Good Books/Bad Weather

I've never much needed a reason to snuggle up with my small hound and a good book. It's a luxury I've afforded myself even on the nicest of days in San Francisco (though usually it would have been a luxury that followed a 3-4 hour bike ride along the coastline that I miss every day). Add in a bunch of snow, ice, flurries and wind, with temps barely in the teens though, and this is what I call "reading weather"!

I've never experienced these Siberian like extreme's (until now...sigh), though I have read about them. One of my favorite outdoor writer's, Mark Jenkin's has a new (to me) compilation of tales in his book, The Hard Way. If you read his column in Outside Magazine, you'll be familiar with some, though I think they're longer in his book. I escaped to foreign/domestic lands for three days in this collection of adventures---from Afghanistan to Wyoming to the tops of big meter climbs in Tibet. It isn't called The Hard Way for nothing!

My Mom sent me The Kite Runner. Read this book! I couldn't put it down, even though when I read what it was about, I didn't think it was "my cup o' tea" at all. It's a novel about a boy coming of age in the trying times of Afghanistan---back to the US and to of all places, Fremont (near Lake Elizabeth---I lived there once) and San Francisco (where my heart still lives). I have to say my paradigm shifted and I feel more educated ---even though it was a story for the most part. I think it is a very important book.

And now what am I reading? A fabulous book called Dreams From My Father, by Barack Obama (U.S Senator from Illinois). Wow. I can't put this one down (to the annoyance of my husband who tries to sleep while my bedside light stays on at night). I only picked this one up from the library a couple of days ago and I will be finished tonight. It's that good. It's a non-fiction account of the son of an African man and a Mid-western (caucasion) woman...and it will blow any stereo-types you might have away. Very powerful.

I am lucky I like to read. Outside activities are challenge. Especially since the temperatures just dropped again. My walks to work became a bit more treacherous with the ice that has formed...but driving would take away the only outside time I get. It's cold, sure, but the wind is showing me it's most miserable displays of power. Mother Nature at it's worst. Like she's angry or something. Maybe she should cuddle up and take a break and read a book and give these two West coast transplants (Mike may have been born here, but he says he's a Californian now!) some relief!

We are off to St. Cloud on Saturday and Sunday. We're either going XC-skiing or snow shoeing even though the temps will be in the single to maybe 10's of digit's, with some other cycling friends who are also miserable about the weather. Have a wonderful wonderful weekend!