Welcome Spring!!

Goodness, what kind of blogger am I?? I haven't posted in over a month! And we all know it has not been for lack of anything to say! Have you ever known me to be at a loss for words?

I got into that end of winter funk and admittedly did not have much interest in anything. Thank goodness I had so many meetings this month that I didn't have a second to dwell on the doldrums...well, at least until the weekends. Poor Pete. (Or that's what he would tell you anyway!)

But...we're back and better than ever!! So how's your Final Four bracket going?? Don't want to talk about it? Picked Duke again? Went for the Orange (sorry Jeff)? No applause necessary but I would like everyone to know that all my Final Four selections are still alive. And yes, we are bleeding Blue...GO UCONN! Nothing like some good basketball to get you going...

Since I all my evenings have been taken up with work commitments, I'm taking a brief break from my culinary creations. I did manage some Irish Soda Bread and Corned Beef for and Cabbage for the high holy day but other than that I've been surviving on yogurt, cereal and a lot of pasta!

Despite the distractions and my mood, I have managed to read a fair bit. First, to continue my obsession with all things French...I read "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" by Thad Carhart. An American in Paris discovers a piano shop discreetly tucked in his neighborhood. This discovery awakens his childhood fondness for the piano. The book not only charts his journey and friendships but introduces the reader to the wonders and history of the piano. Now, you may think this could get tedious but no! The history of the piano, the different composers, builders and characteristics are fascinating.

Now, on a totally different note....I found this book on the cart one day, ready to be shelved. For some reason it caught my eye. Then I read the brief description....an underage cab driver with no ambition or future, a coffee drinking dog named "The Doorman" and a bank robbery that changed the course of his life forever...how could you resist that?? I had to read it. The book is "I am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak (author of "The Book Thief"). It is labeled a "Young Adult" book for teens, but it is universal in it's message. I am not telling you anymore. Do you need inspiration or direction? Read this book!

Finally, "The College Girl" by Patricia Weitz. I will admit, I was interested in this book because it revolved around a college student at the University of Connecticut. You all know how much I love a sense of place and I wanted to see h0w the author captured my beloved alma mater. Okay, I did find a few flaws but nothing earth shattering. She described the atmosphere very well but Natalie, poor shy Natalie. While I understand where the author was trying to go with this character, (we all struggled with the pressures of dating, independence, acceptance, ...college in general, right?? Or was that just me??) it was almost too painful to read. Maybe I am being harsh but believe it or not, I was shy once too. But Natalie could not get out of her own way. I know her circumstances ring true for many women finding their way at college (I'm not going into details!) and I found her to be compilation of many people I had met, but again, the word painful keeps coming to mind. Read it if you want but you have been warned.

And since I must end on a positive note, it did move me to drive to campus and get an awesome ice cream soda at the Dairy Bar (that comes highly recommended!).

'Til we blog again.....