rajafacesbothways

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

And concerning the leftover turkey and 2 of the latest books mentioned earlier, they are finished. Garrison Keillor's Life Among the Lutherans was a fun read, filled with his droll humor. And each story in Too Much Happiness was incredible. Alice Monro's talent for short story writing is unsurpassed.

And the last of the turkey appeared in a white turkey chili, topped with avocado, grated cheese, cilantro, sour cream and lime wedges and served with crusty bread to the four other First Friday members tonight. It's a great recipe passed along from Karen. However it was the usual tasty tidbits of conversation that really enhanced the meal.

Currently (Going to) Read

Walked out of the library yesterday with three "delicious" books:

Let The Great World Spin, by Colum McCann, just awarded the 2009 National Book Award and also highly recommended by a friend.

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro, winner of the 2009 Man Booker International Prize. When it comes to short story writing, nobody does it better. She places people in unpredictable events, zaps them with a twist, and sheds light on human nature; often starting the plots in the middle then making it all come together but never truly resolved. Incredible writer.

Life Among the Lutherans, by Garrison Keillor (2009). Short essays by Keillor whose humor sums up Lutheranism by "Life is complicated, so think small." As a fallen-Lutheran, I'm still trying to shake off justifying pleasures for their own sake and not looking on self-pity as a deadly sin. However I have no fear of looking ridiculous, so inroads have been made.

T Day Plus One

A lovely Thanksgiving--good conversation, music, food, with all participating--even got a walk in while the bird was roasting. My office space was converted into a dining space.

Greg was in charge of music; Juilee brought appetizers, salad and desert:

A sampling of the dinner:

This is the third year we've all gathered here for Thanksgiving. Day is the volunteer cutter-upper...AND cleaner-upper.  And my favorite part awaits: turkey soup.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I get to mess around in the kitchen with the first preparations of my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving.  Am having First Friday members for dinner tomorrow so will be making 2 kinds of cranberry sauce, apple-walnut dressing, sweet potatoes in orange shells, mashed potatoes dug from the "garden", asparagus with almonds, corn pudding, relishes and---oh yes, turkey and gravy. Juilee is bringing dessert and snacks. And there is always wine, cheeses, chocolate around here on a daily basis. Face it, I'm a foodie.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  My cup runneth over with many blessings and infinite possibilities. I wish the same for you.

Surprise Offer

I've been contacted by Broadstone Gallery in Frankfort for an exhibition next year; the owner had seen my photos in the recent Georgetown show. Good deal! No one sees them under my bed and the gallery provides an opening and publicity.

Do I make money on these exhibits? Naw! I've sold 13 photos this fall but only 2 at the gallery. It's almost impossible to get infrared film anymore and digital is breathing down my neck. This is definitely not a money maker. I just like to take black and white infrared pictures and am happy that some are willing to support my habit.

Infrared photo of the local Weisenberger Mill. The mill's pizza mix is now a staple with my family here, Texas, Ohio, IL, and CA.

The Lucuna--a Review

Barbara Kingsolver's latest book, THE LUCUNA, (2009) is a masterful novel that spans 1930-1950.  The young protagonist/writer Harrison Shepherd, born of a Mexican mother and an American father, has a life shaped from living in both countries during disruptive periods that shaped world events. Kingsolver seamlessly weaves lives of Mexican artists Kahlo and Rivera, exiled Russian Lev Trotsky, presidents Hoover, Roosevelt and Truman, J. Edgar Hoover and Joe McCarthy into the background of social change for that period of history.

The story is compelling; with an eye for detail in describing events and locations, and her astute definition of characters and well-placed regional dialog, the author conveys how political events and reporting can toss and influence public perception.

Lacuna is "unlike a cave exactly but an opening like a mouth that swallows things. It goes into the belly of the world." Kingsolver uses "Lucuna" as a simile for the breach between truth and reality.

This is a strong, absorbing novel, highly researched and seven years in the making. The great storytelling offers insight into the past and is a strong reflection on the problems and presumptions of the present.

Prairie Doggin'

On any sunny afternoon, I can be found "Prairie Doggin" on the rooftop, soaking up the sun like those wise little critters before it sinks behind the horizon. Occasionally I'm joined by a neighbor who also has free-lanced through life (meaning no money but owning one's time). The Prairie Dogs put their paws together, my "paws" may be wrapped around a glass of wine, a cold beer (usually on weekends) or a cup of tea.

Now I find it has a huge health benefit--absorbing the Vitamin D from the sun. Too many are lacking Vitamin D due to staying indoors or smearing sun block all over their skin. Must be some truth to it;  I read all my health news in the New York Times and I've never heard of Prairie Dogs with rickets or heart problems.

So is my good health due to the wine or the sun? Who cares? Either is good.

And The Difference Is---

Three differences that struck me in contrasting Minneapolis and this area:

1.  I saw only a few overweight people in MN--everyone looked so fit!

2.  Lake Minnetonka rambles everywhere; here there is only Elkhorn Creek.

3.  Very few clunkers on the road there--maybe because the weather kills or rusts 'em off. Today an old van with the rear half of a truck bed attached was ahead of me on the road; it was piled high with parts of "stuff" with the  driver taking the usual "it'll rhiad" attitude. Except with nothing strapped down it seldom ever "rhiads" and pieces kept flying off the back. So I suppose there is less tailgating here.

Smooth Landing

Back from Minnesota--- smooth flights both ways from Louisville on a free Southwest Airlines ticket, sunny sweater weather in Minneapolis, enriching time spent with son and granddaughters and good meals. With both girls busy with school and always the possibility of snowy weather in that area I feel that serendipity was working successfully. Fortunately that usually happens for me--probably because I expect it.

Away I Go

Tomorrow I'm leaving 70 degree weather for Minneapolis from Louisville's airport--about 75 miles from here.  A free SW ticket makes it well worth the inconvenience. And the payoff is terrific--seeing my son and 2 granddaughters after over a year. I'll be back on Wednesday.

 My arrangements were done on line. Now no last minute arriving, body scans, long lines, etc.; the fun of air travel is gone. I feel fortunate that I began flying when Midway was Chicago's main airport, before commercial jets, and when the pilot would stroll through the cabin and invite you into the cockpit to watch and chat. (no need to remove your shoes or anything else for that privilege, although I think   being a young woman helped!) Now pilots are reduced to playing with their laptops.

However, airline travel changes, and I must change with it. New experiences become more daunting as I get older but it is important to embrace them as a way to grow. Plants must be trimmed of old vines, allowing for growth and new blooms or they become scraggly and dried up. I think it works for people too.

What's that old expression? Don't let any grass grow under your feet? Everything else changes but those generational words of wisdom still carry truths.