Say it ain't so, Jo!

Jo Rowling recently has disclosed that Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is or rather was gay. That would explain the light blue and the purple robes he wears.

I don't know. If it didn't happen in the books, it didn't happen. Not very brave of her to trot out this characteristic of Dumbledore after all the books are written and sold. Probably should have been left alone.

I still love the books. My kids and I discuss them often, usually involving utterly impossible hypothetical situations.

Lucy, struggling

I was stooped over, peering into the fridge this morning looking about unable to find what I was looking for. Then it dawned on me that I did not remember what I was searching for. I stood up, looked about the kitchen, and then down at the floor and saw Lucy our cat bumping into my feet. Ah yes, Lucy needs food. Another scan of the shelves in the refrigerator and I spot her can of food. After spooning out a bit of food, I pick up Lucy and point her nose at the food and she begins eating.

After 20 plus years Lucy can no longer see very well, if at all. We have had to confine her to the kitchen because she was getting boxed in places, bumping into things, and tangled up underfoot. Not to mention hitting the correct spot in, um, eliminating was not very good either. Add this to her near total hearing loss, renal failure (her food is prescription only), back legs not working so hot, and weight of about 4 pounds, and there is not much of her left to go wrong. She has an awkward sleeping position as well, much like an upright fetal crouch of some sort. It is difficult for her to be comfortable.

On the other hand, she eats with energy, looks alert - her nose is in the air sniffing much of the time, and does not appear to be in pain. She asks to be fed often.

Personally I think Lucy is still with us because she wants to be. She hasn't decided to quit yet. There is something about our family she holds on to. All of our kids have not known a day of their life without her. Its been a long road for Lucy, and she still walks on, mainly bumping into stuff now.

Before I could begin this entry, I had to find my reading glasses, 150's now and probably on my way to 175's, and my right elbow and forearm is aching from keyboard usage most of the day.

Slow reader

In his book On Writing, Steven King admits to being a slow reader. In a period of a year he will read between 60 to 70 books. That few!? King does listen to books as well as reads them. Jasper Fforde in his talk at the booksigning here in Austin says he is never without something to read. Fforde will read anything in any genre - he loves stories.

I have been counting lately how many books I read. For September, I read On Writing, First Amoung Sequels by Fforde, and One Good Dog by Jon Katz. The Katz book I listened to on tape. That's 3.

To date in October I am "0 for". I am about 100 pages in Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing, using book and recording, about 100 pages into Q-School by John Feinstein, and 1 chapter into From Jesus To Christianity, a text being used at church class. This is why for the longest time I read mostly short stories, simply because I could finish them before losing interest or starting something else.

I guess my question is how they get all that reading done? I've often wondered how much other people read and where I fit. Is 3 books a month average? I think I am going to aim for a book a week, Sunday to Saturday. That's probably 50 pages a day!

The biggest threat to my goal is that I tend to fall asleep, especially if laying down, late at night, on the bed, with the fan running.