Thursday, May 31, 2012

Not Just Hiking - May 2012


Want to see what I am reading and have read before I post my complete list at the end of the month? Want to know when I read a book or what I am going to read? Check out my Goodreads page. Want to see a list of every physical book in this house? Want to know what my husband read? Want to know what my kids own? Visit LibraryThing.

BOOKS

American Triumvirate: Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and the Modern Age of Golf by James Dodson
My dad grew up on these guys.  I grew up on the ones that came right after ... Arnie and Jack.  If you like golf as much as I do, you will enjoy this book.  If you just like a good sports story than this might be it.  Dodson can definitely write one.

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
I love Rick Riordan.  This series was not a good as the Percy Jackson series, but I still enjoyed it. Want to know why I really love these books ... my kids and I talk about them.

Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll
I may know one or two people who work for this company, and I was interested to see how poorly Coll portrayed Exxon.  Yet, I was surprised by how fair and balanced he was.  But, let me tell you, he nailed the culture.  Strict, competitive, no room for mistakes.  Yep.  ExxonMobil is always right.  Always.  Even when they aren't, they are.  And a good bit of advice if you ever want to do business with the company ... be prepared (kind of like the Boys Scouts but on steroids).  I have seen it myself.  If you bring one person to a meeting, Exxon will bring three.  If you bring three, the will have nine.  I enjoyed it because of the connection I have to the company and because I actually know one or two people in the book.  But I can't say this one is a page turner.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
My mother-in-law handed me this book just before I left Houston.  Easy airplane read and a break from the Exxon book.

The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton
Bleh.  Awfully boring book club read.

Book in May: 5
Books in 2012: 40

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Biblioracle Has Spoken

I was going to take it easy this summer. Now that the Biblioracle has spoken and I have joined Girl Detective's summer reading group and I have been doing some research to help pick book club choices for next year, my reading list has exploded ...

Shelf Discovery - Girl Detective
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - Biblioracle Recommendation
Everything Matters!! - Biblioracle Recommendation to someone else
Stoner - Biblioracle Recommendation to someone else
Journey to the End of the Night - Biblioracle Recommendation to someone else
One Shot at Forever - ???
Danny, the Champion of the World - Girl Detective
Tiger Eyes - Girl Detective
I am the Cheese - Girl Detective
Jacob Have I Loved - Girl Detective
Black Swan Green - Biblioracle Recommendation to someone else
Devil in the White City - recommended by my golf partner
Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk - Biblioracle Recommendation to someone else

What do you want to read this summer?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Spring Hiking

I have been lazy ... but as we are gearing up for some great hiking and backpacking this summer (thank goodness I have my Kindle - my husband made me take the cover off however, because it was too heavy) I thought I would update the hiking part of this site.


March 31 - Bozeman, Montana
"The Big M"



Distance:1.6 miles
Elevation: 850 feet
Miles hiked in 2012: 5.6
Miles hiked since arrival in Canada: 74.6


April 8 - Jumpingpound Loop
We may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves ... this was muddy and a tough slog.  But, as we like to say, a bad day hiking is better than a good day playing video games.





Distance: 5 miles
Elevation: negligible
Miles hike in 2012: 10.6
Miles hiked since arrival in Canada: 79.6



April 17-18 - Wheeler Hut
We did this one on snowshoes for an overnight Scout trip.  Watch for many more snowshoe treks next winter.  




Distance: 3 miles
Elevation: negligible
Miles hike in 2012: 13.6
Miles hiked since arrival in Canada: 83


May 12 - Baldy Pass
We had a longer and more scenic route in mind, but when I heard the ranger say "avalanche danger" I chose this one instead.  There was still plenty of snow on the shady, upper part of the trail but it was a good day with a trip to our favorite ice cream shop as a reward.  




Distance: 5 miles
Elevation: 1800 feet
Miles hike in 2012: 19
Miles hiked since arrival in Canada: 88

Summer Reading

I have many, many books on hold at the library.  But I decided to participate (when I am home) in Girl Detective's Shelf Discovery Summer.  I was surprised, considering that I never stopped reading as a kid, how many of these I haven't read.  I really like these people, so come and hang out with us this summer.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Snow in May

That is just wrong.  So I am getting on a plane and going back to Texas.

One of course did not really lead to the other, but it worked for this post.

I am going to eat Mexican food and bar-b-q.  I am going to shop.  I am going to hang with my brother.  I am going to see a real baseball game.

I am going to be warm.

See you when I get back.