Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sunday Salon: Chicago, food, and book tours


Good morning! It's Sunday, it's morning and I'm actually typing my Sunday Salon post. It's sunny outside, football previews are on tv, I'm on the couch under a blanket. And (before writing this post) I'm reading! What a wonderful fall morning!

Let's begin with the rest of the follow up from my Chicago trip this weekend. You can read my post-Oprah show from Friday afternoon. We didn't end up on camera but still had a great time. It was so interesting seeing it all. I thought Oprah didn't look well, but still she was fun and friendly. She said she was allergic to the eye makeup they put on her but I thought it was more than that. But what do I know? LOL

I haven't read much on my Kindle yet. I plan to use it this week when I read Midwives for LOLAs November book. After that, I'll be sure to give a review on it, comparing it to reading books in paper. She never did talk about The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. We heard the director fellow say the book club part was going to be cut due to the cooking taking longer than planned. I still need to finish the book, having about 200 pages left to go.

After the show on Friday, we had lunch at the Grand Lux Cafe - yummy! The best part of the lunch was the Molten Chocolate cake that I had to order when I ordered my main meal - because they baked it while I ate. Yummmm! We then hung out at the hotel for a bit, taking a short nap (didn't sleep much the night before - excited, chatting), saying good-bye to a few of the ladies. We then ate dinner at a tappas-style restaurant, Quartino. Was also very yummy, even for a picky, prefers boring food person like myself.

After dinner we went to see Wicked. What a great show that is! I highly recommend it. The first couple of ensemble songs were difficult for me to understand, but after that the singing and acting was wonderful. I was teary at the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Saturday we had breakfast at Tempo - apparently the hottest place in Chicago to have breakfast. Was also very yummy - we had great food all weekend!

I got home around dinner time last night. My family was out watching HSM3 - kids said it was the best, hubby says first one is best. Will have to see for myself. We then watched the Buckeyes play a great game against Penn State. They lost but I am still holding my head high as a Buckeye today. They played well, Penn State was just a bit better. Great game (as opposed to the USC game or the past two national championship games)!

Today is going to be a quiet day for us. I have a review due tomorrow for The Darker Side by Cody McFadyen so I will be reading that today. I've started it after breakfast and it's already pulled me in.

The rest of my book plans for this week include finishing Edgar Sawtelle and reading The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (HUGE thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette Books for sending it - she's my newest bff! :-). I have to pick up the 6 library books that I previously requested. I am overloaded with books to read at the moment. What a wonderful feeling but also a bit overwhelming too.

I will be posting my review of The Darker Side tomorrow (need to get back to reading). I also have a book tour stop scheduled on Wednesday for The Red Sea by E.A. Benedek. I liked that book so be sure to stop by and see my thoughts. Along with my review I'll post an interview I had with author Emily Benedek.

I hope you all have a great Sunday! I also hope you are able to get some reading in today!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't think Oprah looked good either - I thought maybe she was tired. I love Miriam from Hachette, too!

Michele said...

I can't wait to hear what you think of the Kindle. I've been shunning it on general principles only, thinking books are meant to be on paper, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Glad you got to see 'Wicked'....one of my favorite shows!

Julie P. said...

A buckeye fan -- say it isn't so! Just kidding - my husband and I are both PSU alums and huge fans. We are so excited this year! You've owned us for years, so it's about time we pulled one out! Great game though!

Bonnie said...

Thanks for sharing your Chicago trip details with us! It sounds like a fantastic and memorable time. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the Kindle as well.
I am a buckeye fan and my husband and I are OSU alumni so I am with you there!! Miriam is amazing...I have a stack of books to read that she has sent me!

Bonnie said...

Oh..I forgot, did you read Wicked? I've heard that it's a great show and music as well. I haven't read Wicked yet. I read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and didn't think I would like it as I "thought" that it was out of my comfort zone of reading. I was wrong and really enjoyed it.

Memory said...

Ooh, I'm jealous that you got to see Wicked! It's one of my must-see shows, but they have yet to come to my area or to anywhere I've been visiting. Soon, I hope!

Shana said...

Michele - Loved reading about your trip. I don't know what sounded best - all the great restuarants or seeing Wicked. My husband and I are self-described foodies, so I think the resaurants would win with me :)

Enjoy all your reading. Can't wait for your Red Sea tour stop. That one sounds very intriguing!

Shana
Literarily

Michele said...

Kathy - my friend thought Oprah hasn't looked good all season. Hope all is okay.

Michele - I am with you on the paper thing. But I will be trying it out on Midwives, a book I have to and want to read, so hopefully will get a good feel for whether I like it or not.

Julie - Yeppper! Huge Buckeye fans and we are excited to be moving back to Columbus (although it's surely not happening fast enough - cmon house sell!). It was a good game on Saturday - your team deserved to win and I will be rooting for PSU for the rest of the season!

Michele said...

Bonnie - Great to know another Buckeye fan! Woohoo! I did not read Wicked when my book club did years ago, but now I wish I had. I totally enjoyed the play. I need to get my girl to watch Wizard of Oz a couple of times so I can take her to see Wicked next time it comes here.

Memory - You'd love it! I hope it comes close to you.

Shana - I had to laugh at myself when I got done typing the post at all the food references. Apparently even as picky as I am, the food was still a big part of the weekend. LOL

S. Krishna said...

I have a Sony Reader and LOVE it - I hope you like the Kindle!