Another trip, this time to Randolph, MA for two days. During the trip I read:

"The Fly in the Wall" and "Coyote Waits". Both were written by Tony Hillerman.

-Richard

After a long wait of 2 1/2 years I finally got the chance to watch my San Jose Earthquakes to play yesterday, albeit, via a live web cast . It was the first match of the pre-Season Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, South Carolina. I was actually hoping to perhaps go down for one of the weekends, but, other events have made this not going to happen. The Quakes actually won this tournament their last season before being moved. It was also the first Championship that the Houston Dynamo won in their first year. From what I could see the team looked OK for an expansion team. Obviously there are lots of areas that need improvement, but,I think they could do alright this year, although will struggle for a play-off place. They won the game 1-0 of Toronto on a goal by defender Jason Hernandez after an ugly melee in the box after a corner.

The cool thing is that I am really looking for to the American Soccer Season for the first time since the Quakes moved. This also rubs of onto watching the USL an the Carolina RailHawks. Although I enjoyed last year my heart wasn't 100% in it is I was disillusioned with the American Soccer scene due to what happened with the Quakes. Although the Quakes are undoubtedly my top team, I think I will enjoy the RailHawks more this year because my passion for the sport over here is back. Infact, due, to what I went through with the Quakes, I think they may have even overtaken Hartlepool as my #1 football team. The only way to really know that would be if they play. What I do know is that my interest in the English Premier League is at an all time low and I have watched very few games this year. I think part of my problem with that is that "most" people over here follow the big teams and I get a bit sick of it. There are some exceptions and those people I really respect.

It's gonna to be a fun Season. Live games with the RailHawks. We are planing on going to DC to see a couple of games, there is a chance to we may get to see San Jose game there and possibly a Houston game in Houston. Also with Jenn sticking with the Houston Dynamo (the re-located team) as they also became her home town team and me staying with San Jose we should have some fun "Soccer Saturdays". At least we will be able to agree on the RailHawks!!

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Kidnapped" written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Khrushchev Remembers" written by Nikita Khrushchev.

-Richard

I listened to:

"This Means War" performed by Petra.

-Richard

On my long trip to and from Puerto Rico I finished reading:

"Plays" written by Anton Chekhov. This book contained the plays - "Ivanov", "The Seagull", "Uncle Vania", "Three Sisters", "The Cherry Orchard", "The Bear", The Proposal" and "A Jubilee".

"A Hero of Our Time" written by Mikhail Yur'evich Lermontov

"The Garden of Eden" written by Ernest Hemingway.

"Treasure Island" written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

-Richard

The trip home from Puerto Rico was a wee bit of an adventure. I was supposed to go via Miami, but, because of weather problems in Florida that flight was going to be delayed to the point where I would have missed my connection and been stuck in Miami for the night. However, I was transferred to a flight via Boston. This was a four hour flight. Unfortunately, due to bad weather in Boston this flight was about 45 minutes landing meaning I landed at the same time my flight to Raleigh was supposed to leave. Fortunately because of the bad weather the flight home was also delayed to I managed to get on it and all in all I actually got home 20 minutes sooner than I was actually scheduled for. At least I got a lot of reading done. (see next post).

The photo posted here is one I took on the drive to the airport.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Peace Making 1919" written by Harold Nicholson. This was written about the peace process after World War One. The author was a British Diplomat involved in the process.

I actually finished this book before my trip to Puerto Rico and actually started in on my trip to New York the week before.

-Richard

Another road trip!! This time I have been on Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico for four days. Although it sounds like paradise it has been strictly business with some very long days. I have had the chance to see some of the island whilst driving around to visit some customers. It is very spectacular in places. From the tropical mountains in the interior to the like blue Caribbean Sea in the South to the Dark Blue Atlantic in the North. We did have the opportunity to go to Old San Juan last night for dinner. It is a very Colonial style and reminded my in many ways of walking around Spain.

I actually stayed in a town called Caguas which is about half and hour from the Capital, San Juan. The photograph is one I took from my hotel room window. Also, obviously San Juan marks a new airport that I've been to. I travelled there and back via Miami which is an airport that I've been to before.


-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of 1 Kings.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Perestroika - New Thinking for Our Country and the World" written by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

-Richard

On my trip to New York (below) I read two short books:

"The moon is Down" and "The Pearl", both written by John Steinbeck.

-Richard

A new airport. I had to go to New York yesterday and flew in and out of LaGuardia for the first time. Not to bad. Actually this is the first time I've actually been into New York City itself since I left JFK after my first summer in the States working in 1989. A lot has changed since then.

-Richard

I Listened to:

"Integrity's i Worship, A Total Worship Experience - NEXT" performed by Various Christian Artists.

-Richard

Over the last couple of weeks going back and forwards to Texas I finished reading three books:

"The Rainbow" written by D.H. Lawrence

"The Biography and Other Writings" written by Benjamin Franklin

"The Red Pony" written by John Steinbeck

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Magic Army" written by Leslie Thomas.

-Richard

The Texas Storm!! One the things from Texas I really miss is the storm. There is something special about the way they roll through over the flat lands with rain so heavy that you can hardly see and lightening dancing all around. It is different from elsewhere I've ever lived. We got one tonight and it was as spectacular as I'd remembered.

-Richard

I finished reading "The Tales from The Cherokee Hills" written by Jean Starr.

-Richard

I finished reading: "The Way - An anthology of American Indian Literature" edited by Shirley Will Witt and Stan Steiner.

This is a subject I am very interested in. Jenn is half American Indian, mostly Cherokee with some Creek and Choctaw. The way that the tribes have been treated and still are is criminal. We hear all the time about racism, sexism and all the other ism's as well as how America needs to "fix" the rest of the world. How about looking at their own history of murder and ethnic cleansing. What happens in the past needs to be acknowledged and put right now especially on the very poor, poverty stricken reservations. Coming from the country that is the prime cause of these atrocities makes me somewhat ashamed, embarrassed and very angry.

-Richard

Back in Houston!! We are back in Houston for a small vacation visiting with Jenn's family. Every time I come back it feels like home. There is something about Texas and Houston that I love. I definitely think that at some point in our future we will come back here. When, that will be I don't know as we are happy in Raleigh, but, I guess it just ain't Texas.

Ironically today is the day of the first game back of the "new" San Jose Earthquakes. Who, are they playing? The Houston Dynamo. Unfortunately the game is in San Jose not Houston.

-Richard

Praise Party

Dancing,
Singing,
Clapping
Worshiping,
Suffering?
Emotions fly
As souls sigh
Yet a rod
Hides the power of God
We want to feel good
We want The Spirit to flood.
But it's us!
But it's us!
What about those that need
Let's plant the seed
Let The Word shine
So God can say "The World is Mine".

6th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

-Richard

After another day of Primaries and Caucasus (whatever the plural is for that) Obama took all four democratics ones easily. In Nebraska he tool 68% of the vote to Clinton's 32%. In Washington he had the same comprehensive margin. Louisiana is closed, but Obama still won 56% - 37%. He also won the Caucus in the Virgin Islands. He now has the lead in pledged delegates, those won via election. However, with the "Superdelegates" i.e. those from the the party and Washington Aparati he is losing. It will be interesting to see what happens if Obama wins the voted delegates, but, loses because of the Superdelegates. I think that leaves the nomination very week and open to a very serious attack. As a political junky this is going to be fun!!!

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Revolution: Five Centuries of Europe in Conflict" edited by Charles H. George.

-Richard

I finished leading to:

"August 1914" written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.


-Richard

I had a first today. My first ever canceled flight. I was going to White Plains, New York for a meeting. I managed to get as far as Washington, Dulles airport where my connection was delayed and delayed and delayed again before being finally canceled. As it was too late to get to my meeting with the alternatives they offered I had no choice not to come home.

This also reminds me that I missed an airport of the list I made a couple of weeks ago - Newark, New Jersey.

Richard

As well as the Super Bowl on Sunday we had Super Tuesday for the Presidential Nomination Primaries. I have finally decided who I am going to support: Barack Obama. Although, at the moment I do not have the time to post the reasons why I am posting a cool video, again from You Tube.



-Richard

New York Giants Super Bowl Champions!!!

What a game and what a play-off run. Here I am the day after!!

Below is a "You Tube" compilation showing Tom Brady getting destroyed.



And here is the play of the day!!!



-Richard

The next step in my Citizenship application will happen on Tuesday, February 19th. I need to drive the three hours to Charlotte, North Carolina to have my finger prints taken. That will leave two steps to go, the interview and then ceremony.

-Richard

I finished the Bible book of 2 Samuel.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Dracula" composed by Philip Glass and performed by the Kronos Quarter.


-Richard

Docklands: 9/2/1996

Irish or British
Does it matter?
We speak the same language,
Share the same heritage.
Let the past be the past
We all want peace.
All?
A handful of mindless bastards
Seeking their own ends.
Not what the people want.
Their own personal glory.
Their selfish ways
Leads to pain for the innocent
Leaving children crying.
Fathers are dead;
Mothers are dead
A minority leading us all
To our own Armageddon.

11th February 1996 - Uxbridge, Middlesex, England.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Periodic Kingdom" by P.W. Atkins. A book trying to get across the principles of the Periodic Table of elements in a straight forward way. It did an ok job. For me, however, it was more of a trip back into the branch of Chemistry, inorganic, where I am much more at home rather than the Pharmaceutical/Organic branch I now deal with nearly 100% at work.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Seven Last Words from the Cross" composed by James MacMillan and performed by The Britten Sinfonia and Polyphony conducted by Stephen Layton.
"On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin" and "Te Deum" both composed by James MacMillan and performed by James Vivian (organ) and Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"We Never Make Mistakes" written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. This comprised of two short stories: "An Incident at Krechetovka Station" and "Matryona's House".








-Richard

One of the most rewarding things that I do occasionally is to help teach a Basic Computer Class to residents of the Raleigh Rescue Mission. I've done this for a few years now. It is great to try and show people who have not had it easy, but, are so enthusiastic, so grateful but above all want to really try and start again new skills. For example when I was there yesterday I bumped into a student from a previous class. He is now going to college to attend culinary arts. It's so refreshing after all the negativity we here all around us and yet these folks who do have nothing are so grateful it really makes one think.

The other cool thing about the session that I have just done is that I did it for the first time with Jenn. Each class has an instructor and assistant. My previous assistant just had a baby so Jenn stepped into help and enjoyed it. She should actually be doing the teaching as she is the one that taught me most things that I know on the computer.

The class is always started with a short devotional as the goal is sharing Christ in a practical way that can apply to people's life. Yesterday's which was unplanned happened to be my favourite: Joshua 1 vs 9...paraphrased by me "Be Bold be Strong because the Lord Your God is with you"

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Great Rehearsal" written by Carl Van Doren. An interesting read on the evolution of the Constitution of the US.







-Richard

I listened to:

"Birthday Sleep", "Butterfly Dreams", "The Second Coming", "Schuon Hymnen", "As one who has slept", "The Bridal Chamber", "Exhortation and Kohina" and "Shunya". All were composed by John Tavener and performed by Polyphony conducted by Stephen Layton.

-Richard

Yesterday "My" New York Giants reached are very unlikely Super Bowl beating Green Bay, in an extremely cold Lambeau Field. It's been a very exciting end to the Season and the next couple of weeks will be fun. However, its kinda like a poisoned chalice having to play arguably the greatest team in the history of the NFL - the 18-0 New England Patriots. A team driven by history to achieve only the second ever perfect season on the the first team to reach 19-0. The Giants pushed them very close in the final regular season game losing 38-35 so you never know!!!

-Richard

I bought Jenn a new digital camera for her birthday and I "inherited" her old one. She has an account on flickr were she takes a photo a day. Whist I certainly will come nowhere near a picture a day I am going to try and take some regularly of relevant things and post them on here.

-Richard

Christmas in Texas

Kids running wild
Christmas music playing
Tills jangling
Christmas trees decorated
Presents being bought
Snow outside?
No, seventy degree heat.
It is Christmas. Isn't it?

25th November 1995 - San Antonio, Texas, USA.

I finally joined one of the trendy technological revolutions. I bought an I-pod!! With the traveling I have had to do and will probably have to do it is something to pass the time more quickly.

-Richard

On Monday I went on another work trip. This time to Vandalia, Ohio and then to West Lafayette, Indiana. In the process I used three airports I had not been to: Dayton, OH, Indianapolis, IN and Washington-Reagan as well as Cincinnati which I have been to previously. This got me thinking about how many airports I'd flown in and out of:

Europe: England - London - Heathrow, London - Gatwick and Teeside
France - Paris -Charles de Gaulle
Holland - Amsterdam
Denmark - Copenhagen
Sweden - Stockholm
Russia - St. Petersburg

Rest of the World: Jamaica - Montego Bay
Sri Lanka - Colombo
Oman - Mascat.

USA: Alabama - Mobile
Arizona - Phoenix
California - Ontario, Orange County, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Fransisco, Oakland and San Jose.
Massachusetts - Boston
Florida - Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Georgia - Atlanta
Illinois - Chicago, O'Hare
Indiana - Indianapolis
Kentucky- Cincinnati (the airport is in Kentucky over the State line from Ohio)
Minnesota - Minneapolis
Michigan - Detroit
Nebraska - Omaha
New York - JFK and White Plains
North Carolina - Raleigh/Durham
Ohio - Cleveland and Dayton
Texas - Houston, George Bush and Victoria
Utah - Salt Lake City
Virginia - Washington Dulles and Washington, Reagan.
Wisconsin - Madison

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Siege of Leningrad" written by Alan Wykes.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Wealth of Nations" written by Adam Smith.

-Richard

PC-World

Machines rule.
Man subservient.
Everything must be done
By the press of a key
Causing electrons whizzing
Programs running.
Crash!!!
It goes wrong
What do we do?
Nothing!
We can't.
We don't think anymore
We're lost:-
To the rule of the computer.

17th October 1995 - North Acton, London, England.

-Richard

As my meetings in LA finished early on Wednesday I decided to a little sightseeing and find the "Hollywood" sign. After driving down such iconic roads as Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards driving past Santa Monica and Mullholland I found the sign. I took a picture on my cell phone, which is not to clear. It was an amazingly humbling experience. How did a guy from Hartlepool, in the North-East of England end up here? My only answer is an could be blessing from God. I have worked hard, but, nothing could have been accomplished with out God and I am really, really humbled.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Fall of the Russian Monarchy" by Sir Bernard Pares.

-Richard

Back to California. Here, I am sitting in a hotel room back in CA. This time it is not the Bay Area, it is SoCal!! I am staying in Agura Hills, just north of LA. Of course I had to wear my San Jose Earthquakes shirt and jacket for the trip over. Strangely enough this is the first time that I have flown into LAX.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Summer of '49" written by David Halberstom

-Richard

I listened to:

"Symphony N0.5 in B flat, Op.100" and "Ala and Lolly (Sythian Suite) Op.20" composed by Sergei Prokofiev. They were performed by The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

"Symphony No.5 in E flat major, Op 82" and "Symphony No.6 in D minor, Op 104" both composed by Jean Sibelius. The were performed by The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

-Richard

Happy New Year!!!

So, what does the New Year hold? That's a good question. I think the only certainty is that it will be interesting.

What I would like is for a year of stability at work where the new job is consolidated and hopefully I will be doing the same job this time next year as I think it will take at least that long to get it to position I want to allow growth to happen.
We will be reducing the amount we do for Snowflake slightly and I would like to do more work in the community in some form tutoring or teaching.
I think that's it really. A year of stability where at this time next year I will be able to say that it was a good year and I really did God's will and I have made Him proud and given Him all the Glory.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Alexander II and the Modernization of Russia" written by W.E. Mosse.

-Richard

So here it is once again. - New Year's Eve. Another hours away from being over. It's amazing how time can go so quickly. I've been sitting here this morning thinking about the past year all the good, the bad and the ugly. It's certainly been an interesting year and very busy. Here are a few highlights and low lights.....

• It was a year of anniversaries for me: 30 years ago in September at the age of 8 I knelt and asked Jesus into my heart. Although I was 8 it was a true decision and the most important one that I have ever made. 30 years later I am still His child. Has been easy - no? Have I made slips - Yes!, but, am I still on the path yes!! 10 years ago on May 31st I got married to Jenn the second most important decision that I have made and am still extremely happy with it and could not imagine any other person to spend my life with. 20 years ago on September 30th I left home and went to Bradford University. Again, one of the best choices that I made, not because of the education that I received, but, for the people I met and the experiences and learnings that I received. A major step in growing up as a person but more importantly Spiritually and in understanding experiencing the Fullness of The Spirit. This is why the first anniversary is the most important because it is the foundation and guiding of all others that I make.
• It was a changing year in many years for our Church life. I did not go to Church as much as I would have liked and wanted to, due to other things in life that we have been called to. The Church got a new Pastor who so far has some good ideas. Our small group also took a change that was tough a first, but, I think through it all have grown. We have done some good studies together with a joint Leadership. Currently we are working on a series on Spiritual Warfare.
• Our work in Animal Rescue was tough this last year. We have made the decision that we need to cut back some in 2008. We basically got overwhelmed. There is such a need for foster homes and just people who care. We also, for the first time, for involved in some of the human politics of animal rescue. Unfortunately, as in everything, sometimes ego's get involved and people get hurt. Losing Fred, Cumulus and Cassie, as previously mentioned also shook us. However, despite it all we feel strongly that we are doing a work that we are called to and in an organization we believe in so are going to pull back slightly but still work actively in.
• Our families are doing well. Ourselves we added Pushkin as mentioned in my previous post. Jenn's family are in Huntsville, Texas. Are grandmother is not well, but, hanging in there. We are planning a visit in February and managed to spend some time with them in Houston in March. My family are doing well. My parents came over for there annual visit in October and we had a good time with them. I took a week away and we rented a cabin in Georgia (right) where we all had a really good time.
• Jenn and I also took a week's vacation this year. We also rented a cabin in Ellijay, Georgia. It was for 10th wedding anniversary. In fact it was the first full week of that I had taken from work since our 5th anniversary when we went to Tennessee. It was a really nice time spending time together, reading, writing and playing games. Nilla also went with us and really enjoyed herself.
• Work this year was interesting and very, very busy. At the beginning of the year I assumed new responsibility as "North American Training Supervisor". However, at the end of January the "US Laboratory Services" Manager quit. As I was based in the same office as he was I gained that job as an interim position. After doing the job for 5 months I got promoted to it permanently whilst keeping the other job. I did both jobs until November when the Training Job was divided up. I kept some of it, but, the major part was divested to other managers, so basically we all have a role to play in training. I also had to do some travel. I went to some new places: Detroit, Michigan; White Plains, NY; Madison, Wisconsin; and Toronto, Ontario.
  
• In sport it was an average year for teams that I support. England Rugby did really well in reaching the World Cup Final. Hartlepool United got promoted to League One and Durham County Cricket Club one their first professional competition. We had a new expansion USL-1 Soccer team in Cary which Jenn and I had Season tickets for and had a good time dragging other friends to as well. However, the big sports news of the Year is the return of the San Jose Earthquakes to MLS starting in April.
• I read 70 books, which is by far the most that I have read in one year. This is one of the benefits of traveling a chance to read on planes and in airports.

I think that's about the summary. Tomorrow I will work on my goals for 2008.

Happy New Year!!

-Richard

After a couple of sad posts it's time for a more "cheery" one. On Thanksgiving Day we added to our family!! We adopted Pushkin. We have always planned on adopting one kitten that we have fostered, and up to this point it had not happened. (The photo to the left is her before we adopted when we tried her our to see if she got on with our current family.)

Why Pushkin? (apart from the name of one of my favourite authors). She was a very shy scared kitten that would be difficult to adopt out, but, above all we introduced her to the rest of our family and they took to her straight away and she to them. She is a very sweet kitten and some how stole my heart, so we decided she was right for us and Jenn adopted her for me (photo above is just after the contract was signed and she officially one of our family). She is still shy with us and is certainly not a lap cat, but, she has a great time playing on her own and with the rest of the family (right she is laying next to Coal who has accepted his new baby sister), especially Rollo, our eldest, who has regressed to be a kitten to play with Pushkin. Our family is now nearly complete.

-Richard

In Memoriam:

As I mentioned briefly in my previous post we also lost another kitten: Cassiopeia. She was a scared little fluffy girl that we trapped from behind Red Lobster in Raleigh. This is the same place we've got them before, including Nimbus who is still with us and is now one of my office cats. With the current litter there were six. Cumulus came in first, but, unfortunately as mentioned earlier, she died whilst getting spayed. We also got Orion, Moonbeam, Cassiopeia, Luna and Starlight. Cassie was very shy, but, just starting to come around and was at the point where she could be adopted. We took her to the vet to be spayed, but, during surgery she died. It turned out that she had a bad heart condition. Although we did not have her long she is still important to us and, made an impact on us, as do all the kittens and cats that come through our home. The photo taken of her was taken the day that she came in.

-Richard

In Memoriam:

November 15th is a very sad day in our house. On November 15th last year, Barney, one of long term foster cats died. On November 15th this year his brother, Fred, died after suffering a stroke. Exactly one year to the day of his brother. They had both been fighting a rare immune disorder which eventually came to much for them. They were wonderful and two of the sweetest and happiest cats there were. They were my "home office" cats so it is definitely a much sadder place to be in right now. However, there are many. many, happy memories of the boys. They had so much fun and even Fred the year he was on his own made new friends and did remarkably well. He was happy, playing, eating right up to the last evening. What more could he or we want? Losing him has been really tough and made us question what if what we are doing with Snowflake is right, especially after we lost two kittens this year (Cumulus previously mentioned and Cassie who will be soon) and going through the "human" politics and infighting a bit. However, seeing how Snowflake put these boys into our lives and the joy they gave us despite health problems when other organisations would have given up has helped re-focus us on the mission that we feel we have been called to, as well as honouring the memory of those who've passed on who came through our house: Baby Boy, Barney and Fred. All are part of us and all very much missed to the point that even although this is over month since Fred's passing it was very, very difficult for me to write about this.

In the photos, the black and white one sums them up perfectly. Fred is the one in the back acting silly whilst Barney in the front is serious. That is how they were Fred was the more playful one whilst Barney was happy to sit on a lap and was more serious. The colour photo of both of them is one my favourites and is framed on my office wall. Fred is on the left and therefore Barney on the right. They were both taken just a couple of months before Barney died by a professional photographer, Katie Britt who volunteers with Snowflake by taking some beautiful photos. I am so grateful that we got the opportunity to get the boys together.

The brothers are now reunited and happy although we are hurting that is a major consolation. Thanks for the memories boys. We will always miss you and always love you.

-Richard

This year we did our "traditional" photographs with Santa. This year was different. Apart from Nilla (above) getting her picture taken we also took two of our cats, Rollo (left with Jenn) and Andie (right with me). They did pretty good although we had to hold them. I also did some time as Santa for the "Santapaws" event at Petsmart. It is my favourite fund raiser for Snowflake of the year. It can be very hot under the suite, but, it is fun meeting all the different people and dogs.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Warlock" written by Wilbur Smith.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Koyaanisqatsi" composed by Philip Glass. It is performed by Albert de Ruiter (bass), The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble and The Philip Glass Ensemble conducted by Michael Riesman.

-Richard

US Citizenship Update - Four months after applying for US Citizenship I received the acknowledgment in the main on Monday. I could get called from my interview any time in the next two years.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Coming up to Breathe" by Mercy Me. This includes one of my favourite new worship songs - "Bring the Rain".

-Richard

I've been really slacking over the last few months updating this. In fact, the last non-reading or listening post was the middle of October after we got back from our family vacation to Georgia with my parents. It's been a busy period. I will try and post the few key events over the next few days before the end of the year.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned" written by William Bronson. It is the story of the 1906 San Fransisco Earthquake and Fire.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Oceana" composed by Osvaldo Golijou performed by The Gwinnett Young Singers, The Atlanta Symphony and Chorus conducted by Robert Spano.
"Tenebrae" composed by Osvaldo Golijou performed by the Kronos Quartet.
"Three Songs" composed by Osvaldo Golijou performed by Dawn Upshaw (soprano) and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Billy Budd, Sailor and Other Stories" written by Hermann Melville.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Chaos: Making a New Science" written by James Gleick.

-Richard

I listened to:

"And on Earth, Peace A Chanticleer Mass" performed by Chanticleer.

-Richard

I finished reading the Bible book of 1 Samuel.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"World War One - a Narrative" written by Philip Warner
"Up From Slavery" written by Booker T. Washington.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Secret War Report of the OSS" edited by Anthony Cove Brown
"Digital Fortress" written by Dan Brown
"The Campaigns of Alexander" written by Arrian
"Deception Point" written by Dan Brown.

-Richard