books books books

Well, since I don't have a Kindle YET, I grabbed Brave New World (which I stole from my parents' house during my last visit) off the shelf before my trip to Chicago/Milwaukee this past weekend. And I devoured it. I tried to read Island in college (hmm, stole it from an ex-boyfriend, if I remember correctly...what is it with me and stealing Mr. Huxley's books from people?) but I got bored and never finished it. After Brave, though, I might have to give Island another shot. We'll see. I still have to get to the library and borrow Gone with the Wind. The other book that I somehow missed reading in high school is about the boys who get stranded on the island and one of them has glasses and they break so he is doomed...what book am I thinking of? I bet I could get that at the library, too.

I only saw one person on the El in Chicago reading a Kindle. So I guess I'm not too far behind the times...YET.

to Kindle or not to Kindle

I'm ridiculously adverse to new technology for someone my age. When DVDs came out, I thought, that will never catch on! VHS Forever! I finally bought a DVD player about eight years later. When the iPod came out, I was like, I like my Discman just fine. At least until they came out with the pink iPod mini. Then I was hooked.

Now it's the Kindle. Who would want to read a book from a screen? I love paper. It might be my favorite thing. I also like libraries and sharing books with friends. (Although I'm getting a little antsy over a couple that have been loaned out for far too long...)

But then I read some articles, including some in the New York Times, that have me thinking that I not only want one, I NEED one. The biggest argument is how easy it is to take multiple books of any size (Les Miserables, I'm looking at you) on travels. But I can also imagine curling up with a Kindle, a blanket, and a cup of tea.

What do you say? Does anyone have one? Can you think of any additional costs or benefits? I'm counting on you!

Costs:

• Expensive. I think they are currently $299, and each book is about $9.99
• Can't borrow from the library
• Can't give books to your friends when you are done
• I might miss the feel of holding a book, turning pages
  

Benefits:

• You can carry and endless supply of books in a magazine-size package
• I think classic books, which I prefer over recent fiction, are cheaper
• You can order books and have them instantly
• You can subscribe to newspapers and blogs and read them on it
• They are cool
  

saturday morning

We saw a bald eagle, just hanging out on a tree stump. And skydivers, dancing in the sky.


I went fast.


And then we got a big cookie and iced mocha at Spruce Street Confections.

the bell tolled

You may have noticed that For Whom the Bell Tolls was on my Currently Reading list for ages. And ages. I normally tear through books, too quickly to catch every word, I am all about the big picture and finding out what happens next in the story. I just re-read Harry Potters 6 and 7 in less than two weeks total. For Whom the Bell Tolls was different. There was a lot of foreshadowing at the beginning, and I didn't like where that foreshadowing was taking me. I loved the book, but knowing how it was going to end (if the foreshadowing came to fruition) was killing me and I didn't want to finish it. I read a chapter at a time, sometimes only half a chapter when it was longer. I read every word. I let myself imagine alternate endings before I read the real one. The funny thing is, the entire book takes place over a span of two or three days. Each day lasts for several chapters and each event is written in remarkable detail. It's really like nothing I have ever read before.

The book ended as I expected, but in a surprising way. Trust me, that is possible. But perhaps only in this exact story.

Now I need a new book. I'm thinking about reading Gone with the Wind, since Nick has been suggesting that one for a while. Time for a library excursion!

lazy blogging

1. Did you know that rates for renting a car have skyrocketed? We figured we would spend about $200 to rent a car for our August Minnesota-Wisconsin-wedding-birthday extravaganza. Now we would have to spend almost $400. Time to look into other options...
2. I got that bike! It is sitting in our garage right now and it is adorable.
3. HARRY POTTER. I. Must. See. ASAP.
4. Some of Drew's friends have started a crafting blog! I love crafting. I want to set up our office room to better contain crafting materials. Maybe that's a good project for when Drew is gone in August. I have a few sewing projects in mind, as well.
5. I am super excited for my trip to Chicago and Milwaukee to visit Lydia and Bob and also attend Beth's bachelorette party! Less than two weeks to go!
   

born in the USA

This is generally what my legs look like when we get done with mountain biking. Actually just when we are in the mountains. It's still muddy up there from the snow melt.


Pretty cute, right? Then these next photos are from the Steamboat Stampede. Obviously we don't know how to compose a proper photo what with me being completely in shadow, but you get the idea.


Every Fourth of July weekend, cowboys drive cattle down the main street of Steamboat Springs. It was pretty exciting. They were LOUD.


The baby cows were pretty cute. There were also some cows that were giant. Really, they were bigger than the horses. Unfortunately they were on the other side of the street so we didn't get a good look or a picture.

Add a rodeo, some delicious ribs, a few beers, and some nice fireworks, and that was basically our holiday weekend. Up next: a Rockies game!

rodeo dreams

Back from the holiday weekend in Steamboat Springs. The mountain biking did not go so well. But I did see a rodeo and the cattle drive through town. Now I'm dreaming of owning a horse ranch in rural Colorado. My kids could grow up to be rodeo stars. I think it's too late for me.

lovely cruiser

I want this.

We only have 7 bikes in the garage right now. I think Drew would love to have 50. You can have so many bikes that serve very different purposes. For example, I have a commuter bike that I ride to work, but I want this Gary Fisher to ride downtown when we go out at night or on weekends. Drew gets that. And feels the same way to the extreme. He wants multiple road bikes, for example.

I would name this bike Thelma II. My dad still rides his vintage Schwinn (probably wasn't "vintage" when he bought it) named Thelma. I thought about Louise, but my commuter is more of a Louise. So there you go.

Will there be a new addition in our garage this summer?