I just got books in the mail, my lovely Harlequin's. Why do I love them? Well, they always end happily -- as many of my writing friends say they are HEA's (Happily Ever Afters). They read quick and don't take up a lot of my attention.

I just finished Bob Newhart's memoir, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This." A great book, I really enjoyed it. I think I would really love to sit and have a little conversation with him. Though reading the book I'm not sure I would've liked growing up with him and his practical jokes. My Dad wasn't bad, but Bob was really clever. Plus, he says where and when the idea came up for the ending to his 1980's TV show, "Newhart."

I've ordered Carrie Fisher's new memoir, "Wishful Drinking." Ken Levine from the by Ken Levine blog recommended it with a little snippet. I tried to go see her show in Washington DC when I was there this summer, but alas there were no tickets to be had for the nights I had left before going back to Seattle. Bummer. I've always enjoyed listening to her stories on TV and she's hilarious. I wish I had that kind of sense of humor about what sounds l ike a very difficult life.

I got $130 in Barnes & Noble and Amazon gift certificates. I spent it all in one day. I ordered music by Joni Mitchell, Jennifer Warnes, Motown, and Stax, books by Todd McCaffrey, Carrie Fisher, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and more. What a wonderful time I had! If you have a reader in the family it truly isn't an impersonal gift to give.

Benjamin Button

I really liked this movie. I've always kind of liked Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, but loved them in this film. I did have a few problems with some of the directoral and writing choices. The hummingbird thing -- didn't get it. Benjamin leaving Daisy while they were so close in age -- didn't get that either. I get that he wanted to give the baby a father to grow up with, not really having had one of his own -- but I still don't agree. If it had come when Daisy looked much older and people were thinking she was a lech or whatever it would've been called back then, yeah I get it. Unlike many of the critics I found no problem with the Katrina stuff -- it was real life and so much of that life had taken place in New Orleans.

On a side note: Movies in Oz are darn expensive and the concession food isn't much cheaper. They're pretty blatant about bringing in food from home so I guess the theater's don't have too much of a problem with it. But it the theater I go to in Woden has lovely seats with step down seating so even if a tall guy sits in front of me I have no problem seeing, yipee!

This is one of my favorite pictures from my India trip. Though I didn't enjoy myself as much as I had hoped I did think it was an experience not to be missed.