books

Gary Kinder, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea (1998). This had its longeurs - I've been working on it for months - but also its racy parts. It's the story of an 1857 shipwreck (racy!) and the search for it and recovery of the ca. 100 million dollars worth of California gold. Since it sank in 8000 feet of water, there were a lot of technological challenges. This is salvage, not underwater archaeology, so I have some residual squick about the whole thing based on my former career. Longeurs came in the endless discussions of technology, investors, etc. I think mr. flea would like it, but it's way too long for him.

Jennifer Crusie, What the Lady Wants (reread).

Faber and Maslin, Siblings Without Rivalry. This is very simply written and a fast read, but also remarkably effective. The techniques work instantly (broke up a squabble between mr. flea and Casper the day I read it.) More geared towards older (i.e. verbal and sentient) children. But it's an easy enough read that you can read it now and re-read periodically for refreshment.

holiday tv

We're watching The Sound of Music on tv and Casper is absolutely captivated. Unfortunately it's going to run very late so she'll have to go to bed long before it's done. What I was little, we had to go to bed when the children sang, "So Long, Farewell."

Also, this is the first time I've ever found Christopher Plummer sexy. Hmm. I must be getting old.