Review: Driving Over Lemons

Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain

Written by the former Genesis drummer.

When I enjoy a book, I check the amazon.com blurb about it. Chris Stewart never mentioned his former job in the book. In fact, he only mentions how he has sheared sheep in Sweden for a month every year for many years. This is not how I envision rock stars. But I have many prejudices. Especially about celebrities. What in the world can they teach the rest of us? It turns out that they can.

Stewart left Genesis at age 17, so I feel better about my recommendation of this book. I wish he had written more pages. The first half of the book does not seem to have been written as well as the second half. Just when Stewart finds rhythm and imagery in his writing, the book ends.

This life in Andalucia, Spain, is not as precious and pretentious as Mayle's in A Year in Provence, which I thought was excellent. Until I read this. Both authors are expatriates of England but in different nations. Stewart needs to work as a farmer and sheep shearer in order to live his dream in Spain. I don't remember Mayle needing to participate so fully in local life.

Find me Stewart's e-mail so that I can deluge him with requests for sequels!

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Alone again

Wednesday - February 26, 2003 Alone again Danielle, Wingnut, Amy, Barb, Daisy, Sinni have all left again. I thought that I would do fine when the kids and dogs left. I did for awhile. 

My stepmother came to visit. That kept me busy and fairly content even though we discussed sad topics. She brought me a floor lamp! Now I can read in a chair! But my mood went downhill as soon as she left. 

Now, at 9 PM, I am doing better. I am remembering my life before the visits. We ate a lot. Danielle made a beautiful roast chicken; Amy made great steak and purrfect mashed potatoes! I made the best pot roast I have ever done. And every day: Ben and Jerry's ice cream. 

The kitchen faucet was replaced (but note: it is now wiggling around on the sink! Do I need to have the plumber back?): the plumber installed valves under the kitchen sink. I took photos of the updates in the house, we watched a lot of TV. It was -20° this morning. Or -23°, as NOAA reported to me. Either one, it was impressive while kids were here! It reached -3° when they left at 11:30 AM. On one of the other nights they were here, the wind was the noisiest and the most moving that I have experienced here. 

 Barb loves Chinese Tiles (OS 9) and is trying to resolve the Corners layout mystery with me. Which has gotten me to tackle it again.

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