Ellen/EBT1002 reads & plays in March

Salt Lake City, where I've started the month of March --- it really looks like this!

Great Salt Lake

COMPLETED IN JANUARY

1. Howl by Allen Ginsberg (library)
2. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (Off the Shelves)
3. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (Off the Shelves)
4. The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz (owned)
5. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (library)
6. How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden (library)
7. 420 Characters by Lou Beach (library)
8. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (library)
9. The Line by Olga Grushin (Off the Shelves)

COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

10. Stay Awake by Dan Chaon (L)
11. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (OtS)
12. A Grain of Truth by Zygmunt Miloszewski (L)
13. The Hill Bachelors by William Trevor (L)
14. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (L)

COMPLETED IN MARCH

15. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (OtS)
16. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin (OtS)
17. Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs
18. Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
19. Pow! by Mo Yan

Books Acquired in 2013

1. Call It What You Want by Keith Lee Morris
2. Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956 by Anne Applebaum
3. Writing in the Dark: Essays on Literature & Politics by David Grossman
4. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (sale table)
5. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (sale table)
6. 2666 by Roberto Bolaño
7. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño
8. The Waitress Was New by Dominique Fabre (purchased in Los Angeles)
9. The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín (purchased in Los Angeles)
10. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
11. The Belly of Paris by Émile Zola
12. Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum
13. Germinal by Émile Zola
14. The Door by Magda Szabo (Book Depository)
15. Tokyo Fiancee by Amélie Nothomb
16. The Glass Ocean by Lori Baker (gift from Benita, to be released in August 2013)
17. Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-95 by Joe Sacco
18. This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen by Tadeusz Borowski
19. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon
20. My Century by Aleksander Wat
21. The Lighthouse by Alison Moore
22. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (used copy)
23. knots and crosses by Ian Rankin (used copy)
24. Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
25. Proud Beggars by Albert Cossery
26. Sandalwood Death by Mo Yan
27. Felicia's Journey by William Trevor (used copy)
28. Love and Summer by William Trevor (used copy)
29. My House in Umbria by William Trevor (used copy)
30. April Fool's Day by Josip Novakovich
31. Samuel Johnson is Indignant by Lydia Davis
32. A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch
33. Brothers and Keepers by John Edgar Wideman
34. Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman
35. The Quick Red Fox by John D MacDonald
36. Ten White Geese by Gerbrand Bakker
37. Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa

.

WOOP WOOP
New thread!
Hi Ellen :)

Megan wins again! She was first on my thread too lol

Great photos Ellen! Amazing views!
From your last thread, I'm glad to see you enjoyed Ready Player One! I really liked that one too

Finally! I was about to have a fit. : )

Beautiful images! Although it doesn't really come across in that photo, I thought the Great Salt Lake had a Star Trek set vibe. Right or wrong? It was a long time ago, so maybe my brain is doing something odd to the memory.

Ellen- Congrats on the March thread!

I came by earlier while you were still setting up, Ellen. I didn't want to interrupt your flow so I came back. Love the pictures of Salt Lake City. Yet another beautiful place in the states that I would like to visit.

Hi Ellen -
Picture #1 - striking!
Picture #2 - serene...

We have such a beautiful world ;-)

Hey Ellen, beautiful pics.

Ellen thank you for stopping by my thread. I did have some good reads this month. I am trying to finish up some books I started this year and March seems as good a month as any to do that. I'm glad you stuck to RPO and enjoyed it.

Enjoy your time in SLC and have a wonderful weekend.

Megan,
Congrats on being first!

Chelle,
Welcome. It must be an art that Megan has mastered. I think I've only been first once on a thread. It's all about timing. :-)

Kerri,
I must admit that I've not actually seen the Great Salt Lake yet. The view from my friend's house is very much like the first picture and the inversion has been such that, although she assures me said lake is off there toward the west, I've not officially laid eyes on it. Perhaps I'll see it when the plane takes off tomorrow. I do expect a kind of sci-fi vibe.

Mark,
Thanks for stopping by to visit my new March thread. And you didn't even comment on my abandonment of the naming of my threads in Eastern European languages....

Donna,
I must say that I can highly recommend a visit to this city. It's breathtaking. The mountains are so close.

Cee,
I know, it's true, isn't it? I think Louis Armstrong was spot on.

Lynda,
thanks and thank you for stopping by.

Roberta,
I'm glad you're getting in some good reads lately! I'm hoping to make some serious headway in March toward my goals for the year. It's the last month of the first quarter.... as good a time as any to make said headway.

I had a lovely dinner (and a very nice bottle of Pinot Noir) with my friend, her husband, and their 17-year-old son. Tomorrow we have very little planned --- some walking, some last bits of business for our committee, and a trip to the local indie bookseller (The King's English, I believe she said it is called). I will report on my purchase(s), but don't expect too much. Whatever I purchase I have to carry back to Seattle with me.

It's after midnight in SLC and I'm almost caught up on LT.
Time for a bit of reading in Lucy Gault and then sleep.

Hi Ellen, I'm taking spot 17 on marking my place on your new thread. I've also never been first! Love the pics of Salt Lake City, just beautiful! Was doing some catching up on your previous thread, too. Congratulations to you and P!! And I loved your review of Plague of Doves.

Hi Ellen - Beautiful new thread. I'll be anxious to hear what you think of Lucy Gault. And, of course, to hear about your visit to the bookstore.

Hope the sojourn in SLC is all that you want it to be, and that the book shop has some books that you wanted and had not found, yet. Magic. Time for a little magic.

Oh, such beautiful photos! Cee is so right...

Another trip! You are getting to be quite the traveller :)

Safe home and take care :)

Wonderful photos - I can't believe how much you travel.

Aw, wonderful photos, Ellen. Happy New Thread!

I skipped a thread, thinking I would get caught up here, then had to dash back and find out what all the good wishes were for. Congrats! Very exciting. Many of our friends are having weddings this year, when really they are more like re-commitment ceremonies as they have been together so long.

Good luck with all the planning. My spouse and I got married on the East Coast because that is where our families were, but we were living here. What a nightmare! Did I ever tell you that we met at a friend's pre-wedding meet and greet at the Edgewater Hotel? How did you and P meet?

Wonderful photos Ellen. Don't forget your address as I have something nice already picked out for you.
Have a lovely weekend in Salt Lake City.

how lovely to be in Utah. only been once in the autumn, crossing the continent from Bezerkeley to Vt. in October. this was, mmmm. at least 40 years ago. we spent the night at Dinosaur Monument (CO). the drive from Utah into Colorado was spectacular. after a night and day at Dinosaur, we drove across Colorado at night surrounded by lightening in the mountains. Rocky Mtn high! wonderful photos! thanks.

wishing you a great trip and happy new thread. :)

Hi Ellen. I've been to Salt Lake City 3 times and remember it as one of the most stunning American places I visited. I was there for work (a gas pipeline financing) and nearly got stuck there just before Christmas Eve in 2000 because of awful weather. And I have the book written by the owner of The King's English and would love to go there! The book lists in the book are really good. Doh, I can't remember the book's name.

If you read Knots and Crosses I might read it too - I have owned it for years and have never got round to it.

Hi Ellen, enjoy your time in Salt Lake City, I haven't been there in a number of years but I remember it's beauty. Your opening pictures show what a picturesque setting it is in. Hope this trip gives you some room to breath before you have to get back to the daily grind.

WOW! What beautiful opening photos!

The photography class showed us how to take pictures of the Olympics from Seattle that look just like your first picture! Can you imagine?

Hi Ellen. I'm reading all your posts about SLC with interest. We're hoping to make a visit there next month. Like Cushla, I also have the book The King's English by Betsy Burton about that bookstore although I've never been.

Hi Nancy,
Well, I'm sorry you've never been first, but I'll always try to save spot #17 for you.
I'm glad you liked my review of The Plague of Doves.

Beth,
I am loving Lucy Gault. It is, at this point, headed toward a 5-star review.
I had a wonderful time at the bookshop in Salt Lake City. More about that in a moment. :-)

Hi Karen,
My trip was top notch. I'm back home now, happily settled into one of my favorite chairs with a glass of wine and my laptop. The bookshop in SLC far exceeded my expectations.

Kath,
Cee is definitely so right. She often is.
And you are right that I have been much the traveler lately. I enjoy it although I am always happy to come home (which is where I am right now).

Lucy,
I have a bunch of trips in a row right now (but I truly don't travel nearly as much as Caro!).
Next up is Hawaii in four weeks, then Montana in April for a conference, then Michigan later in April for a mid-year meeting.
After that, I'll stay put for a while.

Diana,
I'm glad you like my new thread. Thanks for visiting!

Lisa,
Thank you for the congratulations!
You had not told me about meeting your husband at the Edgewater. Nice place. I've only been there once, for a martini that cost about $15.....
P and I met at a meeting at the university where we both used to work. Not very romantic, but, well, really it was. She had a red convertible mustang at the time. Wild one. :-)

Paul,
I am now home from SLC (just in time -- they were about to get a rainy Sunday!).
My address is happily sitting in a PM on your profile page.
I can't wait to see what you've picked out for me!

Ellie,
I love your description of your one and only trip to SLC. It is an amazingly beautiful city and I was very impressed with how unpretentious most of the houses were. I could live there......
My visit there was excellent (both productive and fun) and I'm glad to be home in time to spend Sunday with my partner and my cat. :-)

Cushla,
I wonder if that was the book they tried to sell me. I would have purchased it but for having to lug it home (I only bought one book so I should have purchased it). Maybe not. The one they wanted me to buy (when they found out I was from Seattle and that I'm starting to "collect" bookshops) is a series of short essays by authors about their favorite indie bookstores. Unfortunately, I didn't really note its title.....

Judy,
You are so sweet. The trip gave me just the down time that I needed, even though it was a work-related visit. More about that in a moment, but I got some quiet reading time and I got to walk my new best friend, Flash (a golden retriever) in that gorgeous setting!!

Hi Linda,
I'm glad you like my new thread. Thanks for stopping by.

Karen,
Well, I don't know if I can imagine but I'll look forward to seeing photos on your thread(s). :-)

Pat,
Ah ha. So there is a book about that bookshop? Hmmm. I will investigate.
I'm assuming that if you do go there next month you will visit the bookshop. If you do, I highly recommend that you get lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant right next door, Mazza. The four-dish sampler plate with hummus and baba ganoush and the "Harra" potatoes and the Muhamara (YUM) was really delicious.
Muhamara: "This traditional Aleppan dip is made with walnuts, pomegranate molasses, toasted bread crumbs, olive oil, roasted bell peppers & spices, ground to a paste and served with lettuce leaves."

The King's English bookshop in Salt Lake City:

Inside the King's English Bookshop

As my friend Lauren and I were wandering around this wonderful bookshop (which had a much more diverse and esoteric inventory than I expected) having the usual extroverts' bookshop conversation ("have you read this?" "no, but I own it" "oh, you have to read this!"), a young man (age 16?) came up to me and asked if I could help him.

Well. Of course.
He said "I don't know what to read next."
Okay. What do you like? What were your favorite two last reads?
"I like Gaiman."
Have you read Ready Player One?
"Yes, and I liked it."
Okay. Hmmmm.....

We ended up recommending Cloud Atlas and The Night Circus and Indian Killer. He bought the first two but not the latter. I also told him about Librarything.com and said "in addition to easily killing a couple of hours" that you could input what you like and get recommendations. He said he would check it out.

He thanked us.

This was one of my favorite experiences EVER in a bookshop.
The King's English is a bookstore I would visit again and again. They were wonderful.
Oh, and I bought two books.
For me: Proud Beggars by Albert Cossery
For Lauren: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Okay Ellen, you are putting my Vancouver picture to shame! Gorgeous pix of Salt Lake City! I had no idea!What a wonderful bookshop! I had a pleasant experience today from a young man on the staff at my local big box bookstore. He said "You are one of my favourite people" What are you reading? And he proceeded to take notes and also to tell me about his recent favorite book. Part of me is embarrassed that they know me at the big box bookstore.

WOW, that is a beautiful bookshop! Thanks for posting the pictures.. vicarious enjoyment on my part.
Have you read Mr Penumbra's? You should. Really.

I have Lucy Gault on request at work .. so thank you for that :)

I'm glad you are safe home....

Awe, what an adorable bookstore story! You have a very warm vibe, so it's not surprising.

It sounds like it was great trip. I hope you're able to relax today!

Thanks for sharing the bookshop experience! Very cool! Love the pics!

I love having fun book conversations with strangers and being able to give recommendations!

What an amazing bookshop experience! And great book suggestions :)

Ellen, I'll be watching for your new friend/LT convert. I keep talking up the virtues of LibraryThing to my book group but so far no takers. I think I'll have to take my iPad in and actually show them what can be done. Every real reader should be a member here! I also like the looks of that book store. I am so sad about the situation here with my favorite used bookstores closing. I've lost two great book places to visit in the past four years... and that doesn't even count Borders which I much preferred over B & N. Woe is me!

I too collect bookshops. I have my favorites posted on my profile page here on LT. OK. I list all of the bookshops I visit, except for the bookshops located at Nationsl Parks and Monumnets. I usually end up buying books at each one. They are so mucho unto visit and each has it's own sort of personality.

I have told people abut LT but so far haven't gotten many takers. Most of the people I know use Goodreads. I am not sure why.

Wow, Ellen, now I'm really enthused about a trip to SLC and The King's English bookstore. I need to get out my copy of the book and read it before we go. And the other thing I was going to ask you was for restaurant recommendations. How wonderful that there's a good place to eat next door. So glad you had such a good time.

Deb,
It's just that there are so many beautiful places in this world! You do live in one of them.
And interactions with friendly people in bookstores is one of life's great pleasures. Right up there with wine and books themselves.

Kath,
I have not yet read Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore but I will put it on the list. I think I remember folks talking about it around here.

Kerri,
What a sweet thing to say. I'm having a wonderful day. Not so relaxed, perhaps, because we moved a bunch of wine from our locker to our basement (we have got some drinking to do!), but it's been fun and productive. P is making a cake, and then we are having salmon and a 2000 Bordeaux for dinner. And probably some kind of veggie...... :-|

Mark,
Good to see you! It really was a fun exchange (and busted my stereotype of the average 16-year-old boy).

Morphy,
I know. I sometimes worry that I'm just too full of myself and too opinionated, but he seemed to really appreciate our taking the time to help him. And the bookstore workers clearly appreciated our enthusiasm as we browsed the shelves.

Chelle,
I hope he likes them!

Donna,
It's very sad how many bookshops your community has lost. I think it must be very hard to keep a bookstore running. The community has to be just right and I do think Borders and B&N ate up a chunk of the demand. And now with e-readers.....
Well, just come on to Seattle for a visit anytime!

Benita,
I don't think I've successfully turned anyone on to LT yet, either, but I'm not sure I would know. And I agree with you about each bookshop having its own personality. It's one of the great joys. There is one here in town which has a decent small selection but it doesn't have a vibe I like much. I mean, it's not terrible (since it is a bookstore) but it doesn't call for me to return.

Pat,
If I can remember the other two restaurants at which we dined, I'll let you know. One was a good Mexican place (excellent margaritas) in the industrial neighborhood and the other was a good tapas place right across from the City Creek shopping area (and down the street from The Cheesecake Factory).

>35 EBT1002: ohhh, thats nice looking.
The chances of me getting to that book shop in my lifetime are limited, but Im willing to try! Ill just add it to the list of places that will be "must visits" in my mythical/hopefully eventual road trip of the states.

Well, I'm going to assume you loved this wonderful sunny Sunday in Seattle! And that you are now comfortably ensconced in your home, tipping the wine glasses happily. When you have a chance go to both my book jounals and see pictures from the Arboretum at 8 am this morning. It was interesting and I definitely learned something. I am tired, and wonder if I will survive the month of March. So much going on......

Love the bookstore story!

Ellen, your bookstore story is just one more reason why I love going to a real bookstore. People in bookstores are generally friendly, helpful and love to talk to each other. I love it when you pull a book off the shelf and someone comes up to you and wants to tell you why you must read that book. Bookstores are a great way to while away an hour or so!

Loving that bookstore! Good for you for helping the young guy like that - and good for him for asking you all.

I'll join Kath in recommending Mr. Penumbra's. Mark and I both liked it, too.

Jumping out of lurk to say, "Me, too! Me, too!" for Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I've just started it, and I was hooked right away. I can't wait to read more, but I find myself kind of not wanting it to go too fast, so I slow down. I'm very grateful to LT for yet another wonderful recommended book.

Karen O.

The King's English story is a heart-warmer. *smooch* for a good trip, a good deed, and a very good read on the way!

15. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
5 stars

In Ireland in the early 1920s, there are troubles and the Gault family decides to move to England after a series of ugly local incidents make them afraid for their lives. Young Lucy (age 9 or so) doesn't want to leave the seaside farm and estate on which she has been growing up. She expresses this sentiment but her parents insist that they must go. The day before they are to leave, Lucy runs away. A set of unlucky coincidences lead her parents to conclude that she is dead, drowned in the sea she has always loved. This is the story of their lives after this ill-fated series of events. This novel is beautiful and heartbreaking and absolutely enthralling. William Trevor is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

I read this for my challenge to read 13 Booker nominees in 2013. Lucy Gault was nominated in 2002, the year that Life of Pi won the award. I loved them both but I would probably have placed Lucy Gault higher in my own rankings. This one took my breath away.

Wow, 5 stars, that's pretty compelling. I wonder if I can fit it in this month . . .

I absolutely LOVE your thread topping pictures!! Especially the Great Salt Lake. So very gorgeous.

What an awesome bookstore experience! Makes me smile just reading about it!

#55 - I'm not sure I'm in the mood right now, but I definitely have to read this at some point. I keep hearing such good things.

Have a lovely Tuesday!

>56 phebj: Pat,
It's a relatively short novel so if you can fit it in, I recommend doing so. Or next month; it will still be there. :-)

>57 TinaV95: Tina,
I'm glad you like the thread-toppers. It's fun each time to try to find something I like with which to "open" my new thread.

>58 DorsVenabili: Kerri,
I do think one would need to be in the mood although its neither gruesome nor in-the-moment upsetting. The heartbreak is more like an ache than like a stab.
Happy Tuesday to you, as well, my friend!

I've only read Trevor's short stories...... I should get hold of Lucy Gault it sounds like. Fine review, Ellen.

>48 LovingLit: Megan,
I'm sure I would not have said Salt Lake City should be on your "must visit" cities prior to this trip but it is beautiful and interesting, and it has this bookshop. It went way up on my list of cities (yet is still probably not in my top-ten US cities to visit -- I'll have to think about that list, even being much less well-traveled than some of our LT mates).

>49 maggie1944: Karen,
I had a wonderful Sunday. That little spell of sunny weather was much appreciated (and I understand we'll get rain today). I will go check out your thread ----

>50 sibylline: Lucy,
I thought folks around here would appreciate that bookshop interaction!

>51 DeltaQueen50: Judy,
I agree with your assessment of bookshop people. I think knitters/crocheters would say the same thing about yarn stores and I can enjoy the look and feel of the merchandise in a really good yarn store (and it always makes me think I want to take up knitting), but there is nothing, nothing like a good bookshop and its inhabitants.

>52 jnwelch: Joe,
I know. The "kid" gets some major kudos for approaching us.
I'll add Mr. Penumbra's to my wish list. You and Mark and Kath are a trustworthy threesome.

>53 klobrien2: Karen,
Thanks for de-lurking and okay, now it's a fearsome foursome recommending Mr. Penumbra's. I will go to the library website today. :-)

>54 richardderus: Richard,
I warmed your heart?
Really?
Well, the young man warmed your heart, I suppose..... (ahem) I will say that he was both easy on the eyes and delightfully intellectually curious. And so polite!
*smooch* back at ya and warm wishes for a pain-free Tuesday!

Currently reading:

Listening to Adele.

I seem to have the blues this morning. Feeling overworked and missing my Edgar. :-(

It's Wednesday, though, so I can make it through the week. P and I are meeting at the library this evening and tomorrow the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament starts here in Seattle.
It will all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

Hi Ellen! I love your adventure at The King's English bookstore and I think you gave the lad excellent recommendations. : ) And then I find another recommendation for Lucy Gault. Guess I will have to keep an eye out for that one. I mean five stars and all....Hope the blues go away-- I love Adele, but I am not sure that will be the pick-me-up you need. Her voice is so beautiful, but she is rather poignant! Hugs.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Ellen. I too have a song that reminds me of my dear cat Poo Bear (no 'h' on purpose), who died in 2011. It's "Plea From a Cat Named Virtute" and I cry every time I hear it, so I understand. Actually the song had always made me cry, but now it's worse. Take care.

However, Yay for Women's Basketball!

Ok. I need to get off LT now.

Hi, and I know what you mean. Feeling overworked can be frustrating because there is not always an obvious way to change things around so that the overworkedness goes away for good. Which it should. We (IMHO) were not put on earth to overwork. Life..... ah, you know, balance......

I hope the ball games help lift your spirits! *hugs*

ETA: I miss Nicky, a lot, too.

Kim,
I'm chuckling at your comment that Adele might not be "the pick-me-up" I need..... Indeed! More like a good wallow.
I got on the bus, I read Knots and Crosses all the way to work, and now I'm busy, busy, busy. It's better. I'm better.
Thanks for the hugs.

Kerri,
Edgar died in 2011, too. I can't believe how much I still miss him sometimes. Nutty. I don't know that song but will google it later. Thanks to you, as well, for the hugs.
Re: getting off LT --- sometimes I feel like I have to physically pry myself away from this place!

Karen,
I don't mind being busy but when I feel like I can't keep up, it makes me anxious and I don't think it's good for my heart. I have to remind myself to breathe. My mother died at age 61 of heart disease. I take better care of myself than she did, but I'm 52 and I know I need to take it easy sometimes.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
I bet your missing Nicky is still quite raw at times. Consider yourself hugged.

I like that Breathe In, Breathe Out, idea! What a good thing to do.

I went and had a hair cut and a manicure. Sometimes those are good relaxation exercises, too.

Yes, the Nickster is missed. Even Jocelyn every once in a while says she misses him, although she love, love, loves Benny Boy. And he loves her. They are fun to watch together.

Greta is sitting on my lap getting her lovin' as I type. Typing around a 20 lbs dog is fun!

Can you even believe that we live in a world where that life of pee thing wins a major literary prize, still less thieves it away from something as extraordinary as The Story of Lucy Gault?

Happy end-of-humpday, me deario.

#68 - I'm not sure the actual song would be your cup of tea (but, really, what do I know?), but here is a link to the lyrics - one of my favorite bands (http://www.theweakerthans.org/discography/lyrics/reconstructionsite/05plea.html). It's from the perspective of a cat who is trying to reason with her depressed human friend. It sounds goofy, but it's actually quite touching. And I just read that it was on an NPR segment about songs that make people cry, so I'm not completely ridiculous. : )

OMG The Story by Sara Ramirez... if you PM me your email, I will send the song to you .. it sounds better than the ones on YouTube..

Is one of my wallowing songs..
I love Sara! And Melissa.. I wallow to Melissa Etheridge a lot.

Drat. Now I'm wallowing with Sara.. God I adore her... and she is gorgeous.. just my type dare I say..

Karen,
Typing around a 20 lbs dog is fun!
Ha! That takes talent!

Richard,
I mayhaps liked Life of Pi more than you, but Lucy Gault should clearly have been the winner. As Rhian said over on my Four Thirteens challenge, his writing is the sort that convinces me that every single word was chosen with careful intent.
I'm thrilled to have humpday over with. Onto the second half of the week! :-D

Kerri,
Well, since music has so much capacity to move, I think you can safely settle into "not ridiculous" with confidence. I love the lyrics; will try to find the actual song later on.

Kath,
I will PM you my email address. I don't know Sara Ramirez' work but it sounds like I should do.
I don't know if she'll remember this, but I have told P that I want her to play Melissa Etheridge's "Talking to My Angel" at my wake.

Off to hop on the bus, thinking I can finish Knots and Crosses before I get to my stop!

So pleased that William Trevor met with such acclaim! One of my absolute favourites.
Surprisingly Ian Rankin seems to have been good therapy my dear. A good start to a great series IMO (Note to Self: Catch up with some Rebus soon!).

16. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
3.5 stars

I almost gave this four stars but I wanted just a little more bite from it, especially in developing a real sense of Rebus' relationships with women. Still, this was a very enjoyable first-in-the series featuring Edinburgh police detective John Rebus. He's a bit hard-edged and a hard drinker, but definitely a good guy. I will certainly be reading the next in the series.

Paul,
Yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I wanted an easy read that "sucked me in" without being fluffy or cozy. Rebus was perfect. And regarding William Trevor, I will certainly be reading more by that fine author! I'm glad you encouraged me to give him a try.

Next up (or, to quote the inimitable John Cleese, "now for something really different"):

Someone wanted the link to this picture:



I know it wasn't Richard but I can't remember who it was.....

I'll probably be a bit awol for a few days but at least it won't be just work keeping me away. The Pac-12 women's basketball tournament is being hosted in town and we have tickets. We'll see how much reading I can get done on the bus rides and in between games. :-|

#81 - That sounds like a great reason to be awol. Have a wonderful time!

I plan to read Pow! in the next few days, too.

Have a great time at the PAC-12 tournament. I'm disappointed that the women's team at my undergraduate alma mater, Rutgers, has slipped into mediocrity recently, after being a national power for many years (which included a loss in the national championship game to Candace Parker and Tennessee in 2007). RU (16-13 overall, 7-9 Big East) will miss the tournament this year, unless they miraculously win the Big East Tournament by defeating several nationally ranked teams, including #2 Notre Dame and/or #3 UConn (not gonna happen). At least they're better than the women of Pitt (9-20 overall, 0-16 Big East).

I love Melissa Etheridge's "Talking to My Angel".. but I like most of her music. Have loads of fun at the tournament! We'll see ya when we see ya!

Hi Ellen, I'm a little behind again so just noticed the pic of the very unassuming bookstore you visited and the very cool conversation which took place. So many bookshops seem rather snobby if you're not a regular so I'm glad you found a nice one.

I wishlisted your 5 star book as well. I see that Mark also enjoyed The Story of Lucy Gault so it looks like a winner to me.

Which Hawaiin island are you headed to next month?

Ellen, I am sorry I could not fit the Pac-12 games into my schedule, but I do know that I am hankering for the Storm's season to get going. I want my basketball fix!

(*whispering* I am tempted to see what I can do with the camera at the games, but I think I'll skip it*)

I do not know how you get all your reading done, along with your busy job, and now a great basketball tourney to attend! Have fun!

Kerri,
I am very much looking forward to the tournament. It's usually been in the Bay area which has certainly helped Stanford win it most years (not that they need much help), so it's fun that Seattle is hosting it. I hope lots of people from lots of other Pac-12 cities come and spend a bit of money. :-)

Darryl,
I have been a Rutgers fan because C. Vivian Stringer was the coach at Iowa the one year I lived and worked there (my pre-doctoral internship). She took that team to the tournament and it was great fun. It's hard to know why they have fallen off in the past couple of years other than generally increasing parity in the women's game. There are a handful of teams that continue to own top spots (UConn, Tennessee, Stanford) but they have moved around more and other teams have moved in and out of those spots (Baylor, Notre Dame, Cal, Duke, Maryland......). It's more fun, frankly, for those of us who don't live or work or hold fealty to the big two!

Kath,
Thank you, m'dear. I will have fun, especially if the UW Huskies can win a game or two. They should win tonight against the basement-dwelling Oregon Ducks, but one never knows.....

Lynda,
Good to see you and I'm glad you enjoyed my bookstore story!
We are headed to our old favorite, Kauai, later this month and I can't wait!!
Next year, we seem to be deciding, we'll take a long vacation during the summer and go walk the West Highland Way (Scotland) for P's 60th birthday......

Karen,
I think it would be great fun to try some photography at the basketball games. I don't know when the Storm season starts, although I know it's after the men are done with the arenas. That has always bothered me --- that the women have to wait until the men are done, then they can use the arenas. It means the women play during the summer which is nice in some geographical locations but in Seattle I want to be outside during the summer. Hence my preference for Mariners games.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, time to get ready for work. I was thinking about switching up my reading material and starting on Swimming Home instead of Pow! because it's a smaller volume that will be easier to carry on the buses and read during half-time and between games. Not sure yet what I'll decide.

17. Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs
2.5 stars

This graphic memoir of the author's parents' marriage is sweet and entertaining but lacks the depth of some of my favorites like Fun Home and Stitches and Maus. The tension in the marriage between Ethel and Ernest is evident, as is their deep love for one another, but the story progresses in a choppy manner and nothing unexpected happens.

Hello Ellen! Have fun during the basketball tournament. Thank you for checking in on me. RL has been a little crazy lately but then somehow it always is and yet we manage. :)

I'm going to wish list the Rankin book at the library.

I'll join Roberta in wishing you a good time during the b-ball tournament. Don't worry that a party might break out here while you're awol-occupied. Can't imagine that ever happening.

Joe I was just thinking that Ellen's March thread needed a new party soon!

Hi Ellen- I am glad you loved Lucy Gault. For me, it flagged a bit in the last 1/3rd, which kept it from a higher rating. Still a very good book. I want to try his short fiction.
I have still not read Rankin or Mo Yan. And I think I am well-read. Pshaw! Hope your week is going well.

Hi Ellen. I'm currently reading both Lucy Gault (just started it) and Ethel and Ernest (about halfway through). What I like best about E&E are the illustrations.

Have fun with the basketball tournament.

Roberta and Joe,
Feel free to party away! I didn't leave any beer (or bears) in the fridge this time, though.

Mark,
I do recommend Trevor's short stories (I've only read one collection but it was awesome). I haven't yet read Mo Yan, so we're in the same boat there.

Pat,
I love that our reading is so parallel right now. I also liked the illustrations in E&E, but I wanted more meat to the story.

I'm in the last five minutes of my work day. May they be a quiet five minutes.

Happy Thursday evening to you Ellen. I very much enjoyed your review of Lucy Gault.
I think Kath finished this recently and also liked it. I will be sure to read it after I plow through about 30 library books I've managed to check out.

Maybe, you'll give me the nudge I need to read Mo Yan!

Howdy Ellen! Have fun with your AWOL basketball weekend!! :)

go Huskies--i'll be watching the score in about half an hour as we don't get PAC-12 here. hope you have a fantasmagorical time.

i'm the one that wanted the link to le chat in le snow over at RDs. :)

we've lost three of our furry fellows in the last year and a half. i keep thinking i see Sundance, who died around this time last year, b/c he sent us Cody about 3 months later. they WILL DO that. when it comes to beasts, both J and I have stamps on our foreheads reading "spineless simp!" so it ain't hard.

amazing how long the sad lasts, though, huh?

p.s. Go Bears!

and here's some Husky spirit food:



and a few recyclable utensils and plates and such . . . just in case Ellen wants to party when she gets back.

I am SO jealous of your weekend of basketball!

heavenly betsies, Ellen. you must be a thing of rags and tatters. ESPN's gamecast went flopbott for at least an hour at which time Oregon was ahead, raining treys and the Huskies were shooting something like 23% and getting out rebounded on the D boards. ghastly. never did get the box score back but the overall score finally started refreshing with about 3 minutes left. maybe tomorrow will look a bit better!

all's well as ends well.

Oh, my! Huskies Women!

#88 Sorry you didn't like Ethel and Ernest too much Ellen. It is a very different book from Stitches or Fun Home, but the fact that it was the story of a quiet life lived quietly resonated quite strongly with me.

oooh cupcakes! Are they blue?

The week is basically over, and I hope the weekend is a fun and happy one for you.

:)

Ellen, I have a vague memory of reading Lucy Gault when it first came out. Perhaps a reread is in order to refresh my memory. *sigh* There are so many new books I want to read too. If I had a day job, I'd have to quit it!

Have a good weekend, Ellen!

Have fun with your basketball, Ellen.

Just wanted to drop in quickly from London to say I'm glad Lucy Gault found another fan!! Love that book!

Congratulations! I'm a Big 12 alum, and their tourney starts today. Guess you know who I'll be rooting for in the NCAA tourney...

I love that kitten in the snow. Such an intrepid little one.

I love the Huskies Purple and Gold! Go Husky Women!!!!

Oh its basketball??! It took me a while to get what sport was being talked about.....
Have fun away Ellen!
And welcome home Ellen! (as when you read this surely you'll be home already?)

#110
I am a Big 8 alum. I simply refuse to call it the Big 12. As far as I am concerned it went to hell when Texas teams joined. Texas athletics fouled its own nest and now they keep doing it in other leagues. And now they have jumped ship and taken that less than honorable UNL with them. Shame on them! I am a firm believer that every team in a league ought to play every other team in that league during a season and there should be none of this two division and a championship crap for football. Clearly basketball is the better game because the league structure is better. Basketball rules!

#70
Richard, I agree with you about Life of Pi - mediocre at best. Can't address Lucy Gault because I haven't read it. Another to add to the list.

Like you, I had a brutal week at work. I will be headed out for Franklin, TN tomorrow to interview a videographer. My family is doing a family history and I am the point person for the project. I also tired but will have peace and quiet for four hours in the car. I have my current recorded book to keep me company and will have plenty of Starbucks along the way.

I am going to have to add Lucy Gault to my wish list.

sorry about the loss, Ellen. i was hopeful.

>87 EBT1002: Ellen, Rutgers' decline came after their national runner up finish in 2007, when Coach Stringer recruited five highly touted freshmen to the team. Unfortunately several of them were selfish prima donnas who balked under Stringer's tough tutelage and team first, me second approach, and they completely destroyed the team's chemistry as a result. Three of four of them transferred to other schools, but the program hasn't yet recovered from that debacle. At the same time the other teams in the Big East, especially Notre Dame, Syracuse and Louisville, improved their programs significantly, so the conference became a much tougher one from top to bottom. Unfortunately Rutgers's team is as bad now as I've ever seen it, and although I hate to say it, I wonder if it's time to bring a new coach to campus, especially given our upcoming move to the Big Ten Conference in 2014.

I'm sorry to see that the Dawgs lost to Colorado last night. Do you think that UW has a shot to make the NCAA tournament?

My women's basketball teams (Rutgers and Pitt) have no hope to do anything in the Big East tournament or make the NCAA tournament, and the same holds true for Rutgers's men's team. Pitt's men, however, are ranked 20th nationally (23-7 overall, 11-6 in the Big East), and they will close their regular season this afternoon with what should be an easy win against DePaul, the conference's last place team. The Panthers will definitely make the NCAA tournament, regardless of what happens in the Big East tournament, and right now they are projected as a #5 seed.

I'll come back to respond to everyone later, but did want to reply to Darryl's question about the UW women. I think they had to beat Colorado to make the NCAA tourney. We're pretty confident they'll play in the WNIT, but they never beat any of the top four teams in the PAC-12. Still, having been picked for ninth and finishing fifth in the regular season isn't all bad.

I definitely agree about Rutgers and the possibility of a new coach. Sometimes chemistry and history are the hardest things to shift in a program's dynamics. Our current coach, Kevin McGuff, is in his second year (came to us from Xavier) and in those two years he has absolutely turned the team around. Prior to McGuff, we had a coach whom I wanted very much to see be successful. Tia Jackson had played for C. Vivian Stringer at Iowa and had been an assistant coach (at Rutgers?). She is now one of Stringer's assistant coaches. When she was here, she was terrible. The energy and dynamics of the team were really bad and we watched several players be coached down from their potential.

Okay, off to do yard work with friends and get ready for tonight's games. My team is out of it but I expect some great basketball: UCLA vs Cal and Stanford vs Colorado.

18. Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
3.5 stars

This Booker short-listed novel is very interesting. Levy effectively explores the dynamics of desire, longing, and loneliness and her dream-like narrative is at times humorous and at times terribly sad. It will be interesting to see if I end up increasing my rating as this novel sits with me. I have a feeling it's one of those whose scenes will hang around in my consciousness. My main quibble is idiosyncratic: I like characterization with depth and breadth, and that is simply not what Levy is about with this work. She is interested in exploring the effect of desire and longing on relationship dynamics, especially a relationship system (family, extended friendship group, community). Even as I write, I am struck by how well she did this. My rating seems likely to increase.

I've now definitely started reading Pow! and I'm already intrigued and excited about what it is going to bring.

One brief comment about the women's basketball tournament. It's taking place at KeyArena and every team in the PAC-12 gets to participate. We're down to four teams now, but Thursday and Friday brought a lot of basketball - four games per day. Seattleites who wanted to attend the full tournament spent a lot of time sitting in the arena and some of that time was pretty dull (between games, half-time, etc.). Many of us in my section were amused by how many people were sitting in the stands at this basketball tournament reading!! Books, Kindles, The New Yorker......
There were also a number of people working on the Seattle Times crossword puzzle. It was so cool.

I'm glad you liked Swimming Home Ellen. I gave it a four star rating, but when we had our Booker Prize short list discussion nobody else was particularly taken with it: the general opinion was that it didn't warrant its place on the shortlist. But I still think it's a well written book which I enjoyed.

I came lookin' for the party...I'd be disappointed except I got SIX BOXES of Thin Mints in the mail today from a very kind friend in Wisconsin!

Ellen - The basketball weekend seems as much about sweet and rather yummy looking food than it does about the game itself! Are all the ladies very tall?
Have a lovely time. x

I noticed at a recent softball game that between innings, etc. there were people reading Kindles. Didn't see any paper copies of anything, except mine Big Rock Candy Mountain but did find it amusing to watch others passing the time.

Looks like I won't be a Booktopia this June. My friend delayed too long and when I decided to register without her I couldn't get in. I will check about a wait list.

Hi Ellen - Oh poop, I'm sorry your team lost. However, it sounds like it's been a fun weekend of basketball anyway.

#119 - I believe I gave Swimming Home four stars. I think it's well done, but it doesn't quite have what I'm looking for in a novel (whatever that is - too lazy to articulate it at this particular moment). I think you're exactly right about lack of character depth.

Oh dear... so your team didn't win? Well... I hope they had fun playing and you had fun watching!
But now, here it is Monday again. Boo!

Well, I may never catch up on my own thread, but I'll give it a try:

Linda,
When you get to Lucy Gault, I predict you will enjoy it.

Mark,
I'm now well into Pow! and I can say that so far Mo Yan is a very interesting writer. I think there are things I'm not "getting," but so far he is falling into the "I will recommend" category.

Tina,
Hello and thanks for the good wishes!

Ellie,
I left the url in a PM for you. Your CalBears fell to a very good UCLA team that almost upset Stanford in the PAC-12 Championship last night. I know the Bears will still go the Big Dance.
And thank you for the purple and gold cupcakes! And party supplies!

Roni,
It was a fun weekend with enough basketball to last me a while. The women's Pac-12 tournament is booked to be in Seattle for three years, at least, so we'll be doing this again next year.

Ellie,
that game against the evil Ducks was horrific! Their threes were just dropping like mad and the place was silent. THEN the Huskies worked their way back. Winning after being down by 22 points set a UW record. It was amazing and it was so fun to see those downtrodden Ducks leave the floor. It must have felt awful to be up by 22 and then lose the game.

Rhian,
I did like Ethel & Ernest, just not as much as some others.

Kath,
Thanks for stopping by and wishing me a good weekend. It was a hum-dinger, and not just because of basketball.
More about that soon.

Donna,
LOL -- "if I had a day job I'd have to quit" --- don't I know the feeling! I love my job but part of me does think it would be swell to have more time to read!

Diana and Beth,
Thanks to you both for stopping by and wishing me fun.

Katie,
From London!! Thanks - and I'm glad to have joined the ranks of Lucy Gault fans.

Joe,
Thanks for the purple flowers and U-Dub snacks!

Roni,
Hmmmm... Big 12. Maybe you are a Baylor fan? They look good to win it all.

Lucy,
The kitten in the snow is pretty cute, isn't she? I want to hold her and warm up her little paws.

Karen,
The Dawgs did as expected, no better and no worse. Maybe next year they'll have more of a presence in the paint.

Megan,
March Madness is almost upon us here in the U.S. There will be college basketball talk on many threads. Maybe too many...

Oh goodie! A humdinger of a weekend!
Waiting impatiently to hear your shananigans :)

I started a new book Life after Life by McCorkle. LTER It's about nursing home residents and for some reason I thought it would be humorous.
Wrong! *sigh* What did I get myself into now??? I'm not too far. Maybe it will get a bit lighter... or not.

Benita,
I do recommend Lucy Gault for you. I think you would like it.

Ellie,
Thanks for the condolences. It's okay that the Huskies lost. Colorado had more talent when you come right down to it.

Rhian,
I am still not sure what I think about Swimming Home. I've since gotten fully immersed in Pow! which is so very different....

Richard,
Not much of a party this time around. I think folks want me to be present before they get up to their full shenanigans again. I'm glad you stopped by, though.
I love thin mint cookies! You did mean cookies, right?
Baskin Robbins used to have a Girl Scout thin mint ice cream that was pretty good.....

Paul,
LOL -- most of the ladies are very tall. I love watching some of the coaches look up to their entire team!
Since I'm 5'1", even the shortest of the point guards seem tall to me.

Benita,
I enjoyed all the reading that was going on between games. I do sometimes take a book to Mariners games with me, too, but I admit that I don't usually get many pages read.

Kerri,
I, too, am having a hard time capturing what was missing for me in Swimming Home. Still, four stars (or 3.5 stars from me) is not too shabby.

Kath,
I did enjoy watching. Sometimes I enjoy it more when my team is not playing because I can just enjoy the game and look for good athletic plays without my emotions being in the mix.

Cee,
Well, you can always Pearl-rule it, but maybe it's a good one to stick with. Maybe if you do a tag-search for "humor" a good next book will come up for you!
Now, you asked about my shenanigans this weekend.....

We actually didn't go to the Saturday basketball games because our friends, Jen and Sara, came over for a work party. After a 36-minute run Sara and I pruned our Japanese Maples while P and Jen went down to the p-patch and replaced the boundary boards on our garden plot. Then we had soup. Yum. Then they suggested that we put together and install the IKEA bathroom vanity and sink we bought a couple of months ago...... Well, that project turned out to be much more involved than any of us expected! Still, we now have a lovely new vanity (with drawers!!) in our downstairs bath. It's wonderful! The old pedestal sink looked fine but I love this one and I love the additional storage.

After the project, we all went out for pizza and wine, and then P & I watched the second semi-final game on telly. We were pretty worn out.

Yesterday was a bit more restful and included some time with Pow! by Mo Yan. Very interesting writer.

Now, as Kath says, it's Monday and I'm back at work.

Oh, I think I forgot to mention that on Friday I had the hearing associated with that budget report I was working on last month. The hearing went very well and I'm optimistic that the students will vote to support our request for next year. They seem to appreciate my straightforward way of dealing with them and their responsibility to manage the money students pay for the Services and Activities fee.

Good Monday, Ellen.

Congratulations on the hearing going well. I'm impressed, and I bet the students will be, too.

I am going to the F2F book group tonight with only 200 pages finished in the 700 page book. Oh, well, I will enjoy hearing everyone else tell me why they did not finish it, or what they thought when they did finish.

I had a great time this weekend with the camera. Here's a "taste" of spring from the downtown Bellevue park:

Wow - productive weekend! Good job! I'm impressed :-)

Wish I could say the same - but I spent what little time I had (after company left) resting and washing sheets/towels.
I tried to read but wound up falling asleep until the washer sang its little ending song.
Now it looks like my sister will be coming up on Friday. I predict another weekend w/o getting anything done.
Summer company is starting early this year... :P~

Karen
Thank you for posting that lovely photo! I'm excited to see daffodils blooming as well as some of the earliest trees (cherries? flowering plums?). Our wild currant is covered with blooms!
I'm planning to attend tonight having read not one word of our assigned book. But, I do have two books (also unread) to return to you.

Cee,
We'd never have gotten the project(s) done without our friends. They are about 15-20 years younger than we, and very energetic and excellent project people. It was our pleasure to buy them dinner and give them a nice bottle of Pinot Noir in thanks.
I know the feeling of not getting things done --- and once you're behind it just takes a while to catch up!
I hope you get a wee bit of down time this week.

I forgot to mention that after the budget hearing on Friday, I treated myself to a browse at the Bookstore in the Union building (on campus).
As a reward for the hearing, I picked up a copy of Sandalwood Death by Mo Yan.

Then, just now, I let myself wander up to The Magus (used bookstore I wrote about a few weeks ago) and picked up used copies of
Felicia's Journey by William Trevor
Love and Summer by William Trevor
My House in Umbria by William Trevor

My attachment to him is official.

Greetings you Trevorista you! Sounds like a nice way to spend Monday.

oh! I think I must plan a field trip to the UW campus, and perhaps take some nostalgic pictures, visit the new HUB, and see the book store, there.

hmmm

what a nice day that might be

>138 EBT1002: My attachment to him is official.
lol. looks to be the case!

So, are you still up for reading the Great Gatsby? I am thinking to start it in about a week, so am giving you planning time, although I am sure you'll be able to squeeze it in as its only small ;)

Ill start a GR thread soon.

New vanity and yard work ... sounds very productive, well done..!

Richard,
One must find ways to make Monday more tolerable. :-|

Karen,
If you plan a field trip, let me know. Perhaps we can meet for coffee in between your book browsing and photo taking.

Megan,
Sure! I need to see if I have a copy. If not, I'm guessing they have some at the used bookstore. The young man with whom I had dinner in Salt Lake a couple of weeks ago (the son of my friend/colleague; he is 17 and we talked college plans) said that The Great Gatsby is one of his two favorite novels, along with Grapes of Wrath. Huh. At 17 I was not so intellectual.

Kath,
Hello my friend. It was a productive weekend and I'm still exhausted!

I met with a friend/colleague after work last evening, planning to go from there to my RL book group (even though I had not cracked the cover of the book we were reading). Well, one Bourbon and Ginger turned into two Bourbon and Gingers and I did not think I should drive up to Lake Forest Park. I also knew that P had a tough day at work and felt that I should come home to support her. I'm sorry to have missed friends in the book group and I understand there was a puppy there! Maybe the puppy can come back again next month...... ???

Meanwhile, P and I are starting to plan our adventure for her (ahem) 60th in 2014. We're going to hike the 96-mile West Highland Way in Scotland. It will involve training. And, of course, I'm already thinking about how I'm going to carry books for this trip. I have over a year to figure it out.

Hello Ellen! I love productive weekends like that - somehow it always makes it easier for me to get back to work on Monday. I was not well-pleased to return from my business trip (which included two weekends) to find that the hubs had decided to take a vacation while I was gone and did noting productive! He claims he "cleaned" but picking up and clearing some clutter so the cleaning lady can do her job doesn't count in my book! Good thing I love him so much or I'd be royally peeved...

#144 - sounds like an e-reader may be in your future... But what a cool trip!

Ellen, my friend, I have a very good friend who has hiked on the West Highland Way! We should be sure to let you two talk!

Did you see the puppy picture in the Book Group's thread?

A 96-mile walk as a treat...you and P woulda *loved* the Bataan Death March.

women are sooo weird

Ellen - I think your planned stroll sounds lovely -- as long as you find some nice places to stop and rest at the end of the day. You will need an ereader, to echo Katie.

Ellen- Just checking in. I know how much you liked Fun Home. I started another GN memoir called Calling Dr. Laura and it's quite good. She's also from the Pacific Northwest. There must be something in the water up there, that spark those creative juices.

Hi Ellen!

What a productive Saturday you had! I was wondering, might you send your friends over here to help with my house projects? I will give them seitan gyros and home-brewed beer.

Are you really 5'1''? You seemed taller when I met you.

What a lovely trip you're planning for P's 60th birthday! How many days will it take? I do agree with Katie and Beth that you might want to look into an ereader (do you have one? I don't remember a mention). I've been using one on trips and it works out pretty well, but then I have to bring some sort of physical book for when everyone has to turn off all electrical devices on the plane. Heaven forbid I should just sit there quietly for 15 minutes. I'm a little nutty about maximizing reading time on airplanes.

I think I'm happy about the Percy Harvin thing, and this is adorable (gosh, I love Russell Wilson): http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/12/percy-harvin-russell-wilson-alre...

Katie,
I love that story. Sometimes when I'm on a business trip and I come home to find the house in a shambles, it's all I can do not to lose it. Of course, P will remind me that she had sole parenting responsibilities while I was away. But really......
I thought about the e-reader. We shall see. I would have to get a waterproof case for it. :-)

Karen,
yes, I saw the puppy picture. I am SO bummed that I missed that meeting! I mean, I'm sad to have missed the humans, but: the puppy!

Richard,
LOL. I'm guessing there is at least one man who has hiked the West Highland Way. Maybe only one, though.
*smooch*

Beth,
Yes, this may be the thing that sends me into e-readership. I have otherwise resisted. We will take 9 days to do the whole hike, including one day off in the middle.

Mark,
I will investigate Calling Dr. Laura. I do like graphic memoirs. Thanks for the tip!

Kerri,
You seemed taller when I met you. Ha! It's my special powers that deceive any and all who meet me. They often believe I am tall. Heh.
(actually, I don't have any special powers, but people are often surprised that I'm as short as I am. I think it's because my legs are proportionally longer than is often the case with someone who is 5'1".)

I will look into an e-reader and I will be exactly the same way about needing a real book to read on the plane. In my book, the best thing about any plane ride is the chance to read. I would not want to waste the 15 minutes at the start of the journey! I haven't been paying too much attention but it appears that we got a good wide receiver. We shall see.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Time to go catch the bus for home! Like plane rides, the best thing about riding the bus is that I get to read!

oh my goodness! just dropped by to chirp about the shillelagh the Irish laid on them other dawgs. WHAT a game. perfekshun! great young women on both sides and tremendous heart and effort.

thanks for the link to the kitten in the snow. i'd found a very similar one, i'll swear it's the same kitten, on pinterest. had meant to tell you but forgot and glad i did as it's a different kat.

in re: your #144: never mind with the "(ahem) 60th in 2014." it'll be my ahem-70th. still, what a marvelous way to celebrate an ahem-60th. such joy!

So glad you had a great weekend w friends & basketball!!!

I am with you in the ereader hesitancy. I have a nook but I ONLY use it for long trips where I know I can't carry as many books as I'd like. Otherwise, I'm an old fashioned, book-in-hand girl! There's just something about the turning of actual pages & the smell of the print.....

Ellie,
So I take it Notre Dame took out UConn? YES!!!!!
I will always root against UConn. Always.

60. 70. We're all still young at heart. Just not in the knees. :-)

Tina,
I have a couple of reasons for ereader hesitation. First, I just like books. Second, I don't think I need it to be any easier than it already is for me to purchase books. Third, I just like books.
Oh.
Never mind.
Old fashioned. Just like you.

P and I watched "Beasts of the Southern Wild" on dvd this evening.
Wow.
I thought it was magnificent.

I read somewhere that a hiker used to buy thick, cheap paperbacks and as he finished chapters he would rip them out and throw them away. I sort of like the idea but I know some book purists would be appalled.

I've also heard stories of hikers reading books, and used the pages which were read as TP. Well, I have, I have heard that.

You can put an ereader in a gallon zip lock bag and read through it. The plastic is pretty transparent.

I agree that buying books when you have a Nook, or a Kindle, or (like me!) both, + the Nook HD (I am crazy) it is way too easy. And then there's the kids who love to play Bad Piggies on the Nooks and having two of them sure avoids many arguments and tears.

I agree with you about bus and subway rides. Great places to read. I watched "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and was not that impressed with it. I wasn't sure what story they were telling. And what was with the trying to blow up something. I didn't understand that at all. The hurricane and the accompanying flood I got, but not those other parts. I also didn't understand the relationship between the child, father, and the mother. Was she dead or wasn't she? I am not a big fan of magical realism, even in books, as most of the time I just don't get it. For films about Louisiana, the better movie for me was "Jeff Who Lives at Home."

An entire thread?! I am an ENTIRE thread behind?! Ellen!! Okay, I do not have time to catch up right now - we are headed out for Rae's birthday dinner, but I will be back. At least I found you before you moved on again. How did this happen?

>144 EBT1002: We're going to hike the 96-mile West Highland Way in Scotland.
AWE-SOME!
What a fantastic thing to do! I hope I can find some time when the kids are older to do fantastic things like that. I know my lovely other would be keen, I just love the idea. Good plan indeed.

>156 EBT1002: unfortunately, I cannot join you on loving Beasts of the Southern Wild. I simply could connect to any of the characters, bar the little girl. I was really perplexed about the actions of the rest of the cast.

Hi Ellen. In catching up, I answered my own question which was "Are you going to hike the entire 96 miles?" My 60th birthday is next year too but whatever plans I dream up to celebrate it will not be that ambitious.

Well I for one think it a fabulous way to spend a 60 th birthday hiking 96 miles. Will be tremendous fun I'm sure. Try to do it in spring or summer as winter up there is rather bracing.

So glad to see your Trevor buys. A favourite of mine too as you may recall.

Just a quick hello.... hope to catch up... I think going home to P was a kind choice...I bet she appreciated it :)

Ohh Ellen, I am dreadfully behind! Those few sunny days I was full of spring fever but it's back to the dreary grey skies and rain. Oh! You are 5'1! . I am 5'3 and yet I feel as tall as my brother who is 6'4''. Talk about a Napoleon Complex! :) After all, one does not want to be " overly tall" .

>157 Morphidae: Yes, Morphy, I have heard of that too. I'm not sure I could ever do it.
P has reminded me that we'll have the company with which we contract to carry our "stuff" from place to place; we'll only be carrying our lunch and emergency supplies. I can take books! :-)

>158 maggie1944: Ha, Karen. I think I can avoid the Kindle-in-a-baggie thing. See above.
I love the idea of kids fighting over the Kindle to play (what is it?). I can see my niece and nephew going at it. Another good reason not to have one ereader (though I can see how having two seems like a good solution).

>159 benitastrnad: Hi Benita. It took me a while to get into the film, but I ended up liking it a lot. The blowing up thing was, in my mind, about claiming their space and lifestyle (with which one could quibble, but for them it was what they knew) and blowing up the levy meant the water went down in their neighborhood. So, in their minds, it was a self-preservation thing. What I liked about that was how it challenged my privileged view of the world: it was so easy for me to view the squalor in which they lived with pity and contempt, but it was the life they knew and their view was that they were entitled to live in that place. The levy deprived them of life. So they blew it up.
I'm not usually a huge fan of magical realism, either, but this worked for me. I thought the little girl's blend of realism and magical thinking was spot on. As for her mother, one was left to wonder. I usually want to know, but in this case I was okay with wondering. I'll have to check out "Jeff Who Lives at Home."

>160 Crazymamie: Mamie, it's so good to see you here. I know you have been very busy (as have I), so it's good to have you caught up. I hope the birthday dinner was yummy!

>161 LovingLit: I'm so excited about the long walk in 2014, Megan. It feels like a perfect big vacation for us to be planning. I'm sorry you (like Benita) didn't care for "Beasts of the Southern Wild." I agree that it was a challenging movie and it took me a while to let it work for me, but once it did, it really did. I do think the author/director/actors were trying to challenge our cultural notions about what it means to love and to feel entitled to one's lifestyle. I had to stretch outside myself, that's for sure.

>162 phebj: Pat, we will do the entire 96 miles. At this point our thinking is to do it in 8 days of walking with a day off for sitting/reading/resting in the middle. We'll contract with a company to haul our gear from place to place so we'll only have to carry our day-gear. It won't be as strenuous as an actual backpacking trek would be. :-)

>163 PaulCranswick: Paul, we're thinking the end of August or beginning of September. They say to aim for May or September so the midges don't eat you alive, but we must also do it at a time that my work schedule will allow. So, as early in September as we can manage.

It was you, Paul, who turned me on to Trevor's work. I'm ever grateful.

>164 mckait: Hi Kath. Yes, I do think she appreciated my coming home. They had a workplace shooting last Friday so her work has been pretty intense. The victim has survived (as has the shooter) but it's been understandably stressful, especially since P works in employee relations.

Sixteen days (but who's counting?) until our week-long trip to Hawaii. Needed. This vacation is much needed.

Deb, LOL! No, one would not want to be overly tall. Heh.
Yes, we had a gray and rainy day today. Ugh. But the light lasted well into the evening and the temps were warmer. I like that.
And I could stand at my bus stop reading Pow! without shivering too much. We really have survived another winter.

Just because it's spring and I love daffodils......

LT can eat time.

Ellen - your West Highland Way trip sounds great - from my experience of Scotland I'd recommend September rather than August. The longest walk I've ever done was about 45 miles, which was the Norfolk Coastal Path, which does has the advantage of being flat!

I would love love love a walking tour of Scotland..... oh gosh..... envy. Have to squash it. A literary walking tour would be bliss, no?

Rhian,
Yes, we're thinking of flying into Glasgow in the last few days of August, taking a couple of days to adjust to the time zone and get ourselves mentally ready, then start the walk around the first of September, give or take a day. My work will require me to be back home by September 15 or so, so we can't push it too far into that month.

Lucy,
A literary walking tour would be great but I fear that in Scotland that would mostly mean Glasgow and Edinburgh. I'm just starting to research Scottish authors (trying to get beyond Robert Burns, Ian Rankin, and Denise Mina). I will read some of each of those three in preparation, though. It seems that the Irish have overall been more prolific writers than the Scots.

I love that picture and will try to get Benny or Greta to sit amongst the daffies or the tulips and see if I can duplicate it. In about a month? When will those flowers be up?

I have a couple of brochures sitting around my house with ideas for Kaua'i that I plan on trying next visit. Do you need any ideas, or are you guys well versed in "what to do and where to go and what to see"?

I am so worn out and I can't say why. It's been a stressful week and yesterday I was in meetings for 9 straight hours without even a 10-minute break, but still......
I am feeling the impulse to call in sick, but I won't do it. I have only two meetings on the books today so maybe I'll get some quiet time in my office to catch up on some things.

Maybe I stayed up too late reading. Again.

Karen, we'll always take ideas about Kaua'i, although this is our third visit in as many years so we feel like we know the island pretty well. That said, if you have particular places to visit that you would recommend, please do so! Fifteen days and counting.

Our daffodils are up and some of them have blooms on them. I bet if you went to the arboretum or some other park this weekend you would find some in bloom. Maybe next weekend, but definitely not a full month. Then you just have to get Benny or Greta to sit still for you! :-D

Ellen, Benny came to me fully trained to "sit" and "stay". It is the first time I've ever had a dog who knew how to obey the "stay" command! What a joy it is. And then Greta, not to be out done, started obeying the command, too. Whoo hoo.

I know what you mean about being tired and not being able to put your finger on the exact cause. It is that accumulation of stress, and too much to do, in my case, usually. It is when I need a day to do nothing but exactly what I feel like doing, when I feel like it. Baths in the middle of the day, trips to the grocery store for something I crave, and reading, and poking the computer, that kind of a day!

I love Kaua'i and I just recently scored a travel companion! I am so excited, but I have a few months to go. I'll look for the brochures and send you a PM.

Only two days left in the week! for work, that is....

Benny came to me fully trained to "sit" and "stay" Perfect!!!

The blue guide book for Kaua'i is definitely our favorite.

Swooping through on my broom, trailing smooches

I'm trying to catch up here Ellen. Your walking trip sounds fun. I love that you have a company that will haul the bulk of your belongings for you.

I received a Kindle for Christmas the year before last. My main source of books is the library so I don't use it too much. I do borrow ebooks from the library and an added bonus is the audio books. I love to listen to them when I'm grocery shopping or going for a walk. My cousin spilled the beans before he had actually bought it for me. He was so determined to get it for me. I was able to talk him into the plain older model. It suits my needs and wasn't as expensive as the newer touch screen and Fire.

I can't wait for your trip to Hawaii!

Lovely image, Richard!!! xo

Hi Roberta,
I love that you can't wait for my trip to Hawaii! I'm certainly right there with you.
The Kindle appeals to me in some ways, but I'm mostly old-fashioned and I do worry about spending too much money on books.....

BTW, the kids are hooked on the Nook. And the Barnes and Noble lady told me yesterday that on one account you can have as many as 6 of the devices. So... a small book group could all read one B&N book on their Nooks.... hmmmmmm

food for thought......

Ellen - I think it's the time of year (as for being tired). I have been beat this week. And now I'm officially on spring break! Ready for it, too. My students had an open book test on a novel they read today; more than one student came to class with no book. Really!? I'm so glad I don't have class until March 25; I felt that I might have had to cuss out some students... I wish I were going to Hawaii -- instead I can look at the white, snowy yard and street. And read some good books.

>181 maggie1944: That is food for thought!

Beth, I'm glad you held back on cussing out the students. And I share your speechlessness at coming to an open book test without the book. Incredible.

It's the last week of winter quarter classes here, next week is finals week, then we have spring break. It doesn't really end up being much of a break, but I do reduce our hours a bit so staff can have some time to catch up and catch their breath. We do 9:30am-4pm for the week and the staff really appreciate that space at either end of the day. Winter quarter is always our busiest and most stressful.

Okay, back to work for me.

"It's been a stressful week and yesterday I was in meetings for 9 straight hours without even a 10-minute break" what about that could *possibly* tire one out? silly you! i hated meetings when i was a prof. unless i were chairing them. then i hated them but at least they bloody well ended on time! ;)

i swear, the only people harder to herd in a meeting than Unitarians are social workers and social work profs. gnaaaahhh!

you got me visiting audible and NLS to search out William Trevor. i now have Death in summer with a very good narrator in my cart and Felicia's journey and Lucy Gault downloaded from NLS with good narrators. have a number of books to finish first, but still . . .

hope you get some serious down time this weekend.

144 Ok that sounds very cool! Especially the fact that you don't have to carry anything other than your lunch and a book! that's my idea of hiking done right! :)

OK: here are two of my favorite places to go on Kaua'i -

1. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge - a great place to view the wonderful red-footed boobies and other sea birds, as well as monk seals, green sea turtles, and humpback whales. Find someone who looks like they know one of those wonderful circling sea birds from another and get them to point out the Great Frigatebird. All over the grounds are the sweet Hawaiian Geese (Nēnē)

on the web: http://www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint

I'll bet you've been there before!

2. Allerton Garden (National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua'i)

You can do the Allerton Guided Tour (which we have done twice, it gives you a ride down into the gardens and then a lovely walk about with explanations of all the plantings, which are epic!) Some Jurassic Park scenes were filmed there. Or the Sunset Allerton Tour (which is fancier with a chance to hang out on the beach, and grounds nearby, eating some food they provide. It is more expensive but I think I'll do it the next time I go to Kaua'i) Or you can also do the self guided tour of the garden around the visitors center which is quite lovely also.

web site: www.ntbg.org

Then there is one place i did not bring home a brochure about but will be looking for this next trip - there is a "plantation house" and a tour of it and its grounds somewhere. I need to find it and see the tour again.

Oh, I wish I were going now.... I can see why my friend Robin tries to go twice a year - once in Feb. and once in Nov.

ah, I may have to find a Hawaii pic

I hope you do not mind my putting this picture here, and we can all wish to be on this beach

188. That looks SO tempting right now.

What Paws said. I'm ready to be there.

Sorry your week has been so busy, Ellen. I don't think I would make it through 9 hours of meetings with no significant break. YIKES! Hoping that your weekend holds some relaxation time and more than a few glasses of wine. You make me want to try William Trevor - I am wondering what a good starting place would be. Hugs to you, dear.

Yes, Ellen, I should count my blessings. I'll take the students over meetings any day. I do love what I do.

96 miles???? You & P are my new heroines!

I think y'all might be a little crazy, but you're still my heroines! ;0)

Well.. the weekend is here, for you and hopefully time for a deep breath and some down time.

>174 EBT1002: I was in meetings for 9 straight hours without even a 10-minute break
Well, that'll do it to you!

And here I was last night (for the second time in a week!) collapsing into bed at 7.30pm, and having a nap til 8.30 or 9: thus ruining my nights sleep. Just from normal daily activity tuckering me out. (one day included an afternoon a the beach, and the other a morning at the pool, but otherwise normal activity)

Also, were you interested in a GR of The Great Gatsby? The Group Read thread is up and running now in case you were, I am having trouble remembering exactly who was keen :)

Hi Ellen! Just popping in to say hello. I hope you did something fun and exciting this weekend or maybe just relaxing. You deserve it.

#168 - And, of course, thank you for the daffodil/cat photo.

*waves* at Ellen

19. Pow! by Mo Yan

I can't rate this novel by Nobel Prize winning author Mo Yan. I'm sure I missed all kinds of allusions, ironies, and paradoxes. Did I enjoy this novel? At times, yes, but mostly it was a slog. I tried to channel Amos Oz's wonderful quote "to know the soul of another country, you must read its literature," but this novel uncomfortably reverberated between grotesque, disgusting, lurid, humorous, sad, absurd, magical, and boring. I don't know if the Chinese soul is illuminated by this novel. I felt like I got a peek into Chinese culture, highlighted by its metaphors, myths, and idioms, but it was not a pleasant experience. I will read at least one more novel by Mo Yan, but he only gets one more chance with me.

By the way, this novel might make a vegetarian out of even the most enthusiastic of carnivores.

Moving on to anything else now.

Among our busy weekend errands, we went to Half Price Books today. I acquired:

April Fool's Day by Josip Novakovich
Samuel Johnson is Indignant by Lydia Davis
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch
Brothers and Keepers by John Edgar Wideman
Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman
The Quick Red Fox by John D MacDonald

I love the last line of your review of Pow! :)

Wow! Where have a been. I've missed so much goings on here that I've pooped myself out catching up.
So, are you still likeing you Ikea vanity? we need something for our half and master baths so please let me know if the quality is decent and the price is right.
I'm ready for our trip to Kauai too. Is the LT plane gassed and ready to go?
glitter-graphics.com

Ellen - Great review. I have a book by Mo and will try it. You're more generous than I am -- I'll only give him one try :) Are you on break yet? I'm looking out my window this Monday morning, the first day of break, watching the snow fall heavily. I see shoveling in my near future. I'm taking a break from grading right now. I resolved to grade a bit every day so that my weekend before going back to school is not super stressful.

Well, break's over. Have a fabulous Monday; I hope it looks more like spring in Seattle than it does here.

I forgot to report on two books I purchased at the U Bookstore in the HUB last week:

Ten White Geese by Gerbrand Bakker and
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa

I am waaaay behind and have not acknowledged several people who have stopped by and commented on my thread (and on my very loose "review" of Pow!). I fly to Bozeman tomorrow for a conference. As usual, I expect that I'll have a bit of time at that conference to catch up on LT, if only because I'll be willing to stay up late.

It's supposed to be cold in Bozeman. I guess I don't get to "pack light."

I started reading The Door in earnest last evening, after P and I watched a rerun of the holiday episode of "Call the Midwife" about which we had heard good things. We had not watched any of this series before but I believe we'll be watching more of it.

Yesterday I got in a 30-minute run and did a bunch of errands and pulled a gazillion weeds in the back garden. Saturday we had spent the day in Lacey visiting with FIL and his wife. Not much time for LT these days, I'm afraid, but I do hope folks will come back to visit even as my thread is somewhat, um, threadbare. ;-)

Happy Monday, everyone!

Thanks for the warn-off on the Mo Yan, Ellen. That sounds well worth missing. I've started my first Balzac, Old Goriot, and I've been finding the dense, descriptive beginning a bit of a slog, but it sounds like a walk in the park compared to Pow.

Oh what a painfully tempting photo. We await a big snowstorm and it was 1 degree F this morning, which has put me in a foul temper. And I am whining about it all over LT...... anyhow......

I was thinking of following Boswell and Johnson's Tour of the Hebrides. Another tour would be - visiting Scotch distilleries..... oh yeah!

When you're ready to try more Mo, Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out worked for me.

Have a good conference!

Hmm, I've been looking at Mo Yan and I've wondered if the books might be too dark for my tastes. Thanks for the warning re Pow.

One more photograph to make you wish you were in Kaua'i right now! This is at the Allerton Tropical Garden.

Well. I'm in Big Sky, Montana, now for my conference. We arrived today and it was gorgeous and sunny and about 45F. 30 inches of snow still on the ground here and it's so beautiful. Several of us convened up at the pub for a pint of ale or glass of wine and then to the dining room for dinner. For me, a carnivore's delight (Mo Yan seems not to have made a vegetarian out of me) and three of us shared a really lovely bottle of cabernet sauvignon. I'm now propped up in bed in my little cabin. Tomorrow morning is free time so I plan to put on my YakTrax and do some walking in the snow, and spend some time with my book.

Working backwards:

Karen,
that's a lovely photo and I loved Allerton Botanical Garden, but since I'm in beautiful Big Sky country, I'm happy. In ten days or so, I'll be on the special island of Kaua'i. :-)

Deb,
I will try another by Mo Yan. I own Life and Death are Wearing Me Out as well as Sandalwood Death and I'll give them a try. This one was not so much dark as self-absorbed and, well, weird.
It had moments of interest but not enough (for me) to warrant the time spent reading the whole thing.

Richard,
I own and will read Life and Death are Wearing Me Out.
So far, the conference feels like a vacation. Best kind of conference there is. :-)

Lucy,
Part of our plan for our 2014 trip to Scotland will certainly include touring some distilleries! After a couple of days of recuperation after the 96-mile trek, we plan to rent a car and spend a handful of days driving around the Speyside region of the Highlands. Whisky will be tasted.

Joe,
I hate to warn folks off of a Pulitzer-winning author but Pow! was my least favorite read so far this year. I'm impressed that you're tackling Balzac. Another on my "should read someday" list.....

Beth,
The UW is not on spring break until next week. Lucky me, I'm out of town at a conference this week, then back for spring break (during which I will certainly work), and then out of town for the first week of spring quarter (can you say Hawaii?). Spring is a bit of a slog for those of us on the quarter system; spring break doesn't provide much real break from the stress and hard work of, well, of work.
There are about 30 inches of snow still on the ground here in Big Sky where we are having our conference. I love it, but I don't live with it.

Lynda,
Thank you for the hula woman! I'm looking forward to Kaua'i, but enjoying Big Sky for now. They say we'll get more snow tomorrow. I'm glad I brought my YakTrax!

Katie,
I'm glad my "review" gave you a smile. I was, indeed, happy to move on and I'm more heartily enjoying The Door by Magda Szabo.

*waves back at Roberta*

Kerri,
I had a good weekend, productive and busy. Spent Saturday with the father-in-law and his wife. No comment. Now it's Tuesday evening and I'm in Big Sky, Montana, for a conference. I'll engage with my colleagues from around the U.S. Northwest, but I do hope to keep up with LT a bit better this week, too. Thank goodness for wi-fi in the cabins!

Megan,
I was one of those interested in a GR of The Great Gatsby but I'm just now realizing that it's up and running. I don't have a copy of the novel, but I'll try to get one and give it a go in the next few weeks. Luckily for me, GRs tend to have a wide time band associated with them. Thanks for the link!

Kath,
Thanks (belatedly) for the good weekend wishes! It's now almost Wednesday, but my weekend was decent. Now that I'm at a conference/mini-vacation, I think my days will be even better.

Tina,
Well, we have not yet actually walked the 96 miles, but it's nice to be your hero. Please note that we will have someone carting our gear from stop to stop; we'll be carrying only our lunch and rain gear..... :-)

Beth,
Loving what you do is truly a blessing. I actually mostly love what I do, as well, and I feel very lucky to have that be the case.

Mamie,
I've only read the two by William Trevor so far but I am confident I will enjoy the rest of his work. I'm trusting Paul on this, and he is the one to check with about a good starting place. Actually, now that I think of it, having read both a short story collection and a novel, I feel confident that you can start anywhere with Trevor and I feel confident that I will like most or all of his works.

Joe and Paws and Karen,
That beach looks lovely!!!!!

Chelle,
I must admit that if I had to carry all my own gear for 96 miles I would be unlikely to actually do it. This trip, on the other hand, feels very doable and exciting.

Ellie,
I'm glad you're acquiring some works by William Trevor. I also recommend his short stories, which I found (in The Hill Bachelors) to be excellent.

I must be nuts. It's 20F outside and I'm sitting here in bed (with lots of down covers, mind you) with the heaters in my cabin turned off and the window wide open.
As long as a moose doesn't decide to join me, I'll be just fine.

This is what it looks like here:

I haven't yet made it to everyone's thread, but I've got to call it a night. Sleep is descending......

What a gorgeous chalet! I'm not sure that I want snow , but if it had to be, your chalet there in Big Sky looks so cozy! Enjoy your trek in the snow. Maggie is making me long for blue skies and warm weather.. sigh :)

Yes, Deb, I am looking forward to those blue skies and warm island air, as well, but this works for now. It helps that I don't live in this!

Yes, I said I was going to bed.....

Hi Ellen- Are you still in the Big Sky Country? I imagine it's frigid up there. Sorry POW! was such a disappointment. I'll still have to try Mo Yan at some point but won't start there.

Wah! snow! So tired of snow! It's cold here, too. The wind was bad again yesterday. I had to go out and it was blowing the beast all over the place.. ugh!

So nice that you have a great vacation to look forward to! :)

Mark, I'm just waking up to my first morning in Big Sky. It's snowing! Hooray! I know that many of you are done done done with snow but this is my first snow of 2013.

I'm sorry Kath. Of course, I don't have to do any of the shoveling, etc., here. I just get to enjoy. P reports that it is pouring rain in Seattle. I like my situation better. Propped up in bed with coffee & book, watching the snow fall outside.

Wow! That looks gorgeous, Ellen! Hope that your conference is relaxing and full of small moments just for you.

My niece is going to school at Montana State. I have close friends who live in Bozeman. He is a professor in the computer science department. Also some kids from Munden with whom I went to school at Munden Grade School, also live in there. All of them ski. Is that a surprise?

I am 200 pages into Big Rock Candy Mountain and like this book. The West as it really was. Gritty and dirty.

Enjoy the snow!

Ohhh, curled up in Big Sky in a beautiful chalet in bed, reading, and watching the snowfall. Pick me! Enjoy, Ellen!

Hi Ellen - I'm glad you're enjoying the snow. I'm not even going to comment about snow. A friend of mine is taking a mindfulness course. Gratitude is one of the key concepts, so she is trying to turn our weather into a positive. It's fun for me just watching her try to do it, but I recognize that it's all how we frame things. Still, Hawaii sounds pretty good right now.

I know what you mean about breaks; I've been trying to catch up on grading, much break is actually involved. Still, it is nice to have a change in the routine. I've been slogging away at papers and feel pretty good about what I've gotten done so far.

I have Big Breasts and Wide Hips by Mo Yan. We'll see.

Ahhh..... finally some time to delurk and comment that I love the cabin picture you posted. I'm glad you're enjoying the snow ...although I suspect if you did let a moose in to snuggle down next to you, you'll find his steaming warmth much more effective than your layers of comforters. ;-)

A few of us went for about a 3K hike in the snow this morning. We've gotten about 4" of new snow and there is a good 30" base. It was beautiful!!! Then I sat in my cozy cabin and read The Door for a while. Conference meetings officially start in about 25 minutes..... but the view out the window of the meeting room is pretty nice.

Mamie,
Thank you. This is my favorite meeting/conference every year and the location is extra special.

Benita,
The director from MSU who is hosting this conference is a really awesome man. I have read other works by Wallace Stegner; I guess I need to give Big Rock Candy Mountain a try. I do love his writing.

Nancy,
I know you wish you could join me. I feel so lucky to be able to blend work and play in this lovely setting.

Beth,
Yes, acceptance and gratitude are key concepts in mindfulness and I am a big believer in the benefits of mindfulness for mental health. I do feel badly for those of you who are sick of the snow for this year. It's been snowing here since daybreak and, since I don't have to shovel or drive, I'm enjoying it.
I agree with you about the break in routine, if not the break in actual work load. I hope you get all your grading done and can have a wee bit of down time.
I will be interested to hear your reactions to Big Breasts and Wide Hips. I think Mo Yan likes to be a bit shocking at moments, though I don't know if that generalizes to all his works.

Caro,
No moose yet. We are told there is one who occasionally shows up at this ranch, but we haven't seen him today. Probably any sane moose is hunkered down waiting out today's snow.

Moose are scary. They're mean. And they're REALLY REALLY BIG.

They look cool when they're walking around at a safe distance.

Oh, and sorry about the brick-beating, but one must protect one's maple-frosted goodness.

Oh that cabin looks amazing!! I hope you are having a wonderful time!

Still, Ellen. 96 miles???? I might stroke out after one. Even with NO gear!!

OMG, that cabin / snow picture!! So beautiful!

Hi Ellen! That sounds like my kind of conference. Comfy cabins, hikes, and mountains. I was going to try to embrace winter this year by taking up cross-country skiing, but that didn't quite pan out.

Also, guess who I pulled out of my coffee can for April. It's true.

I cross-country skied today, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't rather have no snow and spring...... However, since the snow was there I went out in it - perfect conditions, so I really can't complain. It looks very beautiful where you are.

Hi Ellen -
Lovely cabin w/snow! Glad you could have some snow joy this year. Many times I open the window right at the head of my bed and let the frigid air blow in - of course I am under a down comforter. No moose.

Luckily, you get to follow Montana with Hawaii ;-)
What a great plan...

>213 EBT1002: Luckily for me, GRs tend to have a wide time band associated with them
Yes! Well, we havent started yet as Tina couldnt get a copy, and I am immersed in The Swiss Family Robinson and The Shock Doctrine so, maybe in a week or 2? I hope you join in, as that will make *whispers* 3 of us ;)

Richard,
I will forgive you for the brick and I won't send a moose your way.
The driver of our sleigh tonight was saying, and getting agreement from locals, that she fears moose more than bears. Apparently, moose can be "very cranky." Hmmm.....

Chelle,
That cabin is just about 30 yards from the one in which I am staying. I learned today that there is a good explanation for my previously unexplained awakening around 2am last night. A bunch of snow fell off my roof and made quite the noise. I missed the noise, but I was awake and wondering why.

Tina,
Training, luv, training.
More about this lovely place in a minute.

Kerri,
Tomorrow I plan to borrow some snowshoes and do some trekking around on them. After a morning full of meetings and work, of course.
Regarding your coffee can. Really? *heads over to Kerri's thread for verification*

Stopping by to say hi! I'm not how it was in Seattle today, but the promised sunshine did not happen here today! Instead it rained hard and we have had a lot of wind. Some spring so far! Enjoy your " conference" ;)

Lucy,
Good for you. It is what it is; might as well embrace it.

Cee,
I know, isn't it cool? Today, 30F and about 4 inches of snow. Next Friday (8 days, but who's counting?) and I'll be flying to Hawaii --- presumably it will be around 75F and, well, no snow. I'm getting the best of both worlds right now, that's for sure.
I'm definitely a sleep-in-cold-air-with-down-comforter sort of girl. I did hear from several of my colleagues that they were also hot in their cabins last night. Tonight I turned the baseboard heaters off as soon as we returned from the sleigh ride.

Megan,
I must remember to seek out a copy of The Great Gatsby when I get back to the city.

Okay. Sleigh ride. This evening they bundled us up and piled us into sleighs behind two very large draft horses. Our horses, Mike and Pete, are the two tallest horses on the ranch and Mike, at 18.3 hands, is the tallest horse in Big Sky. This is saying something. I kid you not.

The ride was lovely. We converged at a log cabin in the woods where we were treated to too much food (including the best prime rib I have ever eaten) and some musical entertainment. Then back into the sleigh so that Mike and Pete could bring us back to our cabins. The snow stopped around 4pm today and the moon and stars were out as we rode home tonight. We saw a huge shooting star. Breathtaking. Even the jaded teamsters were impressed with that.

I had to do a fair bit of work from a distance today. Much intense stuff going on back on campus. Nothing has actually happened but there seem to be a few students who have gone off the rails. It does surprise me when college students are surprised by administrative response to threatening statements. I mean, post VaTech, post Newtown...... what kind of response did you expect??

Oh well. I'll be calling in a couple of times tomorrow but meanwhile I'm enjoying the conference.

This is me looking back at the teamster on our sleigh ride this evening. She was very informative and interesting. I had a backwards seat, so I had to twist around to see her (and where we were going).

And here is a stock photo of the horses.

Are you sure you're at a conference? Clearly, I picked the wrong career. Ha!

On a serious note, I hope everything is ok back home with the student issue.

Hi Ellen- Actually this does sound like a lot of fun. Even with the cold & snow. Enjoy!

Ellen, your description of the 18+ hand horse reminded me of the discussion over in Janny Wurts reading thread about how much she bristles at writers of fantasy who describe people vaulting onto 18 hand horses. And she also had more to say about writers, who are ignorant, describe riding and signally said big horses.

I think it is so cool for you to have had this "conference"... I hope you a learning/gaining a lot from it, and obviously getting some well deserved relaxation, too.

Yes, yesterday's weather was pretty awful. Driving home last night between Bothell and Lk Stevens I ran into some driving rain/sleet/hail which was coming down in buckets and made driving a bit dicey. Made it home safe and sound by about 9 pm, whew! Noises about snow today between Everett and Arlington, I'm hoping none in my bailiwick.

Hi Ellen - I'm with Kerri - I need to find a conference like yours.
I hope your problems were resolved in a good way. At our school, our counseling dept. has been cut in half. We went from 4 to 2. The remaining ones are great, but there's too much work. When a student writes about killing himself in an essay, I don't know what to do, other than call them. It's frightening how many students we have in crisis. I'm always afraid one of mine will fall through the cracks.

Hi Ellen--welcome to Montana! Prepare for more snow--we had about an inch here during the night.

You're going to the Bellingham Booktopia, right? I guess we'll be meeting there. I'm looking forward to a mini-vacation on the peninsula.

Booktopia!!!! I am getting excited. I'd better buy a couple of books, maybe today.

Okay... Moose or no moose, I think I am officially jealous ..Are you sure this is a conference and not someo sort of Winter Heaven Preview?

Glad you're having a great time :)

Sorry about the lack of moose

(Cee.. shut the window!! Brr)

Ellen - A sleigh ride and the best prime rib you have ever eaten and a shooting star? That is some conference! I am so happy that you are being treated to all of these wonderful things - you deserve them! It's cracking me up that the names of your draft horses were Mike and Pete because I have two nephews (my sister Cindy's boys) that are named Mike and Pete - too funny! Hope you continue to enjoy your conference and find delight in every day.

Whoa 18 hands is BIG!!!!

Skied again today - who'd a thunk it - this late in March. 20's and perfect conditions two days in a row. Last year at this time we had 'red flag' warnings and it was 70-80 for about a week...... the year before (yeah, I'm a weather nut) it was just like this.

Sorry if I'm being a bit boring! I love the photos.

What a wonderful name for a place in the large wide open spaces of the Great Plains; Big Sky. Glad to see that Trevor is meeting with acclaim (why would the Nobel committee think that the incomprehensible Chinaman was more worthy of the prize is beyond me).

Loving the photos of your travels. x

For those of you with doubts about my "conference," I'm sitting in a room right now with 15 other counseling center directors and we're talking about work!!!
And watching the beautiful snow falling outside, planning our afternoon of snowshoeing..... :-)

Hee hee Ellen, you are so bad! In a good way of course.

It is nice to talk about work; it is doing the work that is sometimes more than can be tolerated.

>255 EBT1002: Ellen, Ellen, Ellen....
AND on your computer checking in with LT!
No, no. Still not convinced you are working!
BUT you have been so busy lately, I'm glad you are getting something of a diversion and rest :)
Stay warm!

Roberta, Karen, and Cee,
You understand me so well. I am learning and getting ideas for work but I am certainly building in some fun time.

Yesterday a few of us went on a 2-hour snowshoe hike around Yellow Mountain, breaking trail across fresh and beautiful snow. It was amazing. I will be buying snowshoes and taking trips into the Cascades next winter. It's an amazing way to see territory I would not otherwise be able to see (and less treacherous than XC skiing with regard to my knees).

The Door by Magda Szabo took a very sad turn last night.

Paul,
We are of course sharing book recommendations here and I made sure that William Trevor is on the list.

Lucy,
They are BIG horses! And so beautiful. And a bit scary......
It does seem late for you to be XC skiing. I'm also a bit of a weather nut. My staff laugh at me because I occasionally send out emails about coming weather (and sunrise/sunset times).

Mamie,
I love that "my" horse team had the same name as your nephews. I hope your Mike and Pete are as strong and healthy as these guys clearly are.

Kath,
Still no moose. But today it is sunny and 10F. Whew.

Ellen: it is snowing here!

Streamsong and Karen,
I will start getting excited about Booktopia in Bellingham when I get back to the city and can pick up a couple of the books. streamsong, your state is absolutely lovely.

Beth,
The kind of student management issues you're talking about seem epidemic to me, and Facebook and other social networking media have really complicated the issue. I'm sorry to hear that your department was cut in half! We were lucky and survived the budget cuts with no jobs completely lost. It was touch and go for a while.

Mark,
It IS fun!

Kerri,
I feel very lucky. And you know how hard I work the rest of the year..... :-)

Catching up, Ellen, to read all about your marvelous conference venue after being off the threads for a couple of weeks due to spring cleaning and company (yes, the two were related!). Your activities sound simply marvelous!

*smoochings*

and

*loathings* for having so much fun

Hey Roni!
Good to see you. I must go check out your thread and see what you've been up to (besides spring cleaning and having company).

Richard,
Even I'm jealous of me!

After the morning's meetings and some time catching up on work email (yes, I have been working while here), and a quick jaunt into "town" (read: small tourist center with not much of interest), three of us went for another snowshoe hike. We saw lots of animal tracks, some which we believe were moose. No moose, per se, but evidence of one! I won't bother to go on and on and on about how incredibly beautiful the hike was, or how much fun it was to walk through deep fresh powder, but I will provide a wee bit of relief for everyone's envy by noting that I took one pretty good spill when my foot found a hole in the snow. Nothing injured but my pride, but I was even wetter and even colder by the time we got back.

The conference is done now and I fly home tomorrow. I do hope to get in one more hike tomorrow, probably just with my YakTrax this time. It will be good to be home. I predict a busy and stressful week of work before flying to Kauai next Friday.

Like I said to Richard, even I'm envious of my travels and adventures! I've fallen behind on my reading but it's been well worth it.

It sounds just lovely, Ellen. Have a safe trip home!