In the Dark Streets Shineth: a 1941 Christmas Eve Story as told by David McCullough

This book is the print version of David McCullough's presentation last Christmas at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.

It tells of Winston Churchill's surprise Christmas Eve visit to President Roosevelt in 1941. It also gives some background on some of our traditional Christmas hymns.

It was a very quick read, and I loved it.

A CD is enclosed with David McCullough's narration.

What Happened?

Remember my favorite bush, five days ago?

Here it is today:

See the red still trying to peek out from under the snow?

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose

I have always been fascinated by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Ten or twelve years ago I asked my brother-in-law for a recommendation of a good book about the expedition. He recommended this book, and I read it then.

I really liked the book. It took me a little while to really get into it - the first  few chapters deal extensively with Meriwether Lewis' background and upbringing. I was anxious to get on the road with the expedition. But that preliminary information was invaluable, so I'm glad I waded through it.

The book is thorough in its information, and interesting in content. I think Stephen Ambrose has a real talent for that. (Nothing Like it in the World is another example of his great writing.) It is not a fast read, but I was interested the whole time.

Fast forward to now. My book group chose this book for October's read.  Because it's been so long since I read it the first time, I really needed to reread it. I've had a hard time getting as much reading time in as I like, so I got the book on CD. I listened to it while on the treadmill, and while working in the yard, and even some when I've sewed. It was a great way to review and remember the book. When I got to the last 150 pages I picked up the book and read the remainder of it. I liked it just as much this time as I did the first time I read it.

If you are at all interested in history, or biographical information, this book is an excellent choice. The emphasis is on Meriwether Lewis. William Clark is not prominent in the book, although he obviously played a key position in the expedition.

My Favorite Sign of the Season

The front of my house is still a mess with the road construction (although they are paving today - maybe they will be done!), but I have a clear view of my backyard from my desk. My "burning bushes" are in full color for Autumn.  I just love them. 

Burning Bush

I have a few of these bushes in the backyard and wish I had more. Hmmm, maybe these would be a good option to plant out front to beef up my shrubbery there.

Maybe next year.

Meanwhile I will enjoy the ones I have.

Raise Your Hand If...

The kids are here this weekend, and we're having a good time. Thursday Ray and I took Matthew and Austin on a few errands.

Austin and Matthew

I have a couple of routines I go through with the boys.

One of them is I look at them very sternly, and in a serious voice say their name. For example, "Matthew Hanks!" He ducks his head and asks, "what?" I then, still very sternly, say, "I love you!!", then he giggles and I smile.

The other thing I do is say, "Raise your hand if... I love you." Then they raise their hands. I have several Raise your hand ifs, and they all involve an answer where the boys raise their hands.

Thursday Matthew was standing with me waiting to get in the car to run errands. I looked at him sternly and said, "Matthew Hanks!" He looked at me and there was a brief moment of silence. Then he raised his hand.

Red

Moonlighting. Die Hard. These are where Bruce Willis first tickled my funny bone. I love light-hearted shoot-em-ups, and Red is one of his best. 

It's jammed with fun actors: Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Richard Dreyfus, and others.

It's a blast.

A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland

A new novel of the Nine Kingdoms. I loved it, except for that darn leave-me-hanging-and-dying-for-the-next-book ending.

I keep telling myself that I don't like fantasy, but I sure like these. In fact, I haven't met a book by Lynn that I didn't like, be it her fantasies, or her romances.

Read about her on her website: lynnkurland.com.

Next time you want to put your feet up by a cozy fire, grab some hot chocolate and one of her books. You'll be transported, and won't want to come back.

It beats Calgon any day.

Civic Duty

Dear Sandy City,

You have been remiss in your road work. I was able to travel unimpeded by a construction project for approximately 500 yards today. I trust you will correct this oversight immediately. 

To date you have far exceeded anyone's expectations on the amount of road work that could be underway at any one time. I do not anticipate any change in those excesses in the foreseeable future; however, should you choose to quickly complete the Wasatch Boulevard project, I'm sure another needy area could be found to replace it in a timely manner.

Sincerely,

A concerned citizen

The view from my front door. Seen now for over two weeks. 

This was in front of our street for over a week. It's taking a while, but they are actually working pretty quickly. They also apologize for the inconvenience on a regular basis.

Some Favorite Restaurant Items

I went to lunch with friends today. We all lived in Kirkland, WA together at some point, and over the years we've all ended up here in Utah. Most of us live in the Salt Lake valley, but there are a couple down in Utah valley. We get together every month and have lunch. Today the food was pretty good, and the company was great. On the drive home I thought of some restaurants I really like.

Cafe Rio is one of those. I'm sure their mild green salsa has some ingredient that my body cannot live without. I have a compulsion to order food items that have that sauce on it. 

Cafe Veloce in Kirkland, Washington has a Pasta Muffaletta that I positively adore. I don't get to Cafe Veloce every time I'm in town, but I sure try to. I fell in love with Pasta Muffaletta at first taste. I have never ordered anything else there. When Ray traveled a lot I would treat myself to take-out Pasta Muffaletta, and save it to eat in solitude after the kids were in bed. The kids call it Stinky Pasta. I call it irresistible.

Pizza Bank Restaurant is only a few blocks from where I lived in Kirkland. It's about a mile from my mom and dad's house. I eat there every time I'm in Kirkland. It used to be a bank, then it was converted into a restaurant. My friend Betty Olcott first introduced me to Pizza Bank, and I've been eating there as often as possible ever since. 

I only order one thing: the beef gyro. I just know there are drugs in that meat. There is something about it that sends me over the moon. My mouth is watering right now, just thinking about it. It's nothing fancy, just some seasoned meat on a pita with a little tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce. But it's to die for. 

...drum roll, please...

The winner of my give-away...

... is Elna!

Congratulations!

I'll mail off the SnackSleeves (or if you have time while you're in town, stop by and get them).

These give-aways are kind of fun. Stay tuned for some more in the future.
I won't wait for another 523 posts.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

I'm still ruminating on this book. I held off writing about it until after my book group discussion, hoping that would help clarify my feelings on the book.

I'm not sure anything was clarified except my relief that most of the others felt the way I did about the book. I think I can summarize in three sections.

Section 1 (roughly half of the book): What??
There were so many words I did not know that I was frustrated. I don't know the last time I had to have a dictionary next to me as I read. The reviewer of the book handed out a list--with definitions--of frequently used words in the book that most people don't know. I wish I'd had it before I read the book. I almost gave up. In fact, if it weren't a book group book, I would have given up.

Section 2 (the rest of the book until the last ten pages): Aaahhh
Finally, some concise writing that flowed easily, with great wit, and blossoming characters. The story picks up and gathers momentum, which was badly needed by that point.

Section 3 (the last 10 pages): What!!
I can't say anymore. I don't want to give away the ending.

There are gems throughout the book. Most of the gems in the first half are buried, but you can find them. The second half they are more obvious. The last ten pages burst with gems.

I'm still ambivalent. At times I really liked parts of the book. Other times I forced myself to read it, and I wonder, do I have the time or inclination to do that when there are so many other books out there? I can imagine this is a book that might "speak" to some people. For whatever reason - things going on in my life right now, or just my personal preferences - it only whispered to me.