indulgences

So you may ask how I have been enjoying my vacation after all the travel. Well, I have been indulging my passion for crime novels. Just imagine me with a cup of tea, a sleepy cat, a comfy chair and a Scandinavian/Icelandic/British crime novel.

That has been my summer indulgence so far.

I compiled this Book list yesterday. Bear in mind, I wouldn't necessarily recommend them all.

Dahl, K.O.                                                                         

            The Fourth Man

French, Tana

            In the Woods

            The Likeness

            Faithful Place

Indridason, Arnaldur

Erlandur series:       

Jar City

            Silence of the Grave

Larsson, Stieg

The girl with the dragon tattoo

The girl who played with fire

The girl who kicked the hornet’s nest

Mankell, Henning

Kurt Wallander series:

            The White Lioness

            The Pyramid

           

The Man from Beijing

Nesbo, Jo

Harry Hole series:    

Nemesis

The Redbreast

The Devil's Star

The Snowman

           

Rankin, Ian

John Rebus series:

            Knots and Crosses

            Hide and Seek

            Resurrection Man

Roslund-Hellstrom

            Box 21

Smith, Tom Rob

            Child 44

I have to say, I am a bit tired of drunken detectives. Come on! Harry Hole and John Rebus just seem to disintegrate under pressure. I tend to prefer the characters of Siobhan Clarke, Ellen Gjelten, Beate Lonn. They do the real work of piecing together the evidence that leads the investigation. It seems that Hole and Rebus can't walk down a street in Oslo and Edinburgh without stopping in a pub for a drink. This may be why I adore Blomkvist and Salander so much. Like me they prefer caffeine to alcohol. :P

summer vacation 2011

Oh, the sleepy days of summer in Portland. Can I admit that I miss school? I guess that is a good sign. I am spoilt by the length of this vacation.

I guess I will use this time to catch everyone up on the summer vacation so far. I had a great first year of my grad school program. It was super busy. I didn't really understand the stress that I was under until I finally decompressed these past few weeks. One year down, one year to go. I will start student teaching in the fall at a local public high school. I don't really know how to prepare myself for it, but I can't wait nonetheless.

As soon as my term at Portland State ended, Omar and I travelled down to his hometown of San Luis to attend his brother's wedding.

It was a great time with Omar's family. We spent time with our niece, Scarlett. A super cutie pie.

I can't say enough of how much fun I had with Scarlett. She had Omar and I wrapped around her little finger. We read books and practiced walking. She loves to dance :) eh, eh, eh!

From San Luis we travelled straight to Daphne, AL to see my family and attend the Russell-Bedsole wedding. It was so great to see my brother. I hadn't seen him since July 2010.

It was wonderful for Omar and I to spend time with my parents, Derek and Caitlin, and Anna-Bellie!

All of the events around John and Amy's wedding were beautiful. The Bedsoles know how to throw a party! I wish I had a childhood pic to juxtapose against this one. We were reminiscing through old pics before the wedding of John, Terri Lynn, Derek and I on Smithfield Rd. I'll dig one up another time.

We finally returned to Portland on June 19th. What a trip! So many new beginnings. :) I wish John and Amy, Bella y Edgar and Derek and Caitlin a happy summer!
-Linds

something new...

So here I go. I have been inspired by women in my life who are jumping into something new.
I am inspired by Alma, who is jumping into academia after a successful career at Nike.
I am inspired by Terri Lynn, who is jumping into blogging and encouraging me to blog too!
I am inspired by Aunt Laurie, who is jumping from the world of book-lover to the world of book-seller.
And I am inspired by Abby, who is leaping from Atlanta to Nashville to pursue her skyrocketing career!
I am so excited for all of you. And you have inspired me to share my thoughts and life online.
So here I am.

--Linds