Reading Post #2

The Cat Who Came For Christmas by Cleveland Amory is one of those books every cat-lover should read. If you have been owned by a cat, this book will make so much sense. Also, as the cat does not die in the end of this book, it's a warm and fuzzy read (pardon the pun). Especially funny for me is the whole portion on "pilling the cat". It was a reread in honor of finding a lovely copy for only 2.98 at Hastings, as my original copy has disappeared.

My Lady Nightingale by Evelyn Richardson was a nice little Regency. This one dealt fairly heavily with French emigres, and their way of coping with life in Britain.

Beyond Choice by Alexander Sanger was, IMO, a very good book about a sensitive subject. It takes the question of choice back to the issues of biology and does not demonize the pro-life side of the house. It meshes nicely with my views on the subject.

"Not To People Like Us" (Hidden Abuse in Upscale Marriages) by Susan Weitzman was an excellent book about a subject many people don't want to talk about or think about.

The Silver State by James Hulse is a NV state history textbook. A decent overview but nothing spectacular.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy was quite good, a nice little foray into just before the Regency world. I hadn't realized she got credit for the useless playboy/cunning hero sterotype (according to the scholarly foreword).

Persian Mirrors: Elusive Face of Iran by Elaine Sciolino was a good solid read, with a fairly wide ranging subject. I liked this one as much as I liked Geraldine Brooks' Nine Parts of Desire about women in the Muslim world. Neither book condemns the culture, but prevents a balanced portrait of their own and others' experiences with the country.

Playing With Fire by Sandra Heath was a tidy little Regency with her trademark hints of supernatural - this one touching on Ancient Egypt and cats that are way more intelligent than some of the human characters. And, oh yes, an appearance by Bastet (non-speaking) herself. Oh yes, and venally evil male and female characters who get what they so richly deserve.

Sin, Sun, and Suburbia - Essential History of Modern Las Vegas by Geoff Schumacher is good. I was hoping for more history and less construction analysis, but the author is undeniably a Vegas citizen.

Lady Whilton's Wedding/An Enchanted Affair, both by Barbara Metzger, are also Regencies. The first one was one of those books that isn't quite what the blurb said it would be, but I liked it anyway. The second was closer to the blurb, but I liked them both equally. Barbara Metzger's Regencies always turn on clever word play and humor of the "This would be funny if it wasn't happening to us" variety. This exists more so in the first, with the second one being more serious.

Wet Grave by Barbara Hambly was another book that didn't seem quite like the blurb on the back, but it was excellent. I think this might be the strongest book of the series (2 still to read), and I am happy to see that Ben and Minou are both in better situations than she left them in the last book. The way she got there was believable too. (Unlike a certain SF opera writer and a couple he wrote about....)

There were a few of the Nancy Drews tossed in for brain-cleaning.

DV

The Season Draws Nearer...

As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, I am once again filled with hope. It does, indeed, spring eternal. I believe that it is possible this could be a good year, football-wise. Dan Wetzel agrees with me some.


Lions, boo birds and ducks – oh my
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
August 20, 2005

DETROIT – So far in two weeks of preseason football, Joey Harrington is 14-for-15 for 146 yards. He has no touchdowns but also no interceptions and, get this, no boos.
Or at least, no boos since he was hooted by ornery Detroit Lions fans at an open practice – "we're talking about practice" – a couple of weeks back.
Oh, and it gets even better for the incumbent Harrington and the possible Detroit Lions quarterback controversy. Even though offseason veteran signee Jeff Garcia has shown a knack for moving the offense, he keeps floating up deep ducks that get picked off.
One of Garcia's two picks Saturday in the Lions' 21-13 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns here at Ford Field was so bad that Garcia got booed.
Harrington isn't the kind of guy to gloat, but you wouldn't blame him for enjoying it. It is Garcia, after all, that a lot of Lions fans favor if only because he isn't Joey Harrington.

But if you can assert anything after two preseason games featuring vanilla play calling, it is that Harrington's hold on the starting position is only getting stronger. He hasn't played much – he again was pulled after the first quarter Saturday – or gotten the Lions into the end zone, but he certainly is having fun hitting that fleet of fleet Detroit receivers.
"I feel good," said Harrington, who is about to start his fourth season. "I feel pretty good right now. The guys have a better understanding of what we are trying to do. It seems like guys are in the right spot, which makes my job easier."
Whether Lions fans hate Harrington, or just want to put him on notice that after three lackluster seasons (and now having a bunch of big-play talent at his disposal) it is time to deliver, is open to debate. But there is a disconnect between QB and crowd.
This is a franchise that has won a meager one playoff game since 1957. The fan base isn't starved; it's emaciated.

Why yes, we are. We would love to feast on some Bears, or Packers, or Vikings.

Much was made when the Lions took Harrington out of Oregon with the third pick in the 2002 draft. He is a big, good-looking kid who was supposed to bring charisma, leadership and a cannon arm to the position.
Instead he has delivered more interceptions (50) than touchdowns (48), and the Lions are a dreadful 14-30 when he starts. His career QB rating is 67.2.
To make matters worse his West Coast cool, low-key, non-demonstrative leadership style and off-field hobbies that include playing the piano haven't exactly connected him with this blue-collar town.

He has big shoulders, but they can't carry the whole damned offense, people. We need a team, not just one good player. I'm not saying he's the best, but I'm saying he's worth the try. Hopefully, he can find his razor, because the last pic was quite a bit scruffy. And I like the piano playing.

That's how Harrington wound up getting booed during a practice earlier this month; it was Detroit's way of saying he is on the clock.
But rather than pout, the eternal optimist just smiled through it. He may wind up with the last laugh.
Harrington backers (and there are some in town) are quick to accurately point out that the talent around Joey has been more NFL Europe than NFC North. Bad receivers, bad running backs, bad blockers, Harrington has seen it all.

At least they hadn't broken out the paper bags or started chanting "Let's Go Red Wings".

You don't stink like the Lions because of one guy.

Truth. It hurts.

But that's no longer the case now that president Matt Millen and coach Steve Mariucci spent the last few drafts loading up on skill players. Harrington has a young receiving corps with limitless potential – Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams – all top-10 draft picks. He has a second-year running back, Kevin Jones, who went for 1,113 yards as a rookie and is only getting better.
So last year's 6-10 record had better get better – which is why when Garcia was signed in the offseason, the pressure was turned up on Harrington.
Deliver or sit.
Harrington looks on the verge of delivering.
"I think we took a step forward," he said. "We did some good things."

Now, can we keep Charles Rogers in, who's had some issues with injuries? And Jones - I love him. He and Barry Sanders were at the All-American Game this year. [happy little football fan sigh] He's the next jersey I buy, to go with my Harrington one.

Mariucci agreed and cited both the growth of Harrington and the emerging supporting cast around him. Again, it's early, but 14-for-15 is 14-for-15.
"He's making pretty good decisions," Mariucci said. "And we're doing some things to allow him to take some chances a little because he can handle it now. And his guys are not all a bunch of rookies. They can handle it, too."
As for Garcia, he looks no less volatile than the guy who the Browns released a year ago. At 35 he still can move well (he had 36 rushing yards Saturday), but his propensity to attempt daring throws has snuffed out a budding QB controversy.
He certainly hasn't done anything thus far that will get the talk shows amped up about a change in the depth chart.
With an offense as intriguing as any other in the NFL, though, all that can change here with an interception or three. Harrington always has had the ability to look good. In the past he just hasn't delivered on that promise.
So far this preseason, though, no boos.

DV (with her fingers crossed)

Car Shopping

When I graduate this class, and get my bonus... it's going to a new car. I don't care if I'm deploying, I am SO ready to get rid of the one I have. I'll be able to afford it.

So, anyway, the serious contender is the RAV4. A new one.

Anyone have any comments? So far all the reviews (both expert and driver) seem good.

DV