Maui

I arrived with Sarah on Sunday after a 5ish hour flight from San Jose to Honolulu and a half-hour flight to Maui. Gosh, I don't really have much to say, since I've been reading a lot of the time. I'm about 275 pages into The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, which is about Henry, a librarian who uncontrollably and repeatedly travels back in time and develops a relationship with his future and present wife, Clare (kind of confusing, I know). Although for the most part it follows Clare's life chronologically, the story is alternatingly told from his and her perspective, and Niffenegger does an excellent job of portraying the difficulties inherent in Henry's condition and the consequences for his relationships. I was a little surprised by the sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll in the book, but I think it's tastefully done and it's not terribly graphic. It's definitely a book that'll make you think (it's written by a Columbia College professor, afterall) and I have no idea where the book is going, despite numerous visits from the Henry of the future.

The Time Traveler's Wife is a very personal book, and really hits home for me in a few ways. First, Henry lost his mother at a young age and must relive that experience a number of times. Also, Henry and Clare both experience a loss of faith at different points in their lives--this seems to be a common theme in modern literature. And I've traveled through time on many occasions myself.

Not really. But it would be interesting, no?

Anyway, I'll try and post another blog or two this week before I head back go California. And a few of you can expect postcards (if I asked you for your address, it's probably a safe bet!) Have a great week, everyone.

My new favorite bier

Now, I had previously been under the impression that German beers were limited to lagers and Hefeweizens, neither of which I'm crazy about. That is, until I discovered this gem at my Oktoberfest party. This dark, flavorful meal-in-a-bottle made a big impression that fateful weekend, and I now have a hard time passing up this Oktoberfest staple, which was first produced in 1397! You can pick it up at Trader Joe's at a very reasonable price. Careful though: 7.2% alcohol by volume (I feel it after one beer!)

A painful breakup

Killingthebuddha.com posts an article by Owen Egerton entitled Jesus and I Broke Up. It's a very personal description of the pain involved in losing faith.