach us, the younger sisters who sometimes act like big sisters, and the middle sis who always seems just so practical.  Special thanks for sharing all those books.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Bike-ause I Can

The great thing about being head of household is that one can decide that riding a bike on an October 75 degree day has more intrinsic value than mowing one's lawn.  Today was my first solo (non-racing ride) since I can remember (and possibly ever).  It took a fair amount of gumption to get out there on a course where obstacles weren't controlled by volunteers and I had a few observations:

  • leisurely riding is fun
  • kids on bikes are wildcards
  • kids on BMX bikes are greater wildcards
  • leaves, while pretty, can be slippery 
  • have good posture; you might see your spin teacher
  • beware of rocket scientists - they build items of mobile transport that look like a combination of a skateboard, bike, unicycle with wide turning radii
  • it's a friendly town and people want to say hi.  Use ventriloquist-like skills to do this without opening your mouth.  Leisure riding on nice trails = bugs (and lots of people who want to say hi)
  • have the best best posture ever because you might pass your yoga teacher (shoulder blades down)
  • dogs on a taut leash > dogs on a loose leash
Above all, give up chores for outdoor play.  

Thursday, October 2, 2014

National Poetry Day

October the 2nd, wouldn't you know it?
The day of course to celebrate a poet.
Rhymes, meters even haiku,
Ever memorize a poem or two?

In celebration of such a day
Our little GBC writer did play.
Casting a few lines here and there
Post reading water without a care.