Henry's Story

We have a guest blogger today, Henry the Schnoodle. Henry is very precocious...he wrote this story when he was just a puppy!

(The picture shows Henry checking out the goodies under the parrot cages)

A Different Perspective on the Thanksgiving Holiday

We knew something was going on when she brought in all the groceries and started cooking. First there was a pie, then some stuffing, and finally some sweet potato dish. Oh, I guess I should explain…I am Henry, and I am ten months old. I live with my sister Lucy and my Mom and Dad.

But to explain further, Lucy isn’t really my sister. I was adopted into this pack back in April, and she was already here. My Mom isn’t really my Mom, either, since I remember my real Mom a little, and she was furry, just like me. Other people call my adoptive Mom either Nana or Nanny. She’s nice. My Dad’s name is Paul or Honey. So now you know who we are!

When Mom started cooking we knew either someone was coming over or we were going somewhere. When she didn’t vacuum, Lucy and I started getting excited because it meant we were going to go somewhere in the car! We knew it for sure when she brought the cooler in from the garage.

We still had to wait a while because Dad was still at work. When he came home he helped with the cooking, too.

In the morning we didn’t get to eat breakfast like we normally do. Lucy was mad at me because it’s my fault. I get carsick if I eat before a car ride. Oh, well, a car ride is fun even if you have to miss a meal!

Mom and Dad loaded the car and off we went! I have to ride in my little bed on the floor of the van because of my car sickness problem. Lucy rides on the seat and looks out sometimes. I feel like such a baby!

We rode in the car for a long time. We stopped once and Mom walked us around a very interesting parking lot right by the freeway. There were so many unusual smells! Then we rode some more and after a long time more the car stopped again.

I knew it was a good place because Lucy was so excited, banging her tail against the side of the van and whimpering to get out. When we got out I remembered – and I remembered even more when I saw Erica and Owen. They are my favorite kids in the world!

Wow, I was so happy to see them! I jumped up and licked their faces and wiggled and squirmed. They petted my sister and me a lot and then invited us to join their pack and visit their den. Well, maybe they call it something else, but I call it a den.

It’s very nice there. We had a fine time chasing the ball and playing with the rope toy, but sometimes we had to go to our beds for a while, too. We like that Mom and Dad bring our beds from home.

One fun thing we did was listen to Erica play the viola. She’s good! I could never play that well! We also had fun when they were testing Owen on his addition and subtraction. He is one smart cookie, if you ask me!

After a while everyone except Lucy and I sat down to a special dinner at the table. The dinner smelled so good! Lucy and I were very happy that they put a piece of turkey on top of our dinner that night, too.

Another special thing was that we got to stay overnight! Mom and Dad took us with them when they went to bed, and we got to sleep right next to their bed. In the morning I woke up first and took a quick trip upstairs to see if I could find Erica and Owen’s dens. I went from room to room licking the faces of the entire pack!

We got to go on lots of walks, and play in the backyard, and other fun things, but before long it was time to go. We were sad to say goodbye but excited about another car ride.

On the way home Mom and Dad were talking about Thanksgiving Day and how it is important to be aware of the good things we have in our lives and the holiday is about taking a moment to appreciate them.

So, I thought I should end this essay by saying that I am thankful that I have such a nice pack and that I’m glad we went to Erica and Owen’s for Thanksgiving!

Finding Reading Material

I love to read. I love to read books the normal way...but I also love audio books and almost always have one of each going.

I use audio books in the car, in my cd player on walks and on my mp3 player.

I have several strategies for finding new books to read, but I am constantly trolling for new authors and ideas. I thought I'd outline them in case they'd help someone else....and if anyone has suggestions, please comment with them!

• I search my library's website. They have a search function for "on order books" which can be a great way to get new books when they first come out. I put them on hold, and don't worry if I'm number 53 out of 100....it will come to me eventually.
  
  
• I go on Amazon and go to some of the books I really love. Then I look to see if anyone has made any lists that are associated with the book. I have found a lot of great books that way.
  
  
• Some of my most read blogs have book posts that offer up suggestions or links that I follow. There are a couple of links on my links list. I make notes about everything!
  
  
• Newspapers and magazines are the traditional sources. Write them down!
  
  
• Good friends who read are a great source. Jeannie and I never close a conversation without asking "what are you reading now?"

I mostly get my books from the library since we are not buying anything unless it is something that will go with us to Mexico.

I read a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Right now I am reading two books - Return to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani and The Ancient Kingdoms of Mexico by Nigel Davis. Very different kinds of books. Return to Big Stone Gap is light reading (I am listening on CD) but the main character is a very thoughtful person and I am enjoying the book. The Ancient Kingdoms of Mexico is very interesting - I am only about forty pages in, but I am loving it.

The Books of 2006

It's amazing for me to see that I read 77 books in 2006. I had always known that I read a lot, but whew! Since my focus in 2007 is learning to speak Spanish, I doubt that I'll have such a long book list, but who knows?

I enjoyed participating in the 50 Book Challenge and think I will always keep track of my reading in the future.

How to Learn Any Language Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably and On Your Own by Barry Farber (book #77) was the last book of 2006. I have been working for many hours every day on improving my Spanish. One way I find out about good books for this purpose is to find lists on Amazon that people have created. A number of the "so you want to learn Spanish" lists included this book.

His premise is simple - attack your learning from many different angles, and don't pass up a chance to interact and talk with a speaker in your target language. A summary is on our other blog, here.

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews (book #76) was a really strange read. And it only reinforces my belief that more harm comes from religion than good. The main character, Nomi, is a wonderful person who had to deal with multiple rejections and ultimately was shunned by the Mennonite sect of which she had been a member. A very good read.

A Few Good Books

About Grace by Anthony Doerr (book #75) is a book that took me two tries to read. I have a very hard time with high-tension segments of either books or movies, and this one had a section that I couldn't get past until the second try. Once I did, though, I was glad I stuck with it.

This book demonstrates how misunderstandings can escalate. It is best not to let that happen.

Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg (book #74) was one I was excited about because I loved her Bee Season so much. This book takes place at the turn of the last century, and has to do with Q-D Soda, a carbonated herbal remedy and also about the Spanish Flu epidemic. It goes back and forth between following the main characters interspersed with advertising for Q-D Soda, some sort of tour being put on by Q-D Soda, and reminiscences by the founder, etc. This is the disconcerting part. Why did she do that? Otherwise, an enjoyable book, but it isn't anywhere near Bee Season.

Malinche by Laura Esquivel (book #73) was one I picked up because of my long standing interest in all things Mexican. The book is a fictionalized account of Malinche, a slave captured by Hernan Cortez to serve as his translator in his overthrow of Montezuma. All of Esquivel's books are moody and dreamlike - and this is no different. A little too fictionalized for my taste, but I still enjoyed it!

A Few More Books!

I have finished a few more books recently - but it has been a bit of a light reading jag - don't be shocked, I do like chick-lit on occasion, just like the rest of the world!

Breadfruit by Celestine Vaite (book #70) is a book that transports you to Tahiti. In much the same way that Smith transports you to Africa in the Kalahari Typing School for Men novels, the lilting tone and easy charm of the language and the people make a relaxing break from the nasty world we lived in before the election!

I picked up Murder, She Wrote - Margaritas & Murder by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain (book #69) because it was set in San Miguel de Allende. San Miguel is a place both Paul & I would like to see, and we may possibly take a two week language school vacation there sometime in the next year. The book was very silly but there was enough Mexico-ness in it to keep me reading.

Lucky Girls by Nell Freudenberger (book #68) was a real treat. Set in various locations in Asia, the five short stories mostly revolve around Americans living abroad. These (long) short stories were all extremely well done and all made me wish for her to write a novel. These stories remind me of Haruki Murakami in the sense that you get surprised a lot as you read. I like that.

Lone Star Cafe by Lisa Wingate (book #66) was the start of my chick-lit jag. It was a funny book with lots of improbable romance and warm, small-town barn raising attitude but, you know, I liked it a lot. And I ordered another book of hers from the library, so that says something!

Mexico is Everywhere

I looked at the Seattle Times this morning, and here was an article about a shop in Condesa that Martha and I had visited. In the same paper there was also an article about crops rotting because there are not enough people to pick them this year. Most of the pickers they employ are from Mexico. The first issue of Inside Mexico, a magazine about/for expats living in Mexico is available here (3 mb .pdf) (There is a map of Condesa on pg 26) Every day there are articles about talented artists, writers, restaurants and new retail. Could it be a sign that we should be there? I think so! Mexican Days by Tony Cohan (book #65) is the second book I've read of his, - the first being On Mexican Time. This book is mostly about his travels - starting in San Miguel de Allende and visiting Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Jalapa, the Yucatan and other smaller towns along the way. He knows people everywhere and frequently seems to know someone who can introduce him to the town.

A Few More Books....

The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook (book #64) was an enjoyable book. It is a mystery having to do with a family in New Mexico at the turn of the last century. The main character is Hannah, a woman who came west from Chicago to be a "Harvey Girl" - basically a live-in waitress at one of Mr. Harvey's out of the way hotels. Hannah wrote journals which her daughter publishes...but of course there are a few things Hannah's daughter Bassie didn't find out before she died, but that her granddaughter Meg ferrets out in the end.

Lovesick Blues by Paul Hemphill (book #63) is a biography of Hank Williams. I've been interested in Hank Williams since I read Bob Dylan's autobiography earlier this year, and he raved about his admiration for Hank.

What a troubled soul he was. A lovable drunk, basically. What a waste of a lot of talent...to die at 29 years old. This book was like watching a slow motion car crash.

One interesting thing - Hank wrote the song "I saw the Light" not as a religious song, but because when he and his band would be driving back home after a concert, and he would be asleep in the back seat, drunk, his buddies would wake him up when they "saw the lights" of the airport up ahead.

Book Catsup (or Book Catch-up) if you prefer...

The Testing of Luther Albright by MacKenzie Bezos (book #62) is one of those books that keeps coming back to you throughout the days afterwards. (ok, I just finished it a couple of days ago, but...) Luther Albright is an obsessive person who seems easy enough to figure out at first...but he really isn't that easy to understand after all.

This book has many absolutely first class scenes that make it totally worthwhile, but there is such an underlying sadness in Luther that it might be a little hard to read for some.

By the way, she IS married to Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame. The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Croke (book #61) was one of the books I took with me to Mexico. It kept me entertained enough, but if I hadn't been on vacation without a lot of other reading options, I might have given up on it. And of course the fact that the book was a gift from my best friend, and I had to understand why she felt compelled to mail it to me!

The book starts out in the thirties following the death of Ruth Harkness's explorer husband. Ruth decides to take up his pursuit of the giant panda in China even though she knows nothing of exploring, and is a hard core smoker and drinker.

Various other explorers do sneaky and mean things to her...she hooks up with Quentin Young, a young Chinese explorer, and together they are able to get a baby panda to bring home. With the exception of the relationship between Quentin and Ruth, I found the book a mostly scary account of why so many species have been driven to near-extinction.

The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman (book #60) was interesting enough to keep me reading but also infuriating to my critical ear. She would say someone "descended the staircase" when it would have been so much better to say "went downstairs" or something similar. The flowery writing and over-dramatization of the Selki legend was overdone, and I can't believe her mother's two novels were so well read that everyone she knew or ran into had read them! The transparency of her parents' fear of hotel fire was ridiculous, also.

If you are trapped somewhere with no other books available to read, go ahead and read it, but if you have any other choice, don't bother, if you want my opinion! The Secret River by Kate Grenville (book #59) is a wonderful but also horrifying look at the invasion of Australia by the English. The first part of the book takes place in nineteenth century London, where William Thornhill works incredibly hard as a kind of river taxi driver, but ends up imprisoned for petty crime and is ultimately sent to Australia, along with his wife and child.

While his wife longs to return to London when their banishment is over, William stakes a claim to a piece of land along the river, and convinces his wife to settle it with him.

The people they meet during their time on the river - both Aboriginal and English, are case studies of people in any age. William's internal conversations tell of his struggle with the displacement of the Aboriginal people and his contempt for the racist English...but his desire for a piece of land of his own made him compromise his beliefs.

This book made me all the more interested in, and respectful of, the Aboriginal people of Australia.

Appropriate Reads

Anyone reading this knows that our well loved dog, Angus, died last week. He had cancer and even though he'd had two rounds of chemotherapy, in the end the cancer won. It has been a very emotional time - and as happens whenever I experience loss, I think about life - and what it all means. A couple of books lately have helped me in this process:



Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coehlo (book #57) is a very interesting story written from the perspective of Veronika, a young woman who attempts suicide - and survives to find that she has damaged her heart and will die soon. Changing perspectives on the meaning of life and love and a number of interesting twists make this a good book, especially for me right now.



Black Swan Green by David Mitchell (#58) is a wonderful story about a boy growing to adulthood. Jason is a stammerer and an undercover poet. His thoughtful observations on people and life and his management of the transition into young adulthood and the bullying he experiences was really well done. Loss is a recurring theme in the book, which makes it another appropriate read for me this week. This book was up for the Man Booker prize this year but didn't make the cut. I can't imagine why.

Was it a Wasted Weekend or a Perfect Weekend?

Well, I did it again. Altogether too much reading and too little work has been done around this place by yours truly lately. This house hasn't had more that what my grandmother called "a lick and a promise" in quite a while. Vacuuming is the only must-do chore around here - without a good vacuuming a couple of times a week the feathers and dog hair would be intolerable!

Angus is still hanging in there. He needs his doggie aspirin to stay somewhat comfortable but he still barks at deer and eats like he's starving twice a day.

My best friend sent me two books in the mail this week - The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan and The Lady and the Panda by Vicki Constantine Croke. What a treat! And what a treat to have a best friend who reads, shares books, and who has been my best friend for almost forty years! I am so lucky!

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan (book #56) was a fun book that I read in about 5 hours. I just couldn't put it down! It's a true account of a mother of 10 who mostly supported her family writing jingles and winning contests in the 1950's and 60's. She was a strong woman with a positive attitude in the face of adversity - an alcoholic husband, her own clumsiness, and never enough money to go around. Thank you, Jeannie!

Love and Other-Near-Death Experiences by Mil Milington (book #55) was wonderful. I love books that are funny, where the characters are unusual and irreverent. This book revolves around Rob, a young man who is late to an appointment and hence is not killed in an explosion. The people he meets and the ensuing drama is sometimes hilarious and very well done. I laughed out loud a lot and was constantly reading parts of it to Paul even though he just HAS to read it, too. So should you!

The Rural Life

Many people share the desire to live a simpler life in a rural environment - to eat and enjoy life based on the seasons, and to share work and festivities with people who really know and care about each other. What an idea!

A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena De Blasi (book #54) recounts about a year in a small village in Tuscany. She describes the grape harvest, olive harvest and pressing, Friday night communal suppers and how the community cared for a woman fighting illness. It seems a very idealized account -but that's not a criticism - I really liked the book. Our move to the Pierce County was driven by many of the same desires...and our interest in moving to Mexico someday, as well.

De Blasi is a fine cook and cookbook author and often shares a recipe for the meals discussed in the book. I'll shelve it in with my cookbooks once Paul has had a chance to read it.

For those of you wondering how Angus is doing...ok, I guess. He barked at a deer this morning and jumped off the bed by himself...as well as ate his breakfast. He pants a lot and barks when he wants attention. He seems a bit better when we give him the doggie aspirin. Who knows?

Fall is Coming! (That means it is time to come inside and read books!)

I just finished The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. (book #53) There had been a lot of buzz about it when it first came out, so it had been on my "want to read" list for a while. The book goes back and forth between book club meetings, social events of the club members, and their reminiscences. Marital splits, death, romance, enduring love are all wound together with a discussion of various Austen novels.

It's not a challenging read or particularly insightful - but the characters are well done and do in fact remind you of Austen characters themselves - which is of course a delightful but expected choice. I liked it.

Don't Hate Me!

I guess I did do a few chores today...a load of laundry, a bunch of ironing, exercised, worked on the KP News, and other odds and ends, but for most of the day I sat in the sun on the deck or in the shade in the hanging chair, reading. I pretty much read the entire book - Dry. by Augusten Burroughs. (book #52) It is a mesmerizing read about a gay NYC ad agency creative who hits bottom and works his way through recovery. But it is more than that - it is book about surviving crazy family, how to recognize love when you see it, and the empowerment that comes with gaining control over your life.

Books and more books

I've finished three more books lately, and have now read fifty books so far this year! It really amazes me - I had no idea I read so much!



A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews (#48) was a real fun read. I read about the book on 50 Books and I know I will read more by Toews. A little wacky (aren't we all) and a lot of soul.





The Bookwoman's Last Fling by John Dunning (#49) is a mystery set around book collecting. As an occasional collector myself, and a mystery fan, I read any and all Dunning novels. No gore, no extreme tension, just a good old fashioned mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.



What to Eat by Marion Nestle (#50) is a very revealing look at the food industry. She goes through the supermarket by category and explains the pros and cons of the choices available. I can't say that there was anything in here I didn't know about food, as I have always had an interest in nutrition, but some of the information about supermarkets was an eye-opener. For example, I have read many places that the grocery industry has the lowest margins of any industry - something around 2-3%. But - hello - that doesn't take into account the huge money they make in slotting fees and the like. Very Interesting!

Evolution and "Christian" Zeal

I finished two more books in the last week... The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton (book #46)and The Crucible by Arthur Miller (book #47.) I didn't realize until I was getting ready to write this that the topics were quite a contrast!


The Darwin Conspiracy is a fictionalized account of Darwin's voyage on the Beagle and his life and family. It is spoken in three voices - Darwin's, his daughter Lizzie's, and of Hugh Kellem, a modern day researcher. Because it was fictionalized the book left a lot to be desired, but it did kindle a desire to read more about Darwin and possibly also his Origin of the Species or the Descent of Man.


I listened to The Crucible on an audio book - with Stacey Keach, Richard Dreyfus and others performing the play. It was very intense and moving - and also felt very contemporary given what is going on in the Middle East right now. I am horrified by what people will do in the name of religion, and how it always seems it is the innocent and honest people who end up sentenced to die.

A Couple More

It's a beautiful day here in Western Washington, after several days of drizzly weather. When it is beautiful here, it is really wonderful. Not too hot, just the right amount of breeze, and birds zooming about. An article on Gig Harbor appeared in the Seattle Times today - and it made me think about how wonderful it is to live in a place that others come to for their vacations! As a matter of fact, our granddaughter Erica is coming to the Key Peninsula this weekend for her first week-long summer camp experience!

I finished another couple of books this week...Kicked, Bitten & Scratched by Ann Sutherland (book #44), and The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys (book #45.)


Kicked, Bitten & Scratched is a non-fiction account of a year in the "premier school for animal trainers" in Southern California. I was introduced to Ann Sutherland in her recent article in the New York Times. I thought she was so funny - and since animal-training is a topic I am always interested in, I picked it up. It was interesting to see what it takes to become an animal trainer, and it reinforced that my vegetarianism wouldn't mesh with the world of wild animals - or more particularly preparing their food. That's all I'll say, but blech!


The Diary of Samuel Pepys came to me on Paul's recommendation. Pepys was an interesting man who lived in interesting times. While recounting what it was like to live through the great fire of London and the plague he also reports on his many trysts and the upset that it caused to his marriage, as well as his digestion and bank balance. Very fun to read.

An Unbelievable #43

It's hard to imagine, but I have read 43 books so far this year! And I'm not even counting the various books that I started and couldn't finish (because I just couldn't stand the writing or whatever.) Number 43 was a very special book - Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Described as his coming of age novel, all I can say is that I wish I could know myself as well now as he did at twenty. He is an amazing writer and an incredibly interesting and observant person.

Every book of his that I've read has felt perfect - but has also left me with that sadness readers get when a loved book is finished. The one good thing is that he has written a lot of books and I plan on savoring each and every one.

Quietly Wonderful Book

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson (book #42) was a real surprise. After the depressing (but good) Housekeeping, I wasn't sure if I wanted to give this one a try. But it was getting great reviews - and won a Pulitzer Prize, so I thought I should give her another chance. I am so glad I did!

The reason my affection for the book surprised me is that the main character, John Ames, is a preacher - and religion is the major topic of the book. He is an old man with a seven year old son, and the book is actually a letter to his son as a form of family legacy.

The book is slow...and because John Ames is old, and the topics he delves into are so deep, the cadence is just right. The writing reminds me of Faulkner - Ames is perfectly written - with a sense of humor, the ability to view himself honestly, and the humanity to struggle with the same questions as the rest of us.

Bird Nuts

To See Every Bird on Earth by Dan Koeppel (book #41) was an interesting book about his father's obsession with birds and how it affected him and the other members of his family.

As a bird nut myself, I always enjoy reading about people traveling to hunt out the most unique species...but part of my interest is the psychologist in me wondering how a hobby turns into an obsession.

Last year I read The Big Year by Mark Obmascik, and there were some similarities between these two books. But since the Koeppel family dysfunction is less interesting to me that Obmascik's quirky birding-on-a-shoestring I would encourage you to read The Big Year if you're only going to read one of these books.

Murakami is Amazing!

Sputnik Sweetheart (book #39)is the fourth Haruki Murakami book I've read this year (or ever, actually.) Murakami's stories have one foot in conventional reality and one in some sort of future world or world where people communicate in unusual ways. His characters are always unusual - but in an effortless way, without any self-consciousness. His books have a somewhat dreamy quality, and actually when I finish one of his books the aura of it stays with me a long time. Sputnik Sweetheart was wonderful.