Ten on Tuesday: 10 reasons to use the public library

Well, I use our public library a lot (at least three of the librarians know me by name) but always for the same reason: books. I'll try to spread this out over ten semi-distinct concepts.

1) Books! Not even close to everything I want to read, but a nice selection.
2) It's free. Well, my tax dollars go to support it, but on a daily basis it doesn't cost me any money to use it.
3) I discover books I might not spot at the bookstore.
4) Audio books! I'm still getting into the habit of using these, but I really like the concept.
5) YA is a section I don't shop in but still love to read, and the library lets me feed that habit.
6) The children's librarians are awesome.
7) While I don't need to use the computers there, I recognize how valuable they are as a community resource.
8) DVDs! Although I rarely tap this resource, it did keep me sane the last time I was trapped at home with vomiting children. Their selection of children's videos is amazing.
9) There's a nice film series in our library's basement on Thursday evenings.
10) They run a small used-book section and are always happen to take my donations.

forgot Earth Hour

Yikes! I just realized I was driving home during Earth Hour on Saturday night, and totally forgot to observe it.

A dinner to remember

Just got back from a delicious four-course dinner cooked by my FIL. I know I want to remember this one, so I'm trying to recreate the menu...

Pasta with Cantaloup (this recipe looks pretty close to it)

Fresh Bread with pork meatballs in tomato sauce (or the vegetarian equivalent in tomato sauce)
Lightly sauteed bok choi with grated parmesan

A salad of baby greens, fresh herbs, and papaya

Meyer lemon meringue pie

The book I forgot

The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway: a light, fluffy, happy romance set at a house party in Regency England. I thought the collaboration was particularly well done in this novel. Although I'm a big enough fan of Quinn that I thought I could mostly tell which parts she had written, the transition among authors wasn't jarring.

Recent Reading

Spring Break is always good for shrinking the "To Read" pile.

Tithe by Holly Black: having just seen Ms. Black at Vericon, I was inspired to try her books again. I really enjoyed this one; the teenaged narrator sounded just right and the plot went in unusual directions. This isn't what I was expecting from the author of "Spiderwick" and I mean that as a compliment.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson: this is his first published novel. As such, it's amazingly assured. The plot hangs together nicely, the characters are well-developed, and a large number of people die. (Note: I don't demand that my favorite authors kill off their characters, but if a plague decimates the city, I expect something like 10% of the named characters to suffer also.)

The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher (technically, a re-read): another bloody, lengthy, twisty adventure from Mr. Asher. Explains a good bit more about the Prador and why the Second Kingdom became the Third Kingdom.

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett: it's not quite England, it's not quite Pride and Prejudice, and almost nobody really believes in magic... I found this book utterly charming, but most of my friends thought it was too derivative and dragged in the early sections.

Plenty by Yottam Ottolenghi: I managed to score a properly British edition (not the one in the link) which uses Gas Marks, Celsius, and British terms for vegetables. I had to ask DH to translate a lot of it for me! Still, the recipes look fabulous and reading this just before bedtime gave me lovely dreams for a week.

fresh coriander = cilantro
courgettes = zucchini
aubergine = eggplant
rocket = some wild green akin to arugula
samphire = another wild green
mange toute = peas that can be eaten with their pod on
haricots = very thin green beans

I feel fairly confident that I'm forgetting at least one novel, but I'll just cover it on the next report!

FO: Tropical Striped Scarf

I must disavow all association with the colors... they were Sarah's choice!



Used Cascade 220 Superwash in Lime green and Tropical Paints.
Size 8 needle, wooden, from KnitPicks.
About 5.5 feet long and 6 inches wide.

Started over a year ago, finished today!

Nothing much

I ate too much pizza and now I feel like an unmotivated blob.

Must finish WIP.

Must clean the house.

Must survive the inch+ of snow that we are supposed to get tonight...