La Vie En Rose for 2005 June 26

Earlier I thought of something to write about but as usual, now I don't remember. It was probably a quote from the book I'm reading, Paris 1919 by Margaret Macmillan, v.g. I've decided to try and read it all before Harry Potter. In theory I have been alternating one non-fiction book with one fiction book, but I don't think it's worked out that way. There was the new Georgia Nicholson book, and the new book in the In the Garden trilogy, and I had to read those right away. Plus the Notebook for failed vacation reading. Harry Potter will be the same--I'll *have* to start reading it right away, whether I've finished Paris or not. I know it's almost 3 weeks away, but I've already been working on this book for a couple months. It's really well written and interesting, but I have a harder time than I think I would otherwise because I read so much heavy stuff for work. I was going to make a review list of all the books I've read recently but it will have to wait till Dave comes back to life.

It's been a pretty slow weekend round here. Last night after MLI I went over to watch "This is Spinal Tap" at Chris' but I was so tired from being up since 7 for Russo's that I feel asleep. It was good though. A bunch of the gang was over and the girls got really squeamish when JoDeena started talking about the details of her operation. I think all the WWI reading has de-sqeamished me. Ish.

Anyway, today I did a bit of scrapbooking and more of reading Miss Sarah, and Tonksie has started his diet. We shall see how that goes. He has already figured out where the normal food is hidden and started trying to sneak in. I weighed him and he is 15 pounds! Tomorrow MLI practice is canceled so I am going to Pilates for the first time in ages (maybe I should take Tonks, hee!)

Oh yes, I remember what I wanted to mention. When I was driving back from the gym I saw people swimming in the Kern River--a ton of them! It was a regular beach. This reminded me of something I learned in my London class, how (I don't know when but it might have been the twenties) they dumped a bunch of sand on the bank of the Thames and called it a beach so the people who couldn't afford Brighton could have their holiday there. There are pictures of all these people hanging out on (and in) "London Beach." I think it was the grossness factor that reminded me. A river running through a city will never feel "clean" to me. I remember one MIA activity where everyone got in the river but I cast my "jaundiced eye."

I got into a little game of "Would I rather" with myself and wondered if I would rather go into the Kern River or the Thames. Obviously the Thames, if only because by default I would then be in London rather than Bakersfield, but otherwise speaking, the only reason I'd be in either would be due to *falling* in, and in that case I'd rather be in the Kern. I'd have a much better chance at survival and the water would be a lot warmer.

They say that the Thames is actually one of the cleanest rivers in Europe, now that it is past its "Midde Age sewage system" and "Great Stink 1851" stages. It doesn't look very clean but it's an esquary right and the tide kicks up a lot of sediment. Ohh, the things you learn in college...