(no subject)

[mamculuna]

I decided not to feel bad about needing a set of new tires and having my washing machine drain back up all over the kitchen floor when my stepdaughter from San Diego called...she's safely evacuated to a friend's house, with all four cats, but imagine leaving your home in the path of the flames. I keep watching the news, as if I'd learn something about her house. Fire. I'd rather have a hurricane or earthquake or tornado, anything but fire.

I'm reading China Mieville for the first time, and started with maybe not the best choice--Un Lun Dun. It's seeming a little cute, but I have that problem with Pratchett and Fforde, too. Maybe I'm too serious.

But speaking of cute, I am liking "Pushing Daisies," a surprise to me, at least. For two episodes anyway. Not sure it will hold up for season after season.

And truly loved Middlesex. Eugenides has something Nabokov-like (and that's good) in his loving descriptions of the oddities of hearts and bodies and even minds.

In lighter news, you can put garlic in anything, even brownies and baked apples.

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

At the Gilroy Garlic Festival, they had garlic ice cream, proving that you can put garlic in anything, but sometimes you really shouldn't. It tasted like vanilla ice cream that had been left open in the freezer with something garlicky. (Still, the sample cones were free, and now we know.)

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to go to the Gilroy festival (but probably not for ice cream!) I'm the person who always wants to put in a head of garlic when the recipe calls for a clove.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I occasionally believe recipes that say they call for one clove, because I take that to mean "you don't want this to taste like garlic at all, you just want it suggested subconsciously." (Often I put in ten when they ask for one, still. But sometimes not.) But it's the people who call for 4-6 cloves who baffle me. That's not the right amount of garlic for anything!

[rahael.livejournal.com]

I really tried with pratchett - I just can't get into him. Fforde's okay - but I kept finding the sequels very put-downable. And you need a really strong stomach to read Perdido Street station by Mieville - such a compelling read - and I wish it hadn't been!

And I loved Middlesex too.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Hmm, now Perdido Street Station sounds interesting, though can't say the stomach-turning part is appealing.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I can't read Mieville. I got through the first Fforde, but the second dragged badly and the third died fast -- I won't ever finish it. And of all the Pratchetts I've either read or tried, I've actually liked about three.

So much for being au courant, I guess.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

The only Prachett I got beyond three pages of was the one he did with Gaiman.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

That was _Good Omens_. Gaiman is another one I can't read -- haven't made it through one of his solo books yet.

But _Hogfather_ by Pratchett was actually good -- about Death's granddaughter, Susan. I liked _Guards! Guards!_, too. But others were hoplessly tedious.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I do like Gaiman, esp. American Gods, and the Sandman graphic novels. Maybe I'll try Hogfather. So many people like Pratchett--I must bemissing something somewhere.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

It must be very scarey to be in your stepdaughter's position! Fingers crossed for her.
I read the first Fforde, and the second, but it just kind of got too cutsy for me. Don't think I'll finish the series, even though I've got most of them (bought second hand).
Have never read Terry Pratchett's books. I watched about 10 minutes of "Pushing Daisies" last week, and had no idea what was going on...so I gave up.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I think Suzie is very safe, and actually her house already had the very serious problem of having lost value--in some ways it could solve some problems if the fire got it, but I'm definitely hoping it won't. And like every disaster, you just feel so sad for so many people and animals.

It helped that I happened to tape the first Pushing Daisies, but I can see it's going to be hard for it to keep an audience.

[ann1962]

I wish your stepdaughter well.

I would try anything with garlic in it. I just don't know if I would try them again!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

More than once, I've roasted some heads of garlic to save for later, and wound up eating them as soon as they were cool enough. But not in brownies...

[usedtobeljs]

Good thoughts for your stepdaughter, and for your own domestic difficulties!
[hugs]

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think she'll be safe.

[arethusa2.livejournal.com]

I hope all goes well with your step-daughter.

My sister lives in Huntington Beach and isn't reponding to email. I'm going to try to call her today. The fires aren't especially near her but I'm a little worried anyway.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

The communication systems may be overwhelmed in the area. Suzie said they were told not to use cell phones except in emergencies. Huntington Beach does seem far enough away for her to be safe.