The Kite Runner

Our new pick for this month is "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. His website is at: http://www.khaledhosseini.com/

I've only just started but am already enmeshed in the intricacies of the relationships that are portrait.

Isabel Allende writes:

"A wonderful work... This is one of those unforgettable stories that stay with you for years. All the great themes of literature and of life are the fabric of this extraordinary novel: love, honor, guilt, fear redemption...It is so powerful that for a long time everything I read after seemed bland."

Dusk Over Vancouver

Dusk over Vancouver, originally uploaded by Turtlepace.

Copycats

http://www.bubbleshare.com

Are they trying to copy Flickr? Tough luck!

Mama's Fries

Here are healthy fries that don't put money into the pockets of fast food chains. They are easy to make but take a bit of time.

For two small baking trays and to feed a family of four use about 10 large potatoes. Peel the potatoes. Slice them into wedges. The wedges should be able to sit on the tray without falling over. Spray the wedges with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt and curry powder (or other spices to taste). Bake at 175C for 90min or until browned and crispy.

Links - Library Elf

http://www.libraryelf.com/Default.aspx
Cool site to track your library books and manage all your library loans (on different cards) and hold. No more late fees.

Consuming Less

After spending half the day trying to clean-up my kids playroom and having read the article about "compact" - people who vow to not buy anything new (excluding underwear and food) for a whole year - in the Globe and Mail on Saturday I have to admit I am ready to further travel down that road. Not that I haven't taken the turn in the road already (just haven't cleaned up the playroom in a long time and left it up to the kids - mistake).

I am not your typical consumer. I frequent two big box stores out of necessity (food and underwear) and buy my produce at a small neighborhood store. I don't regularly go to a mall or any other stores for that matter. Fashion and fads blissfully pass by me. Frankly, I don't care my dear! We more often than not buy second hand electronics, garden tools and clothes (I have been very fortunate that mother and mother in law dress both me and my husband (we are happiest in fleece and t shirts that we wear to death) and supply hand me downs for the kids from the cousins). We've never owned a new car. We are craigslist afficionados and always post stuff we have grown out off for sale on craigslist.

Yet, there is still too much stuff in the house. Time to clean...once I finish with the playroom of course!

No Traffic on Burrard Street

No Traffic on Burrard Street

Originally uploaded by ClubFatAss.

Ever seen Burrard Street that lonely? Try getting up early on New Years Day and run the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50…