I come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun Where the hot springs blow

Okay, no I don’t, but it is indeed cold here, and windy. And I woke up with Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song in my head—specifically that whiny siren shriek Robert Plant does at the beginning—and since I can’t banish it, I’m sharing it. You're welcome. Enjoy.

So . . . read any good books lately? I have. One of my friends from library school did her undergraduate work with one of the women associated with MuggleNet, which has published a book recently called What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7? How could I not read it, right? I’m glad I coughed up the $12, because it gave me some wonderful HP things to think about while I wait for the fifth movie and the final book. I don’t want to get anyone tangled up in discussions they don’t want to be in, but if you’re interested in some of the things the book discusses, post a comment or send an email. Fun stuff!

My sister gave me the new Christopher Moore, You Suck: A Love Story, for my birthday, and that was awesome for two reasons. I didn’t realize she knew I liked Moore, nor did I realize the book had come out. Whee! This book is a continuation of the story from Bloodsucking Fiends, with a bit of a brush up against A Dirty Job. Abby Normal, the best friend of the girl who works at Charlie’s store in Dirty Job, is featured character in this, and I freaking love her. I won’t say this is Moore’s best book, but it was fun and funny, and I can’t wait for another. I heart him.

I started History of Love, based on BB’s love for the book, and I have to say that I think it’s very, very good. But I put it down. Why? Because The End of Mr. Y, the new book by Scarlett Thomas, who wrote the awesomely cool and fun Popco, came in at the library and I was dying for it. I didn’t want to rush History of Love, so I put it down. I’m glad I did. I love Scarlett Thomas, and I want her to move over here (she’s English) and be my friend. She is SO SMART, and has such an imagination . . . I think that as she develops as a writer (and I really, really hope she continues to write) she’s going to become a very big presence in (on? around?) the publishing scene. Like, I bet Neil Gaiman likes/respects her. She’s super-great, and if you like bookish, nerdy, weird (science-y) fiction with a mystery attached, run out right now and find some Scarlett Thomas. I’m not yet finished with The End of Mr. Y, but it’s almost all I can think about.

One of the reasons I’m not finished yet is because I spent pretty much all of yesterday driving the boy and one of his friends to Canton, Ohio, visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and then driving home. It was a fun day, and a very cool place to visit, and now I’m up for Mother of the Year, but . . . it cut majorly into my reading time.

Oh, one last thing. I just watched Godford Park, and I would like very much to punch Ryan Phillipe in his stupid puffy lips. Anyone care to join me?

That is all.