Brooklyn Bridge

Storm prep. Vegan style.

Storms. And media.

I've long despised how the newsmedia, especially NPR, finds some rando from, say, North Dakota, to interview during a snowstorm, to say something along the lines of, "Heh, well, three feet of snow, well, uh, we call that July in Minot..."

But I have to confess that I sometimes feel like the Alaskan resident (that I am) and have this strong inclination to think, "seriously, two feet of snow? C'mon, deal with it." Especially as the mediaverse, including allegedly legitimate sources ad WNYC, are rending and gnashing about the supposed "historic" "blizzard" set to arrive here in NYC tomorrow. With 2-3 feet of snow.

Books!

As my longtime loyal readers (all six or so of you) know, I post more or less annually the number of books I read in the prior year, and total pages.

In 2014 I had a slow reading year: just 19 books, for a total of 6,406 pages.

This is compared to the bumper year 2013, when I read 30 books, for 8,903 pages.

This far in 2015, I'm on something of a tear (which is likely unsustainable): already 6 books, for 1,993 pages, which amounts to 31% of the total pages read in all of 2014, in less than a month.

Best book read in 2014: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. In the vein of Marquez-style magical realism, sweeping, incredible characters, totally gripping. In my journal where I record these books, my notes say "EXTRAORDINARY, enchanting, deep, magical, mesmerizing"

Perhaps the runner up: The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey. I seem to be re-igniting my love of magical realism. (Escapism?)

Normally I'd mention the worst book I read, but there wasn't really a standout. I did note "meh" for several, including Divergent by Veronica Roth, and Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight.

I love reading. Maybe I'll sit around and read all day instead of cleaning and packing and sorting.

Reader challenge: email me, or post a comment, with the best book you have read recently (define "recently" however you like) and I'll put it on my to-read list.

By far

By far the loudest public library I've ever been in: the Hamilton Fish Park Branch Library of the New York Public Library.

There is a constant roar from the other side of the building, and a middle school (elementary school?) that shares the south wall.

Gonna do some reading, so internetz, some blogging, and then get some bagels.

My time in NYC is nigh: moving in about three weeks. To where, you ask? Great question! 

Brussels sprouts with Dahlia!

Vegan pizza, Sacramento style

Uhhhhh... pizza.

Delightful that it's vegan friendly. Disappointing that it's not very tasty. It's basically $0.99/slice pizza that happens to be vegan. Except it's $4/slice.

But the Williamsburg hipster (who actually lives in Hoboken) dialogue is pretty amusing: "oh, yeah, Washington Heights is SO GENTRIFIED."

ONIONS.

Yep: your first impression was correct. Onions.

Fortifications

To go ramble Central Park. 66° and 80% rain predicted. Global climate chaos, anyone?

Holding on

"Holding on to all the happiness, all the beauty, all the future that resides in everything."

(Karl Ove Knausgaard: My Struggle)

Mending

Is such a deep, present experience.

This is the puffy jacket I bought for $7.99 at a thrift store in Reno last winter. It is one of the most expensive clothing items I've ever purchased at a thrift store, and it has been so wonderful.