Solitaire Book Club: Ice

Ice by Amy Brady. I am not sure whether Mark Kurlansky actually invented this genre of focused popular non-fiction with Cod and Salt in the late nineties/early aughts, but Brady is certainly a worthwhile inheritor of his mantle in any case. Ice is a fun book that gives a well-researched but accessible account of its topic substance, not from a physics perspective (although there is some scientific background) but through the lenses of social, political, and economic history. The book is well-organized, beginning with a comprehensive chronological overview, then exploring deep dives into food & drink and sports & entertainment, and wrapping up with some future projections, always holding the reader's interest as developments are recounted and connections are explored.

Special kudos go to Brady for recognizing and mentioning the often overlooked contexts of capitalism, colonialism, and racism that played such an important if unfortunate part in human history and the creation of the world as we know it.

It was an especial treat to read this book during a heat wave here in the Pacific Northwest!

Where the heck have I been?

We are certainly past due for a check-in, since the last time we actually had a conversation was back in March, when we moved the clocks ahead. let me see if we can do a quick timeline of haps since then:

• April 1 & 2: First open house for selling the Donovan condo. Meh. No good offers.
• April 10: Take house off-market while we re-group
• x
• x
• x
• May 7 & 8: Two off-market showings - no action
• x
• x
• May 20: Coco's Grad party
• x
• June 2 & 3: Second open house weekend
• June 8: Solid offer - we accepted
• June 11 - 13: House hunting in Tacoma
• June 14: Make offer on Ferdinand house
  
• June 15: Offer accepted
• June 23: Donovan sale closes, we stay as "renters" (no rent)
• June 29: Ferdinand house closes
• July 1: Pick up keys to Ferdinand and move a little junk in
• July 8: At Ferdinand to start floor refinishing and move a little more junk in
• July 13: U-Haul to Ferdinand to bring plants & precious and have internet installed
• July 14: Bellingham Good-bye Fest
  
• July 19: Movers take all our stuff; we spend night at Ferdinand

 

• July 20: Movers deliver all our stuff
• July 21: Walter back at Donovan for final clean/move-out
• July 22: "Unpacking Sprint" begins - major move-in work daily
  
• July 23: Build IKEA bookcases

 

• July 29: Coco does art studio organization with Kristin B
• August 1 & 2: Dishwasher/disposal installation
• August 8: Sprint ends; house looks lived-in. Slowed our roll

So, after a sloooow start, things just went hucklety-buck and all of a sudden we live in Tacoma.

 

And that was just the bare-bones of the move; we have already had visits to the new place from Brenda and Courtney and Kristen and Karmin and Jay and Robb and Jackie & Jeff and we have visited Titlow Beach and Jefferson Park and the Lincoln District Food Walk and Point Defiance Park and Jack Hyde Park and the Chinese Reconciliation memorial and I met with Scott & Jim & Steve B for lunch and we went to the Summer Fest and Coco went swimming in Kandle Park and of course Gig Harbor is just minutes away so we have seen Ann & David and Bev a bunch and hoo-boy have we been busy.

Coco has had a whole side-project of her own, remodeling "The Birdhouse" outbuilding into a therapy office, and her practice should kick into gear right after Labor Day.

 

 

As for me, we shall see how "semi" my retirement becomes or whether I relax into the indolent life of the neighborhood's new Sidewalk Superintendent.