Some of my Summer

So my brother was here visiting for 2 months and we had lots o' activities to take in from kayaking at the Channel Islands, Xgames 15, and the Sequoia National Forest to name a few things...and here are the shots that say it all:


I had no space on the way home!!!


Me and the buttress tree (it fell over in the 50's for no reason).

Just where are your photo credentials young lady?!
Hiking around the land of the giant trees.

Inside Crystal Cave - the inside of the stalagmites/stalagtytes have turned to marble!!! Free kitchen renovation anyone??



Driving through a fallen tree.
General Sherman - I say good day to you sir!
Sitting on the legs of General Sherman.
Little bro hanging with the Sherminator - he's 2300 years old!
Tunnel Rock - Can you spot Robert??
Almost getting pushed off Moro Rock - 6k above sea level. It is a loooong way down!
Bouldering on Moro Rock.
On top of the world....lovin it!
Coming down Moro Rock.
The view from Moro Rock.

Refreshing waterfalls
Biggest skateboard in the world - created by Rob Dyrdek

Xgames 15 in LA August 2009
We watching best whip, some sort of high motor jump, and big air!
Rockin' out at Xgames!
Big air baby.
Oh so scary!!

Jake B won big air - yay you unbreakable skater you! He's just happy to be alive!

So I am almost done with "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. I've read two of his other books...and I think that this may be in the running for one of my favorites from him. I really enjoyed "This Much I know is True" and this book was just as good. If you're interested you can read some parts of the book at Google Books.

Whats the plot? Well its about the life of a girl - Dolores Price and the struggles of growing up through various traumatic experiences - divorce, rape, death, mental instability...I mean you name it and she's had to deal with it.

As you read the book you wonder - can she get a break or what?! You start rooting for her as she struggles to get herself together....I haven't finished the book but I'm almost there. Whether Dolores succeeds or continues on a downward spiral I can't be sure but I'll be happy with this book either way.

Upcoming Posts

So it's been awhile - I've been busy with my brother who's visiting for the summer.

But I do have a couple upcoming posts. Right now I'm trying to finish "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. I have read 2 of his other books.

I'm also starting Outlander, which is our book club pick of the month....

Happy Reading!!!

Reading - Unaccustomed Earth

So I just read Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri which is comprised of small mini stories all centered around different Bengali Indian characters.

I like the stories because almost all of them left you connected to a character in each story. The downside is that with most short stories, you're yearning for a little more. Wondering what happened to the alcoholic brother, the aging father, the unhappily married couple....

I liked the stories but it's not a favorite for me.

Amazon amazes

So I went online to buy some cd's from Ray LaMontagne - if you're not familiar with his music then youtube him. Just something about his music moves me.

Anyway - so I checkout, pay and Amazon provides me with a thank you screen and "other customers who made this purchase also like...." and the recommendations are:

1. Outlander - a book I want to read
2. This I know Is True - a book I've read and loved
3. Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies - I'm currently reading her book "Unaccustomed Earth"

So you tell me - does Amazon got this data mining thing down to a science or what. They really do know what I like - hahaha.

Book Series - Chronicles of Narnia

So I finally finished all the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I read them in 'reading order' and not publication order. When Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - he never expected to write any other books - that's why if you actually want to read the series you should start with The Magician's Nephew.

Anyway - I decided to read the books because I was tired of waiting to watch the movies in order to figure out what happens! Yes, these are children's books so they're really easy reads. Most of the time I was doing one book a day....but the stories in each of them are really great. Lewis' descriptions of places, people, and emotions are quite intense - especially in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I only wish I had read these when I was younger...but back then I was into "Island of the Blue Dolphins" and the "Boxcar Children Series".

Graduation May 2009