Collecting Stamps

Every ten years, it's time for a new passport.  For aspiring globe-trotters, it's a bittersweet moment to relinquish all those hard-earned stamps and start fresh.  My last time, though, I was surprised that they returned the old passport to me (after a couple well-placed hole punches to make sure it can't be used any more).  I've finally gotten around to some reminisces about past travels.

First, though - that hairline!

OK, on to the fun part, piecing together some memorable trips based on (sometimes weak-handed) customs officals:

Mostly Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith; credit to Jane Austen; courtesy of a forgotten sister

Published in 2009, gifted to me a couple years ago; why read it now?  I've seen trailers for the movie adaptation, but that's mostly coincidence.  I saw it as possible inspiration for a similar genre-melding project.  So, what did I think?

The Fool's Progress Regresses

The Fool's Progress, by Edward Abbey; courtesy of Uncle Joe

Naturally, for a book that follows one man's long life, The Fool's Progress went through its ups and downs.  Henry Holyoak Lightcap's memories (Or Abbey's?  It's subtitled, "an honest novel"; I'll look into how autobiographical it supposedly is after getting my initial thoughts down.) of how he got to his last, desperate, cross-country homecoming - and my reactions - fell into three distinct phases.

MediumBrow's 2015 Reading List

...On to 2015!  Not as prolific a year, and in review, a mixed bag in terms of quality.  So let's organize this year's reads with that in mind:

MediumBrow's 2014 Reading List

Missed this one by a year - must have been busy reading almost a book a week!  Quick belated month-by-month recap (by my favorites)...

MediumBrow's 2013 Reading List

That time of year again.  The numbers continue to mount.  With the help of the New York Public Library's e-book collection and a new 35-minute commute, I finished 2013 strong.  The total was 39 (although that's counting Joe Abercrombie's First Law series as just one book).  I decided to organize the recap a little differently this year - by category (with some overlap):

Top 3 Cowboy Quips

Every young boy wants to be a cowboy at some point or in some way.  It doesn't matter if they're Texas-born and bred, or... not.  And there's plenty there that would be a good model for today's generation.  I've always been partial to the image of the strong, silent cowboy, straight-talking when there's occasion to open his mouth.  That said, there's also some distinctive cowboy-isms that I've come across that I'm always excited to use appropriately - to elicit a smile or chuckle, and reinforce my meager cowboy bona fides.

Here's my top three: