| 06/04/01 - I don't think I'm taking a vacation this year. No, nothing has come up. That's how I've done it in the past. Something comes up and I just get up and go. My vacations are real vacations, that means away from the family. I've been taking these vacations for the past ten years, maybe longer, even before my divorce. I had to have time away. I had to experience a separate identity. I had to allow myself some frivolity. I don't have as much of an urge this year. It's probably because I get away every weekend, a mini vacation of sorts ... every weekend. Mostly I just hang out on these minis, nothing special. Well, yeah they are special, but in an everyday sort of quiet way. I've done a bit of traveling. In the last few years I've been to Georgia, Las Vegas, Florida (twice), Washington State, Louisiana, the Oregon coast, Colorado, and various places in California ... Palm Springs, Reno, Los Angeles, San Diego. It's nice to feel a bit lost, a bit different, a bit out of place. The thing I regret a little about not taking a vacation is the adventure of it all. I'm not even sure where I would go if I did have a chance, New York perhaps. Actually, I've wanted to go to the Amish country, Pennsylvania. Or, maybe Kentucky, maybe Kansas (there's no place like home). That's one reason I'm probably not planning anything for now. There isn't a big urge to go anywhere. I'm happy and contented right where I am. But, that doesn't mean I don't want a little adventure in my life. So, I've come up with a little summer reading plan. I'd hardly recommend any of these books to anyone; they have been selected for my own needs. You can get recommendations from lots of places, but it's kind of nice to be able to tailor make your list. A great web site for this is AllReaders.com Book Search Engine. Here you can choose all the elements you truly enjoy in a book, and the search engine will spit out a list of books. It's fun to play around with your search criteria, get a variety of suggestions. If you are pressed for time, or not currently interested in reading a whole novel, try First Chapters. This is a great site that is part of the New York Times book section online. They have a summer reading selection there as well. I love to read book reviews. I don't, however, have the funds to purchase hardbound copies of new books I find interesting. And, I hate checking books out of libraries. I'm an avid collector of books and the ways I aid my habit are to scour used book sales and stores and buy new paperback copies of old books. I like using Amazon.com to purchase paperbacks. I have this little method that works well for me. I read current book reviews and get a feel for the books' authors. Then I will go and check out other recent books by these authors and purchase a paperback version. I like to write in my books, make notes, underline favorite passages. I need books that I can keep and scribble in. Gees, I'm sounding way too informative here. Anyway, I've got my reading list together. I'm going to research a few movies that might add to my "travel" experience. And, I'm thinking of trying a few regional type recipes (sure wish I actually liked to cook) to add some flavor to my adventures. DreamR's Summer Reading List Black Cherry Blues - A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Edgar Award) by James Lee Burke Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - (Pulitzer Prize) by Annie Dillard Hotel Du Lac (Booker Prize) by Anita Brookner Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins (I'll be revisiting this adventure.) Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai Here We Are In Paradise (Short Stories) by Tony Earley Funny thing is ... I continue to add money to my travel fund. I'm thinking that it should grow quite nicely considering the money I'm saving not traveling right now. So, I'm doubly delighted. I'm enriching both mind and bank account this summer. |
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| Dream A Little Dream ... |