Writings by Diane

I am an incurable multi-tasker. One way I found to multi-task was listening to books on CD while I drove. It was very enjoyable, since listening to a book on CD is very different than reading the words on the page. The reader makes a huge difference. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a compelling novel, but SimonVance ’ s strong and distinguished voice made the story resonate within me. By listening to books on CD in my travels, I was able to absorb more books than I could by reading them. I felt I was accomplishing more than just getting from point A to point B, though my safety in driving was never affected. You will notice as I speak about this, I am using the past tense. This is why. A few weeks ago, I was listening to an audio CD in my car that was Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter , which coincidentally is in itself multi-tasking. The book combines historical data with whimsy, sort of like 2 books for the price of one. When the CD ended, I tried to eject it, but it wouldn’t...

In the last days of Summer, when Autumn breezes are visiting the mornings, is when harvesting is at its peak. I love to see the fields changing from plain dirt to a lush green blanket or tall, amber stocks. This journey of harvesting is very new to me. Before moving to Middleton, I was raised in the seaside city of Santa Monica and then moved to the arid desert of Las Vegas. Neither one of these cities offer much opportunity to actually see the humble beginnings of vegetables. My first year in Middleton during Autumn, as I drove to work with the windows down, I became aware of a piercing aroma in the morning air. I went through a mental checklist to identify this and the closest I could come up with was cooking onions in a meatless stew. What?? I was nowhere near a restaurant and couldn't imagine someone’s private kitchen would be emitting this heavy but delicious aroma. As I drove further down the road, I saw scattered along the side of the highway onions.  Som...