song of the day - Trouble

Today's song of the day is a live version of Ray Lamontagne's "Trouble"

Trip to the Mojave - Nipton & Kelso

Audiobook - The Hunger Games

I just finished listening to the audiobook of "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Carolyn McCormick.  This is the story of Katniss Everdeen, a teen-aged girl forced to compete in a televised fight to the death in a future totalitarian North America.

I had heard of this book, but didn't know much about it.  I am apparently one of the few few because it is hugely popular.  At the center of this story is a girl named Katniss.  Katniss struggles to survive with her younger sister and mother after the death of her father in a coal mining region of what was once Appalachia.  She becomes the provider - providing wild game and trading with merchants for other food items.  She becomes an adult quite early because her mother shuts down after her father is obliterated in a mine accident and Katniss steps into the adult role to save herself and her remaining family.  Katniss extends her care giving when she steps into her sister's place when her sister's name is called in "The Reaping" which draws the name of a boy and girl from each of the 12 Districts to compete in The Hunger Games.  

The Hunger Games are a fight to the death between 24 contestants. The Games are a yearly reminder of the power The Capital holds over the 12 Districts. A reminder that the rebellion that destroyed the 13th District was futile and shall be forever punished.  This reminder takes the form of an annual televised blood sport featuring teenagers reaped from the Districts.  Some of them are highly trained and some just forced in by chance and hunger. 

The story is fantastic and completely gripping.  The narrator does a wonderful job.  I was thrilled to find out there are two more books in the series.  The characters are well drawn and engaging.   I won't give anything away because I hope you read, or as did, listen to this great story.

You can listen to a sample of the audio book on Audible.com.  http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V8MA2A&qid=1303450823&sr=1-1

song of the day "Clint Eastwood"

Today's song of the day is "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz

Today's song of the day is an acoustic version of "Simple Math" by Manchester Orchestra

Today I saw Matilija poppies blooming for the first time this spring.  This was at the L.A. Zoo parking lot in Griffith Park.  They will be really spectacular in the next month or so.  This photo isn't mine - it's from Wikipedia.  I was in too big of a hurry to get home to stop.

Matilija poppies are a native plant to Southern California.  The flowers themselves are really big and resemble fried eggs.  The stalks are very long.  I've seen them as high as 6 feet.    I've seen them for sale during the fall at Cal Poly Pomona's Farm Store http://www.csupomona.edu/~farmstore/ as well as at Theodore Payne plant sales http://store.theodorepayne.org/.  Check out more plants at the zoo at http://www.lazoo.org/botanicalgardens/

April skies - really nice clouds

song of the day - Angie

Today's song of the day is a nice, live version of Bert Jansch's "Angie".

Man space stuff

song of the day - Everybody went low

Today's song of the day is John Hiatt's "Everybody went low".

song of the day - Here Comes the Sun

Today's song of the day is "Here Comes the Sun" by Richie Havens.