Perfect rain, light soaker since yesterday evening, enough to keep everything green despite the two year drought but would need a few days of this to also contribute to the eight inch rain deficit/reservoirs. Got a lot in yesterday, so can guiltlessly sit here, drink coffee and read this morning. Finished "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" last night, the third book of Stieg Larrson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tatto" trilogy after which writing the three, he promptly died. Rate them 5-star, 4-star, 3-star (and 3-star means OK in my book, er books...) I really enjoyed them but my suspension of disbelief was becoming frayed. The anti-hero got shot in the head in book two...so I kinda had to find out how that turned out in book three. Full recovery, no problem. er, OK. Nice scene worthy of Hitchcock though when two characters are both bedridden but both want to kill the other person two doors down in a hospital, so a matter of who recovers first. Finished "War and Peace" a few weeks ago which felt like I had been out of the country for ten years. wow. Still turning things over in my heads even disagreeing with a lot of things but that's what makes it a classic, you keep thinking about it. Also very jarring to go from that to relatively light but fun reading. Best soundbite for W&P is if you haven't read it, read it now. The reading's not hard, it's just long w/lots of footnotes. OK, there's a fair amount of French w/more footnotes translating it. Yeah, if you were thinking about it, I agree. Reading 12 books a year has become a habit now so cool in a way, I've remade myself in the last year and a half. Read Edgeman's recommendation "The Lincoln Lawyer" before that, between the girl... and this, who knew I would like detective novels? Surprise to me. Got a nastygram from the HOA and I'll admit the front door and trim was looking a bit beat up, but jeez, it was a "violation" and they referred to a due date (like about two weeks) for "the cure." The cure? is my house sick? Think I'll paint some giant measle spots on it. No biggie, did a little sanding, and power washing last night, biggest problem is a little rot at the bottom of some boards, have to figure something out for that. Maybe at least get the door today, (under the alcove and out of the rain) Little bird's nest behind the front door lamp complicates things, Usually, it's purple finches but not sure of that now. Two pale blue eggs in the nest. Every time i step outside a bird takes off, so get my painting done before they hatch. ** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 3:23:43 PM ** Edited by `lag at 6/28/2026, 3:32:42 PM