Reading for Pleasure Wednesdays: Short Stories by Alice Munro

One of my Christmas gifts was a collection of short stories by Alice Munro. I first read a review of this book in the New Yorker (I think) and thought it sounded intriguing. It is beyond intriguing. Another book on perspectives. And in some ways on the hidden lives that we each live. The short stories are actually the perfect length to read before bed - 20 to 30 minutes. And although they are not heavy reading in the sense of the prose, they leave you thinking. Slightly unsettled.

The characters feel as if they are your neighbors next door. People you know and encounter everyday. In some cases your own family members. But the way they interact and behave, the quirks and motivations, the final choices they make for good or bad, never fail to surprise. And make you look at your neighbors in a slightly new way.

With the exception of the first two stories, the stories seem more focused on death than I expected from the title. But fundamentally, ultimately, the stories are about the relationships the characters had in life and how they carry forward as they face their own death or the deaths of others.

I have one more collection of Alice Munro's short stories. Once I move, it will take up residence on my bedside table. A neat sized bite to read before bed when I'm too tired for something longer.

Sunday Food

Early in the week I made my own version of shrimp scampi. Thin noodles. Frozen shrimps. Used up 1/2 n 1/2 that was about to turn, a half glass of white wine left in the bottle, snow peas that were in the fridge for who knows what, and green onions. A very tasty way to clean out the fridge.

I also made lemon pepper chicken. The recipe calls for chicken thighs. I used breasts - that was a mistake. It's much much better with thighs. I wish they sold individual flash frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs just like they do chicken breasts. It would make my life so much easier.

I think since I have the whole day to be of the home I am going to make chili (2/3 of which will go to the homeless shelter) and a shrimp-pasta-pea casserole. I think if I make the casserole ahead of time I might be able to come home and pop it in the oven and eat. It has to cook for 30 min or so and I can't get motivated to MAKE it and COOK it all in one night - I'm too hungry when I get home.

A long Winter

For the third time in two months, sunday morning services are canceled due to weather. In all the time I've lived in the midwest, sunday morning services have been canceled zero times prior to this. We've also had all activities at church canceled 4 other times on a weekday. Several of those times, weather men have predicted that the storm would miss us and then it didn't. I wonder if this is God's way of giving church staff a vacation.

Starting in early October and carrying through to a month ago, this year has been a hard year for our church. The senior pastor lost a parent, as did his wife. A teenager in a prominent family committed suicide - the family was close personal friends with the assoc. pastor and the youth director. Two other young vital church members passed away for various other reasons. The church is also trying to decide whether to build a new building or remodel the old - very controversial topics leading to additional tension. Winter has been long this year. And not just in the snow day sense. I think we are all looking forward to the renewal that comes with Spring.