Apologies...

varied/non-existant readers. Been out yesterday and today with a fever pushing 103. BIG FUN! I'll resume posting on Monday when I BETTER be able to go back to work.

Specifically for MTR

There are a billion coffee shops in the PNW, as you may know. I've had drinks at most of those in Eugene, but I had a severe flashback the other day when picking up a cold mocha drink for Jen. I tasted it on the way home, and it was as close as you'll ever get to a Dog Street Chill. Memories...

Tarnation...

Saw this trailer the other day and was shamed into pulling out the copy of Saramago's book that I've been meaning to read now for many years. I've heard incredible things about his writing, but somehow never traveled far enough down the stack to read Blindness. Always hard to tell from a trailer, but this film looks fantastic.

Olympic Huh?

Normally, I'm a huge fan of Algonquin, but I'm not so sure about this one. I just can't see people caring about this guy enough to read the book, and I used to swim competitively myself. When I first saw the pre-pub info on the book, I thought it sounded much more like a magazine article than a book, and sure enough it originated as a piece for Outside. Craig, if you're out there, you gotta sell me on this one...

Olympic Reads

I am giddy at the thought of watching the summer Olympics. Yes, TV coverage has sucked ass since 1984, but at least I can watch some of it in HD this time around. I hope to squeeze this book into my brain before the games are over. The Olympics in Rome mark the transition from the games as we see them in Chariots of Fire to the corporate juggernaut circus that they have become. And yet, I'll still watch as much as I can get away with...

Cell Stupidity

I am continually amazed and chagrined at the number of people each day who answer their cell phone in the library only to say to the caller: "I can't talk, I'm in the library."

Bowerman

I only skimmed this when it was up for a PNBA award, knowing that it wasn't going to work its way to the top six, but after watching the majority of the Olympic track and field trials here in Eugene, I have picked it up again and jumped right in. The writing is nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done. What IS spectacular is the insight Kenny Moore brings having been around Bowerman and the Oregon track community for most of his life. Incidentally, if you find yourself watching Tequila Sunrise, look for Moore playing the harbor patrol officer...

Yes, yes, I should read Zinn

... but I just may check this out first when it pubs in October. I was a history minor at VT, which means I took just enough classes to have a working knowledge of completely different time periods in areas and countries separated by thousands of miles. Perhaps a major would have filled in the gaps?! Ah well, I've been sliding again back toward non-fiction, and some US History might be the ticket.

LOL

This, from Library Journal, in the 'prepub alert' section regarding the next Richard Paul Evans novel:

No hints yet on the plot, but you know it will be filled with love, hope, and Christmas.

That made me ACTUALLY laugh out loud, which is hard to do when it comes to [Untitled] books that libraries and bookstores are expected to purchase just because it is 'next' from a BS author. I find such practices anathema.

Anyhow, I'm back at work after a week off, and will attempt to post every workday until the end of August. After finishing the the Butte to Butte 10K on the 4th, I feel I have the stamina for such an amazing feat.