Books and things

I've recently finished the Great Book of Amber, by Roger Zelazny.  The Great Book of Amber is great because it is 10 books combined into one.  Zelazny crafted a fantastical universe where the powers of order are pitted against the forces of chaos, and all the above are continually plotting intrigues.  The book is written in a first person perspective, which sometimes leans into stream of consciousness styling.  A fun read and an interesting universe.

New/Used Car

Recently swapped out the Explorer for a Toyota FJ Cruiser.  This vehicle has four wheel drive, which should ferry us around the parking lot in the ski hill better than the Explorer.  We've already taken it camping and broken it in a little, and it's definately a fun SUV to drive. Yay!

Monkey Island

I've recently been enjoying the computer game Tales of Monkey Island.  It's a fun game in the vein of Kings Quest or Space Quest.  It has precursors from that era, too.
The 3D rendered game brings a new aspect to those past games of puzzle questing.  It looks like they have a Sam and Max game that also is available in installments, though I haven't looked at them yet.  The Sam and Max game from long ago was one of my all time favorite for the sarcasm of the characters, and zanyness of the plot.

Bookdrop

Rules: Don't take too long to think about it.
Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

1. the count of Monte Cristo by dumas
2. the city of god by augustine
3. three musketeers saga by dumas
4. the black tulip by alexander dumas
5. les miserables by victor hugo
6. shannara saga by terry brooks
7. lord of the rings saga by tolkien
8. white company & Sir Nigel by arthur conan doyle
9. Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stephenson
10. Hocus Pocus by Kurt vonnegut
11. hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy saga, by douglas Adams
12. the good samaritan strikes again by patrick macmanus
13. Quentin Durward by Walter Scott
14. the haunted mesa by louis l'amour
15. tom sawyer by mark twain

July

We recently repainted our China hutch, built a pirate chest/deck box, and expanded the reservoir pool for the water fountain in the back yard. The sailboat has been repaired and had the missing pieces replaced. The wisteria seem to be slowly edging skywards towards the pergola. I'm enjoying watching the plants of our yard and garden grow during the summer. Our grapevines are doing really well, and next year I am expecting to get a fair amount of grapes.
We went up to McCall for the days before the fourth, and went hiking near Lick Creek summit, as well as rode an ATV to the top of one of the ridges above Payette lake and Blackwell lake.

Facebook Connect login

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Reading 6-17-2009

One of the books I've been reading lately is Hope Has Wings by Stuart Sendall-King. After World War II, pilots concerned with reaching the remote parts of the world created MAF. Stuart Sendall-King was instrumental in MAF-UK, and details his adventures in Africa and elsewhere. It's an interesting look into the change that continually grips Africa. As well as how modern civilization creeps into the backwoods, mountains, and bush areas of the world.

Another book I picked up from the library, is the autobiography of Pattie Boyd, Wonderful Tonight. Pattie details her tumultuous life from living in Africa, to being part of Beatlemania and being married to George Harrison, and then to Eric Clapton. It's an interesting read that give insight into the lives of famous rock and roll musicians. It also details some of the complex and deep emotions involved with being famous, and the pitfalls of dissolute rockstar living.