Night on the Strip

Vegas at night makes up for her sins of the day.

You can tell there is a recession on. This has to be the first time ever in all my trips to Vegas were I've not been annoyed by traffic and jostling crowds on the strip.

Random musings

From the road:

• Vegas is a fab place to watch sporting events. Found my way to the South Point casino for some fab football. So fun to watch great games with fans. And not just fans, but fans with money on the line. Having the Pats shut down Tebow on his home turf? Sweet. And boy, oh boy, did you catch that Lions game? Think I've got whiplash from watching several games at once. Oh, and did I mention the $2 drinks? Second hand smoke is on the house. All in all a wonderful way to watch football.

• So the Vegas Barnes and Noble, on Maryland Ave, has full time security. Asked around and learned that it not just for the holiday season - no stampedes at a book store I guess - he is there all year round. The store even has their special editions and multi-pack books (like the Harry Potter series) behind the cash registers. Kinda like cigs in a liquor store. So, I've been having fun imagining book thieves at work.

• Loving reconnecting with my brother and his family. There is something wonderful about kids around 8 and 9 years old. They are all there. Little people. We have the most fascinating conversations.

• What is it about women getting all dolled up for an event or dinner out, when the men they are with wear jeans? I heard once that women really dress for each other, not men. Have been thinking about that as I watch couple after couple who do this. This does not apply to European couples.

• While we are on couples, what is the deal with dressing up and paying for dinner at a high end restaurant only to sit across from each other and gaze deeply ..... into your smart phone? I say stay at home, order pizza and save the money for new apps.
  

• Vegas at night is worth all the drabness and depressing sights of the city in the day light. Think of Vegas as a vampire. Sunlight is not good for it.
  

Journal Page

Greetings from Vegas my pretties. Am jet lagged and hungry at strange hours, but loving getting to hang with my nieces. Today is the last school day before they break for a 2 week holiday so am looking forward to some fun days ahead.

I did a quick sketch of the house across from the bus stop the other day. What was I doing there? Waiting for my nephews who had early dismissal. Background acrylic wash was already on the page. Quick pen sketch. I still need to work on perspective. Not there yet.

Journal Page

I was inspired by this Geo Paper project, and decided to try it. I did not have Sumi ink, so used watered down black acrylics. I found painting this quite meditative.

I fly tomorrow and am looking forward to seeing similar landscapes outside my window.

Journal Page

I'm not always in the mood to draw what is in front of me, so while I was waiting for people to arrive decided to try "automatic drawings" ala Comfortable Shoes Studio. You can see her fun videos here.

Here are my faces. Quick and fun to sketch. Added watercolors when I got home.

Bound for Vegas Travel Journal (pre-trip)

One of the things I do to prepare for a trip is make a new travel journal. I decided to make this one 6x6 inches as I really love the portability of that size.

As usual I try to recycle as much as possible when I make a journal. The covers are cardboard covered with wall paper samples on the outside and scraps of wrapping paper on the inside. I used a piece of furniture swatch for the spine. The inside is made up of cheapo watercolor paper colored with cheapo acrylic paint, and vellum paper that I had bought ages ago. Also recycled a couple of envelopes I got in the mail. Decided to add photos to this journal, so started with some photos from my visit this time last year. Added stamping, collage material, stickers and labels. All bound with an easy pamphlet stitch and I'm good to go.

You can see a quick video of the journal pre-trip here.
You can see all my videos here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Journal Page

I've reintroduced my body back to the gym a week and a half ago, and oh can I tell that I have been a stranger to the gym for too long. There is much groaning as my sore and aching muscles adjust, but I feel great.

This page gave my brain a workout too. The idea is to draw the face/vase line on the left side (I am right handed), and the draw the right side as a mirror object. My brain stuttered several times. A great way to engage both left and right brains. Give it a try.

Spring 2011 Travel Journal

I love travel journals. Making them. Filling them. Seeing how other people do them. The possibilities are endless. Quite fun.

I had made a travel journal for a 2 week trip this spring and filled it up, but did not make a video because I had to figure out a way to hide personal pages. I spent some time marinating on the issue. I could simply remove the pages. I could put them into envelopes, or cover them in some way. My eureka moment happened when it occurred to me that I could simply fold the pages in half - easy enough to do since I used a ring bound book. This way the pages are in the right place in the journal, but still I have a measure of privacy. Viola!

The fun thing about a ring bound book, is that the pages can be re-ordered at any time and I don't have to use all the pages I start out with - so no leftover pages at the end. On this journal I did not add any of my photos - something I will explore with my next one.

You can see a quick video of the completed journal here.
You can read about how I created the journal and see the "before" video here.

Hillary rocks

To see why, click here.

Stories

I have always loved stories and story tellers, and I found a new story teller today. You can see her here.

Strathmore Online Classes

I quite enjoyed the three classes that Strathmore hosted earlier this year. Looks like they are doing it again for 2012. You can sign up here.

Recent Reads

129. The Relic
Have read good reviews about the Pendergast series, so decided to dive in with the first book, and found it a thrilling ride indeed. Reminded me a bit of Crichton's early work. Every time I see an exhibit in a museum, anywhere in the world, I am reminded of how much of the stuff was stolen and/or plundered. How can displaying mummies be anything other than grave-robbery? And yet, I appreciate the privilege that museums afford me. This story is about the "curse" of moving things to places they do not belong.

130. The Last Council
This much anticipated book #4 of the Amulet series does not disappoint. Emily and her friends find that there is no help to be found in Cielis. As a matter of fact, a competition (kinda like the Hunger Games) is about to ensue. My nieces (7 and 8) love this series, and I just bought the first book in the series for my nephew (9). Cannot wait for the next installment.

131. Sandman Vol 2: The Doll's House
I am slowly making my way though this series. It is a fun ride and the illustrations are fab. Have the next two books on my nightstand.

132. Best American Comics 2011
I find anthologies tough to read - there are some stories are that incredible and others that are so-so. This collection is no different - a mixed bag. What I really appreciated though was the chance to be exposed to artists that I had never heard of. There is value in that.

Art Journal Flip #2

To see a quick video of my recently completed art journal, click here.

For this journal, I decided to try a different size, and made a 6x6 inch book. It took a bit of getting used to, as I don't usually create on square pages. I love the portability of this size and will make journals like this again.

This handmade journal is so easy to make and uses recycled stuff. The covers are leftover illustration board, the spine is a fabric sample swatch, and the cover image is a junk mail postcard. I used cheapo watercolor paper for my signatures and bound the book together with a simple long stitch. As always, I feel quite fond of my filled journal and was reluctant to put it down to start a new one. Books become friends don't they?

You can see my other videos here.

Journal Page

I'm starting to get excited about my trip to Vegas to visit my nieces, my brother and his wife. Have not seem them since May, and we have 10 days to do nothing but play and reconnect. I have, of course, created a travel journal for the trip and plan on having journaling sessions with my nieces as we usually do. Will try to post a "before" journal video before I head out.

This page captures 10 things right now. Acyrlics, ink, makers.

Inspiration

As someone who has sat through more boring Power Point presentations than I care to recall, I love this idea. To see what inspired me today, click here.

Imaginary Animals #5

Halloween is a fave holiday in our house. There is something magical about being whatever you choose to be for a night. Most people think it is all about the candy - but I think it is the chance to dress up and be someone else.

What do you want to be for Halloween? A superhero. A vampire. A mermaid. The options are endless and much more interesting than the answer to that age old question: What do you want to be when you grow up? Vampire never seems to be an acceptable answer for that one!

This is one of my final pages for the imaginary animals series. Pen and marker. Love how an old, almost out of ink marker created that texture on the box.

Imaginary Animals #4

The thing about imaginary animals, is that once you start you cannot stop. There are so many fun possibilities. The inspiration for this one came from a bike part - of all things. Ink and markers.

Imaginary Animals #3

This all started with a magnifying glass. Why did I have it out? I was trying to read the teeny tiny writing on the nib of my fountain pen.

It looked like an eye. So traced around it and then added whatever seemed to fit. Ink and markers. Ah, the lusciousness of markers. Had forgotten about that.

Goodbye November

And just like that another month is gone. I know time is not constant, but dang it seems to be going by really fast. Except when I meditate. Then 6 minutes seems to last about 45. Maybe I should meditate more and see if that slows how fast the days are rolling by any. Will experiment and let you know.

I've been playing in my journal - have not scanned the new pages yet, but here is one that ended up nothing like I originally planned. Not that I had a plan to begin with. Simply started by drawing that fruit shape in the upper left and this is what I ended up with. Ink, acrylics, watercolors, markers. So fun. Hope you are getting in some play time too.

Reading with kids

Had a lovely day with my nephews yesterday. One of the fun things we did was stop at the library so Jonah could pick some books for us to read.

1. I Need My Monster
This was hands down our fave book yesterday. Luke (who will be 9 in a week) read it and loved it. I read it aloud to both boys over hot cocoa. A fun story that is wonderfully illustrated.

2. Bones and the Dog Gone Mystery
Jonah (who will be 7 in less an a month) read this one all by himself. Cannot even begin to tell you how proud I was to hear the words "detective" and "magnifying" come out of the little guy. He liked the story - it has a dog - one of his fave themes. He actually asked the librarian for books with dogs.

3. The Spooky Old Tree
Jonah read and quite enjoyed the illustrations and easy to read story.

4. Buzz Boy and Fly Guy
Jonah picked this book for the ride home and Luke read it aloud to us. Cute little story about friendship and self-publishing.

Happy Thanksgiving

Bucking tradition, we are having pheasant instead of turkey this year. It is a beautiful day and I for one have lots to be thankful for.

This is a quick sketch of my sister done while she was flipping through travel books at the bookstore.

Ink on a background of acrylic wash.

Art Play Date

I met up with a member of the local art journal meetup group this past weekend for a play date. I usually assign a prompt and we get together and share what we created.

The prompt this week was to draw/sketch/paint/capture an object in your home. Then bring that object to the meeting for a sketching session.

This is the object Monique drew in her sketchbook and brought along. I did a quick pen sketch and added shading with a watercolor pencil and water brush. At home I added the stamped text and a bit of journaling. Love how it turned out. You can see my object page here.

Recent Reads

126. The Catcher in the Rye
My book club had a lively discussion about this book this past weekend. My first time ever reading the author and I loved this book. I was the only one in the book club who had not read this book when they younger, and I wonder if that affected how I felt about it. I kept putting the book down, not wanting it to end. A coming of age story, filled with teenage angst and despair. I loved the writing, and the story got a hold of me from the very start. A young man who does not want to grow up and be a "phony" adult, and loose the innocence of childhood. I smile to think that this book was once banned for racy language and themes - seems so tame compared to what kids are reading these days. Am going to add all of Salinger's works to my TBR list.

127. Sketchbook Confidential
I love books that give me a glimpse into how artists use their sketchbooks, and loved this book. A wide range of artist styles are covered with both photos and thoughts about the sketching process. Chock full of inspiration.

128. Habibi
At about 680 pages, this weighty tome of a graphic novel is as satisfying as it is hefty, and is an wonderful example of this adult genre. Loved the story, and the illustrations are fab. This might be my fave book by the author so far. You can watch a quick interview with the author here.

Imaginary Animals #2

Another page for the sketchbook challenge this month.

This cutie lives with me and was found abandoned at the marina a couple of summers ago. Pen and watercolors.

Dystopia

I loved the Hunger Games trilogy - especially the first two books. Dystopian books are all the rage at the moment. To get your next fix look no further than here.

Lovely Sunday

We are lucking out with some fab weather for November this year. Weeks of temps in the 60s - love it.

Today is another such day. The sun is shining. My body feels good after a walk in the fresh air. The house smells wonderful - salmon frittata anyone? Music. Waiting for my book club gals to come over for a fun afternoon romp.

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday too.

Food for thought

It always surprises me when I meet people who find science boring. Maybe they are upset by all the math.

How long has humankind chased the holy grail of eternal youth? Since the very beginning, when we realized that we die probably. You can listen to a fascinating talk by Cynthia Kenyon on experiments that hint at the possibility of longer lives here.

Journal Page

I sketched this girl at the local Barnes and Noble store during the power outage a couple of weeks ago.

One of the fun things about that week was how everyone suddenly talked to everyone else - we were all in the same boat. Cafes and book stores were filled as people came in for coffee, food, or wifi access. Made me think again about the cafe culture in Europe when all the writers, painters, artists got together for long hours every day in cafes to talk, challenge and inspire each other. The did not have heated Mc Mansions with flat screen TVs to hide away in.

Makes you wonder no? What have we lost? What have we gained?

Recent Reads

121. Bossypants
Tina Fey tickles my funny bone, so was delighted to discover that she reads this memoir. I listened to the audio version and there are parts that are laugh out loud funny. Not that surprising really if you know Tina's work.

122. The Art Journal Workshop
This is a good book if you are just starting out with art journals. Traci shows you step by step how she creates her journal pages. While I really like her style, I found the book to be somewhat repetitious - the pages look pretty much the same with different color and collage schemes.

123. Sandman Vol 1 (Preludes & Nocturnes)
I love comics (aka graphic novels) and decided to try this series. I love the colors and graphics and the story is good as well. I've got the next couple of my bedside table.

124. One Drawing A Day
This book is a 6-week course to jump start your creativity and has some interesting exercises. There are examples of different ways to capture objects in a multimedia manner.

125. Painted Pages
I always like to see how people use their sketchbooks - whether as a final product or as a sketch of some future work. While I found the book colorful and full of ideas on how to do just that, I do not particularly like the author's style of work.

Imaginary Animals

The sketchbook challenge theme for this month is Imaginary Animals.

We recently visited the Pompeii exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston. I loved it. It is an amazing thing to me that artifacts buried over 2000 years ago are now in front of me in Boston. If you are in the area, I'd highly recommend it.

I saw this creature at the exhibit. The earthenware bowl had these guys as feet. How cool is that?

Maine Day Trip

My sister is visiting for a couple of weeks, and we've been having a fun time. In addition to lots of lobster dinners, we spent a day exploring Southern Maine - a state she claims to never have visited. We spent a lovely fall day in Kennebunkport, Wells, Perkins Cove and Ogunquit. You can see more pics from our outing here.

Recent Reads

117. Tokyo on Foot
I love travel journals and loved this one. The author spent 6 months in Japan and captured his experiences with a sketchbook, pens and colored pencils. Delightful.

118. Artist's Journal Workshop
This gem of a book is the newest one from Cathy Johnson, and I loved it. The book is unusual in that it does not start with a materials review, but rather a discussion of why one keeps a journal. What follows are pages of ideas, inspiration, suggestions and examples of journal pages kept both by the author and others. Am sure this is a book I will dip into again and again.

119. Fray
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Joss Whedon wrote books. I quite enjoy his shows, so decided to give this book a look. It is typical Whedon - futuristic setting, strong yet vulnerable young woman who finds her destiny as a slayer. Beautifully illustrated. Can only hope that there are more of this series to come.

120. The Night Circus
An unusual circus is the setting for this interesting story. There are magicians who use trickery and then there are magicians who can do magical things. The story is about the latter. Two young kids are trained in different traditions of magic and then are used as pawns to determine which master is better. That they fall in love complicates the duel somewhat. This is a delightfully spun yarn about magic, dreams, hopes, family, love and destiny.

Journal Page

My sister is in town for a visit, and we are having fun exploring and catching up. We've had a fab weather window - great for being outside.

Here is a page I made prior to her visit. I find that I'll do just about anything other than vacuum - in this case I did a quick sketch of the vacuum cleaner. I did get the cleaning done after the sketch, so everyone was happy.

Journal Page

I've started a new journal - back to the 9x6 size and love it. Will post pics when I get a chance.

Owl Cookies are a Halloween tradition and I eagerly await the box of cookies every year. This year we were in A2 in September and I helped Jane make them - easy, tasty and fun. Yum. Of course I ate my way through my stash on the ride home, so need to make another batch soon.

Journal Page

We've finally got power back - after 5 days. Grateful for the little things like that today. The simple act of flipping a switch and something happens.

I love graphic novels (aka comics) and quite liked this one. Tried to capture some of the drawings.

Power Outage Day 3

Night 4. Thank goodness it is Oct and not late Jan or Feb with frigid temps. The latest forecast is for the power to be back Thurs night.

On the positive side, I've had ice-cream for breakfast ad lunch today - simply cannot let my fave flavor (Bear Claw) melt away. And there are plans for a big surf and turf cookout tomorrow. Yum.

Yes this is inconvenient, but really not that bad. It's kinda like late fall camping, only so much much cozier.

Happy Halloween

Day 2 without power. The snow brought down trees and power lines all around town. Went for a hood walk yesterday to access the damage and it is pretty bad. We've got 2 big limbs down in the back yard, but no damage.

Nothing to do but wait for the power to get restored. Last night bundled up, lit lots of candles, made a pot of tea, and snuggled in bed with babes, my book light and a good book. I realize that I look better in candlelight :-)

Trick or treat has been canceled in our town tonight due to downed trees and power lines. That is a bummer.

Story Cutting

"We all need stories to make sense of the world", says Beatrice Coron, and she creates stories with paper. I love how artists are inspired to create art is so many forms. Prepare to be amazed by her work here.

Journal Page

We've got a winter storm headed our way - and it is only October! Forecast is for about 6" of snow. Have I mentioned that it is only October? What happened to Fall? I barely had time to enjoy it.

This journal page was created with pen and watercolors - my usual mo. It is interesting to sketch directly in ink - which is how I usually do it. No erasing that way. Makes it a freer sketch which I like. Gourds are pretty no?

Journal Page

Sometimes I feel creative and sometimes I don't. Am on a creative roller coaster at the moment, and have started a project that is taking much of my juices. But since it is a gift, I cannot talk about it for another month or so. Stay tuned.

Tis the season for pumpkins. The one on the dining table is on a leaf shaped platter. Love the contrasting colors. Pen and watercolors.

Journal Page

One of my goals this year was to get over my fear of drawing faces. Well, would not say that the fear is gone, but am certainly more comfortable doing it. Have more faces in this journal that ever before, and now can really see how faces are similar and how they are different. Progress.

This page has my usual mo - pen and watercolors.

Recent Reads

114. Goodbye Chunky Rice
I liked this graphic novel. It explores themes of friendship, home, travel and the search for one's place in the world.

115. Syncopated
Another graphic book - an anthology of non-fiction picto essays. This is an interesting collection, with some of the artist entries more compelling than others. Worth a read though.

116. Turn of Mind
There seems to be a collection of recent releases that have to do with memory loss in one way or another, and I really liked this one. This is the story of a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I found it quite a tense read and was never really sure of what was real and what was not - quite an adept writing style, as it put me in the mind of the person losing her memory. This story gave me lots to think about. Who are we without our memories? Who can we trust? Can we even trust ourselves? The idea of the "mind rotting inside the head" is an image that has stuck with me.

Journal Page

I attended the Boston Book Festival this year and so loved it.

Here are the sketches I made that day. Both pages had acrylic paint backgrounds and I used my trusty sharpie pen to quickly sketch people around me. The first sketch was made while seated, and I was standing in line sketching for the second one. A first for me.

View - of Wacky Candy

This is a view of the Wacky Candy store at the Topsfield Fair this year.

This is the first year that I have been disappointed with the fair. Maybe it was because I was there on a weekday - but the fair seemed rather drab and all about carni stuff and junk food. Not sure that I'll be going next year.

Journal Page

I recently read this book, and loved the style the artist used to capture people.

So, took out my journal to try and see how he does it - sometimes with so few pen strokes. The line is really different when I use a brush pen. Had fun with these pages.

Journal Page

The thing about drawing someone you know is that the drawing does not quite capture the person - though in some ways it does capture the essence I see. I read somewhere to focus on what you like about a drawing, and in this one I like the angles of the wrists and elbow. Getting better with each drawing that I do.

Recent Reads

110. Leaving India
This was my book club selection this month and while I found some of the writing quite poetic, I would not have finished the book if not for my book club commitment. I did learn some new things about the South Asian diaspora, but for the most part, this is really a family memoir and I was not particularly interested in the family. Way too much detail for my taste. On a positive note, it did lead to a interesting book club discussion about what is lost and gained when a family is suddenly flung across the oceans.

111. Carnet De Voyage
I love travel journals and this one is so much fun to read. I liked both the story telling and the drawings, and the fact that all but a few of the drawings were made on site and not in retrospect is a staggering achievement. There is something quite magical about following along on an artistic journey. My only complaint is that the ending was rather abrupt - okay there was a deadline, but still, that could have been handled better.

112. Blankets
This graphic novel is heavy - literally - be kind to your wrists and use a kick stand. The story is a coming of age memoir and is wonderfully illustrated.

113. Moscow Rules
This is book #8 of the Gabriel Allon series, and at this point, the art restorer/spy/assassin feels an old and dear friend. He gets pulled out of retirement - again - and the story flows in a typical manner - various locations, murder and mayhem, a dash of history, a thrilling operation. Buckle up for a fun ride.

Journal Page

I got the idea for this one from a magazine at the local bookstore. Decided to make her hair funky.

The background was created some time back with leftover acrylic paints. The drawing is done with pen and watercolors.

Inspiration

Am back from a weekend full of inspiration.

I attended my first ever BBF. This year was the 3rd annual Boston Book Festival and I loved everything about it. Attended 4 sessions with authors who were funny, insightful and articulate. What more can a book lover ask for?

The MFA is hosting a stunning special exhibit - Degas and the Nude and I loved everything about it. Could spend hours just looking at his drawings, oils, pastels and sculpture.

So my mind is full of images and thoughts and ideas, and I need some time to digest it all. Bliss.

View - of faces

The theme for the sketchbook challenge this month is View.

This was fun to do. I do not usually have multiple drawings on a page and I like the layered look of this one. Quick sketches of people around me at the bookstore.

Eve Ensler

To hear another incredible talk by Eve, click on the link:
Suddenly, my body

Recent Reads

106. We the Animals
This debut is getting quite a bit of buzz and I can see why. A very short book of almost whispered stories that pack quite a punch. Vignettes into the particulars of one unhappy childhood.

107. Drawn In
A peek into the inspiring sketchbooks of 44 fine artists, illustrators, graphic designers and cartoonists is right up my alley. I love looking at how people use their journals and this one shows quite a range of styles. I was a bit disappointed by the Q&A sections - seemed too light and an opportunity wasted to capture some insights from the artists.

108. The Winter Rose
This is the 2nd book in the Tea Rose trilogy and I loved it. A huge, sprawling saga of passions, dreams, loss and redemption. And there were portions set in Kenya! How could I not love that? Yes, a bit Hollywood-like in the ending, but quite a satisfying read none-the-less. I gotta say that I am a bit reluctant to get the final book in the series based on the negative reviews, but will give it a try based on how much I enjoyed the first two.

109. Anya's Ghost
I quite enjoyed this graphic novel about teenage angst with a twist. Anya hates everything about herself - her name, her family, the food her mother cooks, her body - why can she not be just like other American girls and fit in? Enter the ghost, who eventually teaches Anya an important lesson - you are good enough just the way you are. This would be an good graphic novel to read with a teenager as it could start some interesting discussions.

Time flies

My sweetie pie and I are celebrating our 20 year anniversary this weekend. Am a little stunned at how fast time flies.

So 20 years years later, here are some of my lessons learned, in no particular order:

• Let go of having to be right.
• Relationships are all about compromise.
• Fight for what is really important and let go of the rest.
• Don't sweat the small stuff.
• Me, you and us are equally important.
  
• Don't get joined at the hip. Have your own interests, friends, etc.
• Realize that no one person can meet all your needs. Heck even I'm not perfect!
• It is essential to share common values.
• Life is easier if you share some goals and interests.
  
• Learn how to fight. And make up.
• Communicate. Listen. Support.
• A sense of humor can save the day.
• Without trust you got nothing.
  
• Laugh. Play. Learn. Grow.
  
• Love. Each other and yourself.

Happy versary Babes. 82.

Journal Page

I decided to visit the Karanis exhibit while in A2 and was quite impressed with the collection from the Michigan dig.

Since it was right across the street from UMMA, decided to go back in with my sketchbook Here is the page I created with pen and markers.

Recent Reads

102. The Lincoln Lawyer
Great for a road trip. Listened to the audio version of this book a the long ride to A2 and quite enjoyed it. Time behind the wheel flew while listening to this interesting story about the justice system and the notion of reasonable doubt.

103. The Brass Verdict
Another great book for a road trip. Listened to this one on the ride back home from A2. This is Bosch #14 and Haller #2, and it was interesting to see the two characters interact.

104. The Wake of Forgiveness
Maybe I was not just in the right mood for this book, but I do not understand the rave reviews. I quit reading after the first 100 pages - simply did not care about any of the characters and what would happen to them. Some of the writing is quite lovely, but in the end was not enough to draw me in and keep me interested.

105. Stitches
I love graphic novels and loved this one. This memoir captures the particulars on one unhappy and tragic family story. I love that the drawings are deceptively simple and yet stay with you for a long time after you read the book. Makes me what to give the author a hug.

Journal Page

The fun thing about being in a college town is that you end up surrounded by young 'uns at every turn. So full of excitement and energy and angst. And oh so painfully young.

Here is one of the young men across from me at lunch. I was drawn with by all that hair.

Recent Reads

99. The Land of Painted Caves
I've been reading the Earth's Children series this summer, and was really looking forward to this final book in the saga. I got several hundred pages into it and simply could not continue. It is boring and not well written and though I really want to find out what happens, I've decided to stop reading it. And I almost never stop reading a book once I start it. Am so disappointed.

100. The Secret Servant
Am slowly making my way through the Gabriel Allon series, and this is #7. A fun ride that also got me thinking about how population growth and decline can change a region in terms of religion and politics.

101. The Tea Rose
Get ready for almost 800 pages of juiciness. Not since Gone With the Wind have I read such a sprawling historical novel. The story of a determined young woman is set in Jack-the-ripper London and 1890s New York, and I got a real sense of what it was like to live with and without money in those times. Yes, there is a love story too - but like GWTW, it is the time and place and the sheer grit of the main character that draws you in. Loved it and already have part two of the trilogy on order.

Home again

It is delightful to be home again. Even though the week of rain in A2 has followed us home, it is lovely to sleep in my own bed at night.

I love playing with my journal on the road. Here are two pages from the trip.

One in every port

As a kid I remember reading how sailors had a sweetheart in every port. My goal is to have a friend in every port, and was delighted when I met up with one in A2. Pam is delightful and fun and we can talk for hours. And no pond scum for us. We dive deep.

We started with a tasty lunch at Mani Osteria. The fire alarm went off at the end of our meal, and wouldn't you know it - not a single person moved or even seemed to notice the migraine inducing sirens and flashing lights. I, of course, knew the location of the nearest exits. We then explored the exhibits at UMMA. Love this little museum - a local gem.

Of course, we were too busy gabbing to take any photos, so I have none to share. No pics but fond memories of a fun visit with a fellow traveler.

Banned Wagon

It is the middle of Banned Book Week. Makes you want to run out and read all the books on the list no? I have never understood what all the fuss is about. After all, a good book is meant to provoke thought, provide insight, make you change your mind, let you explore different worlds. What the heck is wrong with that?



Yeah, the problem here is that the kid was actually interested in reading a book sent home from school. Shocking indeed!

Hollander's

No trip to A2 can be complete without a visit to Hollander's. Love this store. Could take one of everything. Maybe two. Of course I bought supplies for my stash. Here are some candy shots from in the store.

Sweetwaters

Beautiful day in Ann Arbor (A2) yesterday so explored Main Street. Every exploration needs a place to take a break, and I quite enjoy Sweetwaters - the downtown location.

Happy Equinox

It sure does not feel like the autumnal equinox today. It has been raining on and off for the past 2 days and there is a flood warning in these parts. The rain is expected to continue for the next day or two. Have not seen the sun at all today - so kinda hard to appreciate equal parts day and night today. But it is here. The official end of summer.

There is much activity at home as we get ready for a road trip to Ann Arbor. Clothes? Check. Toys? Check. Art supplies? Check. Snacks? Check. Music and audio books for the ride? Check. Books? This used to the be the thing that always took me the longest time. How to decide? How the heck do you know what mood you'll be in when traveling? Am delighted to not have a large bag full of books to schlep around. Nook? Check.

Dogs

I'm not much of a dog person. It is not that I dislike dogs as much as I dislike badly behaved dogs. And yes, I put the full blame on the owners. So imagine my delight when I saw these warnings on a morning walk in Scituate.

Recent Reads

96. The Messenger
This is #6 in the Gabriel Allon series. An interesting look at terrorism in its many forms, how Saudi Arabia funds organizations like al-Qaeda, and the uneasy relationship between the US and the Saudis. The action is fast paced, and reminded me a little of Jack Bauer - I mean the sheer pace of all that happens in a day is exhausting and makes me feel like quite the underachiever. A fun and interesting read.

97. The Good Body
This is really wonderful. If you get the chance get the audio version and listen to Eve perform the piece - so very powerful. It made me laugh and cry and think. Loved it.

98. The Lock Artist
This is the first book I've read by the author and I really liked it. An interesting story told along two time-lines about a traumatized boy who discovers that he has a much sought after skill. The voice is clear, fresh and compelling, though I did find the end a bit rushed.

Random Musings

• I'm not usually around to watch the US Open, but this year caught the semi-finals and finals. Some of the best tennis I have ever seen. Made me want to get out my racket and play. Oh, you did not know that I play tennis? Well, I would not exactly say that I play - more along the lines of it is fun to chase those balls down. Where the heck are the ball girls when you need them?
• Speaking of tennis, anyone else annoyed by Serena Williams and her rude behavior on the courts? And she was fined $2000. Oh right. Why even bother? I was mad enough to sent a message to both the USTA and Nike.
• Been loving the wonderful boating weather recently. That big full moon rising over the ocean is magical.
  
• Anyone else notice that sunset is getting a little earlier each night in these parts? It is a little before 7pm now and is only going to get worse. Can see why the ancients sacrificed animals and virgins to try and appease the gods. Come back sun!
  

Recent Reads

92. Wanderlust: Real Life Tales of Adventure and Romance
I quite enjoy travel stories, and this collection is a fun read. I dipped in now and then. Some of the stories are sublime, while others are just so-so. Well worth a read though.

93. Shadow Tag
My book club selection this month is a bleak and beautifully told story of a family falling apart. I am reminded of Tolstoy - this book is about the particulars of an unhappy family. There are parts of this book that simply made me stop and try to remember to breathe.
From page 18: "But here is the most telling thing: you wish to possess me. And my mistake: I loved you and let you think you could".

94. Shelters of Stone
I am reading the Earth's Children series this summer and this is book five. The second to last book. There is quite a bit of repetition, and the book could certainly have used some better editing, but I quite enjoyed getting lost in Ayla's world as she finally gets to meet Jondalar's people. One more to go.

95. The Coffins of Little Hope
This is a delightful story about a small town with big dramas. Lovely writing about family, the world of publishing, missing children and the fine line between fact and fiction.

Hello September

And just like that we are almost at the end of the first week of September.

The kiddies are all back in school. Love those big yellow buses that cart them around. It certainly feels like summer is over in these parts. It has been chilly and raining, and I mean pouring, all week. Am feeling rather water-logged.

So imagine my delight when I visited Roz's blog and saw a link to these journal covers - interpretations of water. Would love any one of these. You can see them here.

Recent Movies

1. Inside Job
A fascinating look at the global financial disaster.

2. The Fighter
I loved everything about this movie and think it might just be the best movie I've seen all year. Dreams. Sports. Dysfunctional family. Lowell. Incredible acting. What's not to love?

3. Biutiful
The thing about foreign films is that there is no happy bow that ties up a story. This good movie is rather bleak and covers a range of topics - illegals, family, despair, community, dreams. Bardem is luminous as always.

4. The King's Speech
Watched this last night and it knocked my socks off. This movie is simply brilliant - everything about it. And, it might have just knocked The Fighter off the number 1 spot on my list for the year.

Summer reading

Summer reading. Is anything sweeter? I'll bet that most readers start out the summer with plans on what they will read. I for one tend to read a series while I dabble with other books. This summer my series is The Earth's Children by Jean Auel.

Did you get to your summer list? Here is a fun article that Salon.com did on just that.

Recent Reads

88. Mastering Sketching
While I would not say that I mastered sketching, this book is chock-full on information, ideas and inspiration. Loved it.

89. Before I Go To Sleep
This debut novel is getting quite a bit of buzz and I really liked it. Imagine what it would be like if you woke up every morning and could not remember the past couple decades of your life. Not even what happened yesterday. We are our memories, are we not? It is what makes us who we are. Our anchor in this crazy thing we call life. Even though we know that memories are unreliable and get changed every time we access them, there is still this sense that we remember. And because we remember we know who we are. The book explores who we are when we do not remember our lives. Much to think about.

90. The Exquisite Book
A fun artistic collaboration. Love books with pages that fold out - gives me a sense of tactile play as well as a delightful feast for my eyes.

91. The Family Fang
Another novel that is getting a lot of buzz, so decided to check it out. Such a strange, tragic, funny, quirky story about a family. There are parts that had me laughing uncontrollably. An insightful look at how parents influence/damage their kids, and how everyone tries to survive the best way they know how. This is a hard book to describe, but give it a read. I certainly enjoyed my romp through the craziness that is Fang.

What are you reading right now?

Middle Sister

One of the fun things about traveling is stopping in local stores and finding gems like this.

Sampled a bottle. Pretty good. Cheers to all the middle sisters out there.