Summer reading.

Over the summer, Nicholas Kristof wrote one of his Sunday columns in the NY Times on "The Best Kids’ Books Ever".

In a follow-up piece three days later, Kristof responded to the then 2,350 comments at his online column:

"I’d never had a column achieve 1,000 comments, and that one has topped 2,350...

"What struck me is how passionate so many readers were about their choices. Clearly, they were profoundly shaped by these books, just as I was by my favorites. Some people in their 80’s talked about books they had read as children, speaking of them as their dearest friends. That’s the relationship that I had with books as a child, and yet I’m not sure that many kids these days have the same glorious relationship with books that we did. I hope I’m wrong, for great children’s books are truly magical."

That resonated with me when I read it. I was one of those kids. So why am I thinking about it again today? I heard on NPR this morning that, after 26 years on the air, Reading Rainbow comes to an end today. I was feeling a little nostalgic.

So, what were some of your childhood favorites?

Finished?

Once upon a time, my sister Emily and I embarked on the quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. We ate a lot of cookies that summer. And while there were some very good ones, I was never quite satisfied.

Last summer my (true) friend Brooke sent me this link. (Also, you should read the explanatory piece, under 'Related')

I (finally) just made them, and I think the quest may be over.



(On an unrelated-to-cookies note, I also made this recipe for the second time today. I highly recommend. It's been a good week.)


Finally, to borrow from Sara for the day... Thing I'm thankful for: That other people come up with really good recipes so I can eat yummy food. I'm not terribly creative, but I follow directions well.

Some things Chileans like.

(in no particular order)

Avocados
Ice cream
80s music
Wine
Mayonnaise
Hot dogs
Mayonnaise on hot dogs

(Re #3: True story. One of my co-workers was down here shortly after Michael Jackson died, and one of the first conversations he had with the local lab folks involved them offerring him condolences for our loss. Also, one of our taxi drivers was very excited about his tickets to an upcoming Depeche Mode concert.)

Estoy en Chile.

On business. But, did get time for one tourist stop after work in Santiago yesterday. Guesses?


The national cemetery.




I'm somewhat of a cemetery tourist, and I think this may now be one of my favorites. If one ranks cemeteries, that is.

I'm still working on the whole 'Southern Belle' thing...

But, it looks like I'll have some time to practice. I bought a house!

I decided I'll be sticking around here for a while. It will soon be ready to host visitors, if you find yourself in Atlanta.

Moving day is Saturday. Back to packing, packing, packing...

I heart the National Park Service.

(Or... Yes, that is actually how we Reeds spend our days off.)

"National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst." -- Wallace Stegner


Some personal highlights:

• Night tour of Mammoth Cave (during a tornado)
  
• Camping in Acadia
  
• Best. Guide. Ever. at Adams
  
• Hiking in Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef
  
• Rafting in Yellowstone
  
• Sunset at the Grand Canyon
  
• Conservation at the Everglades
• Boot Mills at Lowell
  
• Iron Works at Saugus
  
• Counting roadkill in Saguaro (bet you've never done that for a ward service project)
  
• School trips to Mesa Verde and Casa Grande and Montezuma Castle
  
• Poetry at Longfellow
  
• Communing with Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Adams, Kennedy, etc.
  
• National Park passports
  
• Gettysburg roadtrip with Em
  
• Christmas pictures at Organ Pipe
  
• Minute Man with Saskia
  
• Getting lost on the Freedom Trail (a big red line painted on the ground)
  
• Potty breaks at Glen Canyon
  
• Jamestown in the sweltering heat
  
• Plymouth in the freezing rain (on Thanksgiving, of course)
  
• Memorials at night (and also the time we didn't because I was throwing up on the beltway)
  
• Et al.
  

With many more to come. When I retire, I want to be a park ranger.

(In the meantime, if anyone wants to spend 12 hours of their life watching Ken Burns' newest documentary on the National Parks when it releases in September... just let me know. He has researched the story for 10 years, spent 6 years on the photography, and it cost more than any other project Burns has done. Should be great. Nerds unite.)

Herons and Gators and Dolphins, oh my!

(Or, National Park #2)

The Reeds went South last week, to Florida. (Finally got the pictures off the camera.)

Loved it. The Everglades were particularly fascinating. Especially for the self that planned to be, alternatively, a wildlife biologist, a marine biologist, or a veterinarian for oh, about the first 17 years of my life (minus a brief foray into architecture).