The weekend wrap up

Aug 19, 2007 20:27

I've been pretty quiet this August. I guess I haven't had a lot to say. Which is unusual for me. I think I've just been boring. Outside of reading, I haven't done much. There are only so many entries about grilling a hamburger that I want to read, much less write. I've also been very grumpy and those entries are often private. No one needs to read my vitriol. I only write it out to get it out of my system. I put plenty of gripes into my journal whether public or flocked, but the real bad stuff, I think I don't want anyone to know me that well!

I'm going to start with a book, #103, that I finished some time ago and forgot. It was an audio book that I declined to review. Safe Harbor by Jo Ann Ross. I think I would have liked this book had I read it. But this was an audiobook and that's a different animal. Chicago homicide detective, Kate Delaney, desperately needs a break from her situation but investigating her twin sister's death wasn't what she had in mind. Nick Broussard is a former New Orleans cop gone bad. Or at least that's his cover. Kate Delaney's sister was Broussard's confidential informant. They have no choice but to team up. The story is probably pretty good. The audio was awful. I really didn't like the accent the reader gave to Nick. Every time he drawled, I cringed. I'm not a big fan of regional American accents anyway, but this wasn't N'Orleans Cajun patois, it was a little Maine with the Bronx thrown in for good measure. Ick. Or at least not romantic, to me. The mystery is solidly interesting. It's too bad the audio had to spoil it. 3.5 stars.

The weekend was spent with iTunes. I laboriously went through every CD in my library to ensure that it was in my iTunes library. I standardized names ( I love authority control), made sure I had every track. I was amazed at how often I had every track but one. It's possible that that was deliberate in some cases, but definitely not in others. But that project is mostly done. I have a next stage, but it won't happen any time soon. I'm good with that.

Yesterday was the company summer outing to Lagoon, an amusement park. Though I suppose that really depends on your definition on amusement. This park is mostly thrill rides. The kind that I kept looking at, shaking my head and muttering, "over my dead and well buried body". I went on a couple of things. The Scrambler is my all time favorite ride and I was deeply disappointed that I was nauseated afterward. But for free, it was great. Now I don't have to wonder what it's like. These places are better to go with friends anyway and I was by myself. Ordinarily, this isn't a problem. But you need someone else to convince you that it would be fun to drop 143 feet.

I stopped at Cafe Trio for dinner. I was in the mood for pasta. I started with the potato leek soup. It was excellent. My spaghetti carbonara was good. Not great. But I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow and that is good. For dessert I had an outstanding pistachio panna cotta on a bed of strawberry syrup. It was an amazingly good dessert. However, I have no desire to go rushing back. I found the menu surprisingly limited. However, I'll watch it. If it changes, I may be back. Italian is another type of food that is not outstanding here. I'm spoiled by the North End in Boston.

I won't be around much this week. I head to Boston on Tuesday and then to Maine on Wednesday so I won't have access to much. I'll suffer withdrawal. I'll try to journal Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. I've been very ambivalent about this trip. It's for my mother's birthday. It's a family trip. We're going to Oakland House. We stayed there 30 years ago. I have fond memories of it. Mostly because we couldn't use the beach due to jellyfish everywhere so we played badminton. Every free second of the day. There is a clambake that I can't wait for. The food was good, at least in my memory. Now it looks spectacular. I am ambivalent because I'm doing most of the traveling. I have the 5 hour flight on Tuesday and the 5 hour drive (my dad will do the driving) on Wednesday. We do the reverse on Saturday and Sunday. I'm not used to kids which means I'm not going to appreciate the 6am wakeup calls. They are older this year and that will help. I know this will be the last year. This is an awful time for me to get away.

When I come back, I'll be in my new cube. I actually have no preference as to which one I get. There are three. They are all lousy. It makes no difference. I know I'm only gone for 4 business days but there will be a lot to follow up on. I can already tell.

I need to pack but first I need to file. I haven't done it for months. I'd like to clear something else from my list. Which I left at the office. Where it does the most good.

music, books 2007, tourist, life

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