New Travel Journal

I've got a fun trip coming up next month, so of course the first thing on my to-do list is to make a new journal. Hey, I've got my priorities right. I can always figure out transport details, and what to pack later. Decided I wanted to stay with a FALL theme, so picked through my stash of fabric, and starting up the ol' Singer. Here are pics of the completed cover.

Front cover: (Don't you just love that fabric?)

Outside front detail:

Inside front and back covers:

Inside detail:

Back outside cover:

Back cover detail:

Love the fabrics and how easy these are to make. Click here to watch a video of how I make these fabric covers. Work on the inside pages is in progress. Stay tuned for an update.

Recent Reads

99. The Sketchbook Challenge
I participate in The Sketchbook Challenge online, so was interested to read this book. The book is divided into themes or topics. A couple of artists interpret that theme in their sketchbook, and then create a final project. I found that I liked the sketchbook pages/sections much better than the final works. If you are interested in how artists play in their sketchbooks give this a look. Rating: 3 stars.

100. The Fifth Witness 
I listened to the audio version wonderfully narrated by Peter Giles. This is book #4 in the Mickey Haller series, and is a fast read. The audio is 12 hours but seemed to fly by. Interesting story, but not much in terms of flushing out the characters. As usual, the ending seems rather abrupt. If you already like the series, you will like this one too. Rating: 3 stars.

101. Wide Open 
This is not a book per se, rather a stack of cards that prompts you think about how you use your art journal. I own this set, and tend to read through them about twice a year. Have yet to use the notebook, as I prefer to make my own journals. A fun way use creative prompts.  Rating: 4 stars.

102. Hey World, Here I Am! 
A delightful little book of poems and journal entries by a young girl trying to figure out the world around her. Much of her ruminations are spot on. As a journal keeper from a very young age, I approve.  Rating: 4 stars.

Historian Says Piece of Papyrus Refers to Jesus' Wife

Did you get a chance to read this New York Times article?
You can read the article here.
Fascinating no?

A School of Life for Atheists

Alain de Botton is a philosopher who likes the best of religion, but doesn’t believe in God. So he’s created “The School of Life,” a secular community in London. He explains why wisdom and ritual shouldn’t be reserved just for believers.

I am already an Alain de Botton fan - love his books, so was fascinated to hear about this. Click here to hear his podcast and learn more. Lots to think about.

Art Journal Flip #3

Here is a flip of a journal I had completed earlier this year.
Double click the video to view in full screen mode.



If the embedded video does not work, click here.

Journal page

The theme for the sketchbook challenge this month is patterns. I immediately thought about circles.

(Click to enlarge).
Pen and watercolors.

Deborah Rhodes: A tool that finds 3x more breast tumors, and why it's not available to you

Deborah Rhodes is an expert at managing breast-cancer risk. The director of the Mayo Clinic’s Executive Health Program is now testing a gamma camera that can see tumors that get missed by mammography.

Click here to see her TED talk.
 

Recent Reads

97. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
I wanted to love this book. I really did. I love the clever premise. Who would not love a story told from an imaginary friend's point of view? Especially if you've ever had one.

I really liked the first half or so of the book - the character/scene setup. Getting to view things from Budo's perspective was fascinating. However, once we get to the "thriller" part of the book I found myself losing interest. While I quite willingly suspended disbelief for the first half, the second half did not ring true.

It is interesting that this book is recommended for people who loved Room, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I am ambivalent about the former, while I loved the latter. Rating: 3 stars.

98. Emily, Alone 
This is a sequel to Wish You Were Here, which is a book I have not read, but works well as a stand alone read.

It is often said that life is about the journey, not the destination. This book is a wonderful meditation on just that.

If we are lucky, we grow older. Gracefully, or not. With someone by our side, or alone. In sickness or in health. With money in the bank, or not. The writing is beautiful, and we are drawn into Emily's life. A snapshot in time. The highs and lows. The love and loss. The connections and misunderstandings. The minutiae. This is a slow paced, character driven novel, so if you are a plot driven junkie, this is not a book for you.  Rating: 4 stars. 

Pay Phone Library

I love the idea of having books out and available for people. Like those lending libraries at B&Bs. You never know what treasure you'll find waiting just for you. I tend to leave books behind, like a trail of breadcrumbs, everywhere I go.

Imagine my delight when I read about an creative mind who uses the dead space around phone booths to host free lending libraries. Love this idea.

Click here to watch a short video and read more about the project.

The Other Day

The other day I played with watercolor paints.

The other day I met up with a new group of friends and spent a fun evening laughing and talking about books.

The other day I allowed myself to be vulnerable and ask for what I needed.

The other day I bumped up my running to the next level with no pain.

The other day I was flooded with memories of years long gone.

The other day I started making new travel plans.

The other day I was gently rocked to sleep on the boat.

The other day I tried something new.

The other day I was brave.

Journal page

The thing about a visual journal is that it involves a part of my brain that does not use words. I keep a written, private journal as well, and it is all words. In that journal I tend to record, reflect, ruminate. It is more of a cerebral thing. Does that make sense?

My visual journal lets my left brain take a vacation - well, not really, it always has input - but it is really right brain time. Colors. Shapes. Reminds me of pre-school years. Before learning that those squiggly shapes were the alphabet. I find playing with color and shapes soothing.

(Click on image to enlarge)
Pen and watercolors. White crayola resist.
Have you played with color and shape lately?

Brené Brown: Listening to shame

Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humor, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.

Click here to watch her TED talk.

Madeline Miller: Writing at Six Miles an Hour

I read an interesting post by Madeline Miller. Click here to read it.

A couple of things struck me while reading this post:
One) I can so relate to people telling me that I should be doing something other than reading. Some of my fave examples are:

• How can you sit inside reading while it is such a beautiful day outside?
• You came all the way to Goa to sit on the beach and read?
• Reading is a rather antisocial activity don't you think? 

And Two) As a beginner runner, the very idea of running six miles an hour is mind boggling. Forget about all that creative output after. Whatever. Six miles an hour? I'm working on running a 5K without walking.

So my lessons learned are:
One) You can never really explain why you are reading to a non-reader, so why waste your breath?
And Two) Comparison is the thief of happiness.

Next generation bicycle helmets

One day I will live in a place where I use my bicycle to go everywhere I want to go.
One day my friends will live a short bike ride away.
One day the roads will all be bike friendly, and I will not feel like I am risking injury every time I go for a ride.

Helmets, like seat belts, are essential A safety requirement. Accidents happen. But they are often uncomfortable, and leave you with helmet hair. Two women are working to change that.

Check them out here.

Journal page

If ever in doubt whether a journal is authentically mine, all you gotta do is look for a page with hands. If there isn't one, then you can rest assured that it is a fake. I mean, when I am dead and famous, and my journals are auctioning at Sotheby's for incredible sums. I'm just saying. You have an insider tip direct from me. Don't be fooled by forgeries.

(Click on image to enlarge).
Acrylic background, pen and marker.

Recent Reads

95. The Art of Fielding
I agree with the jacket blurb by Nicolas Dawidoff: "The Art of Fielding is a mere baseball fiction the way Moby-Dick is just a fish story." What unites the characters in this story is the setting of Westish College. It is an exploration of talent and hard work, of mentors and coaches, the pain of loss and the love of learning, of the joy of unexpected relationships, and yes baseball. I enjoyed following the story from multiple viewpoints. A well written book. Rating: 3 stars.

96. Honolulu 
Here is a jacket blurb: “In Korea in those days, newborn girls were not deemed important enough to be graced with formal names, but were instead given nicknames, which often reflected the parents’ feelings on the birth of a daughter: I knew a girl named Anger, and another called Pity. As for me, my parents named me Regret.”

I really, really wanted to love this book, and am having a hard time reviewing it - there is the book I wanted to read, and then the book I actually did read.

Immigrant stories are so similar at the diaspora view, and yet so particular at the individual level. This story has all the elements that I love - girls with dreams, women with grit, "picture brides", historical setting - and yet. And yet. I felt like I was snorkeling along the surface of a really deep story. And while snorkeling is fun, I really love deep dives.

I loved his other book Moloka'i, but this one not so much. Rating: 3 stars. 

Jamie Lee Curtis: My Brave Year of Firsts

I've been a fan of Jaime Lee Curtis for ages. Talk about someone aging gracefully.

In addition to being an actress, she is also an author, and her new book for kids is about being brave. Kids are exposed to lots of new things, but as adults, we tend to be afraid to try new things for fear of looking foolish. How is it that we expect kids to be something we are not?

Click her to watch her interview on TODAY.

What new, foolish thing will you try today?

Scarves for word lovers

School buses on the street. The kids are back in school. No reservations required. The light is different. Sunset is earlier and earlier. All sure signs that we are heading into autumn.

Time to pack away those bikinis and sarongs, and inventory your scarf collection. If you love words and scarves, and words on scarves, you gotta check out these wonderful items.

The Boston Book Festival

The author lineup has been announced, and there are so many I am excited about. So looking forward to it. Click here to see the lineup.

Recent Movies

I don't get to see movies when they first come out. By the time I think about seeing them, they are usually out on DVD. So most of what I watch is not current.

1. My Week with Marilyn
The thing is, I don't really care about how men viewed Marilyn. This would have been a much more interesting story if told from her point of view. I know that it was based on a memoir, but did not find it a compelling story. Did love the wonderful supporting cast though.

2. The Descendants
Another book adapted for the movies. Interesting story, but on the lighter chick-lit side. I wonder if the book explores the sense of betrayal and loss on a deeper level.

3. One For the Money
To be fair, I had very low expectations for this one, and so was not disappointed. Another book to movie adaptation, and I was not impressed by the book either.

4. We Need to Talk About Kevin
This is the strongest movie of the lot. Another book adaptation, interesting how all of these are. A compelling, if incredibly, disturbing story. Lots to ponder with this one. Nature versus nurture. Not a movie for the faint of heart. The book is on my TBR list.

Journal page

Warning ahead - my sketch of you might not be the ego boost that you need!
People are hard to draw. We react emotionally to faces. But does that stop me? Absolutely not. I jump in where angels might fear to tread.

(Click on image to enlarge).
Pen and watercolors.

Suheir Hammad: Poems of war, peace, women, power

Poet Suheir Hammad performs two spine-tingling spoken-word pieces: "What I Will" and "break (clustered)" -- meditations on war and peace, on women and power. In her poems and plays, Suheir Hammad blends the stories and sounds of her Palestinian-American heritage with the vibrant language of Brooklyn to create a passionately modern voice.

Click here to view her TED talk.

Cloudscapes

One of the many things I love about being on the water is the ability to see huge cloudscapes. This tends to be much harder to do on land - trees and buildings get in the way - unless you are in big sky country like Wyoming or Montana. Incredible no? Don't forget to look up.

 

(Click on image to enlarge).

Red Sky at Night

Sailor's Delight baby! Looking forward to another lovely sailing day.

Scituate Harbor

Beautiful evening in one of my fave harbors. The GPS quit working on the way here, but never fear my mateys, I do remember how to navigate the old fashioned way with charts and a compass. One cannot always rely solely on technology gadgets.

So am now gently rocking in the mooring field, waiting for the recently full moon to rise. Life is good.

33 Ways To Stay Creative

Am I the only one stunned that it is already September? I mean really. Where the heck does the time go? Well, new month, new fun project. I found this list and decided to print it out and do something from it every day this month. See how many I get around to. Wanna play along?

Recent Reads

92. How the Irish Saved Civilization
Am about half way through this book and it has not grabbed me yet. There are informative funny bits, but the rest is simply too pedantic for my tastes. Would maybe have worked better as a long essay. Moved it to my DNF pile. Rating: 1 star.

93. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative 
This is a fast and thought provoking read. Some of the material covered are things you already know. But it never hurts to be reminded. Other wonderful ideas were new to me - like the one about creating your own creative ancestors family tree. A book that I will be dipping into again for sure.  Rating: 4 stars.

94. The Expats
Maybe my expectations were set too high. Maybe I was suckered by all the glowing reviews. This is a debut novel after all.
I listened to this on audio, and alternated between being bored and annoyed. All that chatter in Kate's head! Was I the only one who wanted to hit her on the head with a saucepan? Honestly, the only reason I finished the book, and rated it 2 stars instead of 1, is because it was wonderfully narrated by Mozhan Marno. Rating: 2 stars.

Journal page

Feels like Fall in these parts. Where the heck did the summer go? Well, time for fall sailing I guess.

 

(Click on image to enlarge).

I was thinking about maps and charts while creating this page. Places known and unknown. Adventure and surprises around the corner. When a land lubber becomes a mermaid.  Pen and watercolors. 

Rob Legato: The art of creating awe

Rob Legato creates movie effects so good they (sometimes) trump the real thing. In this warm and funny talk, he shares his vision for enhancing reality on-screen in movies like Apollo 13, Titanic and Hugo.

Click here to view his TED talk.

Reading right now

I've got several books going at the moment. The Art of Fielding in print, The Expats on audio, and Incognito and A Passion for Books on my nook.

 What are you reading right now?

Unplug and smell the person next to you

Remember that old saying, stop and smell the roses? How quaint and old-fashioned no? How about smelling the real, live, carbon-based person next to you instead?

I read this interesting article, and was reminded of a birthday party where the birthday girl spent her time at the party updating her Facebook status. The entire time we were there. Why invite us to a party? We could have all gotten onto to Skype, or Google Play and celebrated the party just as well no?

There is a fire hose of data we have access to today. Via Facebook, and blogs, and tweets, and news outlets, etc, etc, etc. It is easy to get addicted to spending time with strangers online. These are after all much easier relationships to manage than the ones with the real people in our lives.

Recently I decided to take a hard look at all the input coming my way. I've created additional filters, and simply deleted input that is no longer relevant to me. That does not add value to my life in some way. These are not bad people, simply not important enough to clutter up my precious time. It has been exhilarating. Remember my recent post about quality versus quantity? Well that applies to people and relationships as well.

So, turn off those devices and screens, and be present. Smell the person next to you. What do you discover?

Recent Reads

90. Shantaram
I have been lost in this world for several days. And have been monogamous the entire time. That is unusual for me, as I usually have several books going at once. This book would not tolerate unfaithfulness. Stayed up late and finished this wonderful read last night. At 933 pages this door stop of a book is a really fast read. It is a travelogue and adventure story. A love story and a crime novel. A war story and philosophical meditations. It is about life and love, dignity and fate, choices and redemption. And just like India, the country, you will either love the book or hate it. There is no middle ground here. Rating: 5 stars.

91. The Fallen Angel
This is book #12 in the series. I worry about Gabriel Allon. He never has time for a vacation. Just as he settles into retirement (from his assassin job), and starts to restore a Caravaggio at the Vatican, he gets pulled in to investigate a murder. This slippery slope of a path leads to a reunion of his team - the wonderful members of Barak, and we are off on another fun ride that includes murder, kidnapping, terrorist plots, and pithy lines. I am a huge Allon fan, but this one does not live up the standard of the other books in this series. Rating: 3 stars.

On an unrelated note, I mistakenly requested a large print version from my library, and I might never go back!

LEAKED Official Apple iPhone 5 Promo Video

I am loving this trend towards "honest" marketing. This is hilarious.
Check it out here.

Books on the nightstand

Here are the current books on my nightstand. And these are just my library books. Does not include my shelves of unread books, or my stash of ebooks on my nook. So many books, so little time. A good problem to have. Which one to read next?

Legitimate Rape??!!

I simply could not believe it when I heard what Todd Akin, the Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, had to say about rape:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Well, if "doctors" said so, then golly it must be true!

I could not agree more with the Renegade Raging Grannies response. Click here to check them out.

Journal Page

I've been thinking about the idea of quantity versus quality lately. Mass produced goods cheaply available are not necessarily a bad thing. But I for one really miss the quality of artisan products. You hold an item in your hand, and you just know.

(Click on image to enlarge).
Pen and watercolors.

Sailing in the Boston Harbor Islands

Another wonderful day spent playing in the islands. Seagulls and Cormorants are good company. Loving being out on the water for several nights. The gentle rocking at the mooring makes for great sleeping. Only problem is that I'm out of chocolate, so heading back to land tomorrow for reprovisioning.

Boston Harbor Sunset

A lovely day to be splashing about on the islands. Jumped in with my wetsuit and am happy to report no shark attacks.

"Honest" Trailer of The Hunger Games

I loved The Hunger Games trilogy. The books that is. Technically, I loved the first and second books, and thought the third one was okay. But that first book. Loved it.

So, decided to go watch the movie in the theater. You know on the big screen with all the sounds effects, etc. Now to be fair, I did not expect to love the movie like I did the book. But I was dissapointed to an extent that surprised even my skeptical self. Now if only I had seen this "honest" trailer, my expectations would have been set correctly.

Click here to see this hilarious and "honest" trailer. Wish I had made it!

Lisa Kristine: Photos that bear witness to modern slavery

For the past two years, photographer Lisa Kristine has traveled the world, documenting the unbearably harsh realities of modern-day slavery. She shares hauntingly beautiful images -- miners in the Congo, brick layers in Nepal -- illuminating the plight of the 27 million souls enslaved worldwide

Click here to see her TED talk.

Underground Readers

As part of an ongoing series, here is a reader on the Boston T. You can read more about this series here. I cannot tell what she is reading, and did not want to disturb her.

I'm often envious of people who can read on the T, or in a car. I cannot. I get nauseous. So I tend to listen to audio books, music or podcasts while traveling by those means. Thankfully, this is not a problem when I fly.

Recent Reads

87. The Age of Wonder
I'm throwing in the towel on this one after getting to hour 9 of 22 on the audio book. I quite enjoyed the audio narration (by Gildhart Jackson) of the sections with Banks and Herschel, but then the book starts to meander. I guess I was expecting something different based on the jacket description. Rating: 2 stars.

88. Girl Reading
This book has a wonderful premise - short stories based on paintings that have women with a book in their hands. The stories I read are wonderful. Am moving it to my DNF list fully expecting to come back and finish this at some point, as the writing is gorgeous. This is the problem I have with short story collections - there is no motivation to read all the way through. Then I am sucked in by another great read, and never quite get back to the story collection. Rating: 3 stars.

89. The Deep Zone
I did not find this book to be a thriller. The opposite in fact. If not for the science, and the caving details I would not have finished it. Lacks plot and the characters are so one-dimensional as to be ridiculous. Rating: 2 stars.

After what feels like a dry patch, I finally hit the jackpot with this one:

 Loving everything about it. And at 944 pages, I can wallow in this great read for a bit. Love that.

Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About Napping

I love naps. Always have. I still fondly recall group nap time in pre-KG. A snooze after a tasty snack. What could be better? I am still traumatized about nap time being taken away, because I was a "big girl now". And though I am a frequent napper, I do miss those group naps.

After reading this article, I feel so vindicated. Nap on people. Nap on.

I'm a tri-reader. Are you?

I used to think of myself as a bi-reader. Then realized that is not true. I'm actually a tri-reader. What the heck am I talking about?

I read books three ways:

1. I read them the old fashioned way. By that I mean print books, aka Dead Tree Books (DTBs). You the know, the ones you hold in your hands, and manually turn the pages. The books that you stick your nose into so as to inhale that heavenly scent of pulp and ink. C'mon admit it. You are among friends here.
2. I also read ebooks on my NOOK STR. These are the books that are really a just bunch of ones and zeroes. They take up no room on your shelves, and are whisper light on your hard drive as well. They have no deckled edges, and alas no smell - though you could use this as a substitute. 
3. And I also listen to audio books on my iPod. The trick here is to find the combination of the right book and the right narrator. A good narrator can carry a so-so book, while a lousy one can make you turn off a fabulous read.

So, there you have it. My definition of a tri-reader. Are you a tri-reader as well? And don't you wonder when it will be added as an Olympic event? After all we do train year in and year out. Often starting as young as three. And we could be in either the winter or summer games. How many sports can you say that about?

Julia Child and me. The birthday girls.

I am celebrating completing another revolution around the sun. It puts life in perspective to think about it that way does it not?

I am well. And content. And loved. And grateful. I have everything I need, and most of what I want. Seems like a good place to be. And like Julia Child, with whom I share this birthday, I am delighted by tasty meals. Though not enough to learn to cook them. Maybe that is a goal for the years ahead.

Self portrait journal page

Self portraits are interesting. You could capture how you see yourself in various ways. Here are several of the top of my head:

• photo of face, full body or body part
• photo of stuff you love or use
• sketch/painting/collage of all of the above
• written sketches
• video

(Click on image to enlarge).
Here is a recent one I did. A sketch in my journal. Pen and watercolors. It does not look like me - you would not be able to identify me if this was the wanted poster used for America's Most Wanted - but it captures some of the essence of what makes me me. And I always learn something about myself in the process.

When was the last time you created a self portrait? Do it now. Are you surprised at what looks back at you?

Olympics coverage by NBC

The London Olympics are behind us, and I have a bitter aftertaste left by NBC. Was I the only one tired of the seemingly endless water polo coverage?

For the Beijing Games, four years ago, I was able to watch whatever event I wanted online. It is how I watched most of the games. And yet with all the technology advances, NBC took me back in time, to a place where I could only watch what they were broadcasting on TV.

Oh sure, if you had cable, you could log in and watch, but we are not a cable house, so I had no login info to gain access. I would have happily paid a fee to be able to stream what I wanted, when I wanted. It's not like the NFL has not already plowed this road. But that was not an available option. In this day and age? Really? The days of people sitting in front of their large screen TVs hooked up to cable has passed its heyday. Common on NBC. Wake up and smell the dollars you would make from the markets you do not serve.

Twitter

I've got a new twitter account. You can follow me by clicking the birdie under my profile on the right.

Journal page

I often listen to audiobooks or podcasts while sketching. Recently listened to a BBC World Book Club interview with Jeanette Winterson. She has interesting things to say, and I jotted down this quote: "Unhappy families are conspiracies of silence. And the one who breaks the silence is never forgiven". Lots to think about no?

(Click on image to enlarge).
Bill, the dolphin, has moved to the boat for the season. Pen and watercolors.

Shark Attack

You might have read about the shark attack that occurred a week or so ago on Cape Cod. Ballston Beach in Truro to be exact. Last attack in these parts was in 1936. It reminded me of the first time I ever saw the movie Jaws.

Remember the very first time you saw it? I was a wee one and was terrified. It took weeks before I felt comfortable swimming in the pool, let alone the ocean. Well, the recent attack prompted a screening of the movie at home last night. Released in 1975, I am impressed with how well it holds up after all this time. That is great story telling.

So the next time I jump in from the boat in my wetsuit, I'm gonna be thinking how much I look like a seal. Shark bait. That should keep me warm in these chilly waters.

Underground Readers

You can read more about my fun project here.

Looks to me like she is reading Catch Me by Lisa Gardner.

YA Books

I find it interesting how popular YA books are, and not just with YA, but with so many adults. Don't get me wrong, there is much I love about the YA genre, but I sprinkle it in with books written for adults.

You can see a recent Best Young Adult Novel list here. I've got more books to add to my TBR pile.

Sunset

The cannon is going off earlier every day now. It was at 7:50pm this evening. The sea breeze has died down, but the land breeze out of the SW is wonderfully cool. Do not really understand that, as it was really hot on land today. But am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, and simply enjoy it.

Here is a pic looking towards the Garden and the Zakim bridge to the west.

Underground Readers

Readers are my peeps. One thing I do miss with all the ereaders is that it is impossible to see what people are reading without asking them. And who wants to interrupt a reader who is clearly lost in a different world? Inspired by the Underground New York Public Library, I'm capturing readers on the Boston T.

She is engrossed in Matched by Ally Condie.

Summer heat

Crimson berry iced tea and a good book are sure ways to beat the heat.

Journal page

I've often talked about how I arrive early to events. Since I have my journal, I do not mind waiting for the event to start. Deciding to have an ice-cream while I wait ... delish.

Acrylic background. Pen and marker.

Journal Page

We've had a break in the heat wave these past week or so, and for that I am grateful. A chance to cool down and recharge batts. Looks like the muggy hot days are on tap again. So unusual for us.

Collage, acrylics, pen and watercolors.

Terminator

I've been on a Terminator kick lately. Have watched the three movies again, and got immersed in the Sarah Connor Chronicles. This has got me thinking about good story telling. The first two movies by Cameron are really good stories. It is unusual to like a second movie in a series as much as the first. The third one is handed off to a different story teller. You can tell. While the special effects are cool, the story lacks something.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series only lasted two seasons, and I can understand why. Wonderful premise, but not great story telling. And is it just me, but was anyone else uncomfortable while how skinny she was? Ugh.

So I've been seeing terminators in my dreams, and trying to wrap my mind about all that time travel stuff.

Recent Reads

83. Murder on the Orient Express
We read books aloud in our home, and this was the one we finished today. I recall loving Christie in my younger years, and I've always wanted to take this train trip - sans the murder part please - so it seemed like a good choice. This book is a fast read, with interesting characters and humorous observations of human nature. A classic whodunit. Rating: 4/5 stars.

84. Batman, Vol 1: The Court of Owls
The graphics in this book are amazing. I could spend days simply looking at the pages frame by frame. The story on the other hand leaves much to be desired. This is the first book in a new series, so maybe it was all setup, but still. Could have been a better story. Rating: 3/5 stars.

85. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick 
This is a strange book with an even stranger origins story. This is not a book you read in the usual manner. It consists of drawings with book titles and captions. Period. One could look at the wonderful drawings again and again and come up with different stories each time. Would be a fun game to play with kids, or playful adults. As a follow up, I've added The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales to my TBR pile. Rating: 4/5 stars.

86. The Lottery and Other Stories 
I'm not usually a fan of short stories, I prefer long meaty novels, but this collection is really good. How the heck does she do it? The stories start quite normally, but you just know that things are not going to end well. Rating: 4/5 stars.

Tracy Chevalier

For a fascinating talk about how this author finds the story inside the painting, watch this TED talk.

Andrew Stanton

I love storytellers. What are the clues to a great story?
Watch this.

Penn State

I for one am delighted about the sanctions against PSU.

Susan has articulated this so well, that I'm posting her thoughts here:

"My take on the NCAA sanctions is that they were spot on.  My opinion is mostly informed by what I read in the Freeh report. Sandusky is a sexual predator that targeted young boys, using PSU facilities to cultivate and attack them.  This took place over 14 years at PSU, with the knowledge of Paterno, the Athletic Director, the President and Vice President of the University. Oh, and the campus cops, the janitors, and several molested children's mothers.  That's systemic enabling of child molestation and a calculated coverup so as not to tarnish the football program.  The most powerful men in the university let Sandusky go at it for over a decade, never informing the police, but trying to best keep it quiet.  No action or concern at all with regards to the past, current or future victims of the predator.

It wasn't Watergate that did Nixon in, it was the Watergate cover up.

I like the sanctions because they really hit particular targets.  Negating the wins since 1998 when the cover up began hurts only Paterno (alumni pride, too, but so what), who will no longer be the winningest coach ever.  It would be interesting if he was still alive.

The five years probation, loss of 20 scholarships, and four years of no post season games hits the football program, which was considered by the university to be above the law.  The current football players can transfer to other schools without a penalty, so each player can make a choice about how to continue their football college career. Nicely done.

The $60M fine to the university punishes the university and ultimately points the finger at the governing body of the football program, and PSU shoulders the ultimate blame. Right.

The choice not to nuke the football program is a good one too - there can be a healing around building a different kind of football tradition at PSU.  PSU will go on, but hopefully not stacked with people in areas of responsibility who turn a blind eye to child molestation and hold the reputation of the football program more important.

It must be enormously difficult to be a student or alumni there now.  But the truth came out, Sandusky is in jail, the other culpable people and organizations have been punished _where_it_hurts_. I am far more outraged at the systemic enabling of a child molester than the punishment that PSU received for aiding and abetting and covering up.  But, I also feel that there is no grey area at all when it comes to adults having sex with children.

I remember several years ago we had a conversation about Paterno, and I was telling you how much I admired him.  Sigh.  Letting a child molester attack children for years trumps all he did in football, to me  - the man lost sight of what was important."

Mozhan Marno

I admire her acting. She brings such emotional depth to her characters. So imagine my delight when I discovered that she is also an audiobook narrator. She has a lovely reading voice. I would listen to her read the phone book!

I had previously glued down a piece of ephemera I picked up somewhere along my travels. Ink and watercolors.

Recent Reads

80. Go the Fuck to Sleep
Cute. Can understand the frustration, but does anyone actually read this book to a child? Rating: 2/5 stars.

81. Tangles: a story about Alzheimer's, my mother, and me
Ever since reading Still Alice, I've been fascinated by early onset Alzheimer's, and I really liked this graphic novel. The art is not why you would read this book - very simple black and white sketches, but the honesty and pain shines through. This memoir is told in short story/vignettes form, and sheds light on the effects of this disease on the patient and their family. Well worth the read. Rating: 4/5 stars.

82. The Age of Miracles 
 I really should just stay away from books with great buzz. The premise is an interesting one. Something causes the Earth to slow its rotation, so days are no longer just 24 hours. Some people decide to keep clock time, while others keep real time. This coming of age novel started out promisingly enough, and then proceeded to bore me. Was I the only one to find the science inaccuracies annoying? The reason that I gave this book two stars and not one, is that the author has paragraphs that are beautifully written. Rating: 2/5 stars.

Journal Page

Sailing season. Two words that I say all summer long. Such fun. A slowing down. Drifting with the winds and the tides. The gentle, and often not so gentle, slap of waves. Like a tortoise, moving with my home to a new location. Settling in for a while. Taking in the new sights, and sounds, and smells. I can be on the water for a couple of days and feel like weeks have gone by. A complete reset of my brain. Love that.

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This is a sketch of George's Island. If you have never visited the Boston Harbor Islands, whatever are you waiting for? Pencil and watercolors.

Journal page

The heat broke for several glorious days in these parts. Love that.

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There is something soothing about ink and watercolor sketches. I added the watercolor while listening to an audiobook. A great way to relax and slow down.

The Peddocks Island Zoo

We came out for a peaceful day, and this is what we found. There must be hundreds of boats out here. Boats in all sizes and shapes. Summertime in the islands.

Loafing

I love the idea of "the goal of the future is full unemployment, so we can play." You can read the entire article here.

You know me, you know that he is preaching to the choir. I am a proud loafer, who loves nothing more than taking time out to play. Or to do nothing. Well, I do have to decide what book I'm going to start next. After all the brain work, I might need a nap. Are you loafing today?

Colson Whitehead

I attended the author talk at the lovely Harvard Book Store this evening. Colson's books are on my TBR list, but then he published a zombie book. Intriguing.

To launch Zone One in paperback, Colson is on tour. He was funny and articulate, and is a good storyteller. Hmmm, who else did I say that about recently? I love authors who don't just read from their books - after all, I am literate. Weave me a story. Make me want to drop everything and read your book. That happened this evening. Will let you know what I think.

Recent Reads

78. Room
This is my book club selection for the month, and I've waited 2 days after I finished to review it. I'm still conflicted about how I feel about this book. On the one hand the writing is so powerful. On the other, I really do not want to read stories like this. What really worked for me was having such a young narrator - especially for the first part of the book. That voice does not work so well for the second half. I read that the author paid special attention to the language as she expected to have a YA audience. I certainly hope not! While Jack, the narrator is only five, there is nothing YA about this story. His innocence is sharply juxtaposed with what we, as adults, know is the horror of his Ma's life. I was delighted to be done, and to leave their world behind. Rating: 3/5 stars.

79. A Clash of Kings
After being totally immersed in this world for the past several days, I woke up disoriented this morning. Reminds me of how after days of sailing, my body sways to internal ocean waves on land. I keep expecting to hear the clash of swords, or the howl of dire wolves, or the flapping of ravens overhead.

This is book #2 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and while not as excellent as book #1, it is still really good. The King is dead (he dies in book #1) and now there are three, no four, no five people who would be king. Battles ensue. There are even more characters in this book than the last one, and you gotta let them simply wash over you. Do not try to hold on, simply let yourself be swept away by the story. Cannot wait to see Season 2 of the HBO series. Rating: 4/5 stars.

People watching

I love arriving early. Am often really early, which is great. I take out my journal and sketch the people around me.

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Acrylic background and pen.

School days

While reading this graphic novel, I decided to sketch some of the images in the book.

These two images remind me of my early school years. The one on the top is how I often looked when teachers told me things that I thought were ridiculous. Like what you ask? Well, like when the nuns told me that all my non-Catholic friends were going to hell. Like I was going to be OK with that! Need I mention that I was sent to the headmistress often?

The woman on the bottom reminds me of a nun I called "mosquito". She was always buzzing around glaring at students down her long skinny nose when I was in primary school. Oh, and she acted like we were best pals when I got to secondary school. Riiiight.

Acrylic background, Pen and markers for the rest.

Brainwave

After years of squealing about how cold the waters are in the harbors around here, I had one of those aha moments the other day. We were off George's Island, and even though the heat has been incredible this summer, the water temps are not warm. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It was measured at 67.5F today. And that is about as high as it gets all year around.

Now I'm an equatorial gal when it comes to water temps. I don't do well in cold water. I do jump in, but don't last very long. Which leads me to the brainwave I had the other day. Why not get a wetsuit? Yeah, I'm sure that was a fairly obvious solution to many. But I'm kinda slow - I mean I have lived in the area for about half my life at this point!

I've read up on wetsuits. Watched videos on how to put them on - who knew these kinds of video existed? I especially recommend the ones that show how surfer babes do it. I'm just saying. If you're gonna watch, might as well have fun while doing it. I even pinged a friend for advice. Several days later - I'm moving fast to make up for all those lost years of ocean swimming - I went to the local store, tried on several, and bought one.

 So what does this journal page have to do with anything? The face on the woman captures my "duh" expression perfectly. And in case you were wondering, I do not look as fab as those surfer babes. But give me time my friends. Give me time.

The Other Day

The other day I sipped some delish homemade ginger lemonade. So very refreshing.

The other day I watched the sun set in a burst of pinks and reds and purples, and pondered how to create those hues with my paint palette.
 
The other day there was a letter and a postcard in the mail. One of my fave things.

The other day the summer sun felt like it was burning my skin and drove me inside. What is going on with the weather? Boston does not normally get this hot. Canada beckons.

The other day I dipped my toes in the waters off George's Island. So cold. Am considering getting me a wetsuit. Then watched a video on how to put them on and take them off. Hmm. Seems rather complicated.

The other day the library system crashed, and the librarians had to write down all the data. By hand. Glad it was not me doing that.

The other day I met up some a group of readers and shared a world that only readers know about. A magical, wonderous world it is.

The other day the temperature dropped low enough at night to snug. Like bugs in a rug.

The other day I realized that I need more snacks for the boat. Someone is eating them faster than I can stock them.

The other day the hummingbirds were at the feeder. I could watch those little bodies with such fast wings for ages.

The other day there were seven bunnies, with large ears, on my early morning walk.

The other day Babes and I explored paths not yet plowed.

Sunset

On a mooring ball off George's Island in Boston Harbor. Bliss.

Recent Reads

75. A+E 4ever
This graphic novel is done in an unusual style - no regular boxes, no talk bubbles, and the art is sketchier than most. Adolescent years can be rough, especially for kids who stick out in any way. This boy meets girl story is not one usually written about. Tender. Gritty. Well worth a read. 
 Rating: 4/5 stars.

76. The Newlyweds 
You know that feeling after eating a large fatty and salty meal that leaves you feeling empty after? That is how I felt after I was done with this book. I listened to the audio version, wonderfully narrated by Mozhan Marno, and would not have finished it if not for how well it she reads it. I often wish there was a way to rate narrators separately from the book. I would give the book a rating of 2 stars and the narrator 5 stars. The story had good ingredients, but I found the plot lines weak and often rather boring. Don't bother. Rating: 2/5 stars.

77. Wonder
The thing you should know before reading this middle-grade book is that it is told from multiple viewpoints. Either you like that style or you don't. I do. 5th grade is tough. But it is even tougher if you have been home schooled, and have a facial deformity that has people gawking (or worse) when you are in public. This lovely story explores themes of courage, friendship, kindness, loyalty, family and love. I'm buying a copy for all the middle graders in my life.  Rating: 5/5 stars.

Journal Page

Can you believe that we are done with the first week in July already? Where the heck does time go?

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On this page I used pen and watercolors. Am finding that I really like the use of grids.

Chopper off the stern

Taking some downtime after all the excitement of the past several days. A neighbor boater took some pics of us taking pics of the USCG chopper rescue drills.

They demonstrated two different rescue techniques. Day one, the rescuer jumped into the water from the hovering chopper and helped the "rescuee" into a lowered basket. On Day two, the rescuer was lowered into the water using a line, and tied the "rescuee" to that line, and they were hauled up together. And we got to watch all this from the comfort of our cockpit. So cool.

If You Love to Read

If I started my own church, this would be the opening hymn.
Intrigued? Click here.

Recent Reads

72. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
In our home, we read books aloud. While one makes dinner, the other reads. This book was a perfect choice for sailing season. Lots of action, (mis)adventure and historical detail about life on the British frigate. My first time reading the series, and expect I'll slowly make my way through the collection. 3 stars.

73. The Kindly Ones 
This is book #9 in the Sandman series, and all I can say is WOW. Loved everything about it - the stories, the art, the imagination. 5 stars.

74. Dreaming From the Journal Page 
This is a good introduction to various art and transfer techniques. Wonderful photos. 3 stars.  

Fire Boat

The brand new fire boat paraded about shooting up plumes of water. No fires to put out today, but they cooled the air down for overheated bodies.

Earlier this morning Navy SEALS parasailed down from overhead. I was so stunned I did not get out my camera in time. The action is really non stop out here.

Opus

I could say that the size difference in my Opus sketches is a perspective thing. That he was farther away (left) and nearer (right) to me as I sketched - but that would not really be the truth. Maybe the one on the right was after his visit to my fave cannoli store.

Pen and watercolors.

Comics

I love comics. Always have. So many fun memories of lazing about with them as a kid. These days they have the grown up name of graphic novels, and I love them still. If you have not lost time as you read comics you don't know what you are missing. Here is a pic of what I'm reading right now.

Coast Guard Drills

The action out here is nonstop. Loving watching the USCG practice rescue drills right off our stern.