More mutterings

Labels: um meme
You can out distance that which is running after you but not what is running inside of you.

Labels: um meme

Labels: musings
Recently, I had the opportunity to read my very first Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery, of which I was delighted to find that there are 11 novels and one short story which feature this burglar, written by Lawrence Block. Bernie is so endearing, you almost forget he’s a thief. Although late to the party, I began at the beginning, with “Burglars Can’t Be Choosers”.
In this story, we are introduced to Bernie, the type of guy who works alone because he finds the profits to be higher, and the risks a whole lot lower, but neither is he the type who is beyond a rare work-for-hire job. This one’s simple, really. Break into a posh East Side apartment, grab a blue leather box, deliver it to his mysterious employer, and collect an easy fee.Becky has asked that this month, we participate in a little “group meme”, and answer a few questions about this wonderful reading challenge;
~ What has been your favorite book that you've read for the Celebrate the Author challenge?
My favorite of the lot has been Alice Hoffman’s “The Probable Future”
~ What has been your least favorite book?
That’s a bit harder, in that I’ve quite enjoyed them all so far, and many of them have been part of series that I follow. I suppose my least favorite so far has been Asimov's "The Gods Themselves"
~ What one author or one book would you suggest to other participants?
Well, I’ll rule out those that are in the middle of a series, because I know many people like to start at the top, so to speak, so I’ll recommend "Burglars Can't Be Choosers", for a light, summer read.
~ Have you discovered any new authors along the way?
Both Isaac Asimov and Lawrence Block were new-to-me authors.
~ Would you be interested in participating in this challenge again next year? Why or Why not?
I would, as this has been a lot of fun; gives me an opportunity to “celebrate” along with some of my favorite authors, and at the same time, perhaps find a new one to add to my favorites!
Labels: books, Celebrate the Author, review

Sun is high in young summer sky
With forest sprites and elves commune
Through lushest fields of grasses run
Our Goddess now we shall embraceI’m sure you all know that June 21st marks the beginning of summer, but did you know that the 23rd is National Columnist Day? Established in memory of the day columnist Ernie Pyle was killed in World War II, The National Society of Newspaper Columnists created it to recognize the importance and value of columnists, everywhere. So, in commemoration of this day, as my selection in the “Every Month’s a Holiday” challenge, I have recently read through “Charles Kuralt’s American Moments”, a collection of his brief television essays, and the project Kuralt was working on before he died.
As I said, “Charles Kuralt’s American Moments” is a collection of his stories of America, given in what were to be ninety-second long broadcast’s; a brief but lasting impression of his views on the American spirit and the people who create it. From the Cape of Disappointment in Washington State, to the deer of the lower Keys of Florida; from Mr. Ralph Woodside, who repairs victrolas in his Georgetown, Mass. workshop, to Naomi Lewis, the postmaster in Ochopee, FL., the smallest post office in the country; From the gargoyles that guard the streets of Manhattan to the 10-year-old jazz musician “Trombone Shorty” of New Orleans; little bits of Americana that are sure to charm and delight you as only Mr. Kuralt could do.Labels: books, Every Month a Holiday, review
Unconscious Mutterings (#34)Labels: um meme
I’m not what one would call an average television viewer, in that I don’t generally know who’s been voted off the island, or what heroics McDreamy may have preformed this week. But, if I’ve accomplished a certain goal with this blog, then many of you may not know what a big ‘political junkie’ that I truly am. For the past decade at least, every Sunday morning, along with so many others, the Mister and I tuned in to view Mr. Tim Russert, political analyst, managing editor & moderator of “Meet the Press”, and to hear his hard-hitting questions and balanced interviews (If its Sunday Morning, It’s ‘Meet the Press”)

Labels: musings

Labels: books, garden, movies, musings, the hounds, the Mister
As my second selection in Maggie’s Summer Southern Author Reading Challenge, I decided to give a read to Carl Hiaasen’s first novel, entitled “Tourist Season”, (and, what a dichotomy it was from McCuller’s “view of the south”, lemme tell ya!)
The tale begins when Sparky Harper, head of Miami’s Chamber of Commerce, is found dead, stuffed into a suitcase with his legs cut off and a toy rubber alligator lodged in his throat, and that IS just the beginning... Now Brian Keyes, reporter turned private eye, is hired by the Miami Sun’s editor to track down his missing ace reporter, Skip Wiley (from Jimmy Buffett’s “The Ballad of Skip Wiley” off his “Barometer Soup” album, which is based on this character) What follows is a caper that will mix football players, Shriner’s, politicians, and police with a group of fanatics, a smart and sassy beauty queen, and one very hungry crocodile.Labels: books, review, Southern Reading Challenge