less carefully, less effort

Been trying audio books on my commute.

Listened to Amor Towles' Rules of Civility on audio, which I loved. Not a lot happens, it's a slow and quiet book. But I loved his portrayal of 1930s New York, the art and jazz etc. And the characters were complex and interesting.

Then I tried two books that I own and brought to Nanaimo, but which the library had in audio. Time Traveler's Wife and Wicked. Stopped both after the first cd. The first just wasn't my style, and when I read on wiki what happens in the rest I really don't regret it. Too melodramatic for me. The latter just wasn't my sense of humor.

Yesterday I turned 40 years old. If there's one thing I've noticed this year, it's my growing intolerance for getting through books that don't interest me. I used to give them one third. Earlier this year it fell to one quarter. Now I'm down to a couple chapters. I just own way way too many books to waste time wondering if/when a book will get better.

I've read books that started slow but got better. But I can tell the difference between that, and between "Really? Am I gonna like this? I don't think I'm gonna like this." I felt that way with Fall On Your Knees, and made the mistake of persisting.

There are certainly some things I need to cut down on this year. Spending time on books that don't feel right. And writing my blog. Need to blog less carefully, with less effort. ...Having to do it all off my ipad helps in that regard, lol.

On that note, goodnight!

 

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Into the wilderness

Here are pics from the chalet where we've been living. We get possession of the house in a week, but then must paint and redo floors before moving in. Hasn't stopped me from continuing to buy things for my place! I've even got a bedframe stuffed into my bedroom here!

Here's Flakey all packed up, ready to leave the old house, Yoda exhausted from packing.

Phew, ready to rest up.

 

Birdyloos! Philea and Chara have been enjoying being in the same room as us almost all the time. They love to be in a flock. Parrots hate to be alone.

 

My room before I messed it all up!

Down on the beach...

 

When the tide's out, it's out!

 

But keaves tidal pools so teeming with life, I can't bear to walk on them. Here I lifted a shell and scared a little gray crab. He's in the middle of the pic, above the block of seaweed.

My drive home from work, thirty minutes. Can see Nanoose Bay peeking between the trees as I drive.

 

 

 

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A bird on a ball: A story of crochet

I'm trying very hard to finish crochet or sewing projects, and not just have a bunch of started ones. (See yesterday's drunken cat.) Here's something that started as a hat, and trying out a more difficult kind of yarn. But I thought it was ugly, so I made it into an egg shape. And months later it has ended as a football bird, to sit on my dad's desk.

 

 

 

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