A quiet holiday at home, with people dropping by, and watching UM lose a thrilling Rose Bowl to Texas by one point in the closing moments of the game. A good day.

Finished reading Protector of the Small and thought it was very good. The main character was well developed, and a great role model for girls, as she had no special gifts other than a drive to help others, and a strong sense of honor. Everything she accomplishes in the story is through plain old hard work.

I also just finished a science/history book about the huge volcanic eruption at Krakatoa. It was one of the strongest eruptions in recorded history. Few people died from the actual eruption -- but tens of thousands died in the resulting monstrous waves. It was solemn reading. The volcano is where it is (in a straight between the two large islands of Sumatra and Java) because that is an area where two tectonic plates meet and one is being driven down (subducted) into the earth. It is an area where there are many volcanos and fault lines (where earthquakes happen). The recent horrible earthquake which caused so many tidal waves which killed so many people also happened in the same general area. Its just that now there are so many more people to be killed than there was a hundred years ago. There could quite easily be other, even larger tragedies in that area in the future, either from huge volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes -- and the resulting tsunamis --  in that part of the world. Huge geologic forces being unleashed, huge and vulnerable populations of people...tragic combination.

I have started reading Hillerman's latest book set in Navajo country -- Skeleton Man. This one is set in the Grand Canyyon as well as in New Mexico. Makes me want to take the long drive out there...makes my heart hunger for the beauty of the canyons...

Talked to Dan some more about going to New York in March.  He wishes to give me the trip as a gift because I cancelled my plans to travel in February.