BIBLIOGRIND
The Life of a Wordsmith — Read … Live … Write
Archive for February, 2010
February 25, 2010 at 7:28 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Last weekend Asia and I hung out at my place. The sun shined through the windows, but it was cold outside. What a good time for the little fox to sift through my little library. While Asia explored, I worked on my novel. What a fabulous muse!
The book selection is looking good in the flat because I’ve made some wise grabs at a few of the used places around Prague. I’ve always got one in my bag for the short-to-long tram trips, so there needs to be a continuous supply. The reading habit has always been a good one.
February 18, 2010 at 1:27 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Today at 2.48, Asia turns 30-something years old. She’s ecstatic. Or, at least I’m ecstatic for her … because I got to buy her presents!
This is Asia admiring my home-made birthday card.
This is Asia using her birthday gift(s). I use the plural because at this point in life Asia still enjoys two hands. 
Extra-Warm winter gloves are a must when Prague dips below -8, and definitely a must when we go on our XC-Ski weekend next week at some romantic getaway in the Krkenoce Mountains.
Birthday’s are fun, and celebrated for the person; but they are as much a day for the birthee’s friends, who like to celebrate another’s good fortune.
Happy Birthday, my little fox!
February 18, 2010 at 1:16 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Prague saw the sun last Sunday … no pun intended.
Asia and I went for a walk because that what you do in a Prague winter that seldom gives you sunlight. Vysehrad is the old castle (as if Prague Castle’s A.D. 900 origins aren’t old enough) that sits atop a cliff at the bend of the Vltava River. Sound wisdom, for those trying days.
The castle walls have great walkways, and spectacular views. This winter day gave us Pragers clear skies. And if you walk quickly, your ears won’t freeze. Of course, some mulled wine helps, too.
Along the way, we looked over Prague’s (mom & dad, take special note) yacht club. Sub-freezing temps have frozen the ice at this inlet, letting skaters plow the snow for skate tracks around the pond. Ummm … notice the icebergs at the edges. Yikes!
February 17, 2010 at 2:48 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
East Is East by T. Coraghessan Boyle
Part farce, part satire, part love story, Boyle takes us to the heart of the American South, with all its chiggers and mullets and swamps and perfect American English, to tell a story about a Japanese who’s jumped ship, trying to find help in the land of “give us your tired, your poor, your …” — yeah, okay, we get it.
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
Traveler Theroux returns to the path he trode 33 years ago to see what changes have taken place, from London through India, to Vietnam and Tokyo, and back across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Reading about the travel seems enough of a challenge that most wouldn’t want to follow in Theroux’s footsteps, but I’d give it all a gander. Especially Vietnam, which sounds perfectly charming.
The Private Parts of Women by Lesley Glaister
A psychological thriller that takes us through a multiple-personality world, as stepped through the looking glass by a woman who herself is running away from her past. The story worked for me right up till the end, when suddenly Glaister seemed not to know how to end the book on either a bang or a whimper. Too bad … though I think Hollywood prolly loves it. Still, I’d like to read her other titles, because she’s a fine storyteller.
February 9, 2010 at 9:51 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
By Friday, Prague is supposed to get 40 cm of snow. Sounds fun. Not if these City Numpties can’t figure out how to use a plow, though.
But today while walking from the flat to the metro, I was thinking how nice a winter it’s been: lots of snow in the air, a bunch on the ground; cold weather that hasn’t rollercoastered toward Spring too soon. And then my foot landed on black ice and I felt myself sliding and slipping, when all of a sudden my heal got purchase and I didn’t go down, exactly, but the f*&^k and s*&t and g$%d!#m spewed from my sailor’s mouth.
So much for fuzzy winter thoughts.
February 8, 2010 at 3:51 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
While in Mt Dora, Florida, over winter break á la Americana, I picked up a pair of wine stoppers at a craft shop. The rule of thumb for gifts is “buy the indigenous art”. Therefore: alligator stoppers.
Guess why this is the HIS …
… and this is the HERS:
February 8, 2010 at 3:46 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Saturday afternoon I brought Asia to my flat for a “home cooked” lunch. We basically made her now-famous toast, but in the traditional way: baked in the oven (an appliance which she doesn’t have at her flat).
It was a sunny day and yellow rays burst through the kitchen sheers, basting the room in hot-house splendor on a day whose outside temps barely reached freezing. Inside, I uncorked a bottle of sauvignon blanc. With a little blue cheese and brie appetizer to get our belly juices talking to each other from across the table, we divied up the cooking duties.
I got out the knives and handed Asia the mushrooms, which she likes to peel. While I’ve never heard of this culinary prep method, it’s certainly fun to watch. Of course, having sharp knives in my flat (“the most dangerous thing in a kitchen is a dull knife”), Asia proceeded to nearly cut her finger off.
My bad.
I lit the stove and poured more wine. And then I grated some swiss cheese, and mixed that with one beaten egg and dried chives, some salt & pepper. This concoction went into hollowed out halves of French bread, to be baked in the oven on low until the center puffs up like a souflet (sort of). Then I sauteed the onion & mushroom, set that into the other hollow out French bread, covered that with sliced brie, and covered that with sliced tomato.
These are called toast. And they’re delicious. Especially with wine. Extra-especially on a sunny day inside with your lady friend.
Dobry apetyt!
February 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Salaam!
Last Sunday Asia took me along to a dinner part, hosted by her student, Parisia. She’s from Iran and, along with her husband, Ahem, they’re hanging out in Prague for awhile. Parisia writes Persian novels, though I’m not sure what kind (we never got into the whole “what do you do” sort of thing, prolly cuz I thought she worked at Free Radio along with her hubby and the other couple that came to the party). Ahem is a photographer who now works as a videographer for Free Radio.
Free Radio has a huge complex/compound just off Zelevskeho metro. To work even as a teacher there, you must go through a criminal background check, and fill out all kinds of forms, etc etc. Asia teaches there twice weekly. Free Radio has lots of sections, one of which is Persian Radio/Television, a news service that is journalistic in its coverage of Iraian and Mid-East news (not as an anti-government movement/organ of Western imperialist powers, as one might assume … or want).
Anyway, Parisia spent many hours during the day preparing a bountiful and scrumptious buffet. For starters we had a beef-vegetable soup that reminded me of ox tail flavors (but more spicy from mid-east spice rack). Then over safron rice we had a green meet and veggie sauce, again nicely spiced and very flavorful. The other main course was baked chicken and deep-fried shrimp. Everything was outstanding.
Through the night we spoke of living abroad (from one’s homeland), Czech weather, traveling to America, and political issues around the world. Oddly enough, while our Iranian hosts and their Iranian counterparts said they would return to Iran if (when) the politcal situation were different, Asia and I both stated that we’re not interested in returning to our respective countries (the democratic countries).
Funny how one’s outlook on life and country can become through one circumstance or another.
