War and Peace

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I believe that I have solved a huge problem here. Nobody need read Part Two of the Epilogue anymore. For those of you who have already not read Part Two of the Epilogue, I have gotten it down to a page. Here it is:

Little Big Man

I love embed code and internet gadgets like that. I could not resist trying this one, which links to my long standing book discussion group, Constant Reader, at www.goodreads.com:

Little Big Man by Thomas Berger


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this novel cover to cover over three days in Mexico lying in bed with a fever. Read a little. Nap a little. Read a little. Nap a little. I highly recommend this approach to it. Jack Crabb relates his adventures in the Old West as he alternately lived with and fought against the plains Indians. His fictional voice comes so alive that you start talking back to him.

I am hard pressed to think of any better American picaresque novel.

In the name of everything sacred, I beg you. Please do not suggest On the Road in response.

View all my reviews >>

Little Big Man by Thomas Berger


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this novel cover to cover over three days in Mexico lying in bed with a fever. Read a little. Nap a little. Read a little. Nap a little. I highly recommend this approach to it. Jack Crabb through his distinctive voice comes so alive that you start talking back to him.

I am hard pressed to think of any better American picaresque novel.

In the name of everything sacred, I beg you. Please do not nominate On the Road in response.

View all my reviews >>

Sitting Up

Whew! That was character-building. A good thing because life had been getting too easy.

I have just spent the last three days in bed in this camper with a fever and “flu-like symptoms,” that marvelous euphemism for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I did not eat but forced myself to drink water. Dehydration is not a pleasant sensation. One becomes incredibly lethargic, unable to accomplish the simplest things.

My bed is in the back of my camper, which is no more than four feet from the vine-covered side fence of tennis court number two. I have lain there with a fever during the day every day for three days listening at close range to bankers, real estate developers, investment advisors, and the like play tennis with a particularly east coast raucousness. Barry, Jamie, Sebastian, and all. This experience has not deepened my affection for their ilk.

The second thing this has done for me in addition to build character is render me immune now to one more of the world's pathogens.

Before this episode I could not remember the last time that I was sick. That is the third thing this experience has done for me. I can now remember the last time that I was sick.

I feel pretty good this morning but very hungry. And to be perfectly honest, this place is a mess.

Status Report

I have a bit of a bug. I am not seriously ill but ill enough that I do not wish to do anything but lie in bed.

I shall return.

Sunday Dance

First, I think you will notice that the picture and sound are much better here. I believe that I have found the optimal combination of hardware and software among what I have without purchasing anything new.

Second. . . . . .I forgot what was second.

I know that at times this is frustrating because of interference by some people in the videos of others. I am aware of the problem, and I will get better at avoiding it.

The Sunday Dance in San Miguel de Allende:

Sunday Dance from Uncle Steve on Vimeo.

A Little Walk; A Little Talk

This video records a little walk around the main square, El Jardin--The Garden. It is twelve minutes long with nothing really special in it. However, as I have said many times, nothing spruces up a blog like some video now and again.

San Miguel de Allende from Uncle Steve on Vimeo.

José Antonio Madrazo

Ruth, the artist's name is José Antonio Madrazo. The bartender at El Pegaso was ready to murder me because I made him write it down while he was in the midst of a busy Saturday lunch hour.

It so happens that the artist runs a mail order site for the sale of Mexican folk art here. Push "Click to Play" in the upper left middle of that page.

If you let this page load completely you will see a little slide show of nichos, which is what the little boxes are called.

Unfortunately, the nichos in the slide show are boring and in no way representative of the delightful pieces that I saw in the restaurant.