Karen, Author at Pen Projects

November 14, 2021November 14, 2021

Dying to Win

My Interpretation of Squid Game

Note: Spoiler Alert

Netflix’s most watched series, Squid Game, is a phenom. Why? Is it the unabashed violence? The exaggerated character dramas? Its South Korean roots? Could be the stark differences between the players. Or maybe it’s just the idea of deadly child’s play. Regardless, there seems to be no shortage of viewers or contestants who are dying to win.

Despicable Ralph

The first episode offers up our main character. I’ll call him Ralph. Ralph is a 30-something “ne er’-do-well”. He lives with his ailing mother who cooks and cleans for him. Ralph lost his union job and works part-time as a chauffeur. His wife divorced him and took their daughter. Ralph believes his luck will change so he steals his mother’s debit card and uses the cash to gamble. He manages to win a bundle after several misses. That’s good, right?

Could have been if he didn’t owe money to the local loan sharks, who happen to chase Ralph at the casino. Ralph runs and collides with a girl (I’ll call her Suzi). Turns out Suzi is a skillful pickpocket. Once cornered in the public restroom by the loan sharks, Ralph reaches for the cash, which is no longer in his pocket. Uh-oh! Ralph negotiates one last chance. Repay on deadline or give up organs. Hmmm, is that a “thing” in Korea?

The Thrill of Winning

By this point Ralph has proven his unworthiness to himself and to us viewers. As he is slithering back home, via the rail, he meets a stranger who engages him in a game. It’s a Korean version of Slap Jack – only different. Each time Ralph loses, the stranger slaps him. Across the face. If only Ralph had money, then he could have avoided the slaps.

Ralph finally wins and as he readies to slap the stranger, he is rewarded with cash! The stranger also gives him a card. On it is a phone number. The other side is decorated with a circle, a triangle and a square. An invitation to play more games.

Ralph makes the call and is picked up by a van filled with sleeping people. He’s excited at the prospect of winning big money but quickly falls asleep when the van fills with gas.

A New Kind of Child’s Play

Enter the House of Games! Ralph finds himself in a warehouse filled with other people, all wearing the same crayon green warm-up suit. And they are numbered. Ralph is the last, number 456. He buddies up with an old man, number 001. 001 is frail and doesn’t seem capable of playing any game, much less winning.

Ralph notices Suzi is there and so is his neighborhood buddy, Sam. Several other contestants emerge, all of which are in some form of financial distress.

The caretakers of the games are dressed in hot pink boiler suits with hoods and black masks. A stark contrast to the green track suits. Their masks have one of three shapes: square, triangle, circle. We’ll call them the Pinks. The Pinks are like robots. Void of emotion and carrying weapons.

Shock and Awe

The first of six games is Red-light, Green-light. This is how it’s played: One player, in this case a giant Baby Doll, turns their back on the other players. Baby Doll calls Green Light and the other players race toward her. She turns around and calls Red Light for all the players to stop. Baby Doll has roaming, movement-detecting eyes. The players who moved are eliminated. With a bullet. Ralph is paralyzed by this new turn of events. Which is good because he’s not moving. But Sam reminds him that a clock is ticking and there is a finish line to cross.

A lot of, not so smart, players freak out by the violence and run in the other direction. Only to be sprayed with automatic weapons. Improving the odds for Ralph and his friends.

Back in the warehouse, Ralph makes a stand. He wants to go home and others agree. It’s a good thing the Pinks have ‘Yes and No’ buttons handy so everyone can vote. The old man has the last vote to break the tie. He takes forever to decided, like the demented dude that he is meant to be. Ralph’s team wins and everyone goes home.

What Now

But wait, there’s eight more episodes! You guessed it; they return but with different attitudes. Every man or woman for themself. Plenty of interesting sub-plots to enjoy that I won’t go into. One has to do with organ harvesting. I guess it is a thing.

Throughout the games we viewers feel compassion for some of the characters and learn to hate others. So, in the sixth episode, many of our favorites are “eliminated” in the one-on-one game of marbles. Sigh…

If you want to know more, you’ll need to watch it. Or not. My personal ‘shock absorber’ is to close my eyes at certain, uncomfortable parts.

I am amazed at the record-breaking audiences for the show. I am also, somewhat ashamed to have been one of them. Squid Game is a source of entertainment filled with the unexpected. Sharp contrasts of colors and themes. And believable characters that are all dying to win.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021

Captured by Indians

~ History ~

Some of my earliest memories come from my childhood in Texas. My grandfather loved hearing me say, “I’m a Texas Partner”. I wore my Annie Oakley outfit at every opportunity. I watched a movie called “The Searchers” with John Wayne and Natalie Wood. My first exposure to a tale about a girl captured and raised by Indians. I was enthralled and secretly wished to be that girl.

The Searchers Movie Poster — https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-10-17/american-icons-searchers

Over the years two more prize winning films hit theaters. In the 1970’s Little Big Man and in the 1990’s Dances with Wolves. Tons of others did not become blockbusters. There are heaps of books, too. Some were written and/or narrated by the captors, themselves.

~ A Recent Novel ~

In 2016, the novel, News of the World, by Paulette Jiles was released. Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through Texas in the year 1870. A difficult time for Texas and its post Civil War reconstruction. A veteran of the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War, Kidd wanders from town to town entertaining locals for a dime. He reads newspapers aloud to his audiences, sharing the news of the larger cities.

Captain Kidd stumbles upon an unexpected task. A self-imposed assignment of returning a girl to her remaining family members in Castroville, Texas. The girl, Johanna, was removed from a Kiowa Tribe who captured her four years prior. Johanna has no desire to be anywhere other than with her Kiowa family.

~ Historical Nitty Gritty ~

Captured children assimilated quickly into tribal life. They refused to go back to their civilized lives. Returned kids ended up stuck between two worlds. One world that wanted them and the other who couldn’t have them. Read some of their stories here.

Olive Oatman ~ captured and returned; Read about Olive here

Children from the white homesteads adapted well to Native life. Less stress. There were no crops to tend or livestock to care for. The low maintenance and nomadic lives of the Natives was a lot more fun.

Why did the Natives capture children? Tribal conflicts have gone on for centuries. Survivors of the conflicts were often children. Those children would replace tribal members lost to disease and to wars.

~ The Newest Movie ~

News of the World Movie is now available on HBO. As with most movies made from novels, details were missing. Details that add more insight to the characters. Missing was the depth of confusion and discontent among Texans regarding reconstruction. The movie was, however, engaging on its own. The acting by Tom Hanks as Captain Kidd and Helena Zengel as Johanna was excellent. If you like the movie, read the book. You won’t regret it.

~ Alas ~

Gone are the days of my childhood fantasies. Yet, I’ll never grow out of my love and fascination with the Wild West. Novels and movies alike.

See ya next month, Partner!

Note: This blog is sponsored by Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021

Deacon King Kong

My Review of a Novel by James McBride

The Shooting

One afternoon, a drunken, 71-year-old Cuffy Jasper (aka: The Deacon) nicknamed Sportcoat, walked up to Deems Clemens, the local drug dealer, and shot him. He did this in The Cause Plaza in front of 16 witnesses.

Some Backstory

Deacon King Kong takes place in the fictional Causeway Housing Project (called The Cause) in New York City. The year is 1969. Like any small town, the residents of The Cause know each other and each other’s business. But that’s not the focus of this amusing tale.

The focus is the old, drunken Sportcoat. He drinks the local brew, King Kong and is driven to set a few things straight.

Christmas Fund

Sportcoat’s late wife, Hettie, collected money weekly from fellow members of the Five Ends Baptist Church. She kept it in a safe place. This was how folks saved for Christmas gifts for the children.

For reasons unknown, Hettie drowned in the river two years prior. She never told anyone where the money was kept. Sportcoat has numerous conversations, or rather, arguments with his dead wife regarding the location of the money. To no avail.

Now that the money was missing, the assumed amount has grown from a few hundred to a few thousand. Sportcoat needs to find it or consider himself obligated to pay out of his own pocket.

Baseball

The Cause used to have a good baseball team. Coached and refereed by Sportcoat. Deems Clemens and his pitching skills brought them to the attention of college scouts. Sportcoat had practically raised Deems, who had no guidance from his drunken mother. Sportcoat taught the boy how to pitch.

Then heroin came into The Cause. Young Deems decided selling drugs was more profitable than playing baseball. Though he did have doubts about selling drugs.

In The Meantime

Just outside The Cause lives an Italian bachelor, Thomas Elefante, carrying on the family business of moving stolen goods. Thomas refuses to get into the drug business. He’s also getting tired. He’d like to find a nice, plump country girl and get married. Move away.

One day, Thomas is visited by an old cellmate of his late father’s. An Irishman called The Governor. Before he dies, the Governor would like Thomas to find an artifact that the elder Elefante hid away. Thomas isn’t interested; he’s got enough to do. That is, until he meets the Governor’s plump and single daughter, Melissa.

Another Irishman, NYPD Sergeant Kevin Mullen, aka: Potts, is planning to retire soon. He loves The Cause and the people who live there. Potts is looking for Sportcoat. If for no other reason than to protect him from the retaliation of the drug suppliers. During his search, Potts meets Sister G. Sister G, a leading member of The Cause community, is smitten with Potts. Potts feels the same. But they don’t talk about that. They mostly talk about finding Sportcoat.

The Cheese

Expensive, white folks’ cheese. It’s delivered to the Cause every month and has done for years. No one knows where it comes from except, maybe, Sister Paul. Sister Paul is 102 years old and lives in a nearby home. Sister Paul and Sportcoat’s late wife were friends. Sportcoat ventures out to visit Sister Paul. Perhaps she will shed some light regarding the whereabouts of the Christmas Fund.

James McBride’s tale is witty, sad, beautiful, and ugly in its depictions of love and of prejudice. The multiple characters and cultures are colorful and captivating. The prose is the result of an obvious love for creative writing. I look forward to reading more of his work.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

On the Road Again

Fully vaccinated, Marty and I were ready to satisfy our social needs. He suggested a long road trip in his Porsche Boxster (his other love). I could do that. In the planning stage, the trip grew like Pinocchio’s nose. We would drive from Florida to California and back; 7000 miles. Oh my! I pondered the struggle getting in and out of those bucket seats.

Fortunately, the Porsche had a cruise control problem. The shop couldn’t fix it in time for the trip. Saved! I quietly cheered. We settled on the sensible Subaru Outback.

What About the Cats

Next we needed to find house/pet sitters. We use an online service, Housecarers.com. Contacted a retired couple that has sat for us before and set it up.

I loaded our food supply with, what a Cajun friend refers to as “Ape Food”. Because any ape could prepare it! Noodle bowls, lunchmeat, cheese, crackers and so on.

Overnights

We have family and friends spread out across the country. Marty and I adjusted our flexible schedule to meet those of others. We are thankful for our hosts in New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio, Apache Junction, Palm Springs and Seal Beach.

Priceline was our go to for other overnight stays. Using the app and searching for an Express Deal saved us money and time. Most rooms were nice. Some brought memories of the Bates Motel.

What Else

Then there were a few bucket list items to consider. Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Arches National Park, Utah. Green River, Utah. Fish Lake, Utah. Okay, most of Utah. We also wanted to “experience” some dental work in Mexico. Marty as the test subject, of course.

The outbound journey consisted of visiting people and the dental office. Inbound would include bucket list items.

Medical Tourism

In case you’re curious, the Dental Office is located in Algodones, Mexico. Marty did his research ahead of time. Called and made an appointment. This is how it panned out:

Park at the lot on the US side in Yuma, Arizona for a nominal fee.
Walk across the border.
A driver was waiting for us
The driver delivered us to the dental office.
Marty’s assessment was made and 2 root canals performed. Ouch! (Marty said he didn’t feel a thing)
After treatment, the driver brought us back to the border.

The crowns were ready the next day. The friendly staff filled out and emailed paperwork for our insurance claim. We paid with a credit card. The price was close to half that of the US cost. I should have brushed up on my Spanish.

Success

This journey offered so much for us. We mingled with friends and family we hadn’t seen in years. It was pure joy to be out and about, talking to locals and learning the best places to go for food and fun.

PaloDuroCanyon — Palo Duro Canyon, Texas

RoosterCogburnsOstrich — Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch – Hidden between Apache Junction and Tucson, AZ

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos — The Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park

Dancing Saguaro Cacti — Just a couple of affectionate Saguaros waving at passersby in Apache Junction, AZ

Cave in Arches National Park — A cool and quiet cave in Arches National Park, UT

Me and some big Rocks in Arches National Park

After enjoying much of what Utah has to offer, we headed home. Our last 3 days on the road had few stops and a lot of driving. We were getting mighty tired of Ape Food. Well rested and home again, it’s time to plan our next adventure.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” Author Unknown

Until next month, Adios.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

May 21, 2021June 10, 2021

Missing Virgie

We like road trips. We take a lot of them. Driving along highways. Through cities and farmland. While we drive we listen to audiobooks. We get these books through Audible, our local library and Chirp. Our first Virgil Flowers novel was from the library. That was June of 2020. We are fans of the author, John Sandford. And the book sounded interesting. Turns out, we loved it. We got another one and loved it, too. We became Virgil Flowers’ greatest fans.

Virgil

You see, Virgil is unconventional. He works for the Minnesota Department of Criminal Apprehension. He wears his blonde hair long. Always in a t-shirt, jeans and boots, Virgil likes music and fishing. His collection of t-shirts depicts popular rock bands. He’s been married and divorced 3 times.

Virgil is also honest and kind-hearted. The son of a minister, he talks to God most nights before going to sleep. He keeps his gun in a safe in his truck. Virgil’s friends and co-workers all agree that’s the best place for his gun. Virgil is a poor shot with a pistol. When things get dangerous, he calls down the muscle. Jenkins and Shrake.

Sidekicks and Cases

Jenkins and Shrake are mostly literate and dress in suits and ties. They are hard-drinking thugs that often take the night shift surveillance jobs. They like to tease Virgil whenever possible but they always have his back.

The crimes Virgil investigates are also unconventional. A shootout with Vietnamese spies made headlines. There’s the dog snatchers who sell the full blooded dogs to breeders and the mutts to labs. A mating pair of rare tigers are kidnapped for their body parts. Sold off for medicinal purposes. The cases are many and often more than one in each novel.

Characters

A quote from Holy Ghost:

“Wardell Holland, the mayor of Wheatfield, Minnesota, was sitting in the double-wide he was renting from his mother, a Daisy Match Grade pellet rifle in his hands, shooting flies.”

Each story is filled with rich characters and humorous scenarios. That’s why we looked forward to hopping in the car for a listen. Even if we were just going to the market. Unfortunately, we have listened to all 13 novels.

Now we must carry on without Virgil. So, in parting:

Dear John Sanford,                                                                                     Please write more Virgil Flowers books.                                                                           Regards,                                                                                                           Virgil's Greatest Fans

Until next month, enjoy.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021

Motorcycles and Me

Upon meeting my husband, I discovered he was a motorcycle enthusiast. I assumed motorcycles were dangerous. Those stories of friends who crashed. The road rash. Motorcycles were never on my radar. He was. I opened my mind and took the plunge.

First, I learned the rules:

Always wear your helmet and protective gear.
Always mount and dismount on the left side of the bike.
Wait until he tells me to get on.
Hold on while riding and at stops.
Don’t get off until he tells me to.

My first date on a bike was at night. I wore my cutest outfit. The bike was a BMW R1100R. He loaned me a helmet and jacket. Didn’t really go with my outfit. We rode to a local Fish Camp for the sunset. A 15-mile ride. I slid back and forth on the saddle. Those sexy slacks couldn’t grip the vinyl. Visions of a crash occupied my mind.

We made our destination. My hands and knees were set in a death-defying grip. I was given the order to dismount. It took time. I was doubting the functionality of my radar.

He led me to a nice spot on the deck, facing the river. I had a glass of wine. We talked about everything. I found I liked him more. The sky glowed in hues of red and orange.

For the ride home, I was buzzing. The sky was dark and clear. The moon, almost full, was gleaming. At that moment I discovered a new love. The love of motorcycle riding.

Dirt Bikes Are Fun, Too

A few months into our relationship, we went to California. He had a cabin in the mountains. And he had a dirt bike. There would be some additional rules:

If you get scared, jump off.
When it looks like we’re going down, jump off.
If he tells me to, jump off.

Easy enough. I wore full protective clothing. A jacket with back, shoulder and elbow pads. Pants with knee and hip pads. Helmet, gloves and sturdy boots. I looked like an astronaut.

The ride was amazing. We climbed steep hills. The landscape was like that of a Spaghetti Western. Dry and mountainous.

That dirt ride led me to want to drive. I practiced on a Yamaha XT225 and took a class. Never mastered the figure eight. I could duck walk like a pro, though. My next bike was a Suzuki SV650. Really nice bike. Fast with excellent brakes.

Scooters!

After nine years of playing house, we got hitched. Our honeymoon was a month-long adventure in Thailand.

Scooters are the main mode of transportation there. We rented two of them. Those bikes are considered semi-automatic. Gears to change but no clutch.

Different Country, Different Rules

Drive on the left side of the road
Move to the front of the pack at stops. Scooters have priority.
Splitting traffic (driving between cars) is acceptable.
Yield to scooters loaded down with produce and/or children.
Ride on sidewalks as needed.

Thailand is a beautiful country. We rode over 2000 miles through farms and villages. The residents were always happy to see us. My riding proficiency escalated ten-fold.

Those adventures were the first of many in my adult life. An open mind, respect for the rules and a glass of wine can be very enlightening.

Until next month; enjoy your adventures.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

March 22, 2021July 30, 2021

Ramblings of a Retiree

Tech Me

I love technology. In the old days I was delighted to transition from my enormous Day Planner to a PDA. Cell phones came next. No longer was I stuck in an office setting up appointments. In like manner, the smartphone came on the scene replacing PDA and cell phones.

Yep, technology is a wonderous thing. As long as it works. That’s the ugly. In my house I am the tech whiz. I don’t mind. The Man keeps the cars running. He chops wood. He is stumped by tech.

When a tech misfire begins in the morning it will often fill the day. From tech support to forums to trial and error. By the evening I’ve ignored every Fitbit reminder to move. My head is spinning and my joints have frozen in place. But the issue ultimately is resolved. And life goes back to normal.

Run, Karen, Run

Technology comes in handy for something else I love. Running. I don’t really “run”. I move quickly on two feet. My preferred area to run would be a winding trail through a wood. I can listen to music or work on a story I’m writing. It is my sanctuary. Weather permitting.

That brings me to winter. I am a cold weather wimp. To run in the cold means I have to wear more clothes. Lots of clothes. Cold weather makes my nose run; faster than my feet. I load my pockets with tissues. In cold weather there is no joy in running and I often don’t do it.

By Spring I am ready to retrain myself to move quickly again on two feet.

Easing Into It

My favorite method for starting over is to run a half mile then walk a half mile. Thanks to my Fitbit, I can get half mile cues through my earbuds. I gradually lengthen my run time and shorten my walk time. I do this until I can run 30-60 minutes in one shot.

It is a beautiful thing. At least until my Fitbit fails.

Rambling On

Several months ago I agreed to be part of a Well At Home program provided by my insurance carrier. I received a box in the mail with an in-home blood test for Hep C. This surprised me. How is that related to Well At Home? I decided to follow through with the detailed instructions.

Instructions and More

“Best to perform test in the morning” Wondered if I should caffeinate first.

“Take the test tube out of the box. Stand it on a solid surface.” Test tube? It’s the size of a pencil stub.

“Remove lancets from pack. Choose your finger. Run that hand under warm water. Wipe fingertip with provided alcohol wipe.” Definitely should have caffeinated.

“Twist top off of lancet. Hold fingertip up”. Should use middle finger and add a selfie to the package.

“Press Lancet firmly on fingertip until it clicks.” I didn’t hear the click over my screams.

“Wipe first drop of blood with provided gauze.” What gauze?

“Hold fingertip over test tube.” It’s ¼ inch in diameter!

“Squeeze finger”. Blood on counter.

“Massage finger and squeeze more.” Blood all over both hands.

“Fill tube to line marked on test tube.” There are two lines. I chose the lowest. Scraped blood into tube from hands and finger.

“Follow packing instructions and mail.” Time to opt out of this program.

In closing, I look forward to the day my Fitbit will read my blood profile through my skin.

Until next month, Au revoir!

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

Keeping it Together – Me and King Cake

Last year was a doozy. Did I spell that right? The dictionary agrees I did, but maybe it’s not the right word for last year. I think “doozy” is too positive a word. Last year was frustrating – a bust.

Me

I did a few things that were productive during my isolation. I have been consistent with my exercise program. I’ve done a lot of reading and some writing. Not so productive things like tearing my calf on a bike ride, getting a bout of Vertigo and then a bunch of ridiculous ear issues. Who knew earwax could accumulate to such a degree to cause pain?

Enough of 2020. We survived it! Now we are making plans. Plan A and Plan B. AND we have finally registered for a vaccine! I suppose I shouldn’t get my hopes up; the wait will surely be long.

That brings me to King Cakes. Recently I found a Bernie Meme with a little Bernie poking out of a slice of King Cake. I found it hilarious! However, my friends and neighbors didn’t because they didn’t know about King Cakes. The following is my interpretation.

According to several Christian religions, 12 days after Christmas is the Epiphany. This is the time that the Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus and the beginning of Carnival. New Orleans, by the way, is not the only city that celebrates this. They just do an excellent job.

King Cake

During the 6 weeks of Carnival people feast and have parties and parades. At these parties they serve King Cake.

A King Cake is made of a sweet dough and braided into a circle somewhat like the crown of a king. The outside is covered in icing and/or sugar that is colored green, purple and gold. The three colors honor each of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Inside the King Cake is a tiny baby doll. I think you can guess the meaning of that. Tradition has it that whoever receives the slice of cake containing the baby will host next years party.

Does this make you want to join in the celebration? Word has it that Randazzo’s Bakery has the best King Cake in New Orleans. But there are tons of recipes for those who love to bake; this one is good.

So, is it funny now?

BernieMeme — *Thank you*, *Bernie for lightening things up and being good natured about it.*

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

December 11, 2020December 14, 2020

2020 – Itching to Hit the Road

3,801 miles, 19 Campgrounds and 53 Days in The Good Ole USA

With quarantines, face masks and political uproars we decided (on August 24^th) to take our leave and visit the Northeastern US. With that in mind, we packed the Winnebago for a long haul.

Our first destination was Marietta, OH. An itch Marty needed to scratch after reading some historic novels that were based there.

We Took Our Time

After 6 days of traveling through Georgia and North Carolina we arrived at the Starlight RV Park in Marietta, OH.

A lot of history can be found in Marietta; one of the earliest settlements in the country. Sitting along the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers Marietta was an ideal location for receiving and transporting goods. Founded in 1788, it was hoped to become the nation’s capital. Apparently, the locomotive dissolved those plans.

And there were Shanty Boats that carried whole families along the banks. Whole communities lived on the rivers up into the 1930’s.

We spent several days to explore the area. One gem we ran across is Hocking Hills State Park which is located about 80 miles west of Marietta in a town called Logan, OH. The park offers multiple trails, waterfalls and spectacular rock formations.

Our next itch to scratch would be Acadia National Park in Maine. This would take 17 days of sight-seeing in Pennsylvania, New York and New Hampshire.

Pennsylvania

Oil City, PA was once headquarters for Pennzoil and Quaker State motor oil companies. Located along the Allegheny River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains makes it a nice spot for exploration.

Barker, Mexico, Clayton and Plattsburgh were towns where we spent time on our way to Maine.

From our camp in Barker, NY we visited a Light House at Fort Niagara followed by a stop at Niagara Falls.

In Mexico, NY we discovered the Erie Canalway Trail and biked along 10 miles of its 360 miles (the trail runs between Buffalo and Albany).

In Clayton and Plattsburgh, NY we discovered campgrounds in the middle of farm country with corn stalks as far as the eye can see. I spoke with a farmer there who encouraged me to pick all the corn I wanted from his plot. It was delicious!

From Plattsburgh we drove our heavy RV onto a ferry that took us to Vermont. We then drove across Vermont to Shelbourne, NH. The views were magnificent and the hikes rocky. We went to the Market Basket grocery store where they sell freshly steamed lobster and other NH delicacies.

Bar Harbor Campground in Bar Harbor Maine offers first come, first serve sites. Located close to Acadia National Park, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain and took in the views. Guess what else we found in Maine? Lobster! Steamed in outdoor pots at local Lobster Pounds.

Heading south toward home, our next campsite was in Kingston, NH at a campground just 5 miles from a Market Basket. You know what we did. The possibilities were endless. We filled our tiny RV freezer with them.

Next we headed for Prospect Mountain Campground in Granville, MA. It was a nice, wooded site – unusual for an independent campground. It’s located close to Springfield and Wilbraham; childhood homes for Marty. We visited each and hiked on more rocky trails.

Wilbraham, MA — Marty and his family cleared this land in the late 1940’s and built the house.

Cherry Ridge Campground was our next destination in Honesdale, PA. We found a few trails and some old architecture along the Delaware River.

Delaware River House — House facing the Delaware River on the NY side.

Hesston, PA was the next stay where we found a great Army Corps Campground called Seven Points. For instance, the campground has miles of hiking and biking trails. As well as a rubberized path made from recycled materials that weaves all through the camp and around Raystown Lake. We’ll go back there.

Recycled Path — Caterpillar crossing the recycled path.

Next stop, Virginia and the Shenandoah Mountains. The weather was cold, wet and windy but the scenes were serene.

We wound our way back home staying in NC, SC and GA taking about 5 more days.

It was a great trip that soothed a few itches. Now, home in Tallahassee, we’re brewing up some new itches to scratch.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020

The Goldfinch, a novel by Donna Tartt

My Review

Several years ago, I found a hard-bound copy of The Goldfinch (published in 2013) on an airplane where I was working. It won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for fiction but, after reading a chapter or so, I found its 700+ pages too much bulk for me to drag around in airports and hotels. I passed it on to another Flight Attendant. Then, recently, the audio version became available at my local library; 32+ hours of listening.

The story centers around a 13-year-old boy, Theo Decker, who lives in New York City with his divorced mother; his father having deserted them a few years earlier. Theo narrates the story that begins with the day his mother died.

Mother and son were on their way to a meeting with Theo’s principal and found they were early. Theo’s mother wanted to see an exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum. He’d rather have something to eat than go to the museum but doesn’t mention it because he feels nervous and guilty about the meeting with the principal. In the museum, he is distracted by a red-headed girl, about his age, who is looking at the Goldfinch painting. An elderly man, who is with the girl, is explaining the story behind the painting. Theo’s mother leaves him there so she can look at an exhibit in another salon. The two teens make eye contact. Then a bomb explodes.

Finding himself covered in rubble, Theo stumbles around in search of his mother. He finds the elderly man who had been with the girl. The man is bad shape but he points to the Goldfinch painting in the rubble. He insists Theo collect it and wrap it up, which Theo does as well as putting it in a shopping bag. The man insists that Theo take a ring from his finger and tells Theo where to deliver it. Theo stays with the man until he appears to fall asleep. He then takes the painting and goes in search of help and to find his mother. He finds neither and is, instead, pushed around and ignored in the chaos of the explosion.

That was the beginning of Theo’s path to self-loathing, guilt and self-destruction. He cannot get over the guilt of getting in trouble at school (the reason for the meeting with the principal). He can only think of all the “what if’s” associated with that day. All his conclusions point to him being the cause. He cannot get over the guilt of keeping the painting, wrapped and hidden away, a thing that has somehow replaced his mother.

Theo delivers the ring, as instructed, to an antique shop. He is greeted by another elderly man, Hobie, who was the business partner of the man from the museum. They bond and Theo discovers that the red-headed girl, Pippa, is alive and infirmed there. Pippa and Hobie become sources of hope for Theo. But his life is ever changing. He goes from living with the wealthy family of a school friend in Manhattan to his estranged father in Las Vegas. There he meets a Ukranian boy, Boris, from school who introduces Theo to shop lifting, drugs and alcohol. Two years later Theo’s father dies in a car crash. He leaves Las Vegas and heads back to New York City where Hobie takes him in and teaches him about the antique business.

This should have been a happy time for Theo but the self-loathing won out.

As you might imagine, the story is sad. There is a fascinating story behind the Goldfinch painting, which is real. There are a lot of insights into the antique business. The self-talk of Theo from his teen years to young adult are true to the times. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue between Theo and Boris. I believe the 700+ pages are well worth anyone’s time.

The HBO miniseries, however, would be difficult to follow if you have not read the book.