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After falling three months behind, I have again caught up with my book reviews. It was only two reviews though, because I stretched "A Tale Of Two Cities" out to cover July, and August, since it is actually three books anyway.

It's difficult to keep up with reading during the summertime. There's just too much going on to spend hours in front of a computer on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon. I'm going to have to make my books more portable.

In wintertime, however, the books that I've found on the web have filled countless hours. Contentedly hold-up in my nice warm chair , keyboard on my lap, I can finish a book in no time.

Anyway, what I'm trying to get to here, is that the last week has brought some rainy days, thus giving me the time to get caught-up. During the last week, I wrote modest reviews for both "Billy Budd" and "A Tale Of Two Cities," although I do have a long way to go with this month's book, "Ulysses."

I also got the chance to catch up with a couple of old friends via the good old fashioned telephone. I think that I've spent more time on the phone this last week than I have in the last year. Time well spent.

So, after a productive week, I am cutting this column a little short. The autumn winds are blowing in, but it's still much too nice outside to sit in here and write.