Summer 2012 reading
One of my gauges of a summer are the number and quality of books I've been able to read. The summer of 2012 was an outstanding one for the quantity of books, maybe the quality was a bit down.
A Walk Across the Sun
A debut novel, set mainly in India. Enjoyed the read.
TheWidower's Tale Jullia Glass
My daughter's recommendation. May not have read it otherwise; but enjoyed the story.
Three Seconds Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom
A Swedish novel, well crafted, a thriller
Blood Safari Deon Meyer
OK
Blackout John Lawton
Set in England during Battle of Britain. Mystery novel in a historical context
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The Black Echo Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly
Swamplandia Karen Russell
A finalist of Pulitzer prize in literature; but not sure why. Started well, but disappointed in last half.
Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese
Liked this novel a lot,
Catching Fire Suzanna Collins
The second book of the Mockingjay series. The second book
Killing the Blues Michael Brandman
I like the Jessie Stone character created by the Robert S. Parker
Agent 6 Tom Rob Smith
Mystery set in cold-war Russia. Liked the character and the setting
Siro David Ignatius
Ignatius writes tight, well crafted novels with international settings and intrique.
The Increment David Ignatius
See above
The Litigators John Grisham
Grisham weaves a good story.
Nightwoods Charles Frazier
A different novel than I expected from Frazier, liked the novel
Buried Prey John Sandford
Sandford is one of my guilty pleasures, enjoy all of the "prey" series.
The Blind Spy Alex Dryden
International thriller/spy book. a quick read
Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson
A biographical revealing that I generally found interesting.
Boomerang Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis writes in a clear understand fashion of complex topics; this time it's the European Monetary crisis that some European countries find themselves. A bit scary.
In the Garden of Beasts Erik Larson
Non-fiction focusing on two people from Germany as the rise of Hitler and Nazis. The American ambassador to Germany and his daughter. Fascinating.
#3 Saxon Tales Bernard Cromwell
Another guilty pleasure, I'm reading two of Cromwell series of historical novels.
The Tiger's Wife Tea Obrent
Not what I was expecting at all, really two stories in one
SUPERFreakonomics Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Loved reading about their theories of micro-economics and the illustrations enhanced the text.
Maphead Ken Jennings
If you love Geography, you'll appreciate this book by someone else who loves geography. Ken Jennings is the all time money winner from game show, Jeopardy. Thanks, Theresa for suggesting the book.
The Entitled Frank DeFord
I don't read many sports novel. But I admire the articles of DeFord, so took a chance. A good read, and more than a sports novel.
The Snowman Jo Nesbit
This one kept me guessing
Cloud Atlas David Mitchell
One of the most unique books I've read. Took me a while to get into it (two years), but finally kept at it until I was hooked. They're making a movie of this? Thanks, Brad.
The Orchardist Amanda Coplin
A well crafted, well written novel. Heard about the book on PBS, but part of the intrique was the story was set in Central Washington and included towns and areas that I've visited often.
Actually, had a lot of other books on my "read list", that still remain there. Waiting for the next holiday/vacation!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Memories of my father
Father's Day, 2012
Although I don't need a reason, Father's Day provided an opportunity for some reflections on my father, Tom Blaine.
I can remember that as a very young kid and I'd ask him what he was doing, his answer was "Flying a Kite".
My youth impression of dad was he was a humorless man; maybe that's why I can remember the first time I heard him tell a "joke'. We were at a church potluck and I heard dad say to someone "Pass the Moo juice".
As a young kid, I was never really aware of family finances; now I realize that raising three children on a postal worker's salary was probably a challenge, which is why he had different part time jobs. For a while he worked at a postal sub-station that was located at Brady's pharmacy on the corner of Cherry St. and Simmons St. He mainly worked in the evenings. He was working the night the Galesburg Post Office burned down (1958), and he called home shortly after the first started. Even though it was night, Mom took the three of us kids downtown, and we watched the library building consumed by fire while sitting on the front steps of the Central Congregational Church.
A summer job that dad always worked during one of his vacation weeks was at the the Knox County Fair. One summer when I was maybe 12, he took me to the fair for the whole day that he worked selling parking lot tickets. While he worked, I had free reign to wander the fair grounds and the displays. I just had to stop in and see him periodically. At night we went to the stock car races. It was certainly took a lot of glitter out of going to any fair in the future.
Another part time job that he had was that he would go up to Chicago and drive back new cars for a dealership in town. This again provided me a special experience when I accompanied on one trip. We rode the train up, took a cab over to the downtown car dealership and drove the car back. The train trip up was special, and I had never ridden in a cab before and then the drive back to Galesburg.
Dad was a reader. But his favorite read was the Condensed Books put out by Reader's Digest. He subscribed to the Reader's Digest magazine, and we also got the monthly condensed books. He was the speller in the family; if any of us kids needed to know how to spell anything, we'd ask dad. Clearly the spelling gene was one that I didn't inherit.
He's been gone 10 plus years now, but a parent's influence never dies.
Although I don't need a reason, Father's Day provided an opportunity for some reflections on my father, Tom Blaine.
I can remember that as a very young kid and I'd ask him what he was doing, his answer was "Flying a Kite".
My youth impression of dad was he was a humorless man; maybe that's why I can remember the first time I heard him tell a "joke'. We were at a church potluck and I heard dad say to someone "Pass the Moo juice".
As a young kid, I was never really aware of family finances; now I realize that raising three children on a postal worker's salary was probably a challenge, which is why he had different part time jobs. For a while he worked at a postal sub-station that was located at Brady's pharmacy on the corner of Cherry St. and Simmons St. He mainly worked in the evenings. He was working the night the Galesburg Post Office burned down (1958), and he called home shortly after the first started. Even though it was night, Mom took the three of us kids downtown, and we watched the library building consumed by fire while sitting on the front steps of the Central Congregational Church.
A summer job that dad always worked during one of his vacation weeks was at the the Knox County Fair. One summer when I was maybe 12, he took me to the fair for the whole day that he worked selling parking lot tickets. While he worked, I had free reign to wander the fair grounds and the displays. I just had to stop in and see him periodically. At night we went to the stock car races. It was certainly took a lot of glitter out of going to any fair in the future.
Another part time job that he had was that he would go up to Chicago and drive back new cars for a dealership in town. This again provided me a special experience when I accompanied on one trip. We rode the train up, took a cab over to the downtown car dealership and drove the car back. The train trip up was special, and I had never ridden in a cab before and then the drive back to Galesburg.
Dad was a reader. But his favorite read was the Condensed Books put out by Reader's Digest. He subscribed to the Reader's Digest magazine, and we also got the monthly condensed books. He was the speller in the family; if any of us kids needed to know how to spell anything, we'd ask dad. Clearly the spelling gene was one that I didn't inherit.
He's been gone 10 plus years now, but a parent's influence never dies.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Meet me in St Louis
We couldn't get together for a family gathering over the holidays, so with school schedules, work schedules and personal schedules, the best time was the first week-end in June. We decided on St. Louis as a gathering place since it was centrally located and most of us could drive there.
I got to meet the newest addition to the family, George. The siblings and the cousins had a chance to spend some time together; and Alice and I got to spend time with them all.
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| Blaine helping to prepare the bread for spaghetti one evening dinner |
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| A trip to the St. Louis Zoo |
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| I hung out with George by the pool |
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| Blaine, Jensen and Drake slowing down for Popsicles |
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| At the Arch Theresa, George, Allison, Dave, Blaine, Erin, Drake, Marshall, Alice, Jensen, Tom |
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| The Grandboys Drake(6), Blaine (8), George (5 months), Jensen (2 1/2) |
It's so great to get all together, but it's always too short of time. Maybe Nashville in December and Maui in March 2013?
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Spring Road Trip 2012
For our spring road trip we decided to squeeze in a few days between week-ends in Nashville for a quick trip to the Florida panhandle. We had never been in that area; it looked like a doable road trip for the limited time we had, and I was anxious to see some sand and surf. But knowing that we were heading to Florida during a traditional spring break week, I was anxious to find a spot that wasn't going to be full of college students-being college students.
The destination we chose was Apalachicola, FL; on the Florida panhandle coast, east of Panama City and south/west of Tallahassee. A small town, known more for its fishing and oysters than casinos and night life. Alice got busy and found a bed and breakfast (http://www.coombshouseinn.com/) available for a couple of nights and we were set.
On our trip town we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in which is in far southern Alabama. A classic, Victorian home; high ceilings, old wood floors, a bed that you had to climb into and a sinful breakfast.
As advertised, we found Apalachicola a small, pleasant town. A small area of shops and restaurants, lots of sea food available, although neither Alice or I are fond of oysters, the seafood the area is known for.
We spent two different days exploring the area with a day trip to St Joseph Peninsula State Park and a day trip to St. George Island.
We even saw an alligator along side the road as we drove along.
The water was cool, the sand was white and fine, a strong on shore breeze blew most of the time we were there.
Overall, a good quick road trip to begin our travels for the 2012 year.
As advertised, we found Apalachicola a small, pleasant town. A small area of shops and restaurants, lots of sea food available, although neither Alice or I are fond of oysters, the seafood the area is known for.
We spent two different days exploring the area with a day trip to St Joseph Peninsula State Park and a day trip to St. George Island.
We even saw an alligator along side the road as we drove along.
The water was cool, the sand was white and fine, a strong on shore breeze blew most of the time we were there.
Overall, a good quick road trip to begin our travels for the 2012 year.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Only 90% left
Last October I began a serious effort to lose some weight. Specifically, I set a goal to lose 25 lbs. The motivation behind this decision was pretty basic. One part vanity; recent pictures from our trip to Hawaii were very unflattering; one part was the recognition that the extra weight was limiting my life style, last summer I couldn't complete a high altitude mountain climb and carrying extra weight was a contributing fact; but a big part of my motivation was health. Blood pressure medicine, high cholesterol medicine, daily glucose checks (no meds yet, but a matter of time). Some of those health issues are part of my DNA, but all of them are made worse by being over weight.
I had actually tried losing weight for the last year, but with little success. I'd try to make better choices and exercise more; but couldn't lose more than 10 lbs. After reading a number of articles about calorie reduction, I decided to adopt that model. A tool that I found to help me was WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/)where you can set up an plan with your weight loss goal and you can track your daily food intake. There are many sites that do this; but one thing I liked about the WebMD was that it sent a daily email reminder to log your food intake for the day. That was helpful for me particularly at the beginning.
Although the WebMD plan suggested a daily plan of 500 calories below recommended daily usage, I personally chose to set a daily goal of 1200 to 1500 calories a day. Initially, I had trouble reaching my goal, but as I tracked my individual meal and food choices, I started to have a much better picture of the calories of my favorite foods (and former favorite foods) and a better picture of portion control.
All the things that any article says about weight loss came true for me: eating more fruits and vegetables (healthy food, fewer calories), smaller portions, certain foods that you just avoid,being honest about the foods you eat and the snacks you have. Exercise certainly helped, particularly after losing 10-15 lbs, it was easier to exercise which meant I could exercise more.
Finally in early March I met my goal of losing 25 lbs, which was 10% weight loss of my beginning weight. More importantly, My trip to the doctor was very encouraging. My blood work looked very good; the doctor took me off all medications!!
So even though I'm only 90% of my self, I feel pretty good. Officially, I'm still overweight, so My goal now is to lose 10 more lb.
I had actually tried losing weight for the last year, but with little success. I'd try to make better choices and exercise more; but couldn't lose more than 10 lbs. After reading a number of articles about calorie reduction, I decided to adopt that model. A tool that I found to help me was WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/)where you can set up an plan with your weight loss goal and you can track your daily food intake. There are many sites that do this; but one thing I liked about the WebMD was that it sent a daily email reminder to log your food intake for the day. That was helpful for me particularly at the beginning.
Although the WebMD plan suggested a daily plan of 500 calories below recommended daily usage, I personally chose to set a daily goal of 1200 to 1500 calories a day. Initially, I had trouble reaching my goal, but as I tracked my individual meal and food choices, I started to have a much better picture of the calories of my favorite foods (and former favorite foods) and a better picture of portion control.
All the things that any article says about weight loss came true for me: eating more fruits and vegetables (healthy food, fewer calories), smaller portions, certain foods that you just avoid,being honest about the foods you eat and the snacks you have. Exercise certainly helped, particularly after losing 10-15 lbs, it was easier to exercise which meant I could exercise more.
Finally in early March I met my goal of losing 25 lbs, which was 10% weight loss of my beginning weight. More importantly, My trip to the doctor was very encouraging. My blood work looked very good; the doctor took me off all medications!!
So even though I'm only 90% of my self, I feel pretty good. Officially, I'm still overweight, so My goal now is to lose 10 more lb.
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