Upside Ann

Our last stop on our first day of driving from Chicago.  We arrived in the waning hours of the day, long after the closure of the visitor's center, and the departure last previous visitor.  It was a magical time to be there - alone on the quiet prairie - like stepping back in time.  I would definitely go back - both during the day to take advantage of the visitor's center and learn more about pipe making - and at twilight to, once again, visit those ghosts. Exhibit quarry near the visitor's center.  The quartzite is beautiful.

 For the next time I read the book - or the next person who finishes with that question. Charlie is the name (yes, given by the US troops to the Viet Cong, but also) that Dave is told as the name of the button man that has been hired by the mob to "clean up" - the assassin to kill him.  Later, during an altercation with a man with bad intentions, Dave asks "Are you Charlie?" If you've come here after reading the book, you know who "Charlie" is.  See "Beast of Buchenwald".

Several months ago, I bought my auntie Burke's novel " In the Electric Mist with the Confederate Dead ".  I knew she'd like it.  She loved it.  And in that moment, I decided to get her ALL of Burke's Robicheaux novels.  Why not? He's genius.  And if she was going to read the series, well then, I needed to re-read it- in part for the 3rd time.  This decision was bolstered when Marianna told me that the woman to whom she gifted Neon Rain because she had expressed an interest in / affection for Burke, didn't remember the next day that she had been given the book.  I'm seeing that waiting to start a book club until I am in an Assisted Living facility might be a bad idea.  So - I'm re-reading but am woefully far behind her.  This is, in part, by necessity as we are sharing books and sometimes, she isn't returning them one at a time.  All of this is just background. I finished Burning Angel 4? 6? weeks ago.  Closed the book and asked m...

 Blue Earth, MN Sidewalk chalk art.  I wonder how many different pictures they put up each year?  If you stop, let me know what you see, please.

  Yes, that is the Jolly Green Giant's skirt you are looking up.  He's big.  Pretty, pretty, pretty big.  I'll put another photo for context.  That's the 3 of us.  Another guest offered to take a photo - which was a really good idea.  I had alread tried setting off the 10 sec self-timer and running to join the group on the dais.  Twice.  I think I made it to the back of the stand but I couldn't get up the stairs and in place - even for the 3rd shot.  (Note- I was willing to give it another try.)

 Are you able to guess which I am.  Yes, the one with the cool new shorts!