Books Three and Four: Dawn and Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler

I haven't grouped my read books together in a post for a while, but I finished the second book before I posted here--it's been over a week. Both novels are in a three-volume series called Lilith's Brood that I borrowed from the Essex Library.

In Dawn, war has destroyed Earth. Hundreds of years later, Lilith is awakened by powerful aliens, the Oankali. The Oankalis rescued and healed  many people. The Oankali want to merge genetically with humans and use Lilith to awaken and help explain the process to other humans. 

Adulthood Rites focuses on Akin, Lilith's son. As a young child, he was kidnapped by a group of human resisters, humans whohave reject a life with the Oankali and established their own communities. Akin works to get Oankali support for a human colony on Mars where humans can procreate. This is a hard sell because the Oankali believe human hierarchical tendencies doom them to death by war or some other destruction. 

Butler is a brilliant writer and her worlds are vivid. I am not as drawn to this books as I was to Kindred or to the Parable stories. I'll have more to say when I finish the third book, Imago.

Frugality, Food Waste, and Other Friday Thoughts

Looking at yesterday's grocery bill, I feel like a dismal failure at frugality. Most of my items were produce related. I also bought a few pantry items. I can't help that food prices are high, and frugality isn't always focused on squeezing every last dime.

The things that appeal to me most about frugality are avoiding waste. 

Food waste is one priority. I sometimes buy too much produce or lunchmeat. I need to plan around what I buy, instead of just grabbing anything that looks good. I also have to be realistic as I read interesting recipes or see fun things as I walk the grocery aisles. Will I actually make that dish?

I'm getting better at using vegetables before they get too old and finding new recipes that use multiple items. That also helps with the age-old problem of what to have for dinner.

Buying used is another way to reduce waste. We're buying a dining room table and chairs as well as a coffee table from our downstairs neighbor when she moves. Another neighbor is taking me to a good thrift store. I hope I'm lucky.

Jeff and I are going out to lunch tomorrow for Valentine's Day. We usually don't go out on this holiday, but it's going to warm up to the 50s, and we haven't been out in a while. I was undecided at first, but now I'm looking forward to it. 

I'm longing for spring, but knew it's still far off. Nothing like multiple snow piles to remind you it's winter. 

A Little Can Be Enough

On Sunday, I was feeling sorry for myself.  I wrote in my journal that I wasn't happy with my life. Then I wrote that I'd have to remake my life into something that will make me happy. I ended with "Think about that!" 

The next day, things started looking better. Walking Jace, I felt something in the air--a little warmth. It was still cold, but it was sunny, and there was no wind. After weeks with temperatures below freezing, everyone's excited for some warmth and melting. We'll gladly take the mud and mush. 

I had a good day today with this song was going through my head. I'm happy with my accomplishments--I got a decent amount of work done (paperwork, unpacking, cleaning.) I also want to Jeff's speech therapy session with him; it gave me a lot to think about.  

A Catch-Up Post

It's been a busy ten days. Deep snow in Maryland and Connecticut complicated our lives. The highways were great driving to and from Connecticut (Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.) Getting out of the condo here and parking in Norwalk were our biggest challenges, thanks to ubiquitous snow piles and icy patches. 

We are no longer Norwalk property owners. I had a few things to do before we met with our attorney on Thursday. Despite a few glitches, everything worked out. After we signed the papers, I ran errands. Then, I got takeout from Little Kitchen, our favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. We enjoyed our favorites: Sauteed Sliced Chicken with Hot Peppers and Crispy Spinach and Dry Sauteed Shredded Beef Szechuan Style, as well a Bean Curd with Vegetables Country Style for Jen who graciously hosted us again. We already miss Little Kitchen.

We vegged on Friday, and I finished Badlands. On Saturday, we drove back. There had been talk of more snow, plus I couldn't wait to get home. 

This week has been a blur of medical appointments and paperwork. Today, I stocked up on food in case the predicted snow amounts to more than an inch. I also picked up a welcome mat and some baskets we've needed. Now, I can really focus on our new home.

Book Two: Badlands by Preston & Child

Another winner from Preston & Child, this is the fifth in the Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson series. Even though it starts with a gruesome death--a woman walks into the desert to die--the book starts too slowly. But, it soon makes up for that. 

Nora and Corrie are my favorites amid among myriad fascinating supporting characters in the Pendergast universe. I love reading about their investigations.

As good as this book is, it pales in comparison to their previous case, Dead Mountain.