08.31.07
Posted in Books at 15:09 pm by Josh
As promised, this was a magic-filled month for book reading. Nothing is quite so disappointing as finishing the Harry Potter series and realizing that none of it is, in fact, real. C’est la vie, here are last month’s books:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - Can I just tell you that I loved the Tri-Wizard Tournament! Absolute brilliance, fighting dragons and swimming with mermaids. The action begins to get a little rough in this book, and we begin to wonder if J.K. Rowling is writing for children anymore… 5/5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - Whoa, dark. The tides change here as Voldemort continues to gain power and Potter and his crew face the typical trials of developing teenagers. Potter does a lot of self-reflection in this one and for the first time, experiences something that borders complete isolation. This is the longest book, arguable the most difficult, and up to this point, the saddest of the series. But mad props to being realistic and not being afraid to tell the story as it unfolds. 5/5
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - This book may have been my favorite of the bunch (though I’d be hard-pressed to pick just one). There is a level of uncertainty, a level of urgency, and a level of knowing that something rather major is about to happen. I actually teared up a bit at the end, though I knew part of what was coming. I just didn’t realize how it was going to come about. It sets an excellent stage, however, for a killer end to en epic tale. 5/5
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - A thoroughly gripping tale which takes us a bit outside the world of Hogwarts. There was a little confusion at times, but I think that any time you are attempting to wrap up a series that has so many plot twists and lovable characters, you have to get a little heavy in the end. This book proves, once and for all, Rowling’s talent as a storyteller — she is no longer writing the story, but only relaying it to an eager audience with the utmost truth. She does things here that even made me mad. As for the ending — I was a little disappointed at first, but the more I think about it from an author’s perspective, the more I realize that it really couldn’t have ended any other way. So mad props, indeed, and I already miss these characters who, for a month, became my very best friends. 5/5
We Were Soldiers Once…and Young by Lt. General Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Josepth L. Galloway - I loved the movie and thought it was time to read the account from the horse’s mouth. The events at LZs X-Ray and Albany were horrific, mostly because of the poor decisions that led up to the combat. I appreciated, with enthusiasm, General Moore’s honesty, his truth, and his notable lack of bias. The only criticism I have is that the book does little to put basic military terms and activities into context for the average reader. This might detract from the number of people who would otherwise be interested in understanding what happened in the Ia Drang Valley forty years ago. 4/5
Things That I Used To Do That I Don’t Do Anymore (MS) by M. Pohlig - This manuscript was written by a friend at a sister church who I happened to accost one day in the street. Narrating 108 things that Pohlig doesn’t do anymore, the book consists of sharp cynical wit, light-hearted reflections on childhood living, and even a few sad moments to remind us of the many layers the author clearly has. The entries grew longer as the book went on which made me feel like it was dragging part of the way through. Still, an excellent first draft and as far as I know, a very unique idea. (In accordance with Alissa Wilkinson’s rating system — which I stole for my own blog – I will not give this MS a score as it is yet unpublished and unedited.)
There you have it, kids. Looks like murder mysteries and mainstream fiction for September. Enjoy the last days of summer, for when I see you again (in this context) it shall be fall 
.
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08.29.07
Posted in Writing at 12:37 pm by Josh
Autumnal breeze reminds me when the world was as it should be
And the joys I thought would never end
Were plentiful and new
Alas, what dreams I’ve left to dream
Of dreams long overdue
Where tailgate shows on extension cords
And costumes made of junk
And cigarettes and candy corns
Were more important than she
Oh! What I would give
That something,
Something
Mean more to me than she
~J. Cacopardo, 2007
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08.28.07
Posted in Theology, Random Thoughts at 11:01 am by Josh
3:4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the young man. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
I was tickled by an image of God standing there, tapping His foot, calling to a particularly dense young man, trying to get his attention. Interesting, isn’t it, how the Lord does not give up on our willingness to be oblivious? He just keeps standing there, calling our names until we reply…
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08.27.07
Posted in Announcements at 16:19 pm by Josh
I just want to say on my blog, that I apologize for all of the mean things I said about Amazon.com yesterday when their tracking tool told me that I wouldn’t be receiving my goods until September 10, despite ordering them on August 20. My package came today .
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08.22.07
Posted in Pictures at 20:55 pm by Josh
Fixed.
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Posted in Life at 08:34 am by Josh
The 2007 Ragnavok vacation is now, officially, a wrap. View photos here (for real, this time).
The players this year were The “Q” family (as always, given that they own the island…), Jessica, Grayce Katharine, and Yours Truly. Yes, that means it was quiet (except for Grayce Katharine who is nine-months-old and determined to walk), but it was nice to have a quiet week away from the world. For many of us on this vacation, life has been…well…not as swell as we might have liked over the past year or more and I think it was beginning to take a toll.
Some highlights: Tuesday morning we woke up at 4:30 to drink mimosas while watching the sunrise. We were inspired by the opportunity to greet the lousy carpenters who didn’t show up the day before as planned, citing a concern about rousing a sleeping baby as the cause of their laziness. Instead, we were extremely rude to the meter-reader because we didn’t know who he was. The carpenters were an hour-and-a-half late, and we forgot why we were down there in the first place.
Then there was Canada where we got Kilkenny (my favourite beer), Cuban cigars (which we left in Canada, of course…), and I picked up the UK version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The UK version, by the way, is much more compact, and quite preferable to the gross waste of paper exercised by US publishers. Much of this was paid for by some of the $900 we collected selling junked copper to a Canadian steel mill. I know; you wish you could live my life, just because it’s so f-ed up all the time.
Speaking of Harry Potter, there was one day where I was reading book seven, Katie was on book six, Callie was on book four, and Jessica had just started book three. We must have looked really cool sitting in the screen room that afternoon. At least we had cocktails.
There was a blistering storm on Friday which Graycie loved, probably because she was the only one wrapped in a towel as we braved 50 mph winds in an extremely light-weight cigarette boat. Not the most scared I’ve ever been, but possibly the coldest. It was an adventure, though, to say the least.
In total, we toppled thirty bottles of wine, a handle of Cruzan, two bottles of Cava, and a standard amount of beer. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
If you want to hear more, well, call me, damnit, because AT&T is about to cut me off from rollover minutes and I could use the freakin’ company. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures. I hope to talk to you soon 
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08.20.07
Posted in Pictures, Funnies at 20:14 pm by Josh
Grayce Katharine Howe may be the cutest baby ever. Here’s a small sample, more to come when I post the island pictures from this year.
Arrrrgh
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08.10.07
Posted in Writing, Funnies at 10:57 am by Josh
This is some of the most important information you may ever read.
Thanks, Alissa 
(and Kristen!)
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Posted in Weather at 08:39 am by Josh
Life has been…well…wet, here in New York City. I was getting ready to complain to myself this morning (I’ll discuss that practice another day) when I realized that there was really nothing to complain about. Save a couple of over-heated days, it has been a very nice summer, weatherwise, and the recent river running through the city means that (hopefully) no one will be screaming “drought!” before the end of August. I’ve always hated that about the tri-state area.
I thought I had more to say, but I don’t. Sorry.
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08.08.07
Posted in Today, New York City, Work at 20:11 pm by Josh
The day started out a little shaky: I descended the stairs into the 2,3 station at 125th Street only to find out that the subway line had been flooded. The 4,5 wasn’t running either, but the Transit employee said that the A was running on 8th Ave. I hauled over there in the sticky, 90-degree morning just in time to learn that the A line was flooded as well (and since it runs on the B line up here, that was useless, too).
I walked to 103rd and Central Park West where I’d hoped to catch a bus. All in vain. The buses were packed, and commuters were lined up along the sidewalks as though MTA was handing out free morning cocktails. I thought about it before resolutely making a decision. I took off my jacket, my dress shirt, and my tie and folded them as neatly as possible before stuffing them in my bag. Birkenstocks already donned (I never go to work in my shoes), I put Hampton Comes Alive on my iPod and began truckin’. 96th Street, 72nd Street, 59th Street…I wasn’t halfway to Brooklyn. I was thirsty. I needed water. But then I’d need a bathroom. What should I do?
I remembered that we have two Manhattan offices, both within walking distance (since everything now seemed accessible by the Two-Foot Express). I paid $2.05 for a water at Cosi, guzzled it down, and made for the 34th Street office for a bathroom break. I entered in a t-shirt, soaked through with sweat. The trip took me two-and-a-half hours by foot, and I was still miles from where I was supposed to be. Miraculously, my boss took pity. “Stay here in Manhattan,” he says. “Some of the 29th Street staff didn’t make it in. You can go there.”
And I did just that. It turned out to be a very quiet day and I realized that I actually wouldn’t loathe my job (the company is a different story) so much if I didn’t have to work with Brooklynites. They really are extra horrible over there. Anyway, I spent most of the day following the subway service advisories on MTA’s rather dull website and routing people accordingly. I should get overtime pay from MTA.
And now I’m catching up on Harry Potter which I’d planned to read diligently if I’m to finish this book before going to Ragnavok on Sunday. Four-hundred pages, three days: I’d say those are fighting odds.
In the meantime, I’m going to consider carving a boat for tomorrow’s commute. Just in case.
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