Oh, what has he done?

Friday afternoon, the Husband & I went out to lunch at one of our favorite local eateries. They've got TVs in the room; ESPN was on one of the channels. There was some football preview program on. For whatever reason, I noticed that the host was interviewing Kasey Kahne via satellite. The Husband & I were having a conversation, and I stopped in mid-sentence as soon as I realized who was on the screen. His comment? "I might as well not even be in the room." I laughed at that.

Last night, we were eating at another local establishment, and on one of their TVs was a preview show for this Sunday's race. They were showing bits on the different drivers...of course, I noticed Kahne. And then made this comment to the Husband: "There are a lot of good looking drivers in NASCAR!" His response? "Oh, what have I done?!"

I even borrowed the NASCAR 2006 Record & Fact Book done by the Sporting News. Yup. I think it's safe to say I'm hooked. The sad thing is, the season's almost over. So I'll go into a little mini-withdrawl until it starts again. At least it's a short off-season!

Books (finally!):

Long Gone Daddy by Helen Hemphill. Harlan Q. is 14 and lives with the funeral director in his small town. He doesn't get along with his father, Harlan P. Daddy's a preacher, and the two really don't see eye-to-eye. Harlan O. returned to town unexpectedly and up and died. His will stipulated that his body had to be buried in Las Vegas, which necessitates a trip by the two surviving Harlans. What happens? Read the book! A well-told, interesting coming-of-age story.

the boyfriend list and the boyfriend book by e. lockhart. Ruby's folks make her see a shrink for her anxiety attacks. The title of the first book is based on the list Ruby's therapist has her write. She's to list all her boyfriends, including crushes, boy's she's only kissed, etc. When the list gets out, her problems that lead to her anxiety are compounded. The sequel takes place during her junior year, and show the aftermath and how things are progressing. Or not. Breezy, quirky, angsty fun.

Tyrell by Coe Booth. Tyrell's folks are homeless. Well, to be honest, his dad's not. He's in prison. His mom is completely unable to do anything for herself--she'd rather let her man do it all for her. Kinda hard for him to do from a prison cell, hence their homeless status. They end up in one of the worst shelters in NYC. Tyrell is completely stressed out. He's trying to get his family out of the shelter (mom suggests he can deal drugs to make money!) and hang onto his girlfriend while keeping himself out of trouble. He figures out a plan to make some money. The only catch is, will it work? Gritty, and not for the faint of heart. This is really well-done urban fiction. If you've got a problem with profanity, drugs, sex...this isn't the book for you. And no, it's not gratuitous in the slightest.

Under the Baseball Moon by John H. Ritter. Andy Ramos is a skateboarder and an amazing jazz trumpeter. Well, it's not just jazz. It's some sort of really funky fusion stuff, which, without the book in front of me, I can't describe. He's able to create amazing music from what he sees. One afternoon, that's a girl pitching, and his playing helps her pitching, and vice versa. Turns out that the girl is Glory, whom he knew as kids. She's a tad strange, and inadvertently made his childhood difficult. They find that they've got an unusual connection. What happens....It was a little slow going for me at first, but it really picked up and drew me in. I do have a soft spot for stories with little quirks and quirky characters.

My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods. Sally and her family live on a plantation. When they learn the master is going to sell the children, they decide to leave for the swamp and take their chances with the Seminoles. Sally is a nice kid, who finally gets to be one. Vivid and well-told.

the geography of girlhood by Kirsten Smith. This novel in verse details Penny's struggles through high school. Her mom took off when she was four. Her older sister has a wild streak (they live in a small town; one suspects she's as bored as Penny, but acts out more). At times raw, sometimes poignant, Penny shares her hopes and fears. Excellent book.

Stormwitch by Susan Vaught. After her grandmother's death, Ruba has to move from Haiti to Pass Christian, MS to live with her other grandmother. Major culture shock. Her Ba had been training her in the ways of the Amazons of Dahomey. Her other grandmother is a devout Christian. No magic allowed in her house. Factor in the hostilities of desegregation, and Ruba's really not happy living there. She senses that the stormwitch is coming, and she has to stop her. The storm? Hurricane Camille. A great blending of magical realism and historical fiction.

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick. Alex's dad left his mom for his third grade teacher. Alex is, understandably, upset by this. While his mom is out on her first date, Alex decides he's going to pay a little visit to dad. Problem is, he's been drinking. He wrecks the car in the neighbor's yard, decapitating her expensive garden gnome. His punishment? Court-ordered community service in the nursing home, working with the most cantankerous old man. They learn a lot from each other. Sometimes funny, but you'll be in tears at the end. OK, I was. Your mileage may vary.

I'm close to finishing a book for each author at the workshop I'll be attending next week, at least as much as I can (one's not published yet; another just published and I haven't gotten it yet). Three and a half books, and then I can read the others. :) We're getting a box of books at the workshop; my guess is that it's a book by each author. I hope so, anyway! And hopefully their latest ones!

Time for bed now.