It is a totally blustery day out today. I have a crazy need to go to Town and find the Winnie Pooh movie so my son will understand just what a blustery means to me (and a zillion other kids). It's crazy windy though which is cool because it is all atmospheric and everything and I'm loving it. It's days like this that really make me love this place.

I finished Caitlin Kiernan's Five of Cups last night and it is one seriously violent vampire novel. But it is wicked good - and more realistic, if that makes any sense. The futher I got into it the more I really really liked it although I had a few squeamish moments every now and again. (But really - that's what a good vampire novel is for.) I loved the great historical background and the whole Grail myth thing she had going on. Kiernan is one of those authors that seems to get horribly overlooked and I don't know why. I reviewed her current collection To Charles Fort with Love over at Bookslut a couple of months ago and I can not recommend it enough. She also has a new short story in the current issue of Subterranean Press's magazine, Bradbury Weather that I'm looking forward to. Pretty obvious why I love her, right?

I am loving The White and the Gold and learning way more than I expected to about the history of Canada. The Iroquois were some very mean Indians - man, you did not want to be their prisoner! (We're talking torture people, tons of torture.) I had no idea how determined the Jesuits were to convert. They went out into the wilderness to spread their religion and almost seemed determined to court death in their attempt to convert the "savages". They believed the road to heaven was paved with martyrs....does this sound familiar? The more I read the more I realize how much all humans are alike rather than different. It would be funny if it wasn't so frustrating.

Very good last few days on the book reviewing front. I just received Paul Collins's The Trouble with Tom and as he is one of my favorite writers, I'm really looking forward to reading it. I also received An Unreasonable Woman from Chelsea Green Publishing about a one woman battle against polluters in Texas. I'm sure this will make me very angry but it's an important book and I wish more folks knew about it. I plan to spread that word loud and long. And the delightful Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane just showed up from Candlewick Press. It's the latest from Kate DiCamillo and as I think Because of Winn Dixie was fabulous, I'm sure I will love this as well. (It's about a lost toy - I love lost toy stories!) So, lots of good books on the horizon. I did a huge shoulders workout yesterday which served only to remind me that they are my absolute weakest bodypart. I'm such a wimp! Tonight is spaghetti dinner and Gilmore Girls. Joyful!