Rise and Shine - Anna Quindlen (Audio book)

Rise and Shine: A Novel by Anna Quindlen

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another audio book for the long hours spent in the car. Surprisingly entertaining , the story is about a famous TV personality whose life seems to fall apart and who escapes to Jamaica. In the meantime, her single sister stays in New York and has to live with the fall out.



The lives of New Yorkers, wealthy and not so wealthy, is explored. There's a bit of a twist about 3/4 of the way through the book which keeps it interesting until the end.



I'd recommend this as an engaging light read.


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High Maintenance Dogs

Old dogs...Rosie has a little leakage problem which we are solving by medication and doggy diapers. Check out the cute outfit with suspenders. Found it on the internet at Fancy Nancys. So easy to use and fashionable. We also put her in a newborn onesie to help contain the diaper. As for Sassy, the Biter gave her another leg wound which is slowly healing.

Hot Trip to the Southland

The red-headed grandchildren, Jackson & Hermione.






It's been awhile since I visited southern California, so I scheduled a trip in late August and invited Darla along. So great that we all get along so well. The weekend started with a cancelled flight from Sacramento bot Ontario, but never fear, a later flight had room and we were only an hour late.

While Jill worked, the rest of us went golfing at Shandin Hills Golf Club. It was very fun on a nice inexpensive course, and Nathan had a great round. Afterward, we had a nice lunch at Panerra. The afternoon was spent relaxing and watching the Olympics.

The next morning, we went to Loma Linda church. The sermon was a one-man drama which was quite good, but the highlight was a fantastic song by a 6th grade girl; "Were You There".

What to do on Sunday, Jill's day off? We decided on a waterpark: Raging Waters in San Dimas. It was a very hot day and the cool water was a welcome sight. Although the park was crowded, we had time to enjoy all the slides except the Dragon's Den. Especially fun was the first slide, so fast, disorienting, WET!

Afterward, dinner at Lucille's. Gotta love a good BBQ. Gumbo, ribs, brisket. Yum!

On our final day, Darla and I went shopping at Victoria Garden while Jill & Nathan worked. So sad. It was nice to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee and do a little shopping before picking up Nathan at work and driving to the airport. All in all, the weekend was too short, but lots of fun.

Shrek The Musical

We were lucky enough to obtain tickets to Shrek the Musical at the 5th Avenue Theater here in Seattle. The play is being rehearsed, efined and performed in Seattle prior to its debut on Broadway.
We watched the first performance in front of a live audience. It was very fun. If you have the opportunity to go before it moves on, I would recommend it.
My favorite character in the movie was the donkey, unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed by the live donkey, but really enjoyed the Prince. He made me laugh everytime he was on stage.

Whidbey Island

A few weeks ago we decided to take a road trip to Whidbey Island. It was relatively uneventful other than the dog fight in the car, so here's a few pics

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (Audio Book)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another audio book for my long Seattle-Portland weekly commute. I haven't read this book since the requisite high school English class assignment. What a difference 30 years makes.



One of the most interesting things I noticed was Harper Lee's ability to portray all the characters so well. I especially appreciated hearing Scout's voice and the innocense of her impression of her father. She took for granted his simple greatness, as most children do.



I recorded the movie and can't wait to watch. Anyone who hasn't read this book as an adult is in for a treat. The audio book is read by Sissy Spacek and is a great option if you have time.


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Invasive Procedures - Orson Scott Card et al

Invasive Procedures by Orson Scott Card

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I love Orson Scott Card,that's why I was excited to see a new book in the airport bookstore. It should have raised a little red flag that there were two authors. Seems like whenever accomplished authors write with another author, the books are never that great (like Clive Cussler).



This book reminded me of a Robin Cook story, but not as good. I gave it 3 stars because it did keep me entertained even though it wasn't great.



Genetic engineering, hotzone -like virus, action, psychopath. What more could one want? Maybe a more clever, less predictable story.



I'd say, if you don't have anything else to read and you need to read anything OSC writes, go for it. Otherwise, there are lots of better books.


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The Dante Club - Matthew Pearl

The Dante Club: A Novel by Matthew Pearl

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
I don't even know what to say. Too many words. Boring, slow, predictable. Do not bother.


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In Cold Blood - Truman Capote (Audio)

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow. I listened to this on this audio book while driving back and forth from Portland to Seattle. I was riveted. Truman Capote does a great job of really developing all the characters and painting a picture of the town and lifestyle the of the four victims.



The murderers were incredibly cold blooded and unremorseful. It's surprising that they were caught since they left very few clues. Luckily, a former cellmate of one recognized the name of the victim as someone Dick Hickock planned to rob and provided the authorities with information.



We think of the increase in mass murder today, but according to the book, during the late 50's and early 60's there were multiple murders taking place all across the country. In fact, another family of four were murdered during the time the killers were on the loose.



If you can take the graphic description of the crime, this is a fascinating story.


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Baseball

Fun times. We went to a little league tournament for our grand nephew, Cris. He plays for a team called the Rockhounds from Washington. They were in Hillsboro so the whole gang showed up.

Golf with the brothers

A couple weeks ago, all the Browns gathered for a Little League tournament in Hillsboro. Between games we managed to sneak in a couple rounds of golf. I played with Pat's two oldest brothers and wife (Randy & Laura and Scott) at McKay Creek. What a bargain, $14 for 9 holes. We had a great time. Laura eagled the first hole, Wow! Very fun course, although the greens were a little tricky.

The next day Pat and I played with the same gang at Meriwether Golf Club. We had a great time because of the company, the course was dry (to say the least).

Coulon Park

Next door to our apartment is a wonderful park. It has a swimming beach, canoe and boat launches, and our favorite fish n' chips restaurant, Ivars. The only problem, No Dogs Allowed. That's enough to keep us out most of the time except early morning walks and lunch on the dock.

Seattle Golf

Since being in Seattle, Pat and I have managed to golf a few times. We tried out Newcastle Golf Club and Foster Golf Links.

Foster is the local municipal course. It's quite well maintained and suprisingly, they have a fantastic array of women's golf apparel. The course is short but narrow, which makes it interesting. I look forward to playing it regularly and think I could break 40 on the front 9.



Newscastle's Coal Creek Course has spectacular views of Seattle. Unfortunately, when we golfed it was a tad cool and cloudy, but Seattle was visible in the distance. The course is a bit tricky, lots of ravines and crazy terrain. We haven't tried China Creek yet, but intend to in the next week or so.

The Golden Ocean - Patrick O'Brian

The Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is the June selection from the Sunriver Book Store's Carol's surprise book club. Patrick O'Brian is famous for his series that was part of the movie Master and Commander, however, this book is not part of the series and was written earlier than that.



I really enjoyed reading about life on a British warship that sailed around the world. Terrible weather, Spanish gold, sinking ships...lots of adventure. Definitely worth the time.


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True Evil - Greg Iles

True Evil by Greg Iles

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
A friend loaned me this audio book. It certainly kept my attention. An FBI agent suspects that a divorce attorney is in kahoots with a killer who murders his client's spouses to prevent them from having to pay alimony. They appear to be using some sort of biological weapon. No more said...fun, fast read.


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The Prometheus Deception - Robert Ludlum

The Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
One word...LAME! Don't bother. I listened to this audio book and it was unbelievably uninteresting and predictable. Not sure if it was the abridgement or the book was just terrible.


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The Last Town on Earth - Thomas Mullen

This is another from Sunriver Book Store's Carol's Surprise book club. It's about the 1918 flu epidemic and is set in a small mill town in Washington. The town leaders decide to quarantine themselves from the outside world, to no avail. Scary times, interesting read.

Skylight Confessions - Alice Hoffman

This book was loaned to me by a coworker. It was a quick read, but a bit depressing. A young woman feels it is her destiny to marry the first person who comes along. Too bad he's shallow and unloving. The bulk of the book is about the fallout of the relationship and their children. A bit of mysticism added some interest. Not quite as good as other Alice Hoffman books I've read.

Grand Tetons and Grizzlies

We were sad to leave Yellowstone, but excited to head south to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole. It's just a short drive out the south entrance to Grand Teton. Our first stop was at the Jackson Lake Lodge where there's a deck overlooking a meadow where animals roam. The only thing we saw was a herd of elk in the distance. Eavesdropping on other sightseers was entertaining. They all thought the could see moose and other wild animals when, in fact, they were either looking at elk or a rock.

Then we drove on to Jenny Lake, stopping along the way to take pictures of the mountains and wildflowers. The wildflowers all week were out of this world, especially in the Tetons. The fields were abloom with purple or yellow flowers. So lovely.

At Jenny Lake, we ate lunch, then had a difficult time finding a parking spot for the RV, but we finally located something. We decided to hike the 2.5 miles to the Hidden Falls. The trail was very well maintained and it was a pleasant time viewing the lake, flowers, and mountains all along the way. Now that's what hiking should be like. A new vista at every turn. After checking out the wildly cascading water, we took a the shuttle boat back across the lake as the sun was going down behind the mountains. Wow!

Our reservations for the night were a few miles east of the park, so we headed out. On the way, we again saw cars pulled over and lo and behold...Grizzly. Just off the road. Of course, we stopped and gawked and took lots of pics where the bear is too small to see, but oh well. How often does one see a grizzly bear?

The RV park left a little to be desired, our view of the mountains was partially blocked by dumpsters, but the drive past Wyoming ranches was worth it. The area could not be more beautiful. Bill found a dead mouse under the motorhome, so we took a picture of him flying over the mountains. Little things amuse little minds!

The next morning we woke to a bright, clear day to spend in Jackson Hole before heading home. We shopped around. Great shopping! Ate lunch at the Snake River Brewery...just ok and then had to say goodbye to Bill & Darla who were driving home through SLC.

Jill really wanted to drive home via Missoula, MT and Coeur d'Alene, but it was just too far out of the way. Maybe next time. I guess Jill doesn't always get what she wants....

The drive out of Jackson Hole in the RV was slow, to say the least. We had quite the line up of cars trailing us. But once we were over the top the drive back to Portland went quick. We left Wyoming at 3:30 and got the Oregon around 11:00 p.m. where we spent the night in a rest area. Pat and I got up early and started driving and made it back home by mid afternoon. Lunch was at a great resaurant, The Baldwin Saloon in The Dalles.

Yellowstone Yummies

We ate great. Here's a glimpse of our menu:

Breakfast
Artichoke quiche and spinach quiche
Breakfast burritos
Homemade granola and yogurt
Fresh scones and fruit
Homemade Egg McMuffins
Tomato Bagels

Lunch
Pesto & feta pizza
Grilled ciabatta sandwiches
Turkey burgers
Hot dogs
Mediterranean Hummus Wraps
Chicken Sausage kabobs

Dinner
Grilled Cilantro Chicken
BBQ Steaks and potatoes
Pasta Arrabiata
Chili & Cornbread
BBQ Salmon
Tamales

Mammoth, Mountain Sheep & Montana

Our longest drive was to the northwest corner of Yellowstone to the Mammoth area. As we drove north, the country opened up and we saw many bison herds and other animals including mountain sheep. It's amazing how many cars are driving around the park and the insane slamming of brakes when a wild animal is sighted. Cars end up stopped every which way on and off the road.

Our plan was to drive to Mammoth and partake in the hotsprings as they pour into the river. Unfortunately, the river area was closed due to high water from the late spring runoff. It was also unexpected to have no water running over the travertine steps. It's usually a waterfall, but this time, quite dry. Just goes to show how much Yellowstone features change from year to year. Some are new, some dry up, you just never know.

So, we drove a little way and had lunch along a river in the little corner of Yellowstone that is in Montana. Then we hung out and enjoyed cooling our feet in the cold water. It was definitely the hottest day we experience and the water was a welcome break.

Driving back to camp took us by the Ranger Museum where we had a little stop and scouted out the terrain for the next day's fishing adventure on the Firehole River. Another satifying day!!

Old Faithful & Fly Fishing

Early the next morning, I made scones (nice to have the motorhome's oven) with dried cherries, white chocolate chips and pecans. It is so nice to eat tasty food outside. Along with the scones, we had fruit and fresh ground coffee.

Our first stop was the Old Faithful Lodge where we enjoyed fresh huckleberry ice cream while we waited for Old Faithful's eruption. On the drive from our campsite to the lodge we crossed the Continental Divide twice. During our week in Yellowstone, we probably crossed it a dozen times at least.

I was surprised how many people wait for each eruption, which take place about every 90 minutes (give or take). The eruptions vary in size and the one we saw was fairly small but still exciting.

Our next stop was the riverbank of the Firehole River. We slogged through a marshy area to get to the river and set up a nice day camp. The guys fished, the rest of us wandered, talked, read and knitted in the sun. We had a resident bison who kept us company nearby throughout the day and another that showed up across the river late in the afternoon. Lunch was grilled ciabatta sandwiches with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, feta and pesto.

We had one last stop at another geyser basin where we saw crazy people 'approaching' the bison. Evidently, many people are injured by bison when they get too close. So scary, they came within about 5 feet of them. The most impressive hot pool was called the prismatic pool, it was so blue.

West Thumb & Waterfalls

The first day in Yellowstone took us to the Canyon area via the West Thumb. Our first stop was the geyser basin at West Thumb. I was surprised by the number of beautiful hot water features, geysers, springs, pots and by their color. The sulfur smell was just part of the fun.

After that we headed to the Yellowstone Hotel, which had recently been updated. The yellow color was unexpected, we thought it would be a log lodge instead. The lobby was an inviting place to enjoy a cool beverage and watch the scenery.

As we headed north, there was more and more open terrain and bison. We stopped along the Yellowstone River for lovely lunch of BBQ turkey burgers. Bill got his first opportunity to fish.

The upper and lower falls were, of course, much more spectacular than the pictures we all grew up with. We stopped across from the upper falls for a photo op, then hiked along the south rim to the lower falls. Bill was elected to drive the car and hiked back to meet us.

One of the highlights was the brink of the upper falls. There's a viewpoint just where the waterfall plummets. The volume of water during this spring runoff was unbelievable. Just standing there as the water rushed by created a bit of vertigo. We took tons of pictures and I posted only a few here.

On the way back to camp, we stopped at another geyser basin and took a hike. Lots of bubbling pools and 'evidence' that bison hang out in the area.

Yellowstone Vacation

Last year, Jill decided that we all should go to Yellowstone in the motorhome. What Jill wants; Jill gets. So on June 20 we took off from Beaverton and Fall River for a 10 day road trip. Those who rode in the motorhome each took a turn at the wheel of the rig.

On the first day we made it just past Boise to Mountain Home and stayed in a KOA. First, we met Darla and Bill in Boise and enjoyed a cool DQ treat. Dinner that night was wonderful chili and cornbread supplied by Darla. We were starved. In the morning when we woke up, we realized we'd parked next door to a gravel pit. Oh well, we were off to Yellowstone and didn't look back.

Instead of staying on the Interstate, we diverted to Craters of the Moon. To get there, you have to drive through a section of Idaho home to multiple secret government agencies and the oldest nuclear reactor in the U.S. Creepy!

The craters of the moon were a great start to our trip. It's a good thing we didn't see them on the way back, they pale in comparison to Yellowstone. We ate one of my favorite sandwiches for lunch there. Wraps made with hummus, tomato, feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumber, lettuce and italian dressing. Yummers.

It took a long time to get to our destination with all the stops. The most important was the stop to acquired our 'buffs' ala Survivor. Again.. What Jill wants..... Anyway they were a highlight. We wore them all different ways, headband, wristband, pirate, neckband.... and they came in quite handy on hot days. Nothing so refreshing as a wet buff around one's neck. Ha!

We entered by the West gate and arrived just as the sun was going down. That didn't keep us from seeing wildlife right away. Bald eagle nest, bison and elk. At just before 10:00 pm we got to the campground, Grant Village. After a laundry list of bear warnings from the camp host, we all settled into the motorhome for a welcome rest. No bears in sight.

Book Group: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See

I picked this bookf ro books group on the recommendation of Sun River Book Store. Fascinating information about growing up as a female in China, especially about foot binding. After I read it I had to look up what bound feet look like. Crazy.

I loved it until about the last quarter, then the author changed the focus of the book and lost me. On whole, it's a very good read.

The Faith Club -

I loved this book that was recommended by Darla. Christian, Muslim, and Jewish women start a club to understand each other's religion. They came to realize that the religions are much more similar than they expected and each of them grew in their understanding of God's plans. Great read.

Yellowstone Vacation

Having a great time. Craters of the Moon on our way to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons on our way out. More later....

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbett

I wasn't expecting much from this book. Usually books that get this much hype are a bit disappointing. Not this one. Loved every page. Who wouldn't want to hang in Italy eating to one's heart's content and learning Italian? Must try the pizza in Naples.

The section in India...so interesting to read about an entirely different spiritual journey than my own.

Completely different take on Bali than I would have thought.

The idea of searching to see if you are living the best life you should...kinda scary especially if it means making a momentous change.

A New Adventure

We're embarking on a exciting new adventure. Last weekend we rented an apartment on Lake Washington in the Seattle area. Here are some pictures of the apartment and surrounding area. We can literally walk out our door, down a flight of stairs and around the corner and there's the Lake and a great park.

A Hole in Texas - Herman Wouk

Another great pick from Sunriver Books, Carol's Surprise book club. Imagine politics, Hollywood, physics and a love story all rolled into one.

The Chinese have surpassed the US in scientific discovery and all hell breaks loose. Fun, quick read.