Complexity in my coffee cup, Or, What I'm totally into this week!

I love coffee. A lot. I am not one of those tea-drinking librarians. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I'm all coffee, all the time. Except when I'm Cherry Coke Zero. So anyway, I decided to give a tip of the virtual hat to some of the great coffee I've discovered. Lately I'm crazy about Mahogany from Caribou Coffee, which includes some highly tempting descriptions on their labels. For example, they describe their Fireside blend as a "fragrant brew that starts with a silky, syrupy taste and ends with smoky berry notes." Are you kidding me? Where do they find these copywriters? The descriptions on most bottles of wine aren't even half that tempting. Their site notes that Mahogany "will become a staple in the cupboard for those who appreciate complexity in a cup." Me!! Pick me! I appreciate complexity in my coffee mug!!
Side note: in the future, I'll continue to subtitle this segment, "What I'm totally into this week!" Stay tuned!

Great Writing

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I recently read Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad. The whole book is stellar, and some lines stand out as being especially fine examples of Ollestad's writing style. I wanted to share an example (partly so I wouldn't forget all about it over time) but I had to get my hands on a copy of the book to find my very favorite passage (p. 67-68):

When I looked over the ridge a gust swept dry powder off the long white humps of snow like a swarm of diamonds. A silver cloud tumbled out of the sky and unraveled into tendrils like a ballroom of dancing ghosts.
I can't see shit, I said.

A cloud like a ballroom of dancing ghosts ... this beautiful image gives me a chill! I love great writing. And Norman Ollestad is QUITE easy on the eyes. I'm just sayin'. If you like rugged, athletic, articulate, brilliant surfers-turned-bestselling authors. If you go in for that sort of thing.

What's on my bookshelf?

It must be summer, because I've taken my book selection process to a whole new level: color coordination! This actually wasn't intentional, but I noticed that the books circulating across my coffee table had blended into a rather attractive assortment of red-themed covers. I'm currently reading Mudbound by Hillary Jordan, which was a 2009 Alex Award winner. The Alex Award is given annually to ten books written for adults that have special appeal for young adult readers. Another Alex Award winner, Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow, has a place of honor on my coffee table. It's a novel in verse about down-and-out werewolves in Los Angeles that, according to the dust jacket, blends "dark humor and epic themes with card-playing dogs, crystal meth labs, surfing, and carne asada tacos." Mmm, tacos ... Who could pass up a book with that description? Cory Doctorow's Little Brother and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why are two young adult novels that caught my eye. I always like to keep a few young adult titles in the mix - it's just how I roll. And last but not least, The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory fits in nicely with my summertime screenings of The Tudors. If only Henry and Anne Boleyn could just get along and not lose their heads!

Bald Head Island Pictures

Here are some additional pictures from my recent trip to Bald Head Island, North Carolina:

Here I am with the "depressing bean burrito" I opted to eat one night while Joy and Paul were enjoying homemade chicken tenders. I'm rarely (actually never) tempted by poultry, but for once the vegetarian option didn't strike me as the tastiest item in the kitchen ... Hence the long face.
This is the fitness center that I frequented during my week on the island. It's also the home of my nemesis, the elliptical machine. A pox on the dastardly hill program!

This is my favorite house on Bald Head Island. Look closely and you will see the woman doing yoga on the porch, as well as the man looking up from his book to watch her after observing me photographing their home. D'oh! I scurried away after snapping this picture.

Here I am with Paul on the morning of my departure. What a sweet boy! And check out my bling, courtesy of Joy by way of the hardware store in Kotzebue, Alaska!

High Road or Low Road? Or both?

I just enjoyed a delicious vegan lunch of seasoned baked tofu (courtesy of Trader Joe's), a banana, and some pineapple. After years of talking about it, I'm finally trying to incorporate one vegan meal per day into my diet. On one hand, I'm taking the low road because it allows me to avoid both cooking and doing dishes. On the other hand, I feel good about enjoying a cruelty-free and surprisingly satisfying meal that has a minimal impact on the environment. I'm going with the high road on this one!

Home from Bald Head Island!

I'm back from my week on Bald Head Island, North Carolina! I had a wonderful, relaxing vacation with my friend Joy and her son Paul. And no one got sunburned! Here are Paul and Joy in their trusty golf cart:In other news, I read a most fabulous book on my trip: Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad. At age eleven, Ollestad survived a plane crash that took the lives of his father, his father's girlfriend, and the pilot. In alternating chapters, Ollestad relates his descent to safety in unbelievably harsh conditions, and the year leading up to the plane crash. The elder Ollestad pushed his "Boy Wonder" to ski and surf in unimaginably intimidating terrain and conditions, which both terrified young Norman and prepared him for the test that awaited him. This book is not to be missed!

Oh, and Mattie LaMew returned from kitty foster care (a.k.a. Grandma's) with an inordinate number of mats, so she'll be getting a fur trimming from the groomer this afternoon! Pictures will follow ...