Winter and Discontent....

Sometimes I wonder about the world, but then I realize it has always been a tough go...and here it is February!  Snow time. Not so much as sometimes, but probably more to come. I read another Maisie Dobbs book, Why? I do not know. They are full of angst and sorrow and have sort of a supernatural edge that I find annoying. This was #3 and the last I will read. Some people love them, and they are well written. That alone can recommend a book these days.  I am going to read some escapist fiction - another one or two or three Janet Evanovich and maybe a non-fiction Eric Newby again. I finished another Eric Newby book, and I loved it - these Brits can write. In the wings I have Bill Bryson as well, and that is always fun!   Short and sweet today....but checking in!

Books and ebooks...Assorted Notes...

Seattle last May was again a nice trip.  Just getting back into the swing of  blogging here. It seems my sewing blog is slogging along rather slowly as well. I thought that today I would just add a few pictures from the past year, mostly to give the blog some bulk.  Reading - I have to admit to a long streak of reading Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novels - I have about exhausted the series. Only three left until she writes another. They are amusing and go fast.  On the more sedate side, I have read some of the novels of Jason Goodwin, Ruth Downey and Eric Ambler once again.  I read a series by Lisa See that is so eye-opening on the topic of modern China. So well written. Dragon Bones, The Interior and Flower Net. Excellent.   In ebooks the selection is pretty eclectic.  I have The Lost World  by Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as a bunch of  self-published on AMAZON novels that aren't bad. You really have to be careful in the area of the self-published stuff, so very many are just drek.  I have read the worst book a few times, but try to stay away from anything that has bad reviews with which I can relate. So far the best self-published stuff I have come across is the light series of Folly Beach mysteries by Bill Noel,  the Roman era series by Robert Colton,  and a few others.  If I feel inclined I might do a book review occasionally of one or more of these books. If I mention them I recommend them, be sure of that. I don't write negative reviews.  I try to write positive reviews and if the book has any merit at all I do that.  If it does not I skip writing. The art of crafting a novel or any book at all is difficult. The problem with self-publishing is that lots of people do it with little or no concern for the element of talent.   All those editors at publishing houses that spend time reading books submitted by hopefuls have my utmost sympathy.

And...Starting Again...

Yes, this is still me.  I am going to be resurrecting the general blog and thought I would just post here in advance of some new thoughts to come starting in January 2017.  Again, I need the outlet of general observations of the world, both near and far. Books might play a part, as will cats so if that makes you fall asleep already, be warned!  I won't be talking about sewing machines and quilting here though because that happens over at Eyelets in the Seams.  Kinda droll too because my last post there was all about my vintage ironing board. What could be more fascinating than that I ask you!

Time to officially say this blog is closed to new posts....the generalist blog is passing into history and my blogging is doing more or less the same. I am still over at Eyelets In The Seams which is just a somewhat lazily done chronicle of whatever I want in the realm of sewing and quilting.  Bye now!

Jet Blue rocks!

Jet Blue. What can I say? I finally tried it for myself after a dozen trips out West. Everything they do is different from every other airline in the way they do it. No huge metal rolling elbow crusher down the aisle....they deliver drinks and snacks with trays and bags. They take your drink preference and bring it to you. No loud, assertive announcing, no pushing around the passengers, no boarding the planes in a hoard. They loaded consistently from back to front  with the exception of the front row "More Leg Room" spaces for which you pay more - only about 20-30 more!  Boarding from back to front JUST MAKES SENSE. The inflight television offers a nice set of channels and the snacks are better than Delta's - that's for sure.  Now, the most important thing overall is the difference in the ambiance of the entire experience. Each and every employee in all three airports I visited on my trips - Burlington, Vermont, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA, was polite and spole always in a moderate tone. No loud yelling, no brisk treatment of the passengers. Seemingly calm at every moment, the Jet Blue employees were considerate and kind. This ambiance of calm permeated through the gates, the plane and the passengers, which just rolled along into an entire calm surround. I really think that other airlines should send at least one or two of the higher managers on a trip on Jet Blue to see how you do it - Delta is only my example since I have flown Delta and Northwest before that so much, but all other airlines I have flown have been more or less the same, except Jet Blue. I can only put down the difference to a different philosophy of customer service that must flow down from the top and spread as it goes. Whatever goes on there, I applaud it and look forward to my next flight on Jet Blue.