A little too close to home
When reports of flooding from the monsoon in India came across the wire, my first thought was how sad for the villagers. I know the rains are hard on the many poor and rural areas of that country every year, but it was just a sad side note to the evening's news. But within hours it hit home with the report of 37 inches of rain in Mumbai (aka Bombay) and people trapped in buses and trains in the city. My dad is working and living there. Early reports weren't extremely scary -- just people stranded. Sent my dad an e-mail -- "Hi, Daddy. Just checking to see if you are OK. Read about the monsoon on the AP wire." No answer. The news becomes more bleak -- more than 300 dead in Mumbai alone and I start to panic. I check my e-mail several times an hour. I look through photos on the wire -- for what I'm not sure (may be a glimpse of his office or his apartment building, even though I don't know what either looks like.) I constantly skim the world wire for updates and the death toll continues to climb. That night with no word I can't sleep. I sit up, hitting the "check mail" button every few minutes and reading the news online. I try to make a call to his office, but it won't go through. Morning comes without any word. I know from the wire that the electricity and phones are out in most of Mumbai. But still I look for the message that isn't there. I go to work in the afternoon and begin the process again. Check the world wire, do some copy editing, check the e-mail, do some page designing, check the world wire and so it goes for 10 hours. Until I get the call. My dad has called my house from his mobile phone -- the first communication device he could get to work in two days. He tells my husband he is safe -- safe in his lucky 13th floor apartment in Mumbai. His office is under water, literally. But he is safe at home. Others are not so lucky. They pulled 22 bodies from a lake he can see from his window and there are many more.

50-book challenge
I'm not known for my bravery, so I am probably the last person you would pick to be your storm-chasing partner. That has never stopped my husband for taking me out into "big weather" as amateur radio weather spotters. We've been out in driving rain where we couldn't see the road. We've had a directional-challenged amateur radio volunteer direct us in front of the storm instead of behind it. But I must admit seeing my first tornado snake back up into the sky was an exhilarating a moment. That's one reason I picked Big Weather: Chasing tornadoes in the heart of America by Mark Svenvold as book no. 12. I wish the author would have spent more time on the chasers and less on global warming. The description of the chase, the chasers and the devastation is where the book really shines.

Mission Accomplished
When I proposed traveling by myself from my home in West Texas to my mom's home in northern Utah, let's just say there were a few skeptics. I love road trips, but I'm not what you would call a driver. I drive because I have to. I had never driven in mountains, despite having to live in them from kindergarten to graduation. But I did it and while it was a little scary in the canyon, I made it up and back in one piece -- the car, too. It's good for the self-esteem to conquer fears. It was great to see my mom, my brother, my niece and nephew and I loved every minute of it. But it's really good to be back in Texas. It has and will always be home to me. It was also very nice to be welcomed home by the dear husband. You don't realize how much you missed someone until you are back with them.

50-book challenge
Time to catch up again since I've been on vacation. I finished Olivia Joules and the overactive imagination by Helen Fielding right before I left for Utah. It was an enjoyable, fluffy, little book. I read some reviews by people who were uncomfortable with current events backdrop. I'll admit it was a little off-setting at first, but the story moves along nicely. That's book no. 11 down. Next up: Big Weather: Chasing tornadoes in the heart of America by Mark Svenvold.

50-book challenge
OK, so I'm a little behind. In my break from blogging and the world in general, I finished books no. 8, no. 9. and no. 10. Conviction by Richard North Patterson was enjoyable if you can say that about a fictionalized death penalty case. I like that the author didn't go with these easy ending. It was also relevant to my life since we have the death penalty argument at my house probably once a week. That doesn't surprise most people, but it often surprises which side of the issue we fall on. Deception Point by Dan Brown was a fun read. Not as engaging as The Da Vinci Code, but good brain candy which is precisely what I needed. Spies, adventure and mystery are always a good distraction. A Good Life: Newspapering and other adventures by Ben Bradlee was timely and wonderful. I have been on a little bit of a Washington Post and Watergate kick in recent weeks. I read Katharine Graham's autobiography not long ago. I picked up Bradlee's book at the library two days before Deep Throat came out of the shadows and was glad I did. The Watergate investigation is always intriguing to me, but I really liked his chapter on Janet Cooke and Jimmy's World too. His statement about good editors and good copy editors being able to prevent the "excesses of exuberance" explains much about my job. I like his direct and sometimes blunt approach to his life story.
Currently reading: Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding.

Two words to describe the day that just ended: Sucktacular and craptastic.

43 to go
I finished books six and seven this week in my 50-book challenge. It was made a little easier by the fact if I moved much I couldn't breathe. Luckily, reading is activity that doesn't require movement.
A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett was thoroughly enjoyable brain candy. Much like one of Buffett's songs, it was pure entertainment with lots of sailing, fishing, flying and a host of unique characters. I've always liked Buffet. My mother had a copy of "Living and Dying in 3/4 time" on 8-track that had a great song about getting drunk with a bear. It seems like every pub band I saw in the '80s knew how to cover "Why don't we get drunk." And I always remember the story of the pirate radio station off the coast of Florida that played "Son of a Son of a Sailor" over and over. Buffett's books are much like his songs and I consider that a good thing.
State of Fear by Michael Crichton was a fast read with a predictable ending, but I enjoyed it. I read a review that said it shows Crichton's right-wing philosophy. The story is critical of environmental groups. But I didn't see it as an agenda. The message to me was even a noble cause can go bad when you want to win at all costs.
Next up: Conviction by Richard North Patterson.

Out of the closet -- musically speaking

Sid at Nude Highway Driving revealed his closet bands today. After seeing we share an affinity for Ratt and Enya, I figured it was safe to reveal my closet bands. And before you mock me, check out your own musical closet. You better not be hiding any Celine Dion in there.

1. Meat Loaf -- My love of Mr. Loaf came early, thanks to my mom's copy of Bat out of Hell on vinyl. I can and will still belt out "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" like I have musical ability. Come on, he starred in "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and that's kinda cool. And "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" still reminds me of late nights at my college paper, which leads me to no. 2.

2. Tone Loc -- 'Fess up "Funky Cold Medina" can still make you smile. And his version of "Wild Thing," getta outta here. I can't be the only one.

3. Cinderella -- I admit that in the '80s I liked hair bands and heavy metal. (see above concerning Ratt). I'm also a sucker for the power ballad -- and if have to explain that term, you need to watch back-to-back episodes of VH1's I Love the 80s asap. Cinderella had a great one, "Don't Know What You Got." I saw them in concert. Tom Keifer and a grand piano came down from the ceiling for that song, it was a great moment. I'm not afraid to admit I like Poison, Skid Row and Whitesnake too.

4. Garth Brooks -- Classic country like Johnny Cash is cool. Progressive country like the Drive by Truckers is cool. Garth Brooks is not cool, but I like him anyway. Throw Trisha Yearwood and him together on a love song and I'll buy the album.

5. Guns N' Roses -- Axl acts like a jerk these days, but I still like those early records. "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Patience" blinds me to the cheese factor and the attitude.

I'm sure there are many other, but these are my top 5. I also like musical soundtracks, Kid Rock and Leonard Cohen, so there. And there's plenty of cool stuff in my collection, but I'll save that list for another day.

Welcome to the jungle ... er ... blogosphere, dear
My husband has made a foray into the blogging world, Ken's Way of the World. Like me, he is opinionated but not in the same way. Oh btw, he won't let me correct his spelling or temper his words with my version of reason. He does have many other endearing qualities, however.

45 to go
Books four and five in my 50-book challenge were good. But not as good as I expected if that makes any sense at all.
Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell gives insight into the thought process. It made me think of the experience of changing my first response to a question on a test to another answer that was wrong. The quick, first response is the right one for me much of the time. This book was full of anecdotal instances of the same type of experience. I really expected some insight into changing how I think. It was an interesting read, but I wanted more.
The Last Juror by John Grisham was a page turner until the last chapter where the loose ends were wrapped up too tidy and quickly. I like Grisham. He's one of my favorite choices for escapist brain candy. I expect a little more suspense at the end from him. I did like the small-town newspaper setting and thought the characters were interesting. Maybe that's why I was a little annoyed by the wrap-up.
Next up: A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet

47 to go
Book three in my 50-book challenge went down quickly. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld wasn't the only reason I didn't get anything productive done on my days off, but it was the major one. I loved this novel. It brought to mind the Judy Blume books I devoured in my pre-teen and early teen days in good way. A well-written coming-of-age book that reminded me of certain college relationship. Next up: Blink: The Art of Thinking Without Thinking.

48 to go
I finished book two of my 50-book challenge last night: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. To be honest, I expected to not like this book. Too much hype. While I still don't understand all the hoopla, (It's fiction, people. Quit looking for the tomb.) I really enjoyed it. A little religion, a little ritual, a little intrigue. All in all a good read. I liked it well enough to put Brown's new book Deception Point on my library hold list. Currently reading: Prep by Curtis Sittenfield

50-book challenge
Once again, I'm a bad blogger. I haven't kept up with this the way I intended in the beginning. So to shake things up a bit, I've decided to take the 50-book challenge. I first read about it at www.adventurejournalist.com/notebook, which by the way is a journal I highly recommend. Yes, I know it's the middle of April and I should have started in January. But for someone who consider herself an avid reader, I haven't been doing much of that either. I have eclectic tastes. So you can expect nonfiction, fiction, brain candy and heavy-duty, whatever catches my attention.

49 to go: The first book to cross of my list is A Personal History by Katharine Graham.
I guess the main reason I wanted to read this was Woodward, Bernstein and Watergate. While that part was great, I was impressed with the honest approach Graham takes to her life. From her childhood to her father's purchase of the Washington Post to her early years as a journalist to raising her children to her husband's suicide to her taking the lead at the Post, it's all brutally candid. The woman was definitely not afraid of hard work despite her wealthy background and she surrounded herself with an interesting cast of characters including Truman Capote and presidents from FDR to George H. Bush. If you like biographies, strong women and newspapers, give this one a read. Next up: The Da Vinci Code

Farewell to the original gonzo journalist.
Author Hunter S. Thompson Kills Himself I wasn't a huge fan, but I liked his style. In this Salon article, he said he's regrets were minor and really I think that's all anyone can ask for in life.

Shaken, not stirred

A 10,000 drink I do love a good martini

Any blogger who mentions Kolchak:The Night Stalker and Wiseguy in the same post has gotta be good.

Good idea

As someone who has made a few (OK, maybe many) ill-advised calls while drinking a few (OK, maybe many) vodka martinis, I think it maybe a good idea for the phone company avert potential disasters. Who you gonna call?

Maybe it's time
to hit the gym when Amazon recommends a Philips HeartStart Home Automated External Defibrillator. I mean I know I've been slacking on the health front, but ...

It's a mad, mad world
Are You Kidding Me? I don't know which disturbs me more -- that people have created a peep show composed of garden gnomes or that someone is stealing them.

In the who would have thought it department

David Lee Roth a NYC Paramedic Seems Diamond Dave has given up singing with "California Girls" to saving Bronx women.