Out and about today, doing errands, shopping and dropping over to LBeach to give the Poodle Prince some loving and also to deliver a few things I forgot on Sunday. I made a vow that I wouldn't let so much time go by between haircuts, so I am trying to make it a monthly event - today was the day.
Then I went to Borders because I'm pretty much out of exciting things to read and I needed to find the Book Group selection "A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolrick. His previous book was a memoir, but he says in an interview in the back of this book that this story is somewhat autobiographical. I've read that interview and the first nine pages of Chapter One and will have to reserve judgement, but somehow I think this is going to be a downer. The other book suggested for the BGroup was "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay - the first chapter, titled "Paris, July 1942", starts this fictional story (based on an actual event) off with the arrest and deportation of some 10,000 Jews, citizens of Paris. This sounds like another downer. To offset this greyness I also bought a Sandra Brown novel "Envy" - as far as I can tell Sandra started out as a romance writer and moved into mystery. I like to read her books when I need something a little less depressing with, generally, a more positive outlook at the end of the book. "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" is the third and last book of a series by the late Stieg Larsson, who apparently wrote only the three books. I greatly enjoyed his early two novels, but several friends were repulsed. And there are some repulsive events. However, I find his writing gripping and his characters very real - even if they drink coffee at the drop of a hat and in all possible situations (maybe that is a true reflection of Swedish life!). I'm going to save this book for last, the anticipation should help keep the Black Beast at bay for week or so. Of course, if Stieg kills everyone off in the end, the Beast will have the last laugh on me.
I don't have a garden - I have a yard where nothing much grows but unkillable plants. When we moved into this house I redid the front with the help of Floyd's strong back and we drew up plans for the sides and back yards. But once he was diagnosised with a brain tumor I devoted most of my time and energy to dealing with that. After he died in 1990 I lost interest in most things, especially a garden. So, twenty years later, I have neglected roses, a lawn composed of weeds which the" mow and blow" guy keeps under control once a week and clumps of coreopsis and feverfew - neither of which seem to be 'killable'. I planted the feverfew in the hope that I cold use it as a treatment for the terrific headaches I used to have. I couldn't use it - the smell alone was enough to deter me - although I dried some and prepared it as a tea according to the instructions in a herbal remedy book. I couldn't get it down my throat. However, I do love the flowers - they are so 'happy' and just continue to grow and reseed no matter how much neglect they suffer. And the same applies to coreopsis which I planted in a row between the roses and the lawn - at this time of year they are glorious and sometimes people stop to ask me what they are. Sunshine on a stem, something that is always welcome during SCalifornia's June gloom weather.
