For all her skill, I don't think Elizabeth Lowell receives enough love from the reading world. She's sensual and sensuous and have so much love for my favourite part of the world; she's opened my eyes to so much of the beauty in this area that I, as a woman who grew up in the suburbs, would never have seen or even known existed.
Her writing is so passionate, just overwhelming for the senses. With some of her descriptions and scenes, you almost feel as though you're standing with the characters.
I love her books to the extent that I'm confused as to how I've missed some of her new releases. And I have and yes, I will be rectifying that quickly.
Enough ass kissing, you think? Though I guess it's more of a caveat for you all; I love her so you would (perhaps rightly) assume that I am a little more blind to her faults. We can discuss that after.
The story is about a woman, a fashion reporter (in a sense but not one of those who gush at everything that's released), who is called to Colorado by her estranged sister... and really, anything I say after that really loses in the telling.
Oh, except Christy meets the enigmatic (and, of course, sexy) Aaron Cain, ex-con, murderer and outlaw archeologist (don't giggle, it makes sense in the story... oh, okay, giggle. That's how he's described in the blurb. I don't know what they were thinking.)
I'm mildly surprised this was originally an Ann Maxwell book. I read a few of her stories (before I realized that she and Elizabeth Lowell were one and the same and the Ann Maxwell stories tend to feel a little more... violent in some way. I don't mean that the stories themselves are gorier but the emotions and the energy of them... it's just more violent, maybe just more expressive, more passionate and almost bottomless.
I know, I sound like a weirdo.
Anyway, typically, as I (contrary to what my critics may say) tend to be a little too emotionally attached to books, stories and characters, it was too much for me to absorb. Of course, I was also younger so that might have had a little more to do with it.
Will you have trouble getting in to it? Depends. She does get a bit didactic at times with all the Anasazi Indian tribe information. I've had a friend describe her writing as "dry" because of all the information and description she puts in. Sometimes the dialogue seems forced and a little too ... how do I say this?... Earth Mother who acknowledges the glory of the land. I've put up with worse to get a quarter of the storyline so I can skim over a little bad dialogue, mostly because that's more of an aberration than the norm.
Who would like this book? People who like to run their hands over shiny things because they want to feel the shine. If you're not sure what I mean, you might not like the book; it might fall on the "too descriptive" side of the line. But if you're a tactile person, I think you'd be standing on the edge of the cliff with Cain and Christy, looking out into the desert.
Seriously, prove me wrong.
Later I'll do a post (or two) on my mini-vacation, but for now, here is a peaceful picture of the lake.
In honor of Independence Day, show us something patriotic.
Dana Torres, a 41 year old woman, has come out of retirement (again) to try to qualify for her 5th Olympics. I'm not American but if she makes it to Beijing, she's the one I'm rooting for.
The first time she went to the Olympics, she was 16 and I was 6, just a 10 year age difference, not so much really, but a huge difference in mind set. I read bits about her and I am amazed. But my favourite part?
Ask Torres why she has returned to high-level competition, and the simple answer is because she can. Her coach, Lohberg, added: “And let’s not forget this. She’s nuts.”
Awesome. To bastardize a quote from Another Thin Man, "I wish *I* was nuts that way!"
GO DANA GO!
** and yes, this isn't so much patriotism as it is personal determination but hell, root for her anyway.
Yesterday I closed on my new home! It was amazing that everything fell into place to finish the sale. It's been such a busy couple of days scrambling to get information and paperwork to the right places on time. I've been praying like crazy for things to work out and thankfully they did.
This is a big step for me, being responsible for this home and everything it will need. But I'm so excited about all the thing I'll be doing to fix it up and really make it mine.
The day before I closed on the house I realized how wonderful my friends and family have been to support me and offer advice and prayers. I bought this house on my own but I couldn't have done it without all the wonderful people in my life, Thanks Everyone!!!
Today I'm going to paint and do some more packing and then walk downtown to see the fireworks over the river. I almost feel like this is my independence day, the start of a new chapter in my life, and I couldn't be more excited.
What's your favorite song with "America" or "USA" in the title? Bonus points if you share it with us.
Short, sweet, and really, really funny.
How are you celebrating the 4th of July?
Being shellshocked. We drove home at 7 this morning. I'm sitting here looking at the clock all, "It's not even 11. I should be getting up right now!"
Plus I will be catching up with all my online buds. :-)
Oddly enough, this is probably the best explanation on why we should be fighting for net neutrality:
Though I would like to substitute Captain Tightpants for the girl at Hot Dog On a Stick.
Come join me at SaveTheInternet.com! Otherwise, they might take Captain Tightpants away from us and that would make the Baby Jesus cry.
How long do you take in the shower?
Submitted by Strive2Be.
As long as I feel like taking...
Here are two 5 minute 30 second slide shows of my trip, set to music to keep you from leaving your seat. The first is photos taken on the road to and from Kansas City, and the second is photos taken during our stay there. In converting them for the web, they were rendered slightly imperfect, but will just have to do. My slow little computer would cry if I made it do all this work in Garage Band instead of iPhoto and Quicktime.
I plan to write a lot of blather about our little adventure; be assured I'll happily indulge myself and share that here as well. And of course I'll catch up on all your messages and things. :-)
Just found another comic strip that I like. It's rare because I have a fairly particular sense of humour (potty though it might be):
When I read this one, I about peed myself. If you like this one, it's part of the Something Positive comic family.
Crap. It doesn't embed the whole thing. You have to go to the site and read it to the end. LOVE!
