I don't know how this happened, but I'm currently reading 2 books by a South Asian (Indian) writer, a novel by a white man about South Asians in France, and a book by a native American (red Indian) writer. They are:

Q&A - Vikas Swarup's novel, the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" is based on. If you haven't seen the film, it is worth seeing.

Six Suspects - Swarup's followup novel. So complicated, I put it aside, but worth continuing. About the corruption that is rife in India, and a bureaucrat who thinks he is Mahatma Gandhi.

Hundred-foot Journey by Richard Morais. About a young man from Bombay who is destined to cook great food - but in France?

Flight by Sherman Alexie is about a troubled native American teenager. His short story from Lone Ranger and Tonto was the basis for Smoke Signals, which may be the first film about native Americans.

All of this reading, of course, makes me hungry. Tonight we had chicken curry with rice and a fantastic chutney made my Winnie Wilson. There will be more in future, though it may come out of a package.

At the moment, I can't think of native American food besides succotash and fry bread. But I can cook corn and tomatoes. This recipe for 3 sisters soup sounds wonderful. Happy reading and cooking!

Shout out to Lika: perhaps her NDN based blogging is passing on the writing bug?

I was hoping to get to the computer before the first day of August, so it wouldn't look like I'd left off writing so long.

It's not that there aren't things to write about. Life has been full of luscious tomatoes, lively music and turning points. It's just that I've found I need some distance from events before I can write about them.

First of all, the bird has flown the nest. He now resides in the land of main, although he still lives on with us in the form of about a hundred pounds of books. We've already mailed off 300 pounds. (Yes, we are the biggest private benefactors of USPS.COM. I have a bone to pick with their agents at the other end, which I many someday be able to write about. Just NOT NOW.) Anyway, who knew all THIS would be the ultimate result of exposing the kid to the Friends of the Library book sale, and the joy of reading?

Creativity, too, comes in spurts - a week of making up recipes for things that are in abundance: pinto beans, tomatoes, avocados or eggplant. These resulted in, respectively: hummus, bruschetta, guacamole and, for the latter, ratatouille AND Korean garlic and sesame eggplant. Yum! I will never buy another cheap, crappy, supermarket tomato. I decided that if I buy wonderful, albeit more expensive produce, I WILL eat it all up. If you want the recipes, ask and I will happily share them with you.

Enjoying all those veggies - plus oatmeal - has had the welcome effect of bringing all the numbers into the happy zone. You know, THOSE numbers that were edging toward being too high or too low? The ones you dread discussing with your doctor after the vampires at the clinic have liberated some of your vital fluids?

So even if I am still round, my innards are in wonderful shape!

Do I miss meat? Yes. I still want that Morton's Steakhouse NY steak that takes me 3 days to eat. The occasion is usually a celebration marking one more year ABOVE GROUND. One third of that slab of beef is enjoyed the first night - and it sure tastes better when someone else is paying for it! - along with one or two glasses of really good red wine, finished off with a piece of Key lime pie. The second third is eaten with eggs for breakfast the next morning. The final third is usually slices in a decadent sandwich with juicy tomatoes. I usually eat a steak that large and good only once a year, because I enjoy having someone else cook it AND serve it to me!

In between, I sometimes make do with a hamburger. I have found that the best tasting ones are those I make myself. Start with 93 or 95% ground beef. If you can find chuck that is that lean, that's good, too. Season it with salt, pepper and Worcestershire. No eggs, crumbs or other filler, please. Form into small patties no wider than 4 inches across and no more than half an inch high. Handle as little as possible and make a thumbprint on each side - this ensures the middle will be cooked, too.

Sear on the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, and the second side for 2 to 3 minutes. Medium but still juicy is a beautiful thing. Remember they keep cooking after you take them off the heat, too. They will look awfully small, but when you add all the good stuff, you'll find you can only eat one! Immediately top with a slice of Muenster or Havarti so it melts a bit, and assemble with grilled slices of good bread like ciabatta or focaccia, and a little mayo. Top with thick slices of tomato, grilled onion and some spinach or arugula - better than lettuce! Add as much ketchup as you can stand. Hey - it's got lycopene, which is an antioxidant. Serve with a few really good chips and a mojito. And eat it outdoors - because it will taste better - just take my word for it and do it!

In other issues: is there life after the Census? It comes to a close this month, and it appears there will be no rest for the weary. After almost 2 years away from Libraryland, there will now be a return to it. This will be temporary with the possibility of more to come. Since I've had a bit of time to think about it, I'm now feeling both anticipation and dread. And the circumstances that brought this about are sure interesting, to say the least. Stay tuned for more developments!

Have your SO pick up poke from Paina and sushi from Ward Sushi, and some soft drinks. Head to Kakaako Park - avoid the horrid potholes in the parking lot near John Dominis, park and find a picnic table. Enjoy the food, company and incredible views: surfers, sailboats, commercial and pleasure craft. Not enough?

Gaze at green mountains, rainbows, clouds of all colors. Then take a walk. Head west to see the Waianae mountain range and the promenade of dog walkers, Segways, ski pole walkers and homeless. Stroll east for views of Point Panic, Kewalo boat harbor and Waikiki and Diamond Head in the background. Stay to watch the sun set behind the mountains.

Lucky you live Hawaii!

Go straight from work to the Honolulu Academy of Arts Honolulu Academy of Arts Park on Victoria Street. You'll have to feed the meter for an hour's time, but it's close by, so worth it. Pay the $10 admission - or it's free if you're a member.

You'll be there on the ONLY night the Academy is open - the second Thursday of the month - for aloHAA. aloHAA After checking in for your sticker, pop into gallery 14 for a look at the exhibit there.

Now, head right for the Pavilion Cafe. Buy enough scrip to get some food and a cocktail, wine or beer. Or water or a soft drink, if you MUST. Note: the margarita was STIFF, and resulted in loud women at an adjacent table!

Relax, and around 6 pm, the Chris Yeh jazz quartet starts: 4 young guys who play seriously old school sounds. Not quite as dry as a Paul Desmond martini, but still very tasty. Gaze at the amazing Jun Kaneko "dango" sculptures, the soft water feature beneath them, and the serene face of your significant other having a swell time. When the set is over, talk to the musicians - 4 fellows who clearly love what they do.

Then head for gallery 28 and the print show: http://www.honoluluacademy.org/cmshaa/academy/index.aspx?id=5162 Prepare to be amazed by the Academy's works from master of light and dark, Winslow Homer, the singular vision of Thomas Hart Benton, the power of Kathe Kollwitz, and the mind of Marcel Duchamp. You will each of you find something that captivates.

If you can tear yourself away, return to the cafe for the final jazz set, and another drink. Things wrap up around 8 pm, but you still have time for modern art gallery 27. Check out my favorite painting, by Francis Bacon. Powerful!

Visit a courtyard - the Chinese is our family favorite - and see our old sculpture friends. I've known the Kwan Yin since I was 6 or 7 years old. DH's inspirations are the fierce temple guardians. Finally, head out into the night, and you'll want to take a long walk to discuss all you've enjoyed.

Art, jazz, food, drink - what's not to love?

The next aloHAA event is scheduled for Thursday, July 8th, from 5 pm to 9 pm. PLEASE, don't all rush to be there.

I kinda liked all the elbow room, and choices of where to sit!

I've been thinking about this quotation the DH shared with me: "Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

That Eleanor had some life of the mind! I do think it reads better backwards, though. Start with the "Small minds..." Don't you think?

Here's another one from her: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." From what little I've read about her, she was all about doing rather than merely thinking, and just getting on with it.

I love great quotations, and those 2 have made me a fan of her. I'm off to look for the definitive biography of Eleanor Roosevelt.

If you haven't had enough quotes from Eleanor, here are some more.

Don't laugh.

But this is the kind of dreams I have.

I'm in Paris in a large, white room. My family is waiting for me to change clothes so we can see the city together. I can see the lovely skyline through an open door.

But I'm looking in my suitcase for something to wear, and all I see is one pink striped shirt. 4 slacks that don't go with it. And 5 ugly pairs of shoes - mocassins, Birkenstocks and Crocs - that I would not be seen DEAD in.

And NO guidebooks or maps.

So, yes, folks, for me THAT would be a NIGHTMARE. To be in one of my favorite cities in the world, with nothing to wear and no research or help to get around.

Go ahead and laugh!

But what is YOUR idea of a nightmare?

As gray as we are, there is still a little kid in both of us. Take the DH. He doesn't just LIKE Christmas, he LOVES it. Not the gifts - he hates shopping, doesn't ever know what to give. Evidence: one Christmas, I got an IRON. As a GIFT? I retaliated with a VACUUM CLEANER!

Guys, appliances ARE NOT GOOD GIFTS!!! DH loves the MUSIC, DECORATIONS and LIGHTS of the season. In his classroom, he puts up a small tree and lights - in OCTOBER, BEFORE Halloween. C-r-r-razy!

We were talking about where we want to travel if we ever have any money (so hard with furloughs/temporary jobs/reduced income/expensive child). NOT Vegas - we are about the only local people we know who have never been there.

It's been 30 long years since we've been to Europe together: "Paris", I said, dreaming of the Seine, the museums, the quality of light. "And Italy, for the food, the museums..."

"How will we go, on a tour?" Asked the DH.

"NO WAY!", I answered, "As long as we can still walk, Eurail is the way to go."

"Then," he said quickly, "pack light!" I bus' out laughing, and he grabbed me for a hug.

We were sitting in the park, counting the stars, like the old people we are.

"OK," I said, 'we'll add Germany for you!"

Then I asked him if he remembered one of our first dates, when we were so hot from sketching near Hanauma Bay and being at the beach. I looked at some nearby lawn sprinklers and dared him to run through them. And we did.

And we still would.