Book Review

I mentioned early in the year that I was trying to read 10 books this year. Well I just finished my third so I'm on average to do 6.5 books. I better get on the ball, but the latest book is what I want to talk about.

Four weeks ago The Wife and I were walking around the Triangle Mall when we past a Borders Books. Just in passing she asked if I wanted a new book. I was not liking the one I was reading and pretty much had not read in three weeks. I say now, but something was telling to do it. We go inside and I was looking for another sports, but I meandered into the Civil War section and found Testament: A Soldier's Story of the Civil War. It's the story of Benjamin Webb Baker, a soldier with the Illinois 25th. He was just a normal farm boy who was against slavery in the new territories and saw a need to serve when the south left the Union.

The interesting thing is that during the entire time he was in the War he was really only in 4 major battles (Pea Ridge, Perryville and Stones River and part of Sherman's March to the Atlanta). The Union Army mostly chased Braxton Bragg around Tennessee and waisted time and men. The Army of the Cumberland just marched and changed leaders constantly.

It was interesting to hear how he dealt with the march and what he thought about the war. The most compelling part of the book was after his brother joined the army and saw his first action at Perryville and was killed. His letter home was heart wrenching. He actually found (his brother) John's body on the field of battle and helped bury him. His letter's home changed from that point on, he seemed more lonesome and sad. Then at Stones River he was injured. He had a bullet lodged in in left shoulder. It took a few months to heal, but he kept telling his mother that he would be better within a month. After that he did not want to go to the front and wanted the war over. It was also at this time that some of the northerners were starting to rally against the war and were tying to cause problems with the draft and with anyone who supported the troops.

Truthfully, I saw a lot of similarities from what was happening in the 1860s to now. I'm not for the war, but I want our troops to be safe and come home as soon as they can and hopefully get Iraq to some what of a sable ground. Do I know how that will happen no, but I can wish. The country was torn and just like now people are trying every means they can to create chaos and want this war to be over. A lot of the people then and now voted for action, but once things started getting real bad changed their minds and wanted it over at all cost.

Overall I loved this book, it only took me three and a half weeks to read which for me is very fast. If you like to read about the Civil War or want to see how things truthfully do not change read this book.

Random Hits

I can't pick one issue today so today I'll give you a potpourri of topics.

The First Wendy's
Dave Thomas is rolling over in his grave as the first Wendy's restaurant is going to close. The store is located in downtown Columbus and I have eaten there. I will admit the parking is awful and may not be the greatest location, but it's the first one. I also understand that ever since COSI moved business for the first story pretty much dried out. Why not make it a landmark and museum instead of just closing it down. This is what Bob Evan's has done, I know Bob Evan's is on Mr Evan's country farm, but come on, this place gave us the Frostie, a girl with red hair and a blue and white striped dress and the square hamburger which you can make into a triple.

A little Chippy
At the beginning of the month I chipped my tooth pretty good. I will admit this I am a finger nail bitter and while doing this nasty habit i noticed something was wrong and then I cut my lip. I had taken out a large chip on my front tooth. It was not as bad as the one to the left but still bad. The earliest appointment I could find was this past Thursday. I go in he looks at it and was going to file it down a little till they can get me in to fill it. He begins to scrap and my leg shoots straight into the air and I felt a sharp pain shoot from my tooth to my entire body. "I thought you said it wasn't sensitive?" Asked the dentist. "Umm it didn't hurt till you poked it." Somehow the pain was a good thing because he decided just to do the fill now. He gave me a shot, did some work and BAM! My tooth is done. You can hardly tell it was broken.

Weight Lose
As I have mentioned in the past The Wife and I are trying to loose weight. I'm tired of being "big" and I know I'm going to suffer this summer if I can not drop some of this weight. As of this past Wednesday I have lost 12 pounds since the third week in January. I may have put on a pound since then, but I might get out tomorrow for a little walk, if the rain holds off. 12 down 28 to go.

Reading
A new goal for me this year is that I want to read 10 books this year. I know what you might be saying. Only ten, why such a low number? I'll be honest yet again, I am a slow reader. It's not that I don't comprehend what I am reading, but it's more like I read slower and that allows me to comprehend it better. When I pick up my reading tempo I loose a little bit and have to go back and re-read. So far I have finished The Old Ball Game, which is about the two leaders of the the early 1900s New York Giants, if you like baseball give this one a try, a little different read, but still good. Now I am reading Eight Men Out, the story of the fixing of the1919 World Series. I normally don't try to read similar books back to back, but while reading The Old Ball Game it mentioned that Christy Mathewson was one of the people who helped figure out which players were part of the fix. Here are the other books on the list for this year Trojan Odyssey, Brian Piccolo: A Short Season, and Treasure of KHAN!!!!!!!!!. If anyone has a good read let me know. I'm thinking something Civil War related or a classic novel. I've tried Don Quixote three times and can get through it, I liked what I read, but wow that's a long book.