What I have been reading

I have read, or am in the process of reading: Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami - a strange but generally fantastic story, including a man who talks with cats; Mutant Message From Forever, Marlo Morgan - very interesting portraits of some aboriginies in Australia; The Girl With The Drago Tattoo - writing that to me is so good I don't want to read it because then I will be finished and won't have more - kind of like eating a wonderful icecream, or thanks to Dr. Hsu's daughter Emmie, who recently visited one evening at the end of her tour of parts of Australia and New Zealand, Haigh's chocolates from Australia. Things we have eaten lately of note, from a shop that sells South African goods and local cuts of meat - baby back ribs and kasser, I think it is - a cured pork chop - will get back to you on the spelling; and from our own efforts, fresh spinach and a few strawberries from our garden; and from our own kitchen, waffles with a recently acquired waffle iron that makes heart shaped ones; and some good cheese from local cheese makers. When we can find one we plan to plant a Japanese maple in the front of the house bed. Many of the blooms I saw last week are gone, but new ones keep coming, including lots of roses in other yards and some in our front of the house bed. The lawn is not so good, weedy and patchy so I may call in some help. Emily is having a small party on Haloween. Joseph is visiting with friends and seeming to enjoy school and has a couple, well at least one, project(s) going. Mom is busy at work. I have finally had all the amalgam out of my mouth, and all my crowns are now procelain, with non-amalgam fillings under them. We are healthy, even if not wealthy and wise, and hope all of you who read this are all three. Sincerely, Manford