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shipperxSo, last night it was wall to wall weather on TV. The one thing about the South in the spring is that the Weather Gods like to throw tornadoes at us. And to mock us for mocking the Weather Gods, they allow weather men to completely take over television even during prime time. This time I didn't turn switch to the cable mostly because according to the weather men, the Weather Gods were intent on throwing tornadoes at my house. Luckily, all missed by a wide swathe (though I gather there was some damage in some other suburbs, which is awful).
It did, however, give me time to finish the latest Harry Dresden. Overall, I liked it. Thought it was fast paced. However, the ending made me sad. When I stop to think about it, it makes sense. Thomas had been rather light for a vampire and this darkens him up. That said, it still saddens me. Last book it was Michael. This book it's Thomas. They're taking Harry's allies away. Not that I think that Thomas is gone. They've simply darkened him up a little, which could be helpful if, as I've long suspected, Harry eventually has his Darth Willow moment. That seems to have been set up for quite some time now and sooner or later I expect it to happen. A darker Thomas could then be more helpful bringing Harry out of his 'dark phase' whenever it happens.
And, speaking of Darth Harry, I have my suspicions regarding Harry's headaches. That seemed like an ominous portent.
As far as the mystery in question, I thought the ending was rather Harry Potter derivative. That's not a wholly terrible thing, because -- hey, it works. But the whole Black Council plot seems Harry Potteresque to me at the moment. That said, I'll buy the next book to find out what happens next.
Finally, though the weather was bad this weekend and it's been an exceedingly wet spring, I do so enjoy waking up and/or coming home to see the back yard in bloom with roses and azaleas.
It did, however, give me time to finish the latest Harry Dresden. Overall, I liked it. Thought it was fast paced. However, the ending made me sad. When I stop to think about it, it makes sense. Thomas had been rather light for a vampire and this darkens him up. That said, it still saddens me. Last book it was Michael. This book it's Thomas. They're taking Harry's allies away. Not that I think that Thomas is gone. They've simply darkened him up a little, which could be helpful if, as I've long suspected, Harry eventually has his Darth Willow moment. That seems to have been set up for quite some time now and sooner or later I expect it to happen. A darker Thomas could then be more helpful bringing Harry out of his 'dark phase' whenever it happens.
And, speaking of Darth Harry, I have my suspicions regarding Harry's headaches. That seemed like an ominous portent.
As far as the mystery in question, I thought the ending was rather Harry Potter derivative. That's not a wholly terrible thing, because -- hey, it works. But the whole Black Council plot seems Harry Potteresque to me at the moment. That said, I'll buy the next book to find out what happens next.
Finally, though the weather was bad this weekend and it's been an exceedingly wet spring, I do so enjoy waking up and/or coming home to see the back yard in bloom with roses and azaleas.
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Date: 2009-04-21 03:14 am (UTC)And I haven't read the newest Dresden book, but FWIW, I've always found them more tightly plotted and original than the Potter books. Perhaps the next book will have some sort of twist.
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Date: 2009-04-21 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 08:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 12:50 pm (UTC)Anyway, pretty, pretty! Do you know what kind of rose that is on the trellis?
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Date: 2009-04-21 02:27 pm (UTC)http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/45613?cid=wpp000518
I highly rec it. I grew tired of pampering any of the plants in my yard a few years ago so those that remain are those that have won the war of neglect attrition. It is fairly immune to black spot. It may get a little but it doesn't spread badly and it doesn't lose its leaves. Japanese beetles leave it alone. And, around here it blooms April through December (though the spring and the fall bloom are the most prolific. Still it blooms in smaller repeats through the summer). All in all, it's been excellent for me, though rose books warn that it's not particularly cold tolerant (which I can understand. It doesn't lose its leaves until a hard freeze and starts new leaves as soon as its remotely warm enough to do so which basically, in this area, that leaves only January and part of February completely dormant) That said, I've had it around ten years and have never had any problem with it except overgrowing and --because of its short dormancy -- always losing the window of time to prune it.
The huge red rose bush in the yard (not on the trellis) is an antique china tea rose - 'Cramoisi Superieur' which is a very, very, VERY vigorous grower (though not a great cut rose. Still, for a garden rose, it's excellent).
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/rose-205.html
The white/pink one in the last picture is also an antique - 'Clotilde Soupert'
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/rose-906.html (It was once run over with a lawn mower and split in half. So it's more durable than it looks).
Any rose that's still in the yard means that it can take extreme neglect and yet still bloom repeatedly and keep most if not all of its leaves.
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Date: 2009-04-21 02:46 pm (UTC)My sister-in-law has had a ton of trouble with Japanese beetles with her knock-out roses -- maybe I'll suggest Don Juan to her as she's got a good place for a climbing rose...
And your yard really does look fantastic.
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Date: 2009-04-21 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 04:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 05:31 pm (UTC)Still, I enjoyed the book so no real complaints.
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Date: 2009-04-21 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 05:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-21 09:57 pm (UTC)