Since Charlie retired back in March, I haven’t had much chance to go to the beach.
Yesterday . . .
she decided that I needed to get out and that she would go with me. So after she finished skyping her sister Tricia in England, we got into the Enclave and drove to the beach. I stopped and got a cheeseburger and fries for a late lunch (about 2 pm).
We parked along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) at about 17th Street in HB and found an unoccupied bench on which to sit. It was cool and breezy and there were few people about.
Only four ships were anchored off the coast, two tankers and two container ships–a far cry from four months ago when you could count more than two dozen.
While we were eating, three guys started playing catch on the beach below us and two more went in the water to go surfing. The waves weren’t high, broke too close to shore and were badly torn up by the wind; I don’t think they got much surfing done.
It was too cold for Charlie; after I finished lunch, we returned to the car for the short drive home. Still, it was nice to get out.
Books
Here’s a list of what I’ve read so far this year:
This list does not count re-reads (The Crystal Variation, The Dragon Variation and The Agent Gambit) of Liaden books in preparation for Dragon in Exile coming out shortly.
21. Paradigms Lost by Ryk E. Spoor 3/5 stars
20. The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn 2/5 stars
18. & 19. A Confederation of Valor by Tanya Huff 4/5 stars–includes: The Better Part of Valor (Confederation #2) & Valor’s Choice (Confederation #1)
17.The Clone Apocalypse by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #10) 2/5 stars
16. The Clone Assassin by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #9) 4/5 stars
15.The Clone Sedition by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #8) 4/5 stars
14. The Clone Redemption by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #7) 4/5 stars
13. Madness in Solidar by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #9) 4.5/5 stars
12. Castaway Planet by Eric Flint 3/5 stars
11. Undercity by Catherine Asaro (Major Baahjan #1) 4/5 stars
10. The Clone Empire by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #6) 4/5 stars
9. The Clone Betrayal by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #5) 4/5 stars
8. The Clone Elite by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #4) 4/5 stars
7. Antiagon Fire by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #7) 4/5 stars
6. Imager’s Battalion by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #6) 4/5 stars
5. Princeps by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #5) 4/5 stars
4. Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee (Archer’s Beach #3) 4/5 stars
3. Scholar by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #4) 4/5 stars
2. The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower by C. Northcote Parkinson 4/5 stars
1. The Abyss Beyond Dreams by Peter F. Hamilton (A Commonwealth Novel) 3/5 stars