The Kindle

And so, I bought a Kindle. CD's response when I told her was "All I can say is, Oh my lord." Meanwhile Mr. P. was egging me on. What brought this about. A confluence of things.

First, I have a large collection of books at my office dealing with issues of race, class, gender, social inequality and environmental justice. I've read them and they really aren't being used. I've let the staff have at them and they took a few books but not enough to make a dent. I've tried to give them to a several different worthy place like Elderspirit in Abingdon and Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. No, takers. These books are a step up from what should go to Goodwill or something like that. About 5 years ago, students from Appalachian State took a huge number of books when I retired from the University.

Second, last week my guys who are friends of mine were laid off for a week from the plant where they work. This means they were coming to my house to do some stuff for me. They are really very good at what they do which includes plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and general renovation skills. One of the thing that needed being done was to replace the baseboard heating unit in my study which required moving furniture,including book cases full of books. I got up early Saturday specifically to get this done thinking no big deal. Yeah, right. I'd already emptied one book case and only had one more to go, or so I thought. Then I got into it and found I needed to move a third and this is a big heavy one with lots of books. Now, I have to put it all back together but I need to keep it all away from the heating unit which requires a total rearrange which means, yup, finding a home for a whole bunch of books.

THE BOOK THAT MADE IT HAPPEN

Third. I've enjoyed reading science fiction and fantasy since I read all the Wizard of Oz books in fourth grade. Now some of these books are really good and keepers but a lot are like peanuts and popcorn. You just run right through them and throw the bag away. Well, that just happened with a book I thoroughly enjoyed and is the first of several in the series. When I got on Amazon to order up I just could see moving these books around which I doubt I would ever read again. Now as a bibliophile and a professor, getting rid of books is really really hard. And, as I have already written the Ducksters love their books, the look, the feel, the sense of them. I couldn't face not having any books--although that would truly lighten the load.

So there I was looking at the Kindle on line, my hand hovering over the "add to cart" button. Mr.P. is saying "What are you waiting for. Just do it." I'm totally indecisive. To me it makes huge sense ecologically and you can order another book when you run out. But then I think what if you run out of juice and you don't have your charger. You will be totally SOL. And, then I think what about my page points (a very neat way of marking must reread passages) and what about book markers (I'm partial to chopstick paper covers--some are truly beautiful). Somehow, I can't see marking where I stopped electronically. So, I reached a compromise. There are some authors I collect and know I will reread. These will still get bought as books. Other popcorn and peanut books ( what I have called confections) that you toss off as a treat will get ordered on the Kindle. We'll see what happens.

They did it. Canada wins gold in men's curling!!!!!

Kevin Martin Skip

Johnny Morris
Mr. P. is a verra, verra happy man. Canada won the gold in men's curling. Although there is no doubt that Kevin Martin, the skip, is the hero of the day, Johnny Morris, who threw triples and doubles was a huge asset. Not to mention he is a hunk and recently voted the most eligible bachelor in Canada.

Today was a major tutorial for me as Mr.P. (who once skipped an 8 rock end) and I "played" curling with salt packets and peanuts with a napkin as the house (target to you non curling fans) in Five Guys. Learning the lingo is a big part of understanding curling but learning the strategy which I am now much, much better at is a much bigger deal. Once you understand more and more about this then the game becomes fascinating. Mr.P. loves teaching me the strategy. Although I don't yell at the TV, I do talk to it under my breath and understand why rocks that look like they have not really done anything significant are in fact strategically important. Thanks Mr.P. I'd watch curling with you anytime, well almost. Now hockey, that's another situation entirely and tomorrow that's what's on tap.

Canadian family....YEAH!!!!!!!

Afternoon Delight's

Jake loves beer, I mean he really loves beer, he will take your bottle if you put it down, he will paw your leg until you give him some, he has even been know to bark at you until you comply. I am not exactly sure how he obtained such a fondness for it but it is a strong and long pastime. He even has a toy that make the sound of a beer can being opened and poured, it is of course his favorite toy. My father indulges him in this habit any time he can, he even sent Jake a can of beef for his birthday. Jake and my dad are buddies, they sit and have afternoon cocktails and snacks when ever they are together. Jake has been on a diet though lately and thus no beer, its also been winter so its wine season. Today though Jake and my father shared a afternoon cocktail... No beer but he also loves Vodka cubes, straight from dad's glass to Jake' mouth..... A little afternoon delight for all!

Family

My father and brother are in town for my brothers 30th, them being here is special. I get that not a lot of people are as close as my family, most don't have this closeness I do, I am truly grateful for what I have. We had and excellent dinner at an awesome restaurant in downtown Charleston (http://www.oaksteakhouserestaurant.com/), not somewhere I often travel. Kevin opened gifts upon our return home and he loved them. Up until this am I was stumped about his gift, I pride myself on being a good gift giver, not always the most expensive but always the most thoughtful, I prefer thoughtful, I try to give thoughtful. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning, nothing...... Late this am I got an email from Coach and click.... What better a gift than a wallet he will have for the next decade and more, what better a way to remember this momentous birthday. What you don't know about me is I LOVE birthdays, they are your day, the only day we really ALL get that is ALL about us the individual, I Love them. OK, full disclosure, about ten years ago I made my birthdays into birthday weeks. This in time has taken flight, we all now have birthday weeks, I do this better than any and I am special so I now have birthday Month... well I did until I turned 30, I haven't aged a day since... LOL

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4 Minus 4 Plus 4 = TIRED

Saturday night I was asked to travel the next day to Jacksonville, NC I accepted this invite along with my good friend. It was a game time call and while it was a lot in one day it was worth every moment and I am thankful I didn't have to travel it alone. Up there was four hours, we then spent four hours in what I am told is the STD capital of the world and then back the four hours. Yes, exhausting but sometimes you just have to do what is right. It was a gorgeous day for a drive, the company perfect, and the Bonefish dinner at the end didn't hurt either!

CDuckster's house gift

THE 2010 HOUSE GIFT

As CD mentioned she tends to bring a house gift. One year it was a 5" high see-no- evil monkey in copper colored metal (it's by the TV), one year it was a cricket on a stick for the garden (in the ornamental grass by the compost shed) and last year a short chunky ruby red glass candle column which was the source of much candle experimentation and adventures in Michael's and Pier One for other columns, decorative rocks, and such. This year it is this glass vessel with wooden ball stopper.

Now, everything the Ducksters do is an adventure. We don't just DO stuff we adventure stuff. So, the first thing was where to put this vessel from her favorite store Celedon and what to put in it. That was fairly straight forward. The master bedroom and sea glass. This room is done in grey blues and sages with white furniture from West Elm and Pottery Barn and has an OBX theme without getting beachie. There are also some Asian overtones with a large white ceramic Buddha head on one night stand and a very large white ceramic classic seated Buddha on a corner shelf high on the wall. The OBX theme comes from 6 retro posters of places on the Outer Banks acquired from a fav store there, The Cottage Shop in Duck. So beach glass it is.

I had some in the storage room and put it in. It looks OK but it's of the flat variety and there wasn't enough. So off to Michael's to buy beach glass (which of course is really tumbled frosted glass fragments) with Mr.P. as chauffeur. This requires a side trip to Five Guys for Mr.P. and general fortification for shopping. We also hit a store for dried mushrooms and oolong tea in bulk en route. Both Michael's where we did get the sea glass and TJ Max where CD bought a very interesting swirlie yellow glass vase were packed and the traffic was the pits. Ah yes, the first Saturday with no snow. Everyone was out and about.

Got the sea glass home and out of their little mesh bags when CD says, "They're all dirty. See how shiny they are when wet."

I go, "That's not dirt that's just the frosted effect."

"No,no, we've got to wash them."

OK. So I get a large bowl. Put them in and run water all over them. CD grabs some and says "See, they look better." I let them soak in the water for a while and then get out a big colander and pour them out. Now, I've got about six pounds of wet glass nuggets. I put them back in the bowl and try to think how to dry them. Finally, I spread out a dish towel and pour the nuggets all over the towel, flattening out and separating them as best I can. I leave nature to do the rest.

The next morning they are dry and voila--the lovely effect you see above. They are not shiny, it was the frosted effect but as CD said "well, now we know they are clean."

The Olympic logo

I love this logo of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Its based on a type of First Nation sculpture called Inukshuk. I spent part of one winter in the Arctic and developed a fondest for the art and soap stone of the Inuit and First Nation Peoples. To me, these works are closely linked in spirit with types of Asian art, especially Japanese wood cuts. I love seeing the logo all over the games, like little spirits watching out over the athletes. They call out, "I am here. I am watching. We are all watching. I see you. We see you." I would like to have little flags like those on the Alpine ski runs all over, watching over us.

Curling,Mr.P. and the Olympics

The Official Poster of the 2010 Winter Olympics

I'm learning more about curling than I probably really need to but when you watch with a man who was the former skip of a curling team you can't help but learn. Actually, I find the game fairly interesting and am trying to learn all the terms, so I talk the talk, or at least, listen to the talk. Mr.P. talks to the TV all the time during the games. He yells at the skip when they make poor strategic moves and he cheers for good rocks no matter what team throws them. I watched while the Danish women played against the US and he was totally into the strategy, not just because they were pretty good but the whole philosophy of not playing with family members. He once was first on a team on which his dad was skip and apparently they argued all the time. This is bad. As Mr.P. said, "When I was skip, no body argued with me."

So I'm watching the Danish women and he's tsk, tsking about how the skip (the younger sister) and her older sister, who is pregnant, are bad for the team because they argue strategy (this is all in Danish, so are we sure about that?) and how great the strategy and shots are that the skip is making, putting the rock right where it needs to be. I'm getting the full run down on this bad strategy making processes. I keep wondering is this about them being women(?), because one's pregnant(?). You know, Mr.P. can be a little old school at times. But no,it's not only for this team and siblings but also for the US men's team who are loosing. It's just bad form for the skip to not have his team "under control." So, what exactly does this tell us about Mr.P's concept of team work, hum? Really it's kind of fun to watch with your own private knowledgeable commentator.

Calli's Crunch

She didn't like the snow, it was old and crunchy and she could not understand why it was so cold.  Mostly she did not like that she would fall into as the crunchy top collapsed.  Calli needs fresh snow anything else won't do! 

Remote Storage

Over the past few years I've been trying to lighten the load. Part of this comes from having to cope with cleaning out the lives of my parents when they died (NOT a fun task) and part from getting tired of taking care of some things (who wants to polish silver?) and part from changing occupations (professors need books, directors of nonprofits don't, so I've given away literally yards of books) and part from changing times, changing tastes . What I've found is that CD's house in Charleston is an excellent remote storage facility. When here,as you know, she shops for books. This visit she took two bags full. My fondest hope is to never see them again. But she also takes more substantial items. This began with my mother's demitasse collection. You know, those little tiny cups and saucers. My mom had a collection of these which were very ornate, that I never particularly liked and that were just taking up room. I wrapped them and boxed them and put them in the closet. Then, one CD visit I got the idea of sending them to Charleston where there are more tourists and more opportunities to sell them. Well, that still has to happen (the selling part) but it was the start of the use of CD's house as remote storage.

This visit she took the chiffarobe (the piece we moved behind Mr.P.'s back) from the guest bedroom which she had admired--oh please, please take it. This was something I had bought a few years back but it didn't work the way I wanted and had traveled around the house ending up in the there as a position of last resort. She also took three stacks of cast iron cookware that I used for years (so its well seasoned) but haven't used for quite some time (thank God more shelf space). And finally, as an impromptu move, the extra floating shelves that did not get put up and are most likely not going to because they are the wrong style, left I don't know how much more her house can hold but I'm not finished lightening the load yet. Anyone need something? Let me know. If I've got it,you probably can have it. But only if you will come and get it. I think this remote storage idea is very clever and quite, quite affordable. Try it.

What CD should have seen

Here is Mount Pilot When you see it from I77 it is way across the valley which gets called the piedmont at this point. As you can see it is a very unusual formation. It pretty obvious why it got called Pilot. It such a distinctive land mark and can be seen from so far that it was much like a lighthouse to navigate by.

Dark Chocolate Taste Test Update

No matter how much you love DARK chocolate you should not go above 75% cacao! We tried them all and the 72% Twilight Delight was the winner, the 86% Midnight Reverie was just off from baking chocolate with better texture.


PS: I left my drill with the MD and this is an issue for me as it is one of my favorite toys. I am sure though I can survive until I get it back at OBX.  (MD, I know you want your very own but that is not why I forgot it :)

Snowy Gap

This is the scene as I drove away from Nduckster’s; it was at the top of Fancy Gap which is the mountain range you must travel down before leaving VA into NC. The snow I wanted and never did get started as I left Nducksters, the roads were a bit of a mess up until here but nothing unmanageable.  Until this point when traffic and visibility basically ceased, Fancy Gap on a good day in perfect conditions will take your breath away. I once almost died there while in college during a trip home in a rainy fog, the snow I drove home in well that was a fun time! My poor car is no longer a snow virgin but she did get the salt, sand, and snow washed off of her today.  Nduckster wanted me to stay another night and apparently so did Mother Nature.  I am home safe and sound, looking forward to the spring!

A Very Successful Day

CD and Mr.P. are in front of the fire watching the Olympics. The Ducksters did a lot this trip which had been on the agenda for quite some time. The most awesome was the hanging of pictures and floating shelves for artifacts. This all came together beautifully and the timing was so fitting (with the Olympics) because some of the art and artifacts are from the Canadian Northwest First Nations which I had collected over the years. This mounting of objects has been in the works for 2 years. New frames, spacing of objects, and structural issues were all part of the delay. In the end the Ducksters got four framed objects and five floating shelves with artifacts arranged and hung in one hour. There's no stopping us when we make up our minds. BTW, I awed CD by pointing out that Canada is pronounced Canada in both French and English. More tomorrow. Especially if we get snow bound again which is a distinct possibility

Sunday Sunday

Sitting with nduckster, blogging from the famed HP notebook.  Calli the princess is on the bed, nducksters black beauty is on the floor....  For two females they get along splendidly.  Calli is finally ok with the snow, the first two days she was very skeptical of the cruch crunch and wicked coldness of it.  We succesfully moved a large piece of furniture, sliding it right behind Mr. P's back.  Yes Mr. P right behind you while you worked on your Sunday Sudoku.   

Humility of Humor

They are not the same thing; people sometimes think they are and they are not. I this week learned a valuable lesson in both, all I will say is there is no greater gift then the gift of forgiveness, even when you were completely wrong and acted like a complete horses behind.

The humor of my day comes from the fact that as posted I am headed for the snowy mountains of VA. Today here in Charleston where it has not snowed in a decade, they are expecting snow, 1-3 inches or 2-4 depending on who you watch and how close to the coast you are. I am leaving and it will snow, the thing I have wished for every winter since the last time it snowed which was my first year here in 2000. Even funnier is that since it doesn’t snow here people FREAK out. The schools are closed for a storm that is not supposed to hit until midnight, a good ten hours after school would have been dismissed. Also, since Charleston does not have spreaders or plows the roads will all be closed soon as well. Charleston is a city connected by bridges and lots of them, anyone who has lived in the cold knows bridges freeze before roads do and that makes them especially dangerous. I expect they will close the bridges sometime after rush hour here, in Charleston on a Friday before a holiday that is 1pm. The south at its finest really…..

Expectations of Delight

Tomorrow, I am headed over the mountain and into the woods to visit the great MD known also as Nduckster and the honorable and loveable Mr. P. This trip has been planned for some time and I am sure preparations are being made on both sides. These trips are as old as time, the adventures never ending, but the delights of them are constant. They include the finer things in life, good cheese, good wine, but most of all good chocolate.... We are constantly trying new varieties, new flavors, new everything desperately in search of cacao perfection. We long ago ruled out milk chocolate it’s simply just not refined enough for our pleasure trained palates. I have purchased three varieties of dark for the trip, and I can not wait for the taste test. I have been in possession of them for over 24 hours and I have not touched them this is truly a testament to my self restraint.... I even love their names; I mean how can you not love something called Twilight Delight, Midnight Reverie, or Evening Dream? I also always bring a token of my appreciation when I go; usually I find this item sometime long before the trip. Sadly at this point I am without it, I must focus on this immediately. I am planning on heading to my favorite local home decorating store called Celadon (http://www.celadonathome.com/) where I am sure I will find what I seek. There are many things I look forward to with these trips most of all is the "warm fuzzies" her home provides the other is the rest and relaxation I am afforded while there.... My cell gets no service unless I place it at this very precise and perfect angle leaning against the stained glass window in my bathroom. Another great thing about Nduckster’s is that I get not to be a slave to the phone which it is sadly something we have all become and in turn expect from each other. I have issues with this but that’s a whole post in and of it self. This trip however is different, there is SNOW on the ground and if god shines down on me I will be able to see it fall from the sky, SNOW. Nduckster and Mr. P are reading this and shaking their heads, they don't need anymore snow. They are worried about the driveway and where I will park upon my arrival (thanks for caring Mr. P). MD is worried about the condition of the roads and as she posted me yesterday they are "crappy". I get that the snow for them is an issue, I am concerned about the roads and the drive, and I trust that it will all be ok and that Mr. P will make sure I have a place for my car. None of this can damper the excitement I have for the fact that tomorrow Calli my very southern dog will for the first time in her life see and play in SNOW. She is a golden retriever, she was bread for the cold, she loves nothing more than to be a mess, create a mess, and live in a mess, my good friend named her Pig Pen a while back and no other name is more fitting. Calli in the snow will be like heaven on earth for her, I CAN NOT WAIT!




Drill in hand I am OFF!

Again and again and again

Well, the weather has not exactly been improving. Out to the left we see the lake now looking like a field of snow. Today we're in again. Got out Monday and yesterday. Both days it was go late, come back early. We did get a major plow to clean out the front driveway and I thought all systems were go for today. No way. A sheet of ice covered with the new snow.

How we got the driveway cleaned is one of those southern country stories. My friend Maverick (yes that is his real name) called me to ask if I'd be wanting them to do any work at the house since there would be the monthly "furlough" at the end of the month. Yup, I have stuff he and Bobby can do. Bobby is the husband of a staff member and one of my best sistas. Bobby and Maverick have done some awesome work at my house including the bird feeder patio (a whole nother story). So,I said yes come on. In the meantime Mr.P. had decided that we should look into a small snow blower for the sidewalk. Yes, we just gave Giovanni a snow blower but that ones a big beast, too much to handle, and too big for the sidewalk. BTW, G got it going, used it on the back driveway, and then a belt broke. Anyhow, we're driving around in the Cherokee the only thing we're taking out, looking for this small snow blower after hitting Jr's for lunch and then Walmart for bread, V-8 (my favorite juice) and a few other things like sausages for Mr.P. While we are hitting these places and a couple more (Barnes and Noble--remember I'm out of books and Pier One for a quick moment of shopping therapy) I'm thinking that if it snows another flake the front driveway will be impassible. So, I call Maverick back and ask if he knows anyone who can push snow. Sure, he'll call so and so. Calls me a back at the third stop (we've hit Lowe's, Sears,and are at Tractor Supply looking for this blower) and gives the number of a guy. So, I call the guy and leave a message. He calls back. Turns out he lives at the end of out road, I know his nephew, and he's already pushing snow only a mile from the house. THIS IS GREAT.

So, he shows up with his buddy. While the drive gets plowed out (10 minutes tops I swear) I learn how many cuts of hay he got this summer, how he plows Byrd Lodge at a hint of snow and the full story of land ownership of a broken down building that had been totally refurbished by him( its next to his land and he now owns it). I also find out someone on our road who might contract with the community to keep things cleaned up since we never seem to get plowed. When we asked him what we owed him, he responded with "well, what is it worth to you." When we hemmed and hawed, he said "OK. $20.00" I said "Give him at least $25" and Mr.P. gave him $30.00. We're all happy.

As you are beginning to see getting stuff done here is part of creating community. You don't just hire people to do stuff. You create good will. I just love it.

Camp Fire

About once a week the Ducksters have a "camp fire." (see Denoso, Anthony; NCIS) Last evening we were discussing a problem that had come into CDucksters life and I said "You know The Mother Duck teaches that there are people who are like dogs and people who are like cats and maybe we are getting to many cat people." CD said "You must blog about this." So check it out below. The Dog/Cat Theory of personality types.

BTW, the sun is out, we've shoveled the front walk so I can get to the Cherokee in the morning, and the temp is hovering just above freezing. The plow has not been through yet and although a few hardy souls have gone out, same as last weekend, everyone is hunkered down and waiting. I've cleaned the bedroom. I've done up the laundry. The next step will be to start reorganizing the storage room. The only unread books are Mr.P.'s espionage books. This is not nearly as bad as the time I was snow bound in a one room cabin, no TV, limited radio and had read everything but the Illiad which was in German and the original Greek.

Wisdom from the Mother Duck: Dog People and Cat People

There are dog people and cat people. No, I don't mean that some people like dogs and some like cats. I mean there are some that are like dogs and some that are like cats. Here's how we know.

Let's take getting up in the morning. Dog people are pretty much on the job from the moment they wake up. Whatever they do from waking up on is geared toward getting stuff done. Cat people on the other hand wake up and take care of their needs, sometimes for several hours. They have a prolonged routine of self care which involves more than just grooming. It can mean their whole coffee ritual, newspaper ritual, news show ritual, whatever. The point is that its not about getting stuff done its about being. This is just one set of many signs. Think about it you will come up with others.

In general, dog people are on the job while cat people are on the top of the back of the couch in the sun. This does not mean that dog people do not play and relax. They do. They just work first and play second. Cat people tend to do the opposite if at all and would prefer that someone else do the work if they can at all manage it. Now, there can be truly bad dog people who get confused about what their job is and/or how to do their job and/or when to lay off. Similarly, there can be very warm, charming cat people who can get others to happily do what they want done in the most appealing way. But, the bottom line is to know that there is this distinction, be aware which you are, and figure out which other people you work with and relate to are. Makes it easier all around. No, false expectations.

What's in Your Bookcase?

I average about 3-4 books per week and am constantly "running out" of books. Being snowbound doesn't help because a great time passer is curling up and reading which I don't need much of an excuse to do. This is definitely another argument for a Kindle. BTW, although it's still snowing it is definitely tapering off.

The last four books I've read show my eclectic taste. One of my favorite authors is Alexander McCall Smith (you know the guy who writes The Number One Ladies Detective Agency series). He has two other series the Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries and the 44 Scotland Street novels. I like them all but I think my favs are the Scotland Street. I've just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Scones. What is interesting about these novels is they were originally written as a newspaper series which, as the author points out in the intro to the first one, means that the author is publicly committed to whatever he's had a character do or be and can not go back and change it. The novels are based on a collection of characters who live or have some connection to the flats at 44 Scotland Street. My favorite character is Bertie a little boy who suffers through his tres up to date mum's fancies. I'm always rooting for Bertie.

Another series I read are The Elm Creek Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini. These are based on quits and quilters having some connection to Elm Creek Manor in Pennsylvania. The one I've just read is the The Lost Quilter which picks up a thread from The Runaway Quilt which is about abolition and the underground railway. The newest book is an attempt find what happened in the life of a fleeing slave Joanna who was retaken from Elm Creek back to the South. What is so striking in this book is the casual callousness of whites, especially people who obviously view themselves as good people. The ending is quite quite satisfying.

I said I wanted to read T.C. Boyle's latest The Women about Frank LLoyd Wright's women. Although this man was a genius and I love his designs.I think I've been to Taliesan III
(hey that was over 30 years ago) and really want to go again. Since I attended the University of Chicago I'm also familiar with his Oak Park homes. But, despite being a genius he really did not know how to not get intangled in not so good relationships. His first wife was probably quite stable. The problem seemed to be the 6 children they had bing, bang, boom which left her enmeshed in child rearing while he grew artistically. Mamah, his to be second wife who was murdered along with six others at Taliesan, was probably fairly stable but definitely a NEW WOMAN of the early women's movement. The third woman, his second wife Marion, was a talented sculptor but a nut job from the getgo. Probably boarder line paranoid schizophrenic and a morphine addict, her outrageousness could match Wrights but not what he needed. Finally, the third Olgivanna was definitetly stable but their extended efforts to free Wright from crazy Marion created so much stress for her which had long terms effects. It took four years and Marion harassed them the whole time, cleverly using newspapers to keep the pressure on them. In fact, Wright had a hell of a time getting out of his first marriage as well. But Kitty was not crazy, just really pissed and needing a dad for those kids. This book is sort of backward historically and through the eyes of one of Wright long term "apprentices" who is Japanese which makes for interesting commentary. This is a complex book, you don't like Wright all that much, and not a page flipper. However, I did google all his architecture as it was mentioned.

Lastly, a confection. Great for being snowbound. Gail Z. Martin's Dark Lady's Chosen the fourth novel in The Chronicles of the Necromancer. Yes, you've guessed. This is fantasy fiction with all the usual stuff. It helps if you've read the other three novels because this one jumps right in without building any characters or filling much from the prior novels. Although this one has a conclusion that could be the end, I wouldn't count on it. There is enough left open that there could be another installment. The other three are The Summoner, The Blood King, and Dark Haven. If you like fantasy this is pretty good but as good as Marmillier's books.

Here we go again

Across the front yard to the frozen lake


Will here we are again. Another snowed in weekend. About four inches on the ground at dawn and now maybe 7-8 with another 24 hours to go. Right now it has turned over to a sleety snow but is expected to change back to real snow by night fall. Rumors have emerged of anywhere from 6" (local TV channel) to 30" (teller at the bank "My cousin works for VDOT and they have an advisory of 30"). Of course, the governor declared a pre-emptive state of emergency so who knows. But we are now better prepared to get out.

We have two long driveways. One for the detached garage where the Grand Cherokee lives and a two car attached with Petunia and Mr. P.'s Highlander hybrid. They are always a pain to clear. We had this big Snapper snow blower but we both got to old to manage it. So, I give to a program at my non-profit but it never got used. Recently, Giovanni (yes, the truck guy who is also our yard guy) started doing it but its' too much to do by hand and his ATV with blade too light. He wanted a big snow blower but had no funds to get one. I remember ours and called Sam the guy in charge of storing it and yes he had it and yes it was primarily functioning as a lawn ornament and yes he would bring it down to my office. So yesterday I got a huge snow blower as part of my office decor. Fortunately, Giovanni was able to get there and get it out and hopefully get it running.







The Back Driveway






The Neighbors and Our Detached
Garage Hidden by Large Cedar ---


Now I mentioned to Mr. P. on Monday that I was working on getting Giovanni the snow blower. Well, Mr.P. went on red alert. Yes!!!! He found the paper work for the Snapper which we still had because we have paper work on every appliance and machine we have ever purchased plus some parts. He informed Giovanni what was up. He queried me regularly where we were in the process. I reported in at every step to let him know we were moving toward an excellent resolution. And yes we have.

So is this snow really such a big deal or are we all a bunch of wimps. According to the Roanoke Times Tuesday February 4th front page we have the fourth highest snow fall in the nation, trailing only Denver, Fargo, and Anchorage and we are 4.7 inches behind Denver, 2.4 behind Fargo and only .9 behind Anchorage. So suck on that all you New Englanders who assume that Virginia has no winters. This one is so much more like our winters before the drought.

BTW, the hairpin curves I came up behind the guy going sidewise. Next morning it was blocked by a wreck. Had to turn around and go in to the office another way. Speaking of which, the last five miles to our house has only one road so there are no alternatives there. A week a go there was a tree down across it and MrP. called to tell me not hurry home--which he usually wants me to do. Ain't the sweetest!!!

So,I'm making a beef mushroom barley soup for lunch. I'll do Mexican tonight. Chicken and Mexican rice with lots of guacamole, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream Mr.P. loves guacamole. He also loves cheddar cheese. Come to think of it, he also loves sour cream. Tomorrow when Mr.P. (who has only left the house once--yesterday--in over a week) is getting a little cabin feverish I'm pulling out the fish and chips which he loves (don't tell him). Homemade tartar sauce.

Take Your Dog To Work Day

This was a contest years back on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25248311/nPage/3), I entered both Jake and Calli for take dogs at work, Calli was selected and unbelievably Jake was not. I was very proud of her, still am if you can't tell; she is in the staples box, hint, hint! This is them at work today, the come almost every Friday, Calli somehow knows when I wear jeans and it's a work day that she doesn't have to spend the day without me and she WILL NOT let me out of the house without her. Jake, he just enjoys the ride!

Expecting Rain - Wishing for Snow

As mentioned early on in this blog I love and adore my father... Most people do, I know this, but he did raise me as a single father in the 80's and 90's and that is unusual. He is very tech savvy especially given the era in which he grew up. I mentioned the blog a while back and he showed no interest so I let it go, his biggest question was why? I tired trying to explain the why's of the blog and weeks have passed. The other night I asked him why he hasn't asked about my blog and he says "I know your biography I don't need to read it". This just makes me laugh, so I tell him it's a blog which I spell and he asks what that is. I explain it and finally sent him the link on Wed. I called him and told him I had sent the link and all he says ok, I ask are you going to read it and he tells not tonight, I shut the computer down for the day.  Late yesterday I get an email that states "I have read your blog". I am excited by this but wonder what he thinks, its very unusual for him to send me a reply email, typically I only get emails that contain information or forwards. We don’t need to email as we talk several times a day most days. Last night when we are chatting I ask him what he thinks of the blog and he says its ok, I know all that stuff. I am dying here you, have must realize this I am looking for more than that from him, I thought he would find it a little funny a little cool, he may have, he also may never say those things. He was however very interested in ND's drive in the snow, great lets talk about the snow. We discuss how much snow she was gifted and that she was expecting more today, which she has informed me has arrived and she will be blogging about later. My father would also like for her to keep all of the snow as he does not long for it like I do, and as he lives in south FL its highly unlikely he will get any. I asked him how far back he read and he only read the first page, hopefully he will go back and read more, though I think he may actually never return.... Dad if you are reading this, read on and I love you!

He may kill me for positing this picture!

Mr P and the Snowy Days

Mr.P. can be such a hard taskmaster. I came home from the office way early because of snow (more on that in a minute), grabbed some homemade chili out of the freezer to heat for lunch, got it on, sat down to read and fell asleep. Woke up in about 45 minutes. Whoa. Past lunch. Me to Mr.P. "Did you know I was asleep?"
"No. I knew you were in your chair. I hoped you were blogging. You haven't blogged in days."
"You just want to read how much I love you. When I'm with you every day I'm sort of blogless."
So, I have to write in the blog. Such a taskmaster.

Last Wednesday they started with the THE SNOW IS COMING stuff. Since we've been in a drought cycle there hasn't been a lot snow the last few years and Mr.P. who is from the far north has come to see us as a snowless place. This is really not so. We got the 20 plus inches before Christmas and this Saturday we got over nine. Friday we beavered around and got in whatever we would need for a few days housebound since when it snows here navigation gets tough. We live 12 miles from town on narrow, winding mountain roads that are beautiful but dangerous. Frankly, they are kind of a way to sort people out. If they come and whine about the road, they probably are not going to really last as friends. So as CDuckster said (see below) we got snowbound. (BTW, CD, I also thought it would be fun if we were snowbound together on Saturday.)

The snow started late Friday and by Saturday morning we had a healthy 6-7 inches. The temp dropped and we really settled in. By late Saturday afternoon a one or two folks--mainly with bigassed 4WD pickups-- had ventured out. I had spent the day cleaning ashes out of the big fireplace, cleaning out some storage drawers, making spaghetti sauce and reading. Mr.P. was without his paper and no sudoku (he prefers the one in the paper) and was watching news and weather. No Five Guys for him.

Sunday the roads were still not plowed. Mr.P. voyaged out to the mail box to look for the Sunday paper. Nada. I had put on a pot roast and was reading. Now, I will confess I was getting restless but really only because there was so much I needed to get done at the office. First of the month stuff not to mention February 1 and W-2s. I had left that unfinished on Friday to get things together to be snowbound. In addition, we are into our annual fundraiser which required me getting some photographs together and an article written for two papers. I wanted the roads plowed to guarantee a quick exodus on Monday AM. Mr.P. had no Sunday sudoku.

Monday, I waited until it was above freezing and left in the Jeep. Four wheel all the way. After the first five miles the roads were better but not great. Today, I got in and had my stuff nearly finished when Mr.P. ,who I wanted to come in and have lunch with me at one of our favs Jr's (http://www.salsjr.com/), called and said.
"It supposed to snow two more inches. I am not going any where and I want you to come home"
"OK. Let me just finish up a few things here and then I'll come"
"Call me when you leave so I know."
"OK"
By the time I get out of the office 45 minutes later the streets in town are covered and I know that our roads are going to be worse. I get out of town, I'm in four wheel and have dropped down to second gear. Chugging along, no one else around. I'm really beginnng to enjoy myself. The road looks more like a trail through the trees and I'm wanting a camcorder on the hood and just generally getting into the scene when I come on this little pickup barely moving along. He has mud flaps with 4x4 on them which says to me has four wheel. He's riding the brake and I keep thinking why doesn't he put it in four wheel and down shift. Then we come to the corners. This is a series of hairpin turns that we will be going up. He starts up and the next thing I know he's driving up sidewise. I move as far to the right as I can without falling into the ravine,but keep moving, trying to stay out of his was and still not get stuck. Then here comes a bigassed truck down. They see what is happening and back up. Finally, the guy makes it to the top. I come up behind and roll down the window. "Doesn't he have four wheel?" The woman driving the other truck goes "Guess not." I say "Oh crap." She grins and says "You're going to have a lot of fun."
(Do you see a glimmer of Mountain Woman here.)

I finally get home. Mr.P. is relieved. I say to him "I think you are tired of being snowbound." He says "No but if I have to be snowbound I want to be snowbound with you here." Can't beat that.

Rain, Rain, Rain

It is another rainy day here, and as I always I wish it were snow. I miss the snow and thus it holds a draw for me that those who get it just don't understand. I understand when you live with it and have to deal with it that it is miserable. ND was snowed in over the weekend and while I was rained in I still longed to be with her in the snow. I mean actually snowed in, did you know that was possible anymore? The snow arrived on Saturday and the roads around her home still unplowed on mid day Sunday, she was aggravated I was envious!

Water leak is fixed at the expense of CPW,  I leaked enough water from Friday into Monday for all of Haiti for one full day.