Friday, November 06, 2015

An Earth-Shattering Weekly Link Round-Up





If any of you heard of Sunday night's earthquake north of Phoenix and thought of me, thank you. It just so happens that I was sitting here typing away at a book review for the last two shocks. I didn't feel the first one, but the second two had me wonder what in the world was going on. It's been about twenty-five years since I've experienced this, so I'd forgotten a few of the details. (First time for an earthquake was back in central Illinois. The other time was when I was in a vault in Los Angeles training young folks who didn't know that cowering under flimsy tables loaded with machinery wasn't the wisest thing to do.) Sunday night everything-- the house, the air around me-- seemed to vibrate for a few seconds. Now we have a bunch of nervous nellies wondering when the next one's going to hit. 

 Last week I mentioned that I was going to be out and about having some fun. I did. You've probably already read about my fangirl experiences during Soho Night at The Poisoned Pen. The memories still have a glow to them, I must admit. 

Gambel's Quail at the Patio Cafe
Some more memories were created when Denis and I met author Paige Shelton for lunch at the Patio Cafe at the Desert Botanical Garden last Thursday.

Storm clouds were front and center as Denis and I drove there. I remarked that it looked as though we were driving "into the belly of the beast." But the clouds moved to rain on our house to the north and west and managed to keep us out of the blazing sun as the three of us sat and talked and laughed and watched the wild critters gathering around our table. 

It was a perfect lunch-- the first of what I hope to be many. I'll be thinking back on that afternoon as I face a week of housecleaning and work out in the garden, but before I put the finishing touches on my to do list, I've got to do something with these links. Head 'em up! Move 'em out!


►Books, Movies & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
  • What libraries can still do. 
  • Bletchley Park, here I come: Can learning to knit help learning to code?
  • Grenoble, France introduces short story dispensers in public areas.
  • I don't know why this article about 3D woven synthetic cartilage helping knees replace themselves caught my eye. Could it be because I have almost no cartilage left in mine?
  • Some extremely disturbing news: the U.S. is the world leader in child poverty
  • Why are old women often the face of evil in fairy tales and folklore?
  • Ruth Rendell's remarkable legacy was remembered recently.
  • Adriana Trigiani explains why her book's cover doesn't have a picture of a woman on it for the first time ever.
  • Unfortunately it's not just about the Confederate flag; racial slurs are woven deep into the American landscape.
  • Here's the scoop on the earthquake that hit north of Phoenix. 

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄



►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
  • 21 photos that prove reptiles can be cute, too. (Only one is an itty bitty snake.)

►The Happy Wanderer◄

►I ♥ Lists◄


That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Have a great weekend and read something fabulous!


6 comments:

  1. I've been through a couple earthquakes, Cathy (fortunately all mild), and that is a weird feeling, isn't it? I'm glad it wasn't serious where you are. Also good to hear you had such a wonderful lunch in such a lovely place. Now, off to explore those ancient shipwrecks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yikes! I confess that I didn't hear about an earthquake in AZ--I've never experienced one myself, and don't care to!

    The article about old women and evil sounds intriguing--sad but definitely part of folklore.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think part of it is due to jealousy that those women had lived so long.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think it's just centuries of sexism and ageism -- why not make the older woman the evil one?
    And that is disturbing about child poverty in the U.S., the "richest country" in the world, rather the rich are the richest, not everybody else.
    I have to catch up with the rest of the links later, but wanted to say glad everyone and survived the earthquake.
    And I love the photo of those quail! What a beautiful bird. I hadn't realized that.
    Many years ago, a group of friends and I were driving up a two-lane road in New York State and we stopped to let a mama quail and her babies cross the road.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love quail, so it's always a thrill to have them gather 'round our table at the Patio Cafe.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!