Let My People Go Surfing

I knew that Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard had written a book a couple of years ago, but hadn't seen it until it came into our library in a pile of donations. Our branch didn't own a copy, so I added it to the library system, promptly checked it out and read it. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman is a pretty cool book - part business theory, part biography, part philosophical treatise. Chouinard explains how his business grew from a part-time blacksmith's shop into one of the most environmentally conscious companies. He explains the philosophies that drive him and how those are translated into business decisions. And he does it all in a way that is inspiring and fun to read.

Book 30

Worms

Julien and Sofia got to play with cousin Ramona for awhile this afternoon, and at one point they were all fascinated by finding worms in our flower beds. Hopefully they have greener thumbs than Mich and I, we can't keep plants alive at all. Ramona looks like she might have a future in the plumbing industry...

Underpants

Somehow Julien ended up on the trampoline wearing just his underpants today. (He had pants that zip off to shorts on, but the zippers were hurting his knees, apparently.) Too good a photo opportunity to resist...

Daddy, can I please have a treat?

Fun Home

Something about the cover of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomedy looked familiar when I picked it up at the library the other day - I think even from the cover illustration, I recognized Alison Bechdel's drawing style. Bechdel draws the comic Dykes to Watch Out For, which I've enjoyed in copies of Funny Times that my dad always seems to have around. This is kind of a sneaky book, though - it looks like a standard sized fiction book, but actually is a graphic novel. I'm not a big graphic novel fan; my experience with them is pretty much limited to Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. (Which was great, by the way - Gaiman is such a great storyteller. Anyway...) I REALLY enjoyed this. Bechdel's writing is heart-wrenchingly honest, slyly funny, and deeply literate. Her artwork is her own style, which meshes well with her writing and lends more texture and nuance to the story she's telling. Oh, the story - basically, this is a biography of her family; her fathers' death and her coming to terms with her sexuality. Tragicomedy is a great description. Here's the highest praise: I read this in two sittings - only put it down to fall asleep on the couch, and finished it when I woke up in the morning. Felt a little drained when I finished it, too. Great book.

Book 29

Candid self-portraits

Thought I was being funny a few days ago and decided to take a couple of "candid self-portraits" - shots taken at arm's length while pretending that someone else was taking them. I know, funny guy...

Gospel of Food

Just finished The Gospel of Food, by Barry Glassner. In it, he basically calls for sanity in food attitudes - he speaks against the no-fat, no-sugar, no-gluten-cholesterol-carbohydrate-whatever groups as well as the food snobs who will only eat in four-star restaurants. He doesn't condemn fast food, but again speaks of moderation. This isn't in any way a diet book, more about the way that we think about food. Although I didn't agree with everything he said, I found myself agreeing with him more often than not.

Book 28