It is He who enables me to get up and go on. My faith is that He will, because He has covered my sins. 

(Source: bornforhispurpose)

I love to read, but rarely have time — unless I’m sick. Oh, I read on line all the time what others write, but pure escape fiction is only allowed when I’m sick and my mind just can’t concentrate on the heavy stuff. That’s when I look at the stack of paperbacks I’ve accumulated from past eBay buys or free stuff at the library to see if anything suitable can be found. My requirements for sick reading are light, preferably humorous, and with a plot that moves right along. Mysteries are OK if they don’t raise my adrenaline level too high. Unfortunately, I’ve read about all my favorite authors have written, so yesterday I had to rely on my stack of unknowns. I actually found one that filled the bill: The Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews, a Meg Langslow Mystery.  

The Meg Langslow mysteries have a quirky set of characters — Meg herself, a family of eccentrics, a very handsome boyfriend, Michael Waterston, and his overpowering mother who doesn’t seem to care much for Meg. She dotes only on Michael and her pint-sized dog, Spike. Spike for his part, likes only Meg and Mrs. Waterston, though for some reason Meg’s brother Rob seems to be in charge of Spike most of the time. 

Put all these characters together at a reenactment of the siege of Yorktown, where Meg’s family lives, put Mrs. Waterston in charge of the reenactment, and add a craft fair, live cannons, companies of “soldiers” who would rather drink than fight, a crook, and a murderer, and it becomes quite an event.

Meg is a blacksmith who, in addition to manning her booth at the craft fair, is also in charge of the Town Watch — those who enforce Mrs. Waterston’s  rule that no anachronisms be seen during the event. Unfortunately they have the power to fine any participants who get caught looking at a wrist watch or a laptop. It’s also unfortunate that they don’t know their history, so they fine craftspeople for having nails and other objects that actually were appropriate in the 18th century. This upsets the craftspeople and Meg promises to settle with the Town Watch at the end of the fair. 

During the course of the book Meg has to supervise the Town Watch, referee arguments between the vendors and the Town Watch,  try to find a way to silence the cannon (which Mrs. Waterston has insisted be fired 24 hours a day to simulate the battle conditions) long enough for those in the tents to sleep at night,  and catch the person who murdered someone in her booth in order to clear herself and her friends.

 The plot moved fast enough to keep me distracted from my illness, and I found myself laughing frequently at the subtle humor of the interactions of the characters, human and animal. Spike caused more than one laugh, and also was instrumental in finding the murderer. But for me the funniest part was how Meg settled the accounts at the end of the event when the Town Watch presented her with their bill for over $7,000 in fines she had promised the vendors she’d take care of. 

If you ever need a light bit of escape literature you can read in two or three hours, this book just might be what the doctor ordered. Get it now so it will be around next time you or a friend gets sick. It would make a great get well present for someone who is trying to get well at home or is confined to a hospital. 

It was awesome to be walking in the Salinas River bed in Paso Robles today, looking to see if water had come to the river yet, and then suddenly see it coming — right towards me. One minute I was in a dry riverbed, and the next I was recording as the river flowed in my direction. I will have a video up soon. 

I just kept backing up as the river came towards me. It will be interesting to see how this looks tomorrow. 

I started  chili in the crock pot this morning so I wouldn’t have to worry about food today and could accomplish a lot of work. The work part didn’t quite go as planned. So I had some leftover Christmas cookies from Trader Joe’s with tea. Work still isn’t going as planned. I guess I need chocolate after all. 

iamlittlei:

kicksandgiggles:

Chips & salsa, pizza, and ice cream… the perfect crummy day dinner.

Mine is homemeade buffalo chicken, Yuengling, and moose tracks.

I have now gotten an ID for this goose. It is an African Goose.