Pato and I went downtown on Friday to hear
T.C.Boyle talk. I happen to think his book
The Tortilla Curtain is an American masterpiece. I also liked
Riven Rock. I bought
The Women to have it signed along with my curly copy* of
The Tortilla Curtain. (He liked the fact
Tortilla Curtain was curly). Boyle not only spoke, he also read a short story that was fantastic. I do believe his was the best author talk I've ever been to.
I'm sure Girl-child will appreciate his footwear:
We also saw the most ridiculous pair of pants, ever, while walking downtown:
*Many years ago, I loaned The Tortilla Curtain to a coworker. She was originally from Los Angeles and I told her she absolutely had to read the book. When she returned it to me it was a brand new copy so I asked her what happened? She confessed she'd dropped my book in the tub while reading. While it was drying she checked a copy out of the library because she couldn't wait to continue reading. Then she decided the original copy was too curly to return to me so she bought a new copy. Meanwhile, she was late returning the library book and had to pay fines. I felt terrible it'd cost her so much to read the book so I asked her, "Did you like it?"
She didn't. I think the ending kind of did her in.
When I retired from The Evil Airline That No Longer Exists, she gave me the tub copy along with Green With Envy bath confetti. Classy, don't you think?
I thought it was preventative removal related to the Emerald Ash Borer, but apparently not. The map does not show the parkway as part of that plan, which means that the trees they cut down last week are in addition to the EAB prevention removals.
Some of those lost were quite large.
It doesn't look too bad now, but the canopy is going to be affected that's for sure. Thirty percent of the trees in St Paul are ash.
So go out there this summer and plant a tree. Make it something native and hearty, why dontcha?
