Random weekend update

We had a busy weekend. Among other things, there was gym rock-climbing with two other families with kids (it works better than you'd think). So I got some exercise, and I have nicely sore forearms today.

There was Peter Beagle's birthday party in Golden Gate park. This is the second time I've met him -- he's a sweet old guy, and has really lovely stories to tell. I feel awkward and like I have very little in common with him, given where we are in life (he's 70, and spends most of his time as an author and musician). He seemed to handle that with very good grace :-) Got some books signed, got a picture of him with Shanna, had some fun conversations with various people.

I've been reading a bit lately. So far "Johnathan Strange and Mister Norrell" is a lovely book, and I suspect most of you wouldn't like it nearly as much as I do :-) It introduces a cranky, crotchety, idiosyncratic character with a cranky, crotchety, idiosyncratic writing style, and it's pretty verbose. The individual chapters go quickly, but it's a thick book and it's hard to tell what the plot is going to be yet... Still, I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

[In case you don't recognize the name above -- Peter Beagle is the author of The Last Unicorn. He's written other stuff, but that's the famous one]