I'm Back

It's been quite some time since I last posted. This is due to a variety of factors: personal pain and loss (including, but not limited to, my Grandma Asp's death), a vacation (in the mountains of Montana), painting (nearly 20 hours in the last two days), and just general summer style (the carefree, slow and easy-going pace of days uncrowded by a demanding schedule).

But here is my return. I plan to post about each one of those things in days to come, but I was just reading and was prompted to write some recommendations, for those who, like me during the summer days, have a little extra time on their hands and want to know what to do with it.

Books:

"The Four Loves" (C.S. Lewis) It's by C.S. Lewis. That's pretty much all you need to know. The guy is amazing. I like the treatment of a subject I am currently investigating, that is, what do we mean when we say we are "in love"? I like his perspective on what it means to love.

"A Kind of Flying" (Ron Carleson) I've mentioned him before--just earlier this summer, I think--in connection to his fantastic short story, "Towel Season." So I checked out a book of his short stories from the library and have really enjoyed them. Some aren't as great as others, but "The H Street Sledding Record," "I Am Bigfoot," and "Life Before Science" and "The Status Quo" are some of the best in this collection. Maybe they resonate with the stage of life I find myself in, or maybe because many of his stories swing round to hope in the end, or maybe because they're just well written and entertaining, but in any case I have been enjoying them. If you want some bite-sized fiction, check it out.

"The Book of the Dead" (Lloyd and Mitchinson) I heard about this one on NPR. NPR gives you tips on all sorts of great stuff. I picked it up for the Montana trip, thinking I'd read it in the car. Then I remembered that I can't read in the car without getting violently sick. So I just picked it up this morning and have been devouring the little vignettes on the "lives of the justly famous and the undeservedly obscure." I just got done reading about Ben Franklin and it made me appreciate him so much more. The glimpses into the lives of the deceased are grouped based on theme (a dead, inadequate or absent father--Bad Beginnings; or a positive life philosophy or happy outlook--Happy-Go-Lucky). It is fascinating and entertaining and fun. I highly recommend it.

Viewing:

"Mad About You." Maybe my favorite TV show ever. I just started re-watching old episodes on discs from Netflix. It is the perfect telling of married life--funny, difficult, annoying, complex, and (as one character puts it in the series finale) "better."

"Black Snake Moan." HUGE caveat here. It would rightfully be considered by some to be filthy. In the first 20 minutes there are 3 sex scenes. The cover of the DVD shows Samuel L. Jackson holding the end of a chain, at the other end of which is a scantily clad Christina Ricci. But if that doesn't scare you away, if you can fight through some nudity and language, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful (albeit gritty) redemption stories in film. I want to love like Lazarus and Ronnie.

Music:

I've got two Sarah's for you.

Sara Watkins

Formerly of Nickel Creek. Since then she has guest-hosted "A Prairie Home Companion" (preparing for Garrison's announced retirement in a year and a half) and released her own solo album. I was not particularly keen on the music at first, so give it a couple listens before you decide. But now I absolutely love "Long Hot Summer Day," "All This Time," and of course, her version of "Give Me Jesus."

Sarah Jaffe

A Denton, TX native (just up the road), Jaffe is part of a collection of local musicians I just love (I think I've mentioned Seryn before, and Air Review, but also Doug Burr). Her song "Clementine" is great. (There's another "Clementine" by Washington that's pretty good, too.)

So I've returned and now I've given you plenty of things to keep you busy. Look for more soon.