Chrysalis
I'm feeling out of sorts and all I want to do is be a chrysalis, buried in my bed, finishing my three books: French Women For All Seasons, The Audacity of Hope and The Complete Stories of Truman Capote.
I just started The Audacity of Hope yesterday, how could I resist any longer. It had been sitting on my shelf for months, occasionally touched by the duster and my line of vision. So far it's a pleasant read, but I'm only on page twelve.
The Complete Stories of Truman Capote was a Christmas gift and it didn't take long for me to start it. Short stories are a practical option when you never have longer than fifteen or twenty minutes to read. The stories aren't all that exciting, but his composition and creativity flow so beautifully, you almost forget the content. He could write about fish guts and you'd fall in love with them.
French Women For All Seasons is a mini vacation from the bad habit of misery. Mireille Guiliano, who also wrote French Women Don't Get Fat and was CEO of Clicquot, Inc, presents the seasons as wondrous gifts that deserve our active appreciation. She offers recipes, tips and personal anecdotes to enhance the unique pleasures of each season. Even winter has its charms, but perhaps I need to try one of the recipes to be convinced. I'm two-thirds through and I've ambitiously placed post-it tabs on half the recipes.
I'm not asking for a full winter hibernation. Just a few days in my cocoon after which I would emerge bright and colorful.
I just started The Audacity of Hope yesterday, how could I resist any longer. It had been sitting on my shelf for months, occasionally touched by the duster and my line of vision. So far it's a pleasant read, but I'm only on page twelve.
The Complete Stories of Truman Capote was a Christmas gift and it didn't take long for me to start it. Short stories are a practical option when you never have longer than fifteen or twenty minutes to read. The stories aren't all that exciting, but his composition and creativity flow so beautifully, you almost forget the content. He could write about fish guts and you'd fall in love with them.
French Women For All Seasons is a mini vacation from the bad habit of misery. Mireille Guiliano, who also wrote French Women Don't Get Fat and was CEO of Clicquot, Inc, presents the seasons as wondrous gifts that deserve our active appreciation. She offers recipes, tips and personal anecdotes to enhance the unique pleasures of each season. Even winter has its charms, but perhaps I need to try one of the recipes to be convinced. I'm two-thirds through and I've ambitiously placed post-it tabs on half the recipes.
I'm not asking for a full winter hibernation. Just a few days in my cocoon after which I would emerge bright and colorful.
posted by Anne at 12:21 PM
5 Comments:
I'd love to go into hibernation until spring. This winter has been too long and depressing! I caught one of the flu strains going around and it has turned into bronchitis. Not fun! I spent most of the past week huddled in bed, but it's not as much fun when you just want to sleep!
You'll have to let me know how Obama's book was. I've not read it but I'm curious as to how it does or does not have impact on your thoughts of him as a President.
Bev, that's no fun. I hope you're feeling better. :-)
Chris, yes, I'll let you know. I've heard very good things about it. A man I know got a bit weepy-eyed while reading a passage out loud. I don't think it will disappoint.
If only we could get the kids to hibernate with us too! Now, I'd pay a lot of money for that.
Truman Capote short stories, that sounds fab.
Please finish the French book! I am dying to know how in the heck they deal with rainy winters. Please share any wise words you come across.
Obama book is a good read. He talks about the politics of the old days - where the 2 parties worked together and would admit to being more alike than different at the very core. Interesting concept, although hard to imagine, these days. His book helps to better understand the "meat" about him and to understand he's not all "fluff" and pretty talk. The man is a genius when it comes to the Constitution - and that's comforting to think about when we have Huckabee questioning the merits of the 2nd ammendment.
The main clincher for me with him (post Edwards suspending his bid) is his adamant stand against lobbyists and PAC money. I just don't see much change EVER unless this is changed first.
Two smaller known tidbits about Obama I find refreshing:
1)The man is not loaded. He and his wife paid off their student loans with his 2 bestselling books (which he mostly wrote at night, after his kids went to bed. This boggles my mind) With the 2nd book, he claims to have bought Michelle her first "nice" piece of jewelry. Acc. to polls, his net worth is $1.3 million. Hillary is worth almost $40 million. (Huckabee takes the back seat, worth a paultry (HA!) $700K). Not that this alone is a huge deal, but I think it speaks to the fact that he is still "fresh" and less polluted.
2. When he was on the Oprah show, promoting his 2nd book, long before he announced....he declined Oprah's offer to fly his family over on her private jet. In fact, I believe he still flies commercial. He likes to "keep it real".For me, this reinforces he won't accept money from those who want to own him. At least, he's doing his best to refrain. I like that. A lot.
Just my Obama thoughts for the day.
P.S. Have read more rumors that Gore won't endorse - he will hold his tongue until the convention and act as an elder statesman/mediator, should the party be in a bit of a pickle, as to who the nominee should be.
Wow, Amy, thanks for all the info! Now I know who to call with questions. ;-)
Regarding winter according to Mireille: it appears the woman never had any children. I don't think she's even mentioned them in her book, except in describing her own wonderful childhood of eating strawberries from the garden in summer.
So, apparently winter is just splendid if you take brisk romantic walks in the cold (no kids), then come home to leisurely cook (for grown-ups) a warm, fragrant meal while sipping champagne (no kids to worry about) in a quiet house (again, no kids).
It's still nice to read, if only for the break.
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