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For once, the big storm that was predicted to hit over the weekend, actually hit and I can’t even begin to tell you how much we needed it. It started on Friday, and even though there was mention of a tornado or two, my area did not see any of that. There was some crazy weather though. Check out this video from Santa Barbara.

Even though it was coming down good, we all loved it! I made Chicken Tortilla soup and we just hung around. I have yet to get any reading done. Between the coming and going of The Teen and the play date that The Girl had last-minute at our house, I could not get any reading done, but there is something very relaxing about a rainy weekend spent indoors. The Otter Pup won’t agree. She was pretty scared on Friday. She won’t have to worry this week though because it’s predicted to be 80 degrees by Wednesday.

This morning, we are all off to church. The Teen, to his church and the rest to ours. Don’t ask.

This week? More of the same. Track practice four times this week, depending on the condition of the track, which was under 4 inches of water the last time I saw it, book club, and work. Blah.

Sunday Salon

What am I reading?

I am trying to finish Beautiful Ruins. for book club We meet this Thursday to discuss the book but it is not working for me! I am also reading The Realm of Last Chances which is for an online club, also “meeting” this week and it’s good but it’s taking me awhile to read it. I started Dept. of Speculation and it has immediately grabbed my attention.

What am I cooking?

I made Chicken Tortilla soup yesterday and it was delicious. Today, I am making a big pot of chili, a huge tray of cornbread and we are grilling brats. It’s still gloomy out but so far, it has not rained today. It looks like it could though and I am hoping it does.

What am I watching?

The Girl and I will be watching all the Oscar red carpet shows and then The Hub and Teen will be joining us to watch the show later. I may have to switch over to The Walking Dead though because that is not a show to miss but we’ll see. Oh, and the Bates Motel starts again this Monday. I am so excited!

I don’t think I can wait until August 12th for this one to make its appearance. There is something so magical about a huge book launch and this one is huge. Murakami’s fan following is huge. I am trying to be patient but August can’t get here soon enough.

Haruki Murakami

He’s cool, without trying to be cool. Look at him standing there, all innocent. He probably has no idea how crazy I am waiting for this book to hit the shelves. Heck, you can’t even read much about it yet. The only synopsis I’ve seen, mentioned old high school friends and how friendships became severed in college. Tsukuru, now in his 30’s, goes back to find those friends to figure out where they went wrong.

Simple enough plot, but I’m sure there are cats, ear talk, buckets of ennui, lots of eating, drinking of beer and exercise, not to mention strange sexual encounters and prostitutes.

I’m thinking about hosting a read-along for it. The totally unstructured, fun kind. Where you read at your own pace but we chat about it like crazy people. Still thinking about it. I tend to think new books are not good read-along material because most of the time, especially for a highly anticipated read, people just want to dive in and READ and not worry about deadlines, etc. I get that. Plus, I am still learning how to say the title. That is one long title.

This is just one of three books that I am seriously having a heart attack over. Those who know me probably know what the other two are.

Chatting with friends about books and life…