New-sy

Well, the first thing is trying out the 'new' Blogger.  Not thinking that I like it much, but like most other changes it will become routine after a while.

This week, or so, has been/will be birthday week.  Mom's came first this past Tuesday and A's will be this coming Tuesday.  As normal, and to avoid too much baking and eating out, we combined the two, celebrating on Thursday with a trip to Skip's (they had opened for the season on Wednesday).  We came home for presents and cake. Thursday was the only evening available in A's schedule.  She had an extra load of hours at work this week.  39 hours when she's supposed to be part time.  Her boss claims it was because of another clerk being on vacation.  Weird that everyone else only had between 15 - 20 hours though.

Our view from our car.  The parking lot was near capacity.

Our timing for Skip's was good, arriving before it got too busy.  As you might notice by the picture, by the time we were nearly ready to leave, the line was out the door.  I'll add that the line started inside, to the far right, about where it says Skip's.  Tradition dictates that we eat in the car.  The weather was beautiful.  In the mid 70's.

Which does bring today's weather to mind.  It's now in the mid 40's...and raining.  It's going to rain tomorrow, as well.  A real Nor'easter, they claim.  We do need the rain.  We're somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 - 8 inches shy of norm this year.  Beats getting a late season snow like upstate New York and western Pennsylvania (hi Norma!).  The bad weather has brought a halt to a search for a little girl missing from Long Beach since Thursday noon.  A tragic story that can be best read through the Gloucester newspaper.

It's been a bit over a week since I got a copy of the book that's new in my sidebar.  Mark Carlotto had written "The Dogtown Guide".  "The Island Woods" is his newest book.  Guess who got an acknowledgement?  Guess who also wrote a 'blurb' for the back cover?  Did you guess?  Did ya?  Yep, me!  And you can bet I got my copy autographed by Mark. Why my presence?  Well, through the historic society I was able to read the proof of the book.  When I emailed Mark with some comments (mostly praise), he asked if I would contribute the back cover blurb.  I had no idea that my comment about an additional D.T. Sq. boulder would earn me the acknowledgement.  I'm very pleased.

In other news...things are looking pretty favorable for a contract on a Mason & Hamlin reed organ rebuild for a Boston church.  Tomorrow I will be pricing out some movers for them and sending along the contract for the work.  Fingers crossed.

This morning, as I looked out my kitchen window, sipping the first of my coffee, I spotted this rather large bunny hopping down the front walk.  He (or she, I guess) sat at the end of the walk for a couple minutes looking around before hopping on into my mother's front garden.

Bart the bunny

Indoors, we started our vegetable seeds a few weeks ago.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and pumpkins. It's been about a 50/50 success rate and I've planted more seeds...just in case.  We've been carrying the tray of seedlings outdoors on sunny warm days and they do look better for it.  At worst, the garden will be mediocre.  At best, we will also have a second crop later in the summer. 

I'm still working on my web site.  I wrote the text and R is doing the editing.  I've accumulated a few more pictures and I've picked a template on a web hosting site.  As soon as a large, uninterrupted block of time is available I'll be getting it done.  Yay!

Today was the day to take artwork out of the Rockport Art Association Contributing Member's  Show.  R and I went down at noon to retrieve the painting and the photograph that I had exhibited.  No sale this year.  At least it keeps my name in circulation.

Haskins Hospital depicted on an early Rockport postcard

In a couple weeks, I'll be running a PowerPoint presentation on the former Leander M. Haskins Hospital of Rockport.  Another SBHS member will be doing the talking.  I'll be doing a bit of explaining about what remains of the property...now a town park.  Getting all the photos scanned and also exploring and taking current photos, not to mention a heck of a lot of research has kept me busy for weeks.  I am happy with the photos and hope that the entire presentation is a good one. It should be.

So, there you have it...I think.  Pretty much what has been going on around here recently.

Cat Lovers in Dogtown - Trip Five

We started the New Year with our continued exploration of the center of the island.  No surprise, huh?

Entering via Dogtown Road repeated our second adventure In, in some respects, but allowed us to spend more time actually looking around instead of worrying about keeping track of our course in order to not get lost.  We found many new things along the now familiar route.

A very large cellar hole along Dogtown Road

One such find was a rather large and excavated cellar hole.  I'm not sure why there are so many bricks present.  Maybe part of a chimney?  Maybe leftover from the days of filling in the holes?  Anyway, it's hard to believe that we missed this one last time!

The pasture where James Merry kept his bull

We continued on along Dogtown Road until we came to a path approximately opposite (to the right of) cellar hole 18.  Using my wonderful Christmas gift from 'R', "The Dogtown Guide" (see sidebar for a pic), we had learned that this path would lead us to the site were James Merry tried to teach himself bull fighting.  Yep, in late 1800 Mr. Merry desired to become a matador.  He failed.

Inscription "First Attacked"

Jas. Merry died  Sept. 18 1892

He was gored to death by his bull.

We then retraced our steps back to Dogtown Road to where it intersected with the Moraine Trail.

Marking the start of the Moraine Trail

We followed the trail, finding a couple more Babson Boulders until we reached Col. Pearce's Pasture.  There we turned around.

Col. Pearce's Pasture

Never Try Never Win

Prosperity Follows Service

On the way back to Dogtown Square we found Col. Pearce's cellar hole.  Another large home!

Col. Pearce had a cellar in his barn, too! (not shown)

Heading back west on Dogtown Road we veered to the right, between cellar holes 17 and 18, to see what the Adams Pine Trail was like and to find out where it connected to Commons Road on the northern edge of Dogtown.

A stone circle marks an otherwise confusing section of the Adam's Pine Trail

Not too interesting a route...we did find the junction...and a very pretty brook.

The brook near the intersection of the APT and Commons Road

We concluded our fifth trip In, retracing our steps back on the trail to Dogtown Road and then home.  On this trip we felt a familiarity with the central Dogtown area, being able to find and name many sites and trails, and also finding new stuff.  Next time our trip In will once again take us to unknown areas.  Should be fun.

Priceless Praise

So, the book "Priceless" by Robert Wittman hasn't been in the Recent Reads for very long..Having enjoyed it tremendously, I decided to loan it to a friend I thought would be particularly interested.  She's an art and antiquities lover.  I don't usually loan out books.  Those of you who have borrowed from me may consider yourselves to be among my trusted friends.  Anyway, I came home today and checked my email.  I found this message (identifying email addresses eliminated):

Subject:   Priceless

Darn you.  I can't put it down.

That was it!  I had a good laugh.  Yep, it's one of those.

Because Today Has Been Lousy

I am choosing to ignore it and post about other things.

The first other thing can be found in the sidebar.  I think I called it Happening in Rockport.  Not sure and I'm not stopping writing this to check.  You get the idea and can find it.  Clicking on it will take you to a blog that has information about some of the goings on in Rockport.  I meant to add this a long time ago.  Life got in the way and I totally forgot about it until today...when life was so much in the way that I had to think of other things to remain sane.

Second new thing is the latest 'Recent Read'.  An engrossing book that explores the ins and outs of undercover work in retrieval of art treasures from around the world.  Written as a memoir, of sorts, "Priceless", by Robert Wittman was more than worth the price!  One of those hard to put down reads, stay up later than you should at night, and also blatantly honest in relating the difficulties working with and within the FBI.  Click on the image of the book to go to Wittman's website.

And Another One

Well, busy, busy, busy.

A new book has been added to the sidebar. "Overboard" by Michael Tougias. Same author that wrote, among others, "Ten Hours Until Dawn". This new (out in March) book is a riveting story of survival. I found the characters to not be as well developed as in previous books by Tougias and that, for me, took away a bit from the story. All in all, though, well worth the purchase and the reading. Would make me think twice about an overnighter at sea!

Also, here's a new painting."Seaside Farm", 16 X 20 in oils. Still not dry!
No check yet from the RAA on the two sold pieces. One more week and I'll be giving them a call.

Sticking With the Unusual

Yep, there's a new book in the sidebar. Dark Tide, The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, written by Stephen Puleo. There is so much packed in to this tragic tale. Yes, in January of 1919, an enormous tank of 50 feet high and 90 feet in diameter ruptured due to structural deficiencies and sent a wave of 2.3 million gallons of molasses outward in all directions. Of the many injured, 21 persons died either by drowning in the dark, heavy syrup, or from crushing injuries sustained as surrounding structures gave way and collapsed. This devastating event is enveloped with accounts of anarchism, WWI, immigration, terrorism, and the influences of big business. Seems some things never change.

Has It Really Been That Long?

Wow! I haven't written here in quite some time. I guess that's because while nothing of particular note is happening here, neither have I managed to find time to sit and write about all the nothing. I'm fed up with winter.We haven't had all the snow that some areas south of us have seen. It doesn't make sense that one needs to head south for snow, does it? Anyway, our lack of snow is partially due to the extremely cold temperatures that we have been having. Add to those a brisk breeze and it's cold. Very cold. Just so that we don't feel left out, temperatures are supposed to moderate mid-week and allow us 6-8 inches of white stuff.

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So, the nothing stuff...I've started working on all our income tax forms. I've actually made out quite well, tax-wise, this year! Refunds will be coming to me from both the Feds and the State. This is the first time in eight years. Yippeeeeeeee! Of course doing the taxes is not without the irritation factor. For the second year in a row the government has failed to send tax forms and instruction books for each of us. I got my federal booklet, with forms, over a month ago. My mom and 'A' haven't gotten any. We've all gotten our state stuff. I ended up printing a pile of forms from online so I could get things started. So, pencil drafts are finished for each of us. Just a double check of the math and then filling out the forms that will be sent in.

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Key work has slowed down and I've been working on the Indian harmonium. I fixed all the contracted work and decided to put a bit more into it. The bellows seemed weak so I've delved deeper in to the workings to make sure that everything is as sealed up as possible. Tomorrow will be two tunings. Tuesday I'll be tuning and replacing some strings on that Helpinstiehl (sp?) electronic piano.

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Finally, I've read a couple more books. The only one worth mentioning in the sidebar is The Lost City of Z, by David Grann. (If it's not in the sidebar yet, it will be soon. Don't forget that whenever possible a link to the book/author's website is accessible by clicking on the book cover.) Do you see a little trend in subject matter here? These abandoned, mysterious places are getting to me. Anyway, an outstanding narrative of Percy Fawcett's obsession with finding the lost city of El Dorado in the early 20th century Amazon, his disappearance, and the numerous, failed attempts to find him (or his remains) over the subsequent three quarters of a century.

That Feeling That The Ax Will Fall

It's just a matter of when. But for now, I'm swamped with work...still. Yeah, there was a week or so just after the new year when things slowed a teeny bit. With the economic situation still VERY ill, I don't understand why business is good. Not complaining, just nervous.

Today was Ipswich afternoon. I went to look at a piano that the owner had seemed very nervous about over the phone. She was afraid that she had made a big mistake in accepting a free piano. Well, it's no great shakes but certainly a serviceable Story & Clark console. We've scheduled a tuning in about a week. Then I went to tune a VERY LARGE Henry F. Miller upright dating from 1902. It had been redone, sort of, mostly weirdly with wrong sized hammers, inappropriate and too thick felts. It played and that was the client's main concern. Played well? No. But every note worked. The piano had been restrung with oversized tuning pins. Before this new owner acquired the instrument, it had been stored on a porch. Most rusty tuning pins I have ever seen. Orange crud was growing like lichen on the bass pins, yet the strings looked shiny and new! Most of the bass tuning pins did not want to turn. That concerned me as with all that rust, I was sure that a pin would snap off. I certainly didn't want that mess. The client stayed in the room watching and listening through the entire tuning. I had expressed my concerns about the rusty pins and she commented that she wasn't nervous at all. "That's one person in this room that's not worried," I said. Finished in just over an hour, and - it sounds better but still plays like...

Came home to a set of keys on the porch. Big job of German tops and fronts and key bushing. Another set due to arrive on Monday, just for bushings. Monday's job may lead to doing production key work for an electric keyboard company. Next week there should be another two sets of keys beyond those I just mentioned. Monday afternoon I tune for a regular customer, Wednesday morning another regular (the Steinway monster). Then the music director at the school called and they need three pianos tuned this coming week. Sometime in there I've got to return the action (back to a customer's piano) that I had in the shop for repairs last week.

Yep, I'm getting nervous.

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Oh, and before I forget to mention it. There's a new book in the sidebar. Ford County is a collection of stories written by John Grisham. A good read and according to Mr. Grisham, the stories are taken from ideas that he's had over the years that never developed in to full novels.

A Super New Book

I got new reading material for a Christmas present. I've put a book cover picture in the sidebar. The book is titled, Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town, Dogtown. It's extremely well researched and written by Elyssa East.

I finished reading it tonight. Yep, that good. A real can't put it down book that wraps the history of Dogtown around the 1984 murder of Anne Natti in it's woods. While I admit to being fascinated with the unusual, and Dogtown certainly qualifies, I think most anyone with the slightest inclination towards history and the unique atmosphere of an island community will be as enthralled with this book as I am.

More of the Odd

I admit it. I get overly fascinated with odd stuff. So, last week I was browsing the 'Buck-a-Book' shelf at the library and managed to find three that sounded worth their prices. One of the books was The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant (see the sidebar). It's fiction, or should I say faction? A novel based loosely upon the real life story of a very early settlement in the center of Cape Ann. Extremely well composed and makes you feel like it IS true history. I imagine it's close. I've referred to Dogtown in the past on this blog. One of these days I'll get around to some serious exploring out there. If you'd like more information (it's really nifty) check out this site . Be sure follow the links on the site for lots of interesting stuff.

What to Do on a Rainy Day

Nothing like a rainy Saturday to be uninspired. I even spent an extra half hour in bed this morning trying to convince myself that I really did need to get up! 'A' and I went to the local store to pick up the morning paper. I got home and found that there really wasn't much in it worth reading. I picked up a little bit around the house, fed Bubba and family, played around on the computer catching up with bloggers and piano stuff. Lunch came and went and still it was raining. My mom had some shopping to do so she drove 'A' to work. I went to the library and got out a new book. It's another fiction novel titled, "Await Your Reply". In reading the cover flap I've no idea why I decided to get this book. It had sounded good when the guy on the Today Show recommended it. I'll give it a try. BTW, I hate to admit it but...Dan Brown's latest was very good. I just hate admitting to being so trendy.

When I got home from the library, I didn't feel like starting in on the new book. What to do?

Then an idea came to me. This would be a great time to get (back) to work on that article for the Reed Organ Quarterly. Gee, it's only been 6 weeks or more since I started it! Well folks, today I finished the rough draft (long hand) AND the first draft with edits. THEN I actually sat and proofed for typos and made a couple more edits. My mom read it over and had a couple good suggestions. This is the part I really enjoy about writing. Literally working it over, making it better, improving content, deleting the superfluous. There's more work to do, including photo selections, but it's taking shape.

On this rainy Saturday I actually accomplished something!

Bunches of Stuff

I wish that I had the time to write entries when I really felt the desire! The past few days I have contemplated a few topics, but life has not given me the time to put the ideas to keyboard. Then I end up writing short blurbs about all of the things - one fell swoop. I don't particularly care for writing that way.

Here goes.

The best laid plans and such...A set of keys arrived from CA just as we were heading out the door to drive north for the afternoon. Oh well, I thought, I've plenty of time. I'll get them prepped and glued in the evening upon our return (didn't happen, too tired). No worries. I'll get that part done first thing in the morning, machine them in the afternoon, ship them on Saturday. It'll still be within the 3 - 4 day turnaround time. Company arrived at noon Friday, called first, they have a summer home in ME and were leaving on Saturday for their winter home in IL. Ate out, visited, ate out again, no keys worked on. Saturday was very busy and I managed to ship the keys out at 1 p.m., just before the 2 p.m. closing at the shippers. Then while my mom was out to lunch with friends, I got working on mowing the lawn and weed-wacking. I also replaced a bulb in one of my mom's walk lights, only to find out that the reason it doesn't light is NOT the bulb. Cooked myself a nice hot meal of roast chicken with onions, whole green beans, and a baked potato. Struggled with an aching body to pick 'A' up from work. An Aleve meant a good night's sleep free from the day's aches!

Sunday, a day of rest...hah. It's nice having Sunday free from 'outside' (meaning retail) work. After a quick clothing sort (summer away, winter on hangers) first thing was church. My mom drove 'A' to work. I got home and had a delicious lunch of tuna, lettuce, and Marini Farms tomato. The tomatoes they grow are so yummy I could just slice one up in a bowl, salt it, and be satisfied. With only an hour left before retrieving 'A' from work, I just poked about a bit re-nailing a bit of siding on the house and shed. My mom reminded me of my promise to recaulk a couple windows and I got that done after the retrieval. (oh yeah, Friday the electrical engineer visitor and I fixed my mom's doorbell). None of these things being on THE LIST so I don't get to cross anything off. Then it was off to the library. 'A' didn't find anything of interest and I picked up one book. Which brings up the 'Recent Reads'.

The monthly music book group is meeting again. September's book was "Beethoven's Hair". I had only four days to read it (not knowing if I would have THAT Sunday off, I hadn't bothered to sign the book out until late). While it was a fascinating subject of the journey and subsequent analysis of a lock of Beethoven's hair that was snipped from his head soon after his death, the writing style was overly textbook-ish for my taste. On the other hand, the October book is "The Soloist". Read that one in two days. A probable total of 4 hours. Some of you may have seen the movie about the life of a homeless man on the streets of LA, made even more poignant by his past musical success, schooling at Julliard, and the comfort that playing an instrument gave him.
That finished, I started in on "House of Sand and Fog". An Oprah Book Club book. It is nothing I could truly recommend. Interesting. Way too depressing. I broke down and bought Dan Brown's new novel, "The Lost Symbol". I know, I know. I have succumbed to all the hype. I haven't read either "The DaVinci Code" or "Angels and Demons", so why this new book? Well, evidently it's heavily in to Freemasonry. This intrigues me. My grandfather was a Mason and I have some of his stuff. I tune for a Masonic Temple and the Temple Room is breathtaking, even in a modestly outward appearing building. So, for those reasons alone I have bought the book. One copy out of 5 million in this publishing! I am five chapters in to the book and have been interrupted by another that I picked up today. "Losing Mum and Pup", by Christopher Buckley is a memoir of life with and without his parents (William F. Buckley, Jr. and Patricia Taylor Buckley). An only child who is orphaned at the age of 55 when both of his parents die within one year. I read the first two chapters while waiting for 'A' at the library and since it's a loaner from the library, I'll continue with it and restart Dan Brown's later.

At last I'm almost caught up! Here that is, on the blog, never with real life. I've been spending some time thinking about a post I read elsewhere. About being alone and listing activities that you enjoy doing alone. The goal is to come up with seven things. I've only thought of four. I can think of far more things that I do alone that I wish were shared. (sigh) I'll keep thinking and post later.

Okay, So We ARE a Bit Weird

Today, the noontime news had a delightful video. Seems the summer heat had gotten to one big, brown bear. He was cooling off in a backyard pool. Looked like he was having a splashing good time! My mom says, "I'd hope he'd come back each day." Yep, she meant it, though she'd probably change her mind if it were in her pool that he would eventually and probably leave something not so pleasant behind.

We had a town official (sort of) stop by our house a couple weeks ago to get some information about a recent incident that we witnessed. My mom asked me, "What are you going to do if Bubba shows up for his peanut while XXXXX is sitting here?" Thankfully, that didn't happen and I didn't have to explain how I feed Bubba and his wife, Babs, and the triplets, Baby Bubbas peanuts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bubba is usually waiting on the fence each morning when I open the drapes.He swoops down for the peanut that I throw out the sliding door, no longer waiting for the door to close or for me to back away.

Last week we had a special guest. Junior the baby crow used our garden for a rehab stint. We haven't decided whether Junior was so young that he just hadn't learned to fly, or if he was injured in one of his short wings. Junior was very adept at hopping and would spend each day between the garden and our deck. He'd hop up and down the deck stairs! Feeding time meant a special treat for Junior - slivered almonds. Junior loved them and nothing would stop him from his almonds. Not even two humans sitting in lounge chairs getting some fresh air and sunshine.Here's Junior collecting some stray almond bits from under the lounge where my mother was relaxing. After nearly a week, Junior hopped out of our garden. My mom saw him across the street in the neighbor's yard. We hope that Junior finally learned to fly. Flap your wings Junior!

Squirt still comes to visit, but is rarely fed. Poor thing searches like crazy for peanuts on the deck. Round and round he goes, nose to the decking. He'll get on a chair back and peer in the window at us wondering, I'm sure, why we have abandoned him. He was just too pushy and aggressive and would climb the screening trying to get to us. Bad Squirt.

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Other news. A couple of blogger friends that have been absent for quite a while stopped by this week. I'm very relieved to 'see' both of them as I was worried. Please keep in touch - both of you! Two more paintings have been added to the Cellar Studio. I'm not particularly satisfied with the photo of the painting Tidal Marsh and at some point I'll do a retake. I've started a new book as noted in the sidebar. I was surprised to be watching the Today Show a couple weeks ago and see Kurt Andersen, author and brother of piano tech friend David, being interviewed about his new book, Reset. I'm half way finished and quite impressed. The sub-title describes it well. "How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America". As is the norm with Kurt, the book is extremely well researched and written. Check out his website by clicking on the book cover in my sidebar. Then there is my writing! I've gotten about halfway through the first draft of my article for the Reed Organ Society Quarterly. Work got in the way. A good thing, but I should get back to writing it. I do have evenings free, after all!

All for now. I'm off to finish Reset.

Mainly Moseley

Well, we're finally in to July and guess what? It's still raining. I think we had a total of 5 days in June that could be considered sunny. My body is rusting. And it was chilly enough that we had to turn the heat on, today. IN JULY! Some things truly just aren't fair.

Still, they say that we are to have nice weather for the Fourth of July and also for the week that follows.

'A' and I walked down to the old gate keeper's house at the Moseley Estates. Yep, we did it in the pouring rain. I just have to get out and do stuff regardless of getting wet. I think this place has possibilities. Don't you? I'm serious. I'd love to get in and get busy fixing this place up.

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I've finally read a book deserving of note in the sidebar. Dewey doesn't have the potential of outstanding literature like some of the others that I've placed there, but it is a wonderful tale of the life of a library cat in a rural Iowa community. You just fall in love with this guy.

Trust Me, It'll Sort Out

Having finished the reed organ, I am now Thrilled (Cap intentional!) to be working, once again, on my player piano. It's been a long while. Too long. That's causing some moments of "How does this go together?" as there are parts of this that have been in parts for over 6 years. Nevertheless, I'm having a blast with it.

Finished rebushing a set of keys today. Guy won't be showing up for them until late next week...at best. I hate that.

And guess what? On the first day that 'the Factory' will be open, I'll be working as a replacement clerk. The scheduled person forgot that they had a commitment for that day. It'll probably be a good thing as my shift on Sunday will likely be canceled due to foul weather. Heavy rain and wind.

I've made a lot more ivory earrings. I've also made 'cards' that they will hook in to. Now I've got to make a display for them all. I'm thinking that a grand piano lid shape as the background/mounting surface might be appropriate.

And in my spare time...I've read halfway through an intriguing book, written by the brother of a piano technician acquaintance. The book is titled Heyday and is written by Kurt Andersen. You can see a picture in the sidebar. Kurt is a brilliant guy and the story is an intricate weaving of characters against the background of the mid 1800's in Paris, London, and New York (so far).

Also, I'll take this moment to extend a belated thank you to both Annette and Dickiebo for this award:I shall get to paying the award forward.

Not So Recently Read

While I have a moment, I thought I should catch up on the sidebar book. We Bought a Zoo is a great story. It had a bit of everything from family life, tragedy, humor, conservationism, education, and strategic planning. The Dartmoor Zoological Park is located in southwestern England. If you have a chance, go have a visit for me, dickiebo and B. (Yes, I realize it is a bit of a haul around to get there.) Anyway, the only down side I found was that it left me wanting to know more. And more was not something the website provided. I wanted more family stories. After all, the title says WE. While indeed it was a family purchase and project, I didn't feel that I really met them all. I didn't get to know them as well as I wanted. Good book, nonetheless.

On Loving Frank

A moment to reflect on one of my latest reads...

Loving Frank is a captivating account of the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney presented as fiction. Fact in fiction. An elaborately pieced together story based solely on remnants of correspondence, glimpses through Wright's autobiography, and family lore. So close to reality it is hard to distinguish the nuances that must remain labeled fiction. I highly recommend visiting the website for the book. Beautifully designed, a lesson in architecture and it's life in Frank Lloyd Wright. Click on the book cover in the sidebar or go here.

Coincidentally, just the other evening while wading through numerous uninteresting television programs, I stopped on a PBS documentary on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. Perfect timing!

What To Do...

when there's nothing to do. Why blog, of course. I can't find a darn thing on TV that even keeps my interest for a few minutes. I haven't a good book to read at the moment. I finished reading Water for Elephants (sidebar). It was a little raunchy, but considering the subject matter - circus life in the 1930's - I guess some raunch is to be expected. I liked the book. I enjoyed the play, back and forth, between the narrator's present life and his circus life memories. A really cool ending. I've also finished reading Loving Frank, a fictionalized account of the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick. More on that another time. I picked up another book for a buck. It sounded good, but not a keeper. Not even a get beyond a few dozen pages. Throw away. Oh, I also read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Turned out to be a young readers book, so reading it was a bit strange. It was an engaging story with a tragic end. I'll get the movie from the library once it is available on DVD.
'A' and I finished the cat tapestry puzzle. 1000 pieces and about 24 X 30. Sorry about the glare on the puzzle from the window. This was a tough one! We're puzzled out for the moment. In a few weeks maybe we'll pick out another one.

Key work has picked up again so I'm happy. Very happy. Really. I LOVE to work. I feel better, loads better, when I keep busy. I'm working on more ivory jewelry, as well.

Got chatting today with a piano tech friend and the discussion turned to talk about growing up in the 60's and, well of course, the Beatles. I mentioned having visited the Cavern Club, in Liverpool, on and for my 11th birthday. Which just happens to be the same date as Paul McCartney's - June 18. So, here's dad and deb on the stage at the Cavern Club, June 18, 1966. While in Liverpool, I bought the British version of the Rubber Soul album, which I never should have loaned to a high school friend. Never saw it again. So Chris, if you read this, I want my Rubber Soul album back!

I can't figure out the minds of our DPW. Maybe I shouldn't even try! On New Year's Eve we were blasted with about 8 inches of drifting snow and frigid temperatures. The plow came by my back road once. No salt, no sand. I went out and cleared an enormous area behind my truck (and on the road) so that there would be less 'plow-in' when they came back late at night. Certainly they would be back, right? Wrong. New Year's Day I had to shovel out the road that had drifted in waist high! I shoveled and snowblowed, shoveled and snowblowed until there was enough width to get my truck down to the corner of our property and a road that they HAD plowed. My snowblower is a small electric model that will only handle about a six inch snow. Because, like mom promised, "It hardly snows at all in Rockport." Pfft, I DID know better. So today we had a little coating of snow, then some sleet, then a lot of rain. No big deal. They plowed my back road three times! Salted and sanded during the worst of the rain. Huh? It's a hill, it'll all wash away! Now the rain has stopped. A very fine mist is in the air and the temperatures are dropping. The wet porch steps have frozen. The salt and sand truck is nowhere to be seen. Why am I not surprised?

Well, 10 p.m. will be rolling around in just a few. Maybe there will be something of interest on the tube so I'll finish up here and hope. Night, y'all.

Latest Reading

A few nights ago, I finished reading The Shack. I'm almost at a loss for words on this one. Really not my type of story, yet obviously it held my interest. I did finish it. The tale starts out quite everyday-ish and then quickly progresses in to a very personal spiritual journey. Yet this is fiction. The main character, Mack, meets up with Papa (God as a black woman), his/her son Jesus (Mack relates to him the easiest), and Sarayu (holy ghost/spirit) who then work to enlighten Mack while showing him that his grief and guilt can be overcome. That weekend spent at the shack with the Trinity comprises the bulk of the story. It has some cute commentary as Mack tries to relate to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The ending is predictable with a slight twist.

Not a favorite as casual reading. Do I recommend it? I don't know. I guess the best thing you can do is check out the website if you're curious (click on the picture of the book in the sidebar). Decide for yourself.