Sunday Salon, August 30

Don at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma

Weather: Rainy. Yesterday we had a freak storm preceded by high winds that took out power to much of Western Washington for several hours, blew down trees, and generally caused havoc in the area. Much needed rain followed the wind. Today it's still rainy and overcast.

Power Outage: It is rare to lose power during the summer, rarer still to have the power out for over six hours. We had just climbed up to retrieve our oil lamps from their storage space above the refrigerator because the light in the house was waning when the power came on.  I did quite a bit of reading before Carly got home, then she and I played cards. The simplicity of our activities reminded me how dependent we have become on our technology.

Forest Fires: Our state is on fire. Hopefully the rain will make it to the east side of the state to assist firefighters with the Herculean task of putting them out. Our fires are so bad the Governor had to call out the National Guard to help fight them and firefighters from Australia and New Zealand are here helping us, too. The photo is a fire near Alder Lake which is not far from where my daughter lives in south Pierce County. We're hoping the rain has a positive effect on putting this thing out.

Adventure Monday: Don and I stayed closer to home this past Monday for our adventure day. We went to the Glass Museum in Tacoma.  In addition to viewing the glass treasure from the Chihuly Venetian collection we sat and watched artists actually work the glass into treasures in the hot shop. We are so lucky to live in an area that has so many opportunities to view art.

Don peeking around Chiluly glass

School starts September 8th: but I am back to work almost daily getting the library ready for business or attending in-service training.  This week we check out the iPads to all students in one day. Eek! Could be overwhelming. Before school starts we have one more road trip. We head south to attend the season opening UO football game on the Saturday before Labor Day. We will spend one night at the Oregon Coast before heading inland to Eugene. We are spending the night at Depoe Bay, which has its claim to fame as the world's smallest navigable harbor.

Reading assignments: last week I posted a blog about all the books I am reading that feel like reading assignments.  I am happy to report that I am making good progress on most of these books:

• What Matters in Jane Austen? This is the book I selected for the Austen in August Challenge. I finished this book this week. Read my review, if your dare. 100%
• To the Field of Stars. This is the new book club selection for this coming meeting. It is written by a Catholic Priest who was a pilgrim along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I am finding this very readable and enjoyable. 65% 
• Great Expectations. This is my book for the Classics Club Spin. I haven't read Dickens since I was a kid when I read an abridged version of David Copperfield. My goal, so I can complete the goal on time, is to read 57 pages a week. I have nearly doubled that at just over 100 pages. I have also found a good audiobook for this classic which will help me stay on track. 24%
• Ishmael. I am still plodding along on this book which is surprisingly deep and philosophical. I have decided I will need to challenge myself to read at least 25 pages a day or I may still be reading this book a month from now. 56%
• Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. Don and I will listen to this together on our trip to Oregon this coming week-end. I made no progress on it this week. 16%

Books completed this week:

• The Truth Commission by Susan Juby...a YA novel written in a narrative nonfiction style. I liked it a lot
• What Matters Most in Jane Austen? by John Mullan...Twenty essays about Austen's writing. For Austen geeks only.

One more bookish task looming: I have fallen behind on my book reviews, AGAIN. Can I possibly write six book reviews before the beginning of the new school year? I hope so!

For your musical enjoyment: Peter White and Marc Antoine. Love it!!!!