Throwback Thursday Hawaii Circa 1978

Thought I would do a Throwback Thursday post of a family vacation we took to Hawaii....I think in 1978 or so. The Brady Bunch went to Hawaii in 1972 I think, so we were already primed to want to find a mysterious Tiki

Hotel Pool

But we crave more adventure!!

Danger!!

Down to a mysterious cave

Scaling the Rocks!!

A deserted beach

Crystal clear waters

Interesting sea life

Too much sun?

Monday's Postcard 2015: Michigan

Although Michigan is often called the "Wolverine State" there are no longer any wolverines in Michigan. Sault Ste. Marie was founded by Father Jacques Marquette in 1668. It is the third oldest remaining settlement in the United States. Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office. The J.W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail to ships while they are still underway. They have been operating for 125 years.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Massachusetts

The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621. The visible portion of Plymouth Rock is a lumpy fragment of glacial moraine about the size of a coffee table, with the date 1620 cut into its surface. After being broken, dragged about the town of Plymouth by ox teams used to inspire Revolutionaries, and reverently gouged and scraped by 19th-century souvenir hunters, it is now at rest near the head of Plymouth Harbor.

Books I read in May 2015

Blaze by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) the Stephen King version of Of Mice and Men. I liked it.
World War Z by Max Brooks (library) made into a movie, which I have not seen yet.  I liked that it was written in the style of transcripts of oral histories.
Rear Window and other stories by Cornell Woolrich I just found this author who was one of the major noir writers during that era. So I really liked reading his stories and I will definitely read more of his stuff!
Don't Point That Thing At Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli (library) the basis of the movie Mordecai.   This is probably one of the rare times where I liked the movie better than the book
West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan (library) F. Scott Fitzgerald's years in Hollywood. I quite enjoyed it
Death Comes to Pemberly by P. D. James ( library audiobook) I like to listen to books that I have previously read on audiobook, because I have them to listen to while I drive and I don't want to have to concentrate on them too much.   If I am already familiar with the story, I can pay attention to my driving and not get distracted by the book!
Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo (library) Non-fiction account of shark attacks that occurred in 1916 (and I believe many of these stories were the basis of the book Jaws by Peter Benchley.
Murder on the ICW by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter I only read this because it is set in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, NC. The book and mystery are okay, but I get all my enjoyment out of her setting.
A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron (audiobook) sequel to A Dog's Purpose, LOVE it!!! Must read for anyone who loves dogs
Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konigsburg just okay, I think I liked her historical stuff the best
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon The real story of Highclere Castle during the late 1890's through the 1930's. I really liked this alot and highly recommend it. Especially to fans of Downton Abbey.
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright (library) Learning more about this crazy religion. It is really fascinating
Dream Birds by Rob Nixon Part History of the Ostrich and Part Memoir, but I learned a lot about these interesting birds
Washed Up: The Curious Journeys of Flotsam and Jetsam by Skye Moody (library) As a life long beachcomber, I found this book a must read. Very interesting!! Highly recommend
The Second Mrs. Giaconda by E.L. Konigsburg I do enjoy her historical books more !! This one is about why Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
Gathering Prey by John Sandford (library)  I always enjoy these and can't wait for the next one. it's like visiting with an old friend at this point.  I enjoy the interaction between the characters more than the mystery almost!  The evolution of the relationships, and jokes and themes that are woven from book to book in this series are what I enjoy about this series.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Maryland

America's national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key a Maryland lawyer. It is believed Key wrote the anthem on September 14, 1814 while watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. Since May 30th, 1949 the United States flag has flown continuously over the monument marking the site of Francis Scott Key's birthplace.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Maine

Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state. Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States. Acadia National Park is the second most visited national park in the United States. I'm looking forward to visiting Maine this year when Ryan completes his Appalachian Trail hike!

Monday's Postcard 2015: Louisiana

The world famous "Mardi Gras" is celebrated in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice. Louisiana is the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes. The Saint Charles streetcar line in New Orleans and the San Francisco, California cable cars are the nation's only mobile national monuments

Monday's Postcard 2015: Kentucky

The Bluegrass Country around Lexington is home to some of the world's finest racehorses. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. Thunder Over Louisville is the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival and is the world's largest fireworks display.

Books I read in April 2015

The Diplomat and the Gold Piano by Margaret Scherf  Margaret wrote a Nancy Drew book as Carolyn Keene (The Secret of the Wooden Lady, 1950) and this was one of her own books featuring adult sleuths, Emily and Henry Bryce who are decorators and provide the Gold Piano in the title. It was a fun read obviously written in 1964 and you get a very "Mad Men" feel from it.
The Stranger by Harlan Coben (library) great thriller, one of his best. lots of twists and turns
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (audiobook) listened to while driving around Appalachia
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg well this was an excellent way to learn about some English History. The life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I still have a bunch of books by Konigsburg to read, but I have been enjoying them all.
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (library) inspired me to get rid of several boxes and bags of stuff, but I still need to weed through my clothing again!!
The Clue in the Crumbling Wall by Carolyn Keene reading this to prep for my Nancy Drew convention in Iowa at the end of the month.
Something Rich and Strange by Ron Rash (library) loved this collection of short stories mainly set in Appalachia this author wrote Serena which I enjoyed.
Never Turn Your Back by Margaret Scherf This one was written in 1959 and Reverend Martin Buell, an Episcopalian minister in Montana is the sleuth. 
The Black Box by Michael Connelly (audiobook) listened to this one while driving from Asheville, NC to Damascus, VA and all around the AT in Virginia while doing Trail Magic for Ryan
The Bankers Bones by Margaret Scherf This book features Dr. Grace Severance as the sleuth and is set in Arizona. Dr. Severance is a retired pathologist. This was my favorite of the Scherf books I read this month.
Father's Arcane Daughter by E. L Konigsburg Yuck, my least favorite of Konigsburg's books so far and it seems this one was made into a Hallmark movie called Caroline. It was okay, but I would not rave about it.
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George (audiobook) such a depressing story, but I loved the idea of this book. It takes what happened in George's previous book With No One as Witness and sees it from another angle. Really fascinating. Reminds me of exercises we would do in creative writing class. (like write about a car crash from the driver's point of view....now write the same crash from the point of view of a woman walking her dog along the road)
Scarlett Slept Here: A Book Lover's Guide to the South by Joy Dickinson Bought while I was tooling around the VA mountains. And there was not much about Virginia in it unfortunately.
Nameless Night by G. M. Ford Ford's version of Bourne Identity
The Secret of the Spotted Shell by Phyllis A. Whitney a childhood favorite that I liberated from a thrift shop in the mountains of Virginia.
The Goodbye Body by Joan Hess I really like her Maggody series, which I think is more fun than this series.  This one is a "Claire Malloy Mystery" and Claire is a bookstore owner.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Kansas

Kansas was really the WILD WEST!! Wyatt Earp, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok and William B. "Bat" Masterson were three of the legendary lawmen who kept the peace in rowdy frontier towns like Abilene, Dodge City, Ellsworth, Hays, and Wichita. Amelia Earhart, first woman granted a pilot's license by the National Aeronautics Associate and first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean was from Atchison, KS.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Iowa

Iowa is the only state name that starts with two vowels.

The name Iowa is derived from the Ioway Indians who lived in the area.

The Iowa State Fair features over 600 exhibitors and more than 50 foods on-a-stick. 

Tourist attractions include the Herbert Hoover birthplace and library near West Branch; the Amana Colonies; Fort Dodge Historical Museum, Fort, and Stockade; the Iowa State Fair at Des Moines in August; and the Effigy Mounds National Monument, a prehistoric Indian burial site at Marquette.

I am attending a Nancy Drew convention in Iowa at the end of the month. Nancy Drew author, Mildred Wirt (the original Carolyn Keene) lived here and attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Indiana

Indiana literally means “land of the Indians,” as it was once promised to be reserved for Native American use. This was not to be, however, and the area was eventually appropriated by other groups.

The first long-distance auto race in the U. S. was held May 30, 1911, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged 75 miles an hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000. Today the average speed is over 167 miles an hour and the prize is more than $1.2 million. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the site of the greatest spectacle in sports, the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 is held every Memorial Day weekend in the Hoosier capital city. The race is 200 laps or 500 miles long.

Both Ryan and I have family roots in Indiana. My Dad's family is from Fort Wayne and Ryan's Dad's family is from Terre Haute  !

Monday's Postcard 2015: Illinois

Illinois is known for its wide variety of weather. Major winter storms, deadly tornadoes and spectacular heat and cold waves. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery in 1865.  Metropolis, the home of Superman, really exists in Southern Illinois. Chicago has always been one of my favorite cities to layover in, even in the winter!!

Books I read in March 2015

When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning (library) this was a wonderful book. It tells the story of how the ASE books of WWII came into being (Armed Services Editions) and really it was the beginning of the popularity of Paperback books. I have a couple of ASE books in my collection.
Trading Up by Candace Bushnell (audiobook) Yuck, listened to while driving around the AT, would not recommend
Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly (audiobook) liked this one okay, Ryan is getting me to read the Michael Connelly books, so there will be several of his on my lists throughout the rest of the year.
The Life of Objects by Susanna Moore (library) I really liked this one. WWII sort of upstairs/downstairs (Downton Abbey-esque) a young irish girl goes with a countess to be her maid in Germany during the time leading up to WWII and experiences all the changes that the war brings to the social order.
Agents of Treachery ed. by Otto Penzler (library) Short stories about spies
The Vacationers by Emma Straub (library) a dysfunctional NYC family goes on vacation in Majorca
 The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly (audiobook) I liked this one better than Concrete Blonde.
The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg (library) YA book about a Quiz Team of kids who come together to form a winning team. I had never read it when I was a kid and it was recommended to me. Very good and I will be picking up more books by Konigsburg.
The Real Photo Postcard Guide by Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh I had asked for this one for my birthday and it is really interesting....if you are a postcard collector
Over-Dressed The shockingly high cost of cheap fashion by Elizabeth Cline (library) Learned a lot about the over consumption of clothes. And I feel good about buying at consignment and thrift. AND getting things repaired when they break. So glad that I don't fall into the trap of needing the latest trendy thing OR getting a dozen shirts in every color just cause they are $3 at Old Navy.
The Dark End of the Street ed. by Jonathan Santlofer and S. J. Rozan (library) Short Stories by Crime authors
Black Echo by Michael Connelly moving on through these...this one was good, I think it was the first one and I really ought to be reading these in order, but that has been problematic.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien I read about this book when it first came out years ago and I thought it was non-fiction. It is actually a fictional account of the Vietnam War
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg I told ya I would be reading more of her stuff.
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly I got a lot of reading done during my jury duty stint
Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians by Doris Gove I really enjoyed this detailed guide to the AT. Ryan has some "bare bones" hiker guides (light weight, so the detail is not as extensive) and I really liked her descriptions of the areas including natural history and social history.
Just after Sunset by Stephen King (audiobook) short stories on an audiobook that I listened to while driving Ryan to and from the AT. There will be a lot of audiobooks these next few months.
The Camino by Shirley Maclaine just watched The Way again on DVD and saw this book about the camino in a used bookstore.
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and me, Elizabeth by E. L.Konigsburg (library) I was delighted to figure out that I HAD read this one as a kid. I totally remembered the storyline once I got into it.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Idaho

Idaho is a mountainous state with an area larger than that of all of New England. It borders the  Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, Montana to the northeast, Wyoming to the east,  Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. The network of dams and locks on the Columbia River and Snake River make the city of Lewiston  the farthest inland seaport on the Pacific coast of the contiguous United States.  Idaho's nickname is the "Gem State", because nearly every known type of gemstone  has been found there. In addition, Idaho is one of only two places in the world where star garnets  can be found in any significant quantities, the other being India. Idaho is sometimes called the "Potato State" owing to its popular and widely distributed crop. The state motto is Esto Perpetua (Latin for "Let it be forever").
Since I moved to Washington State in the early 90's I have been able to visit Idaho a lot. Wonderful state!!

Monday's Postcard 2015: Hawaii

Hawaii is the 50th and most recent U.S. state to join the United States. It joined the Union on August 21, 1959. It is the only U.S. state located in Oceania and the only one made up entirely of islands. 
Hawaii is one of four states, besides the original thirteen, that were independent prior to becoming part of the United States, along with the Vermont Republic, the Republic of Texas and the California Republic. The Kingdom of Hawai'i was sovereign from 1810 until 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown by resident American (and some European) businessmen. It was an independent republic from 1894 until 1898, when it was annexed by the United States as a territory, becoming a state in 1959. And I gotta say, one of my favorite vacation destinations. I don't think I could live there, but I do enjoy visiting!

Monday's Postcard 2015: Georgia

I lived in Georgia from 1987 to 1989, just after graduating from college. It was established in 1732, the last of the original thirteen colonies and is named after King George II of Great Britain.  In early 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy and became a major theater of the Civil War.  Major battles took place at Chickamauga,  Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. In December 1864, a large swath of the state from Atlanta to Savannah was destroyed during General Sherman's March to the Sea. Ryan and I will be spending time here for my birthday when he starts hiking the Appalachian Trail this month! Springer Mountain here we come!!!

Monday's Postcard 2015: Florida

I lived in Florida from 1991 to 1994 in Fort Myers and Tampa. And I have had family in Florida for most of my life from Cudjoe Key to Tierra Verde and many other cities in between.

Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who named it La Florida (Flowery Land), Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole  Wars against the Indians and racial segregation after the Civil War. Today, it is distinguished by its large Hispanic community and high population growth, as well as its increasing environmental concerns. Its economy relies mainly on tourism and agriculture, Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges, and the Kennedy Space Center.

Monday's Postcard 2015: Delaware

Before its coastline was explored by Europeans in the 16th century, Delaware was inhabited by several groups of American Indians, including the Lenape in the north and Nanticoke in the south. It was initially colonized by Dutch traders at Zwaanendael, located near the present town of Lewes, in 1631. Delaware was one of the 13 colonies participating in the American Revolution and on December 7, 1787, became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby becoming known as The First State.
I used to spend more time in Delaware back in the 70's when my cousins lived in Wilmington.

Books I read in February 2015

Another Country by Mary Bray Pipher (library) about aging in America and dealing with our aging parents, the change in the family over the years. A great book
Cooked by Michael Pollen (library) loved it, especially the bit about NC BBQ :-)
The Headmaster's Wife by Thomas Christopher Greene (library) okay. nothing to rave about
Savage Girl by Jean Simmons (library) okay, fiction about a girl raised by Indians? Wolves? in 1800's frontier, found and brought back to NYC and there is a murder mystery too
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty (library) Caitlin works in a cemetorium/funeral home. I really enjoyed it.
Revival by Stephen King (library) One of his better in recent years
Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach (library) a girl takes over someone else's identity online
Worst Noel (library) a collection of short stories about horrible Christmases
The Long Valley by John Steinbeck short stories by Steinbeck
Deadline by John Sandford (library) a Virgil Flowers thriller
The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel (library) I really like her stuff, I have another one in my library queue. This one was about a man whose family is involved in fencing stolen goods and he tries to get out of the family business and go straight
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (library) The book that the movie was based on....a little slow in bits, but enjoyable over all
Brilliance by Marcus Sakey (library) A future where folks have special gifts (sort of like intellectual X-Men) and a terrorist plot....it was okay
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson  getting excited about Ryan's hike of the AT starting next month, so was enjoying this one again!
The Lola Quartet by Emily St John Mandel (library) I am just a huge fan of this author now!! Can't wait for her to write some more stuff!! I liked this one for the same reason that I liked Station Eleven. The characters stories are all interwoven and they are all connected on many different levels.
An Attempt At Exhausting a Place in Paris by Georges Perec I read a wonderful review of this book and it made me want it. It is all about sitting and observing and what happens when nothing happens. No murder or divorce or fighting or shoot outs. Just life happening all around you.I liked it, but it is definitely not for everyone

Monday's Postcard 2015: Connecticut

Connecticut is the third smallest state by area, the 29th most populous and the fourth most densely populated of the 50 United States. Commemorative stamps issued by the United States Postal Service with Connecticut themes include Nathan Hale, Eugene O'Neill, Josiah Willard Gibbs, Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, the whaling ship the Charles W. Morgan which is docked in Mystic Seaport, and a decoy of a broadbill duck.
I'm looking forward to spending more time in Connecticut this year when Ryan hikes the Appalachian Trail!

Monday's Postcard 2015 - Colorado

Colorado is one of my favorite states to visit The state was named for the Colorado River, which Spanish explorers named the Río Colorado for the ruddy (Spanish: colorado) silt the river carried from the mountains. On August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state in the centennial year of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Monday's Postcard 2015 - California

California is so big....I had to include more postcards!!  It is the most populous state,  home to one out of eight Americans (38 million people), and is the third largest state in area (after Alaska and Texas).  Sacramento is the state capital.  California contains both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States (Mount Whitney and Death Valley), and has the 3rd longest coastline of all states (after Alaska and Florida)

Monday's Postcard 2015 - Arkansas

Arkansas is often stereotyped as a "poor, banjo-picking hillbilly" state, a reputation dating back to early accounts of the territory by frontiersmen in the early 1800's.  Arkansas has in reality produced such prominent figures as William Fulbright, Douglas MacArthur, Sam Walton, Johnny Cash and Bill Clinton.

 

I don't have many postcards from Arkansas, maybe Susan Noecker Michel  and Deborah Stevens can help me out with that!!