Please read this book

Forgive me if a book review is stretching the boundaries of a blog about bikes, but in my meager defense, I did find my copy in a Pelham Little Library while on a ride. In scanning the spines, I recognized the not exactly exotic name combination Amanda and Palmer. Could that be the singer from Dresden Dolls? I was aware of her marriage to author Neil Gaiman, but I didn't know of her as a writer. Yup, it was, and while I had heard a little of her music and generally liked it, there was much about her and her life I didn't know, but that was at least partly amended by this autobiographical book.

It's a good story with the message of how allowing people to help you can be a form of gift in itself. Asking, in its way, says, "I trust you enough to expose the vulnerability of needing help," and in an additional way, making connections with other human beings needs a degree of vulnerability. I could say more, but instead, just read the book if you can. As a bonus, it's well written. I've already loaned my copy to a friend with a list of further destinations in mind for once it's returned.

Reading the book was well timed and not just because leg recovery leaves me more time to leaf through the pages. I also have more need to ask for help. Tomorrow afternoon, my ankle is scheduled for an MRI to see just how badly I sprained it last August. Yay, that feels like progress, but it also means tranporting that ankle to Northampton. After a successful nine mile round trip yesterday to pay my property taxes, I'm optimistic about my ability to handle the five mile ride to the bus stop, but failing that, two friends are on tap to bail me out with car rides. Options are good.

Nine mile errands are even better

when they include easy access to leg soaks.

Blog photos are even worse when they include 

my feet.

More options than just reading to occupy my time are also good. When I was early for my Northampton doctor's appointment last week after leaving lots of margin for bus travel, I headed to the library to bolster my cryptic crossword supply and snag a book to help pass the time. In looking for the latter, I learned of a film version of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather. 

I'm a fan, so that was an easy sell, and to make it extra effective as entertainment during my convalescence, it was a tick over three hours in two parts! It also included the wonderful line from the character DEATH, who who can't resist loving our species, 

"HUMANS MAKE LIFE SO INTERESTING. DO YOU KNOW, IN A WORLD SO FULL OF WONDERS, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO INVENT BOREDOM?"

Yup, despite some bruises that currently keep me from some of my usual activities, I'm lucky and have long said, all I need for entertainment is a place to sit and a blank wall for staring. My wandering mind will take it from there.