beach thoughts

i

so here i sit attempting to write from my phone. i can't use capitals. hmm. anyway, it is a hot morning already on lake huron. no one else wanted to come down here yet, so i am alone in the only place i ever just allow myself to chill - the beach. i've never had a reason to come to the great lakes before. always have been an ocean girl. i am very pleasantly surprised to find it so expansive, hot, lush, beautiful, and uncrowded. always thought i had to go tropical to get this, but here it is: sand, tides, water that looks like it goes on forever, and sun. i am amazed that we are so fortunate as canadians to be able to go on vacation within our country and feel like it is a foreign experience. completely different food, shops, accents, and ways of doing things. my sister has been trying to tell me how great it is and how i would love it as much as the carribbean. i didn't believe her, but once again, i should've trusted that she knows me well. she was right. i love the cute little towns, the huge, swimmable water and unoccupied stretches of sand, the local produce, the adorable but enormous brick victorian estate homes that are everywhere, the fact that i can speak the language, the bakeries and chocolate shops and tiny (no doubt magical) book stores, the enormous trees, the lack of mosquitos, the balmy nights, the cat that seems to be the guardian of our rental home at night, the fact that my rental car does not terrify me, the fact that everything is so different from home, the high school band that played in the park concert shell across the street last night, the lilies that grow wild everywhere and perfume the air, the humidity, the pub across the street that is situated in a flower garden and serves delicious pan seered freshly caught lake fish, how much cheaper everything is from real estate to crackers, the giant coconut macaroons from the german bakery, the lack of condo developments, the man next door that sells bikes, the boardwalk that goes on forever, the soy, wheat, and corn fields, and the cute city workers on the beach. mind you, i have only been here 36 hours, so will have to write updates as they occur.

I do NOT love mosquitoes

I was going to call this "I hate mosquitoes", but hate is such a strong word. I loathe, detest, and despise them. Honestly, as Calgarians we wait ALL YEAR for decent weather, and as soon as it arrives, so does the vampire army. And they don't try to glamour or seduce you, or take you on exotic vacations. Those bitches just come right up to you and draw your blood. This is particularly offensive in my case because they leave behind huge welt-like owies that are hideous and interfere with my smooth skin thing. What is the PURPOSE of these terrible creatures? They can not be that essential to the food chain. The trouble is, the harder people try to get rid of them, it seems the stronger they come back. Repellants have to be increasingly strong...pretty soon they will be able to get right through armour. On the hiking trip from hell that I have often referred to, I had several desperate blood-suckers bite me through a HAT and a canvas coat. So, during our three short weeks of Calgarian summer, we are forced to either sit inside, looking at the sunshine, or do what I did today, completely coat myself in Off to brave the bike ride from Point McKay to Prince's Island and hope that between the Off and my super speed I could outrun them.

A big hole

I really don't know how people do it. School ends and kids and teachers seem so relieved and thrilled. Once again, I have the July 1st blues, and worse than ever this year. Between losing people close to me who are never coming back, and everyone I know flying willy nilly to visit friends and relatives, I feel totally abandoned and alone and it SUCKS! I spend 10 or more hours a day at work, and I have a family there. It's not like every day is perfect, or nothing bad happens, but we invest a lot of time and caring in each other. When my days suddenly become unstructured and I am left to re-establish my relationship with...well...my book shelf, I don't see what is so damned exciting, personally. I guess this is what happens when you are a workaholic and most of your relationships are workplace-based. Or there are people like my sister, who still has to go to work, and therefore can't fill the gap for me anyway. My hobby is really, really people. Taking care of them, spending time on them, pleasing them, finding ways to show my love for them. SO when they're gone, I have NO IDEA what to do. I usually go spend money on something or run away to a different city where I don't have to feel their absence. I this all very odd? I don't know anyone else who really goes through this like I do.

Dragon Lady

I always call my mean teacher face, the "Dragon Lady" because when I was little I decided that I don't fit my western zodiac profile AT ALL, but my Chinese sign is the Dragon, and the brief description on the paper placemats at Henry's Chinese (my grandpa's favourite place) seemed to fit.

Over the years I have had a fond place in my heart for the dragon symbol, and people have gifted dragons to me over the years when they know this about me...it's kind of cool.

However, tonight I am working on a little project for a party tomorrow...party favours for people who attend, "Karie's Favourite Things" in a little bag, so I thought it would be fun to throw in a little dragon info. Do I have this kind of free time? Nope. Anyhow, I can not believe what I found. It is so SPOOKILY ACCURATE. If you know me at all personally, you will have to tell me what you think. Sadly, my compatible sign is NOT Matt's (he is the dog), but c'est la vie. Check it out:

"The DRAGON is the only legendary animal symbol and mightiest of the signs. Dominant, ambitious, and prefer to live by their own rules. Honest, sensitive, and brave, these individuals are most compatible with Snakes, Monkeys, Roosters, and Rats. Dragons will give into love, but retain independence. Because of their vengeful natures, partners need to be thick-skinned. Dragons prefer those they find intriguing. Dragons are passionate in all they do and do things in grand fashion, but this passion and enthusiasm oddly leaves them unfulfilled and exhausted. Will help others, but rarely ask for help. Specifically FIRE DRAGON (me) is yang in nature. Its motion is upward and expansive. It is associated with Summer, South, hot weather, and the colour red (extremely lucky), planet Mars, and daylight.

Fire attributes are considered to be dynamism, strength, and persistence, however also connected to restlessness. They react quickly and recklessly. Warm, enthusiastic, and creative, however excess may turn into aggression, impatience, and impulsive behaviour. While provides heat and warmth, can also burn. Associated organs are the heart, tongue, and the body's pulse. These people are healthy, energetic, excitable, stubborn, and short-tempered. They inspire confidence and trust. They tend to be soft-hearted, which means others may take advantage of them.

Um...whoa. I'm having a reflective moment. Uh, yah. I'm not saying this sums me up, but nothing I read tonight on multiple web sites is inaccurate. I just like to think I'm even more complex than this. Oh right. Lastly, dragons tend to put themselves on pedestals. Oops.

So the rest of the story is that they replaced the flowers today, and they are lovely. Those coloured orchids are so divine. I am happy, and it pays to be a squeaky wheel. It is hard for me to do, but the results often end up very positive, and this is what keeps companies honest.


I have had an interesting weekend. I feel so manic during the week days, like I am overflowing with energy (usually good) and I have so much to give to others. I have energy and attention for every kid or colleague who needs it, and I can balance 55 things at once and do a great job of them all. Then when the weekend arrives, if I don't have major plans that allow me to sustain that level of energy....I crash.

Mom and Amber had a slumber party last night and we played this goofy game that had us all giggling, but then I had the weirdest night full of nightmares and not being able to sleep. In one of them, I was outside at night and kept hearing women screaming. I would run to find them, but they would be dead, and a guy was running away. I would chase the guy, but by the time I caught up to him, another woman would be dead. Woke up from that one just shaking, and that was it. No more real sleep. WEIRD. I had no weapon in this dream and I could run really fast, but what the hell did I think I was going to do if I caught up with this crazed killer? Tell him to be a good boy?

After breakfast, took mom to Costco, Planet Organic (my favourite store on earth) and a couple other stops, including lunch at Cravings. If you have never been there, you should go. It is owned by the Great Events Family (I used to cater for them) and the food quality is awesome, but so are the prices. I have never had ANYTHING there that wasn't delicious, and the way you can pick from so many different food stations reminds me of La Marche in Montreal that I used to call the "Disneyland of Food". You know for me it is never about quantity (although the portions are generous), but flavours, beauty, excitement. I had Lima Bean Salad, Vegetable Salad, and Quinoa Salad with chicken breast, but everything there is so delicious from the crab cakes to the steaks, to the fresh soups. Then we came back here and watched Modern Family and drank tea. She had never seen it and she howled like crazy. Now I should be working on grad but I kinda miss her and miss my work buddies and am REALLY tired, so may sleep after hockey is done.

Side note: Mother's Day tomorrow. I am making turkey meatballs with brown rice and salad and acorn squash for Matt's mom. Friday night I made a hot wild rice pasta salad for my mom. This morning made banana mango smoothies that my sister was convinced were full of real cream because they were smooth and alicious. Nope. Almond milk and Karie's SECRET INGREDIENT. Love cooking for people. Just love it.

Flower Delivery

So I sent flowers to UofA hospital this week. The ones on the left are the ones the lovely lady received. The ones on the right are the ones I ORDERED. Hmmm... www.canadaflowers.ca says they will "take care of it" tomorrow. We shall see. Seriously. 3 dying roses and 3 pink daisies? I DON'T THINK SO!! Maybe they thought the tacky orange polka-dot ribbon would make up for it? It doesn't. Or the ugly vase would be mistaken for the cut-glass one in the photo online? Nope, it doesn't either!! Just goes to show what happens when you send your business to EDMONTON. Just kidding. Sort of. Not really. I think that may be a not-yet-bloomed bird of paradise in the front of the picture. WHO WANTS A BOUQUET OF HALF DEAD AND NOT YET BLOOMED FLOWERS????? That's called the back alley. Does that pic on the left look like $70??? Nope. More like $17. Sheesh. Lesson learned. When you send flowers, ask the recipient to send you a pic.

Bin Laden Mania

I started ranting on facebook, but I have too much to say on this topic for facebook to contain. The American government is so great at congratulating itself, it is laughable. Trust me, I lived there. So, as I said on facebook, I do not understand why people are dancing in the street over this. And I think Matt thinks I am evil because of this. He is crying, he is so pleased that Osama is dead. I, on the other hand, am not. For one thing, WHY DID IT TAKE 10 YEARS to kill this dude? As Wulf B just said on CNN, he was a lighly recognizable individual. It only took them 40 minutes to "get him" they say on CNN. Yeah, 10 years and 40 minutes.

Well, let's see. North American (and other) governments have used 9-11 as a "reason" to suspend almost every civil liberty that our ancestors fought for. Now that we have all been conditioned to expect to be treated like criminals when we try to fly to Disneyland (or anywhere), they don't need excuses any more.

Is it just me, or is the poster boy just the tip of the iceberg? By now, he has been replaced by some other f-ing psycho, who has yet to make a name for himself around the world. Yes, he was the "leader". Of a huge, and complex organization that continues to operate with or without him. I mean, the dude has been HIDING OUT, so you're trying to tell me he has the same kind of power he used to? Nope. Other, younger, and imaginative men have undoubtedly been running the organization for many years.

But gosh, it sounds good. And the media sure does perpetuate the hysteria over the "significance" of this moment. They won't say how or what they did to OBL. He probably died in the bathtub. I'm bitter. I'm pissed about body scanners and water bottles and Ziploc baggies. I'm annoyed that I have had to strip to almost nothing to travel. I'm pissed that field trips don't get approved because of this bs, that people have fears of public transit, that we barely remember how free we used to be, and how we bought into a culture of fear. I'm troubled that we went to war with Iraq over this guy and about what the west has done in the east, and what we have done to our own service men and women. Well, we are all nicely conditioned now. Good for us. It's good that the bastard is dead, but has the idealogy been killed? Hardly. This is more than likely to fuel the fire, not snuff it. What does Osama's death mean? One step. One good step. Nothing more than that, to me.

Do you get to laugh at work ALL THE TIME?

Well, I do. And I feel so lucky. Several times a day it is with colleagues and friends, but I constantly laugh with (and at) kids. Oh, they are so funny....especially when they don't mean to be. I told my grade nine's today that I want to start a random quote book of totally hilarious things that they say. It all started today, with a scene where one student was playing the "wife" in the scene being performed, and went up to her "husband" in all serious drama mode and asked, "Honey, have you seen my chicken knife?" I have no idea why the idea of a chef's knife that is reserved solely for cutting chicken makes me laugh so hard, but it does. And then there was a scene (very serious, too) with a character named Dick. They thought that was clever, but the hilarity didn't really happen until a moment of intensity in the scene when another character grabbed the dying Dick by the shoulders and shouted, "Dick! Don't let me down!" Oh God. I almost couldn't breathe. The hardest part for me is when I REALLY want to laugh, but I can't, because the kids are being so SERIOUS and DRAMATIC and EMOTIONAL in their work. It's not really an urge to make fun of them, more like their insights into the adult world just hit me sometimes...and I am thankful that I teach in the dark so often so my babies can't see me laughing at them. What a great, great, great job. I am reminding myself of this particularly on nights like tonight because I just got home (8:45) and need to be back early in the morning. It definitely wouldn't be worth it without their charming little personalities waiting to greet me.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I love this picture of my mom. For one thing, it is just so her, in her big floppy hats and practical sandals. Also, it was taken at Butchart Gardens, and if you know my mom, she kind of seems like she belongs in one all the time. She is just so gentle and sweet and patient. And then there are SUNBEAMS visible in the photo, which just completes it for me. She HATES having her picture taken. I think I sucked all the attention-seeking away from her. She gifted it to me when I was born, so she hates to be the centre of attention, hates to be photographed, hates to be noticed...sounds like the opposite of me, right?

Anyway, I helped her book a little trip for her spring break a couple of weeks ago, which was majorly momentous because she never takes vacations. And she is going with a friend, not a family member, so I am so proud of her. Girl gonna have some fun! But now she has caught the vacation bug. The woman who needed me to look up flights for her a mere few weeks ago, is now hopping around on all the travel web sites, looking for "deals" and just reported to me that Vegas is on sale for $99. She is making grandiose plans for roadtrips down the California coastline, with maybe a stop in Louisiana, followed by a quick jaunt to Stockholm to see where the Olsons originated.

I get it. Planning vacations is completely addictive for me. In fact, I think I like planning the trip more than taking it. I love pouring over web sites looking for that ideal combination of beautiful beach, delicious food, and most importantly "bargains". I love reading tripadvisor comments and assessing, based on the person's demographic, whether I want to trust their opinion or not (like, why do all of you Americans expect Mexico to be like Los Angeles?). My favorite challenge now are non-package combinations, where I have to search for flights, hotels, cars, all seperately, because the destination is not package-friendly.

It's a problem. Yet another addiction to overcome. Well, I got over Bread Addiction, I can get over this. Because of course, the moment I hit PURCHASE, the rush ends, the trip is booked, and I have to look for another way to get my travel-booking hit. That is why planning trips for other people is so great. You can have all the fun of careful planning, but then they have to fork out the money and take the trip. Perfect.

Spring Break

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3df7661QadM

This has definitely been a strange Spring Break for me...it has really been all over the place. Having spent the last one in the Dominican, and pretty much all of the last four before that in Mexico, I really didn't know what I was going to do. It turned out to be mostly nice, but so different. I got lots of opportunities to see friends, sometimes for extended periods of time that normally would be hard to squeeze in. It helps when your friends are also teachers on spring break, but I even managed to see the non-teachers. And go to some places in the city that I never normally visit any more - like Chinatown. Spending time with people was lovely.

I rehearsed with my students twice, on Tuesday and Wednesday. They are so cute and so committed. Honestly, how can you say no when they are willing and wanting to take time out of their break to come and do theatre? We made good progress too, which is very good since we have to perform in three and a half weeks. They are a good group, very instinctual, and have a really solid understanding of what has to happen in order for the piece to work. It is so easy to get feeling blah about work, but for me, when I can actual dig into something good with the kids, it makes all the other crap worth it. They give me an energy that does not compare to anything else, when we really get grooving together.

Banff was a great escape, but I felt like I needed another night. It's amazing that you don't have to go very far to downshift, but just when I started to mellow out, it was time to come home.

This weekend I have ended the break by just trying to do things that would make me start the week feeling on top. Caught up the laundry, changed all the beds (you never know when someone might need one), cleaned bathrooms. The glamorous parts of life that I am always so excited to do. Cleaning, I found lots of messages from Scoop too, which mostly makes me smile now, just barely a lip twitch. I found one of my most favourite and fairly new shirts in a heap behind a piece of furniture. Just as I was excited to have found it and pulled it out, I saw that it had been absolutely shredded on the whole right side. Scoop was not usually a dog to chew things he wasn't supposed to, but I must've pissed him off one day because the shirt was in hilarious pieces. Anyway, that was one...little things like dog claw scratches in furniture that I hadn't seen before and the odd toy wedged in strange places still pops up. But the positive side is I get to do things now that were out of the question before, like sleep in, and leave out this goofy puzzle someone gave me at Christmas that I never could have left on a table before because it would have been gnawed on.

And that's that for Spring Break. April is going to be nuts, so I am taking a deep breath and just plunging in. Got your Wicked tickets yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMPAvZ0BzU&feature=fvsr

ttfn

BUSY!!: Wicked, London, Budget, Red Riding Hood & chop

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/page.php#

Today was full of awesomeness. Amber decided on our Wicked tickets and we finally booked them for the night before the big trip to Ontario for her wedding. We even convinced her fiance to come with us, and Mom and Ethan can too, because they will be in town to fly out the next day. Perfect. If you Calgary types haven't booked yet, come the same night as us and we will all have a blast. And if you don't know yet, this is not one you should miss. Amber also cut my formerly super-dry hair (thank you). I love having a sister with skills. And gave me a spring door wreath, which she made. More skills. Then we talked the boys into going to Red Riding Hood because the trailers looked cool. YYUUUUCK! But we had fun making fun of it. Can someone please explain to me how a bunch of people living a rustic life in the snowy wilderness are so beautiful and why they don't wear coats? Oh, because if you wear coats, you can't see flesh. And where did they get all that hair gel? And how do they have such impeccable oral hygeine? Grr...it bugs me because I was hoping this would be one of those cool, "what if this fairy tale were real" movies, and it was definitely not. How Gary Oldman and Julie Christie got involved, I will never know. Maybe they had gambling debts to pay off. To add to the hilariousness of this was the two LARGE groups of females over forty, who were glued to the screen. Are these the women who read Danielle Steele? Not that there's anything wrong with that... After the movie we went to "chop", which I have been to twice before and have had impeccable service and food. So I talked Matt, Joe and Ambi into going, instead of going where we usually go. Well the food was a disaster (the boys' steaks were RAW and my halibut was WAY overcooked) and the service was below what I would expect at a PUB, never mind an upscale steakhouse. The good thing is, we each got a free drink, free dessert, and a free entree for "next time" out of it. So management did try to make up for it. Maybe Sunday afternoon is when they train newbies, I don't know. But we had lots of fun criticizing the cooking too (don't order the crab) and for ONCE Amber got the best meal! She usually gets the bad meal, if there is one. Then I booked our minivan for our London, Ontario family extravaganza, which was the last piece of the puzzle for the wedding trip. At the same time, made play dates with some girlfriends, so all-in-all, today was fun and relaxing, and vacationy, despite the snow.

Inception & Moving Day

There are days that just make you think. About everything. And I already have that problem...thinking too much. Most people know that about me.
I finally finished watching Inception tonight. YUUUUUCK. I appreciate how brilliant it is, but I must be the only person on earth who HATES that movie. Like I needed to question reality MORE than I already do. Not to mention that it gets so LONG and BORING. And I don't give a damn about a single character, so I don't care what happens to them. No thank you.

The other thing that happened today was helping Mom and Ethan move. It is not that I mind this in the least. I love them so much and loved being able to help out. But every time I help with a move, I think about my reality. And basically I want to immediately go straight home, sell almost everything I own, and....what....I don't know. Just not have so many THINGS. Run away. I get overwhelmed by this every few months. I am just this way, and I have come to accept it, though have not totally learned how to live with it. I sometimes feel trapped by "stuff". I would like Carrie Bradshaw's apartment. 500 square feet, a huge closet full of beautiful clothes, a great bed, books, computer, and that's it. With a huge window overlooking a totally quaint street with bakeries and book shops and record stores. And a phone that is always ringing. Just a small home base where I can hang my hat in between adventures.

This makes me sound totally ungrateful, and I don't mean to. Sometimes I just want things to be simple. Plus, I know I am a little gypsy girl...always wanting to be loved, but always wanting to be free and roaming. "Stuff" just doesn't always jive with the gypsy parts of me.

Wow, I am complicated. Thanks for being my friend. It must be exhausting.

What's New?

Sometimes I feel like I have so much to blog about, and other times, I feel like the most uninteresting person on the planet because I "got nothin'", except things that are too diary-ish to blog about. And I am supposed to focus on BIG, not whine, but whining is so much FUNNIER.

Like Wednesday when I walked Scoop in the afternoon. I stepped down into what I thought was four inches of snow, and turned out to be literally UP TO MY KNEES in freezing cold ice water, cleverly disguised by two inches of snow. I was stuck, and panicked, and just kept going to where I knew a sidewalk existed in the park, but by the time I got there I was soaked through from the knees down in ice water, and then had to hobble home with the crazy mutt as fast as I could. I have to confess, I was crying by the time I got to the house to peel off my boots, socks, and jeans. Now is that a positive story? No. But looking back, is it hilariously lame? You bet. It is practically a Chaplin moment, it is so absurd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh0qDWzjnGs&feature=related

Someone truly hilarious, whose books and comedy I mostly love, now there is something to talk about. Chelsea Handler is beautiful, voted one of the 99 sexiest women in the world, totally naughty, and makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. I have been re-reading "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" while on the treadmill and it makes time fly. She is exactly eight months older than me, and I feel like she is the older, brasher sister I never had. And Tijuana comes up in this interview, which is so weird because I just dreamed about it last night. She is a little out there, but I admire her so much for just telling the truth as it occurs to her. And did I mention she makes my laugh?

Sam Tsui, Ethan, youtube

First things first: I kicked Matt's ASS at Playstation Tennis for hours tonight. Over and over again. This was monumental because I am CRAP at video games and can't play them. Ever. I am so pleased with myself. He won one match. I owned the rest. And then he practiced for a very long time while I went away and did other stuff. So it will never happen again. Oh well.

Now, down to business...I was getting a little carried away on facebook, so decided to switch to here. Blogs are so funny and absurd. I quote from the source of my last blog, Phantom:

This isn't a diary...not in the accepted sense of the term. I've no intention of sitting down dutifully each day to record tedious details of what I had for breakfast, which gown I ordered from my seamstress and who said what to who in the course of rehearsals. It's surely the height of vanity to assume anyone will want to read about your petty, unimportant life...I don't want anyone to read this document ever, for if they do I'll surely be locked up...

So Ethan (my 17-year-old brother) just comes along with little gems from time to time, out of no where that change my world. Ever since he was a baby we have had this surreal connection, and it has always continued. Age is a funny thing. He is 16 years younger than me, but one of my best friends, and one of the few people that I can talk to without any protective bricks blocking the most eccentric aspects of my personality. We just let it all hang out. So he sends me a youtube song, and I send him one, and he sends me this kid's cover of it, which blows me away. I started going gaga (no pun intended) on facebook, and hate those over-posters, so brought the overflow to the blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_IWRuryzaY&feature=relmfu

What was the world like before MASHUPS? I remember. It was cold and dark and lonely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIoSTbPt_PI&feature=related

Okay, this one is Don't Stop Believing and the kid does all the parts! Apparently he auditioned for Glee and didn't make it. Why? Cause he's better than four of them together? I think so...And this is a Glee fan speaking!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYmSfLAbJ8&feature=related

This is For Good from Wicked, which I notice people on youtube think should be a grad song WHICH I have been saying for YEARS. I suggest listening to it, but not watching because Nick's making out with the mic is a bit much. A little over the top emotionally but sounds cool. Close your eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QqAVFwGwaI

Imagine: dedicated to victims of Jan 8 Arizona shooting. Gorgeous. Do you EVER get sick of listening to Imagine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdMZAeIfM94&feature=related

This one has great acappella instrumental vocals, too.

Ethan just asked me to spread the "No Autotune" message again. Sam doesn't use autotune. Vital to Ethan's appreciation of him as an artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBF-_WMY8HU&feature=relmfu

And then, there is this whole war between Kurt and Jake, whoever they are. They battle it out playing music on weird, wild, wonderful, and silly instruments. There is a whole series of them. This one is Moonlight Sonata on CROCKenspiel. Too funny.

This is a problem. If no one hears from me for a week, send someone to pry me away from youtube. All these years I have kept away from it, only occasionally clicking on peoples' recommendations. Why? Because I knew I would have a problem. Back away, Karie. Just back away!!

Books That Are Old Friends

There are readers, and then there are readers, and then there are READERS. I think I am the middle one. I used to think I was the bolded-type version, but have since realized I am not. The bold type is reserved for people who will read anything and everything they can get their hands on, including philosophical rants, biographies of every important political figure who has ever lived, and anything else that they feel may add to their personal knowledge of the world. I am not that type. Nor am I the type who is content to read the paper, whatever is on the Oprah recommended list, and Cosmo.

I am somewhere in the middle. I love to lose myself in a really great book, that sweeps me away into another time, place, or life. Even as a little girl I loved this type of escapist fiction, that could completely capture my imagination so that I felt that I was not just walking in someone else's shoes, but breathing their air. And then, when I have found these gems, I return to them at times to experience the ecstacy again.

I got all caught up watching Michael Crawford on youtube last weekend and decided to reread Phantom. I believe my cousin introduced me to this book, right after I saw the musical and read Gaston Lereux's work. He was always passing me good books then - we were both at a time in our lives when we had lots of leisurely hours available to us, to pour over novels, or stay up all night absorbing page after gripping page.

Written by Susan Kay, the historical novelist who also wrote Legacy (historical fiction about the life of Elizabeth I), it is a much more expansive and personal story than the one told by Lereux, or any film or theatrical version of the story. It tracks the Phantom character (Erik) through the eyes and minds of various other characters, including his mother, and his mentor. It tells an addicting tale of how this man became who he was by the time he reached the point at which we usually meet him, in other versions of the story.

Loving it again...highly recommend it...so dark, and brutal, and beautiful.