Today is a cold (it’s 50 degrees, which is practically freezing by California standards), wintery day. After a quick trip to the grocery store, I am now prepared to spend the rest of the day hibernating. I have a mug of tea (a new to me flavor, caffeine-free chocolate chai…it’s, ummm, interesting), the heater’s on and there’s football playing in the background. There should be laundry in the washer, but there’s always tomorrow for that. Besides, it’s cold in the garage…why ruin a perfectly good day with a chore and multiple visits to the coldest part of the house.
It’s been a slow reading week. I’m reading The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel. I was not a fan of The Poisonwood Bible, but I thought I’d give her another chance. The story is interesting, but it’s slow moving. I feel like I’ve been reading forever, but I’m only about a 1/4 of the way through. Also, Frida Kahlo is a major character at the moment, as are Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky, and I’m not really sure how I feel about that.
I’m also reading The Girl Who Played with Fire, the follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I’m barely into that one, but Lisbeth is just as disturbing as ever.
As for Moby Dick, well, I’m a bit behind with my reading for Ti’s read-along. Like two weeks behind. In fact, I should be reading that one right now.
So we’re six days into December and I have yet to finish a book this month. Kind of a switch from last month, when I read more than I had any other month. Gotta love those long weekends.
Yesterday I drove down to LA (technically Studio City, but for us Central Coasters, pretty much anything south of Santa Barbara is LA…and this also includes everything to San Diego) to have lunch with my follow bloggers, Ti (Book Chatter), Tracy (Shelf Life), Amy (My Friend Amy) and Florinda (The 3 R’s). We met at Portrait of a Bookstore, which is a great little store within the Aroma Cafe. And yes, I came home with a few books. One from our gift exchange (thanks to Tracy for Reading Like a Writer), and two from the bookstore (including House of Leaves, if you’re reading this Rebecca). And a bonus book from Florinda (thank you!). Here we all are:
Clockwise from the red sweater, it’s Florinda, Tracy, Ti, Amy and me.
There’s also a lovely photo that Florinda took, except for the fact that I have demon eyes. I’ll spare you, as it’s a bit frightening.
And yes, it takes me three hours to drive to LA. But I have to say, it’s totally worth it to spend the afternoon with a wonderful group of readers/bloggers! We were talking about how we should do this more often. I don’t think I could do it every month, but I’d be up for a quarterly get together.
You girls look great! I’m glad you enjoyed your visit together. It’s wonderful to be able to meet up with fellow bloggers and book lovers isn’t it?
Michelle´s last blog ..LRT Road Map – 12/6
That bookstore cafe looks so nice and cozy. And I love people with demon eyes – everyone in my family who has ever had their picture taken by me has demon eyes!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of “Half Moon: Henry Hudson and the Voyage that Redrew the Map of the New World” by Douglas Hunter
How fun! I need to have a Texas get-together.
Amanda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Ratings
Aw, I love this picture
Glad you had fun!! And that tea sounds yummy!
Chris´s last blog ..The Advent Tour Day 6 – Holiday Books!
I’m a fan of chai, although I’ve never had chocolate chai. One of my favorites is the Oregon Matcha Green Tea Chai with soy or rice milk. It tastes like almonds.
charley´s last blog ..Peace Like a River
I have one place I go to (Argo Tea- think it’s only in Chicago) that has wonderful iced chocolate chai. I love it!
I know what it’s like to be into a book and feel like it’s taking you a long time, too. I’m reading a swashbuckling fantasy adventure, Red Seas Under Red Skies. It’s good and interesting, but I’m just not INTO it, and I still have like, 350 pages to go. SIGH. I guess it’s ok as last week, I posted way more than usual…
Aarti´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Blog Post Length
Srsly? I’m from upstate New York – I mean way upstate New York. (Don’t listen to NYC people. They don’t know what “upstate” means.) I used to walk to school in -20! After several days of that, 20 above literally feels warm!
I’ve never heard of a book called The Lacuna, but Lacuna Coil is an excellent band.
EL Fay´s last blog ..Sunday Salon and Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up.
I’ll spare you my rant about how 50 degrees isn’t cold but is in fact pretty close to perfect and will go right to the part where I get very excited that you bought HOUSE OF LEAVES so you, Jenn, and I can read it together. Isn’t it weird looking at points?
Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..The Weekend Review: DECODING THE LOST SYMBOL by Simon Cox
Glad you all had fun! It’s so good to meet up with fellow bookbloggers!!
Melody´s last blog ..The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White
How cool that you all got to hang out! Aw, I wish I lived near other bloggers…
It’s cold here, too. It’s 16 degrees and snowing, and I had to work on a boat ramp all day! YUCK.
heidenkind´s last blog ..Hush, Hush
That looks like so much fun! I wish I could find some bloggers close to me. I have gone 4 hours to meet up with other bloggers, but I use visiting my son as an excuse for that.
Kathy´s last blog ..The Blind Side
I enjoyed Prodigal Summer much more than Poisonwood Bible. You should try that one.
And your Chocolate Chai tea does sound interesting. You should try Trader Joes RELAX tea, it’s very much like that Aveda tea but soooo much cheaper.
Ti´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: It’s Cold!
I wonder if there are any bloggers close to me….Maybe if I yell, really loud: HEY, ANY BLOGGERS OUT THERE FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS????
debnance´s last blog ..Sunday Salon—Readathon—Advent Tour Stop—Children’s Christmas Picture Books
Thank you so much for making the drive down south to meet up! I don’t think most of us could do it more often than quarterly either, but it would be nice to get something regular on the calendar! (Sorry about the “demon eyes” – want me to retouch that photo and send it again
?)
I’m pretty sure I’ll read The Lacuna at some point, since I read almost everything Kingsolver, but the premise isn’t grabbing me right off the bat.
Stay warm!
Florinda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon 12/6: "19 Days Till Christmas" edition
I just love the place where you guys met up … looks fun and cozy.
Jenners´s last blog ..Announcing The Take Another Chance Challenge
thanks again for driving down to see us.
It’s always a pleasure. I’m up for quarterly!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..CFBA Book Spotlight: Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas
It looks like you guys had fun!
It’s really cold here too – the thermometer in my backyard says 26 degrees right now. I’m so glad that my washer and dryer are not in the garage – brrr!
Alyce´s last blog ..Secret Santa Present!
Wow! That was a good post. I like these Dunday Salon post, they look like my monday post. i m thankful, u r read TGWPWF [ ok u know what i mean]
I m sure Lisbeth is crazy, but i loved your review last time, and i want to see what u think. needless to say i loved this one as well. I m waiting for the 3rd book to come in paperback or lesser price LOL! i so want to buy it. but it is 450rs.. where as others were like only half the price
!
and i m envious u get to meet these guys and it is fun to have a get together like this! i would love to do this as well. maybe someday i will go to Bombay and meet Shona [ another blogger]
but that is still someday 
well i saw moby dick was 1000 pages something in ebook format… and seriously your post about you sleeping off… made me decide against it
well thats about it. take care… and hibernate with loads of that chai.. it sounds good… now i feel like some tea myself
Veens´s last blog ..Saturday Quotes!
my typos! sorry abt them
Veens´s last blog ..Saturday Quotes!
You’re brave, giving Kingsolver another chance.
I didn’t like Poisonwood Bible, either, and I tried Prodigal Summer, and didn’t like that one either. Not sure if I’ll try her work again or not.
Loved seeing the pics of all of you meeting in real life!
Aw, I wish I could meet some book bloggers. You all look like you’re having a great time.
Nymeth´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – Midwinter Reads
It’s hovering around 47 to 50 degrees here and boy is it cold! That blogger lunch looks like fun!
Ladytink_534´s last blog ..A Story from the Forest
AWESOME!!!!! I found out later that Dawn and I almost ran into each other in downtown Boston on Sat. too fun.
(also, I LOVED the Frida Kahlo bio by Hayden Herrera)
Care´s last blog ..Juckets by Joyce Keller Walsh
What a fun get together!
The Poisonwood Bible is the only Kingsolver I have ever read too. I didn’t dislike it really–I was just apathetic. I will likely give The Lacuna a shot though.
Stephanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday
I wish I could have been there! Such great company. I haven’t ever been able to make it through The Poisonwood Bible, so I applaud you even trying her latest. She doesn’t appeal to me that much, but I am going to try The Bean Tree this year for What’s In a Name 3.
Literate Housewife´s last blog ..#217 ~ The Rose of Sebastopol
Very cool I wish I knew enough bloggers in the northeast Ohio area to do that. What fun!
Stacy´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday – When Christmas Comes
What a great picture! I’m so impressed that you made the drive down, and so sad I missed out, but I had my hands a little full on Saturday!! What an adorable place Aroma and Portrait of a Bookstore looks to be. And you guys look so happy to be together.
Count me in for next time, definitely.
Lisamm´s last blog ..Book Review: When The Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
How great that you got to have a blogger meet up. It looks like it was lots of fun. I’m really behind in Moby Dick too. It’s freezing cold here with a pile of snow. Winter has definitely arrived-yuck. lol.
Darlene´s last blog ..Guest Post & Giveaway with Karen White, author of The Girl on Legare Street