Experiments in Woolgathering

...you woke up not only to snow on the ground, but snow still falling.

Not a lot, and it’s not even sticking on the roads, but the grass and trees are getting a nice layer of it.

Winter seems to always get in one last gasp some time in April, it’s just rarely this late. We had had the heat off for a couple weeks, until last night of course. Crazy weather.

I wonder what early summer local produce will be the most affected by this. We’ll have a sweet corn shortage or something.

In other news, I’m off to New York (City) for 4 day, for work, this evening. Rachel’s decidedly unhappy about this, and I’m not really thrilled, and we both have to suck it up.

The occasion is an ‘off-site’ meeting, which, despite its label, will occur on JPMC property. To add to the irony, NYC was chosen because that’s where the largest group of people are. Of course, the 2nd largest group is in Columbus which is a much cheaper city and more centrally located. Oh well.

I’ll probably have a good enough time once I’m there, my coworkers are a good bunch, I’m not into the trip part of this. Columbus? Cheaper? Anyone?

Anyhow, lots to do, not the least of which is packing for this little escapade.

I listened to this on tape – unabridged. I’m not sure if I’d bother with a abridged reading. The actual book is 600+ pages, which came out to 14 90-minute tapes – reading out loud, performing really, takes a while.

I seem to be behind on book reviews. The couple books I’ve read have been small (around 200 pages), and I’ve been working enough extra hours at work that I just haven’t been willing to take the time away from reading to blog about them. I’ve not only finished Cat’s Cradle but Veniss Underground (by Jeff Vandermeer) and listening to an unabridged reading of ::American Gods:: by Neil Gaiman as well.

So, starting with the first finished, let’s talk about Vonnegut’s most famous (in most circles at least) book. (more…)

Well, the last two weeks at work have been pretty hellishly busy. Because I ended up working 30 hours over Easter weekend, I didn’t make to the dojo, so needless to say I was definitely ready to get rid of some stress by April Fools’ day.

I finished Moore’s latest book, Stupidest Angel a few days ago. As it was a Christmas book, Moore made it deliberately short and set it in Pine Cove, were two of his earlier novels were set. The latter meant he wouldn’t need to develop as many new characters, since he’d be reusing some old favorites.

Hot on the heels of my review of Altered Carbon (more because I was so slow writing that review than that I was able to read the next book quickly) I bring you my review of Spin State by Chris Moriarty.