Ireland, Wales, England, Brussels, Netherlands, and Germany.

First 5 days were great, they've had a tougher road the last few days. They stayed in both Brussels and the Netherlands for only a day as it wasn't their cup of tea.

Stay tuned...

Spenser goes to Europe

Spenser left on Saturday for a 7 week backpacking trip of Europe with his friend Ashleen.

He was quite freaked out by the time we got to the airport, but he did make it safe and sound to Ireland.

I'm very excited for him, I'm sure they will have a wonderful time. I'm not thrilled about them going to Morocco - but it's not up to me.

When he returns I expect that he will have grown up much more, and be more independent.

A great book ... with an awful ending.

So ..... I'm new to this whole reading for pleasure thing, and let's be honest - I'm not really reading.
My reading is pretty much consumed with scientific journals.

However for the last year and 1/2 I've been doing books on tape. I find my books by those top rated in Amazon, or that I hear talked about. Once in awhile I'll pick something off the shelf at the library when I don't already have something requested and waiting. Mostly non-fiction stuff. Once in a while I do fiction, and that is the reason for my blog today.

Yesterday I finished "The story of Edgar Sawtelle"
http://www.edgarsawtelle.com/

This book is fairly long ... 18 discs ... the author did an amazing job of drawing me into the character and the dogs. It was the type of book I didn't want to get out of the car. I would sit another minute at work, and eat in my car during lunch. It was a wonderful story, until ...
Last night I finished the book. The last few pages were awful. Without spoiling it for everyone ... the bad guys came out the winners.
I'm very disturbed. The book was easily a 5 star for me, until the horrible ending. I know in life not everything works out - but I'm not sure how I feel about investing so much in a story like this. I feel betrayed by the author.
Fiction is a crap shoot ... you are a puppet in the authors hand. They coerce you down the road, and then push you off the cliff!

Sandia Peak Tramway

"The Worlds longest passenger tramway".

Started running : 1966

Span: 14, 657 feet

Height: 10,378

Albuquerque, New Mexico

I'm in New Mexico for the week for work.

I've never been to New Mexico, but it is a surprise to me. I thought that it would be like Arizona, but it's not. In fact, I've not seen one Palm tree, or cactus yet. And where are the bugs? There are no bugs!?!

But my biggest surprise is... Where are the people? There are really no people on the roads or in the stores. I'm so used to seeing so many people that the desert really does feel deserted... I like it. :-)