Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky, stormy weather

Despite the rain--which reminds me that gosh, I love thunderstorms--I went for a 2-mile walk around my neighborhood and it was really fun to see the different architecture styles and the overall cuteness of San Francisco. Especially Kite Hill, which is an "open space" park that has really pretty plants and greenery. My camera's battery had run out, but next time I will bring it and take pictures. I did a very similar-ish walk as shown here in Stairway Walks in San Francisco by Adah Bakalinsky, which I might need to borrow from the library and perhaps even buy. It's nice to feel healthy by wandering around outdoors. Added benefit is feeling like a badass for marching up hills in the middle of the rain *grin* In my Googles, I found a cool book - Keeping a nature journal: discover a whole new way of seeing the world around you. 'Cause who doesn't want a nature journal?

Mystery writer Robert B. Parker passed away on Monday. I love his books--my parents were big readers of his Spenser series (where he kicked butt with his BFF Hawk on the streets of Boston) and so was I. His others series' (Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall) are also quite fun. Not the most brain-busting of books, as they're pretty predictable and heavy on the snappy dialogue and short chapters, but comfortable in a familiar and fun universe with funny good-meaning people. I'm in love with the fact that he wrote every morning, even the morning that he passed away. *sniffle*

I'll have to go to the library and get some more. Also, I am fascinated that Parker wrote his dissertation on Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Ross Macdonald. To read is also this article, Thoreau and the Hard Boiled Dick, about Spenser (and Parker's) referencing of Thoreau.