Let's Try This Agan, Shall We?

Oh my poor sweet abandoned blog, I'm back! Originally this was to be a book blog but as much as I love reading and talking about books, I do not like writing book reviews. Writing them, even for fun, gave me traumatic flashbacks to graduate school. Ok maybe it was not that bad but it did feel like work which was not fun.
So I decided what I really needed was a place to post about all the random stuff I am interested in, sort out thoughts in my head and still talk about books in a less reviewy fashion.

What should I start with? Well today is a cooking day. I've already made Pecan Maple Breakfast Cookies, only I used walnuts not pecans, and my Slow Cooker Refried Beans are simmering in the crockpot. I should mention that I really do not like refried beans but these ones are delicious!
I think that is all for now. My comfy couch and book are calling out for me...

Testing

Testing

One down, Two To Go

I finally updated my books read list. Next goals: an actual blog entry and a review of Shelf Monkey (which I read in two days in July).

Jane Austen On...

Jane Austen on my cat, Sweet Joe.






















Joe indicating he no longer wishes
to participate in the silliness.

Hall of Shame

The inductees into the California Hall of Fame were announced today. What is that you ask? Well it was created by the California First Lady Maria Shriver and the California Museum for Women, History and the Arts (the museums name used to be The Golden State Museum until Maria Shiver "suggested" they change it). Every year they induct "legendary Californians who have influenced the state, the nation and the world" (their words). This year Harvey Milk will be inducted, Chuck Yeager, Carol Burrnet, Rafer Johnson and George Lucas (they must be ignoring the new Star Wars movies in their decision!) among others.

And then this name was announced - Danielle Steel.

Danielle Steel in the same group as Harvey Milk is so wrong I do not know where to start. People may read her books but they are poorly written cheesy romances and I'm pretty sure none of them have influenced the state, nation and the world. The only change I can think of was when she insisted her books be placed in the fiction section of bookstores and we had to move them all out of the romance section.

Maybe the museum based their decision on Steel's book of poetry. Yes you read correctly, she has written a book of poems entitled Love. Go check out the book. It is filled with poems so bad it becomes hysterically funny.

Sigh. All the wonderful California writers to choose from and they pick Danielle Steel. Grr.

Wicked Fabulous

Ahhh...Wicked The Musical was just wonderful! An incredible production with an amazing cast, including Patty Duke who played Madame Morrible. I loved the music and it was funny, which I was not expecting. The whole evening reminded me how much I love the theater, the city and taking the subway ( I never know what to call BART. Is it a subway, is it light rail? - its both). My friend and I drove to the nearest BART station and then hoped on a train into San Francisco. I love riding the subway. There are always such interesting people to see. I saw one man getting on with a book and I thought I knew what it was by just the spine (Guns, Steel and Germs) and I was right. I was happy to see so many people reading as we headed in to the city.

San Francisco was, as always, interesting and full of fresh air except for the occasional whiff of the standard city smells. We went and had dinner in a hole in the wall diner and then wandered Market Street until the theater opened. On the BART training going home there were two kids trying to look thuggish, drawing graffiti on the car wall. Normally I do not find this funny but they were using a ball point pen and you can't really look thuggish with a ball pint pen. If I had had a Sharpie on me I might have given it to them (well probably not). All and all a fun trip. I didn't get home until 2:00am so dragging myself to work the next day was a project but Wicked was worth it!

Something Wicked This Way Comes....

My poor little abandoned blog! Where have I gone? Nowhere really. I’m just in my defeated by the summer heat mood. I hate the heat and I hate Sacramento in the summer (why do I live here? That is a whole other blog entry)! It was 103 yesterday which I should be grateful for since it could have been 110. The air has also filled with smoke from various forest fires. I was so hoping California would make it to the rainy season (please let there be one this year) without bursting into flame. Sigh.
What does all this have to do with my blog? Nothing. I just needed to complain for a moment. I’m done now. Actually the heat does make me tired and non-motivated, even when I’m inside my air-conditioned apartment, so hence the no blog entries. Never fear, I am beginning to perk up because September is near and also because I am getting out of Sacramento tonight. I will be headed over to San Francisco after work to see Wicked at the Orpheum Theater. What could be better? Cool ocean air, the city at night and a wonderful show.
I’ve polished my ruby slippers so Wicked here I come!