Saturday, October 23, 2004
Books that came home with me
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Our trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast was over all too soon. We arrived after dark on Saturday October 9. It was raining and we had no idea where we were going. The traffic was heavy and we quickly realized we were in the middle of the Cruisin' the Coast group. We found a room at the first place we stopped. Supper was hash browns and waffles at the Waffle House. I have to say it was really good. I guess that shows how hungry we were. Watching the cars was fun and the rain slowed. The rain was heavier on Sunday morning. We couldn't check into the hotel until afternoon so we drover up the coast. The farther we got from Biloxi and Gulfport the more I liked the area. Storms had blown sand all over the road, backhoes were scooping it up and putting it in dump trucks. The wind from the gulf was blustery and I got out of the car to let it blow in my face. I could have stayed in the wind all day. We found a bookstore in Pass Christian, making me anxious to visit it later. I found out later I could have gone in on Sunday. We checked into the hotel around 3 and found it all to our liking. I was especially happy to see the soaking tub. Later we rode the shuttle to the conference site and talked to several people. On Monday morning John Wayne went to the exhibit hall and I ventured out to look for Spanish Trail Bookstore. After asking for directions 3 times I found it and it was well worth the trouble. I stopped to go through Beauvior, the last home of Jefferson Davis. After having a fine there I drove to Pass Christian and made my first visit to Pass Christian Books. Another visit was to follow on Tuesday. It was full of treasures. After that book stop I went to Ocean Springs to the Walter Anderson Art Museum. I loved every thing in it and did some Christmas shopping. If I can bear to part of any of it! At night we went to look around in the casino, no gambling for us. We had fun watching the old ladies play the slots. On Wednesday morning we checked out of the hotel and drove to New Orleans. Walking the streets was fun and we found a couple of book stores, Faulkner House Books and Arcadia Bookstore. We then had beignets at the Cafe du Monde before heading toward KY.
On our way to Biloxi we went through Oxford MS to visit Square Books and Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner. I loved walking through the house and grounds. It was a quiet place that had a life of its own.
Several wonderful books came home with me. I'll list them in the next entry.
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Fast Internet
We added DSL to our internet service tonight. Now that I have it I can't think of anything I'm in a hurry to know. Olivia is asleep on the air bed. She had a hard time going to sleep, I guess she her nap a little too late. She watched a Sesame Street video twice before she fell asleep. I'm cold so guess I will freeze to death when it really gets cold.
Susan says the girls had good days at school. Leah didn't get time-out. At 17 months old I wonder how much good it can do. But guess it can't hurt.
I must get things ready to go to Biloxi. Hopefully the weather will be warm and dry. No idea what clothes to take. I need to take several books. I don't want to be caught with a little time and nothing to read.
The flowers at the edge of Mama's garden still look fresh and new. She tells me about the flowers that grew there when she was a little girl. Peonies, lilac bushes, she says any flowers grew if Muddy threw them on the ground. She takes after her mother, though, the seeds die before they hit the ground. I can make things grow if I try. I haven't touched a flower or herb for 2 years. Maybe next spring the garden bug will bite me. I can remember peonies growing in our yard when I was little. But Daddy kept mowing them down. Usually just as they were about to bloom. Easter flowers were everywhere but only a few have survived, or have been replanted.
The hour is getting late and I need to read.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Fat Ankle
I have swollen ankles, especially the left one. I may have to drag out the old crutch. I substituted in the 4th grade today so didn't sit down at all except for lunch. I had a good day, the kids were great. I need to sink into a book. I think I want to read The Egyptologist. I saw a signed arc on amazon so may order it later. No babies tonight but Olivia will be here tomorrow. I'll miss Kristin, Elizabeth, and Leah since they have been here the last 2 weekends. I like to have them all together. Next weekend is my class reunion and the next weekend we go to Biloxi. I hope I find a signed book by Eudora Welty. I've been thinking about my I Am From poem and think I might write one that tells about me now or at least as an adult. But it might be too sad. I'm studying on it. I need to work on pictures. But too tired tonight. If I had a cold bowl I would eat some multi grain cherrios. I don't like cereal in a warm bowl. I misspelled warm as worm. A worm bowl, that is an idea. Off to read.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Can't sleep
Can't sleep tonight and I have to be up and out the door in the morning to teach 4th grade. Today I was a substitute special ed teacher. It seems the house is too quiet. No babies sleeping beside me. Can't seem to settle on what to read. I need a serious book store visit, I guess. I could just stack the books I have here that are unread and pretend I am in a bookstore. I could pay with shekels like Kristin and Elizabeth use when they play bookstore. Maybe poems would calm me, maybe I should write one. Some thoughts:
unable to sleep
stretched arteries
clots of blood
that pain in my chest
shhhhh
shade trees
lop-sided failing to shelter/shield
letting in unwanted spirits
fear
shhhhh
'night
No need for fear. Sleep now.
