Reading Log: April 2026

 The books that I finished reading in April 2026:

April 2026 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Extremely Happy Holidays,” Devin C. B. McEwan

“The Spy Coast,” Tess Gerritsen

“The Summer Guests,” Tess Gerritsen 

“Smiley’s People,” John le Carré 

“Casino Royale,” Ian Fleming 

On the Town

 A Musical and Dinner

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission. 

National Tequila Day

 There Stands the Glass

Cafe 1919 Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Tequila Day is an annual celebration that takes place on July 24, dedicated to paying homage to the beloved Mexican spirit known as tequila.

Tequila Mockingbird: photo by Cliff Hutson

I have drank tequila for over fifty years. He estado borracho en Nuevo México, así como en East Hollywood y en muchos lugares intermedios. And, if push comes to shove, I would probably say that the Margarita is my favorite cocktail. 

Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

Of course, it can be enjoyed straight as well. So, some might be asking, "just what is this versatile libration?"

Tequila

Silver Tequila: photo by Cliff Hutson

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Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, and it only comes from Mexico. To be called Tequila, by law, it must come from one of five Mexican states: Jalisco (where you find the town of Tequila), Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán or Tamaulipas. It comes in different styles, categorized according to how long the spirit was aged. 

Hornitos Reposado: photo by Cliff Hutson

I tend to stick to two styles. Blanco (white) or plata (silver) which are unaged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels. And, Reposado aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size.

Tequila Sauza: photo by Cliff Hutson

However, I will sometimes step up to Añejo which is aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels.

Brand Loyalty

Espolòn Tequila: photo by Cliff Hutson

When it comes to brand loyalty I really have none.  While he is loved by many, Jose Cuervo was never a friend of mine. The past few years I have tended to buy Hornitos, not so much that I think that it is really great but, that it tastes good, has a reasonable price point, and is readily available at Trader Joe's.   A couple of months ago I started picking up Espolón. I like it, but am not wild about it.  But, tonight I have been sipping  El Exotico for the first time and enjoyed it. This is a really good Reposado. Is this the best Reposado I’ve ever had? No, but it’s damn good and the price can't be beat.

Tequila Exotico Reposado: photo by Cliff Hutson

(Remember always to drink responsibly and never drink and drive.)

Another Birthday and an Anniversary

The Birthday

Cafe 1919 Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

I am taking a rest day by reposting a story from five years ago. But, first an explanation.

Yesterday was my birthday; in way of celebration my daughter, my son, and I met in the morning at The Huntington for a few hours of walking through the gardens, followed by drinks and lunch at the 1919 Cafe. It was a wonderful time for me as it had been well over a year since we last saw each other in person.

But, the upshot of it is that I am stiff and sore today from what was a proverbial stroll in the park. That is quite a contrast to the way I remember feeling after the excursion I took for my 16th birthday. I have assuredly lost a step (or more).

The Anniversary

So, this weekend is the sixtieth anniversary of my oldest brother and I summiting Mt. Whitney. Here is the rest of the story:

Mt. Whitney Summit - 1962

This past weekend marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of my summiting Mt. Whitney, with Loncy, my oldest brother. It was his idea that we should do this to celebrate my sixteenth birthday.

Neither of us had ever backpacked prior to this. Although, he had done a stint in the army, so he had some experience with bivouacking. Also, we were both in good physical condition - he from his job, and me from my participation on high school sports teams - so we gave no thought to training.The whole trip was put together in a couple of weeks.

We obtained most of our equipment from the Army Navy surplus store at the Sunset Junction (which still seems to be there in some iteration, imagine that). The main purchases were knapsacks, Army canteens - which included a cup which could be used for cooking, and a foldable Stereo stove on which to cook. Loncy also bought a sleeping bag. But, I had my Mom make mine out of a wool blanket based on a design from a  card found in a box of Nabisco shredded wheat. Our food supplies were just things from the local market.

I have read that, nowadays, each year 19,000 people now attempt to climb Mt. Whitney from the east. We saw only about 10 - 12 (most of whom were very surprised to see us) over the duration of our trip. We spent one night at Whitney Portal.The next day we hit the trail and hiked to Mirror Lake and overnighted in the open. The follow morning, we summited and walked down to the base camp by late afternoon.

It was a great way to spend a birthday, and a trip that I shall always remember. 

Mixed Drinks

Mixed drink or cocktail?

Add anther one to the category of learning something new every day. It seems that most of us conflate mixed drinks with cocktails. 

"A mixed drink is, at its core, any beverage that includes alcohol as an ingredient. Since cocktails involve more than just alcohol, such as flavoring, this is where the line of delineation resides.  Under this definition, a martini is classified as a mixed drink, and not a cocktail."

Another way to look at it is that a mixed drink is any mingling of an alcoholic spirit with one non-alcoholic component, such as in gin and tonic, whereas a cocktail generally comprises three or more liquid ingredients, at least one of which is alcoholic.

Can you identify the cocktails?

Screwdriver #1: photo by Cliff Hutson

Bourbon & Tonic: photo by Cliff Hutson

Ranch Water: photo by Cliff Hutson

Backyard Daiquiri: photo by Cliff Hutson

Save the Dates

National Margarita Day

Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Margarita Day returns on February 22, 2020, are you prepared? The limes may cost you more this year. And, remember to drink responsibly!

Washington's Birthday

Not Really a Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Tomorrow is also said to be George Washington's birthday.

Traditionally, Washington is said to have been born on February 22. But, funny story, he was actually born on On February 11, 1731. There was a switch from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. This adjustment eliminated the days between September 3 and September 13.  The missing eleven days resulted in many people adjusting their birthdates to the new system.

Thus February 22 became a Federal holiday, schools and offices closed. Eating cherry pie was a common ritual in remembrance of the oft told tale of his chopping down a cherry tree as a young lad. However,  we do not observe that date any longer, some of you may never have.

Presidents' Day

Today,  Monday, February 21, is Presidents' Day in the United States. Celebrated every year on the third Monday of February, it is designated (depending on which state you live in) to honor the first president (Washington), the first and third (Jefferson) presidents, or, the first and 16th (Lincoln).

Once upon a time, in the state I grew up in, Abraham Lincoln had his own holiday, February 12. Thus many  people got two days off in the shortest month of the year. But, there has never been a federal Lincoln-birthday holiday. I am certain that at least eleven states would have ignored it anyway, just as most have no use for Jefferson Davis Day.

I am probably in the minority in my feeling that we have lost a little something by having moved our traditional observances from the actual dates to Mondays in order to have more three day weekends,  However, it is good that we still remember some of our past. 

Reading Log: August 2021

 The books that I finished reading in the month of August 2021:

August 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth," Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford 

"Squeeze Me," Carl Hiaasen 

"The Age of Wood," Roland Ennos 

"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe," Charles Yu

"Clark and Division," Naomi Hirahara 

"The Botany of Gin," Chris Thorogood and Simon Hiscock 

"This Is Your Mind on Plants," Michael Pollan

Reading Log: January 2021

 The Books I Read in January 2021

January 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Your House Will Pay," Steph Cha

"Next to Last Stand," Craig Johnson

"50 Ways to Cook a Carrot," Peter Hertzmann

"Are You There God? It's Me, Margarita," Tim Federle 

 

"What It's Like to Be a Bird," David Allen Sibley  

Book of the Month

To Be a Bird: photo by Cliff Hutson

"In his latest offering, the renowned avian expert explores birds’ remarkable adaptations and abilities, and how their experiences are far richer and more complex than even he realized."

Life Imitates Art

LA City Hall: photo by Cliff Hutson

Near the the finish of "Your House Will Pay", which was published in 2019, the author depicts a bacon-wrapped hot  dog vendor plying his trade amongst a protest held at Los Angeles City Hall. This was echoed in real life as a street vendor worked around a mob Trump supporters at City Hall on January 6, 2021. "LA Taco" ran a couple of stories on this. 

Looking Back: The Books of 2020

Reading

Book on Table: photo by Cliff Hutson

Reading has long been the first thing that I turn when I have leisure time. And, last year I had a lot more idle hours than I had before as an adult. But, surprisingly, my total of 65 books was the the greatest number I have read in any year since I have been keeping records, it is only eight more than my average for the previous four years.

This might be due to a difficulty to concentrate, to which others have alluded.  This led me to watching more TV and movies (at home) than I usually do. Not to mention the hours that I spent doomsurfing.

But, still I put up a passible record, here is the complete list:

1. “Residue,” Michael McGarrity

2. “The Fallen,” Ace Atkins

3. “The Boat Man,” Dustin Stevens

4. “The Dark Wind,” Tony Hillerman 

5. “Coyote Waits,” Tony Hillerman

6. “Y is for Yesterday,” Sue Grafton

7. “A Thief of Time,” Tony Hillerman

8. “Skeleton Man,” Tony Hillerman

9. “Talking God,” Tony Hillerman

10. “The Good Son,” Dustin Stevens

11. “The Ranger,” Ace Atkins

12. “The Greatest Books You’ll Never Read,” Bernard Richards

13. “The Western Star,” Craig Johnson

14. “Darkest Hour,” Anthony McCarten

15. “Cover Fire,” Dustin Stevens

16. “The Partnership,” Dustin Stevens

17. “The Return of Jeeves,” P. G. Wodehouse

18. “Justice,” Dustin Stevens

19. “The Scorekeeper,”  Dustin Stevens

20. “The Shape Shifter,” Tony Hillerman

21. “The Bear,” Dustin Stevens

22. “Heart of Barkness,” Spencer Quinn

23. “The Harlem Hellfighters,” Max Brooks

24. "The End is Always Near,” Dan Carlin

25. “50 Things to Do with a Penknife,” Matt Collins

26. "Stuff White People Like,” Christian Lander

27. “Sixkill,” Robert B. Parker

28. “Saturn Run,” John Sanford and Ctein

29. “Iced in Paradise,” Naomi Hirahara

30. “Stalking the Angel,” Robert Crais

31. “The End of October,” Lawrence Wright

32. “L.A. Requiem,” Robert Crais

33. “Fair Warning,” Michael Connelly

34. “The Dreamt Land,” Mark Arax 

35. “On Tyranny,” Timothy Snyder

36. “Devolution,” Max Brooks

37. “The Driver,” Dustin Stevens

38. “No Country for Old Men,” Cormac McCarthy

39. “To Have and Have Another,” Philip Greene

40. “The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook,” Joanie Zisk

41. “Cooking Through Trader Joe’s Cookbook,” Kelsey Lynch

42. “Alton’ Brown’s Gear For Your Kitchen,” Alton Brown

43. “Annihilation,” Jeff VanderMeer

44. “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” B. Traven

45. “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel

46. “One Bowl Meals Cookbook,” Williams Sonoma

47. “The Lola Quartet,” Emily St. John Mandel

48. “Alton Brown’s Good Eats: The Early Years,” Alton Brown

49. “The Science of Good Cooking,” the Editors of “Cook’s Illustrated

50. "Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food," Paul Greenberg

51. “Good Eats 2: The Middle Years,” Alton Brown

52. “Good Eats 3: The Later Years,” Alton Brown

53. “Matty Matheson,” Matty Matheson 

54. “Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean,” Edward Kritzler

55. “Cooking for One,” America’s Test Kitchen

56. "The Silence," Don DeLillo

57. "The Law of Innocence," Michael Connelly

58. "The Drunken Botanist: the Plants that Create the World's Great Drinks," Amy Stewart

59. "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," Emmanuel Acho 

60. "Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist," Tim Federle

61. "Black Sun," Rebecca Roanhorse  

62. "Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America," Ijeoma Oluo

63. "East of East: The Making of Greater El Monte," edited by Romeo Guzman, Carribean Fragoza, Alex Saye Cummings and Ryan Reft

64. "American Tacos: A History and Guide,' José R. Ralat 

65. "Desert Oracle: Volume 1," Ken Layne 

Looking over the list this afternoon, I am  amused as I observe the trend from mysteries at the start of the year to cooking and drinking toward the end of it.

Highlights

I always find it difficult to pick a  ranked "best of list".  But, certainly, “Saturn Run," John Sanford and Ctein was one of my best reads of the year. “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel would also be a contender. 

Two that rank as most useful, but not necessarily best reads, are “The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook,” Joanie Zisk and “Cooking for One,” America’s Test Kitchen. The latter alone can rate just for its tip on how to fry eggs. 

Biggest Disappointment 

There is no doubt at all as to which was the most disappointing of them all - “One Bowl Meals Cookbook,” Williams Sonoma.

One Bowl Meal: photo by Cliff Hutson

The book can be easily summed up: cook almost any meal that you would ordinarily prepare for yourself or your family and serve it a bowl instead of on a plate. Still, I would rate it two out of four stars as it does not require one to go on a spiritual quest for the perfect bowl as so many of the books of this ilk ask you to do.

Looking Ahead

With only one book finished so far in 2021, I seem to be behind the curve. It will be interesting (to me anyway) to see how the year finishes. 

Reading Log: November 2020

 The books that I read in the month of November 2020

November 2020 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Law of Innocence," Michael Connelly


"The Drunken Botanist: the Plants that Create the World's Great Drinks," Amy Stewart


"Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," Emmanuel Acho 

"Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist," Tim Federle

Reading Log: September 2020

 The books I read in September 2020

September 2020 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“One Bowl Meals Cookbook,” Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen

“The Lola Quartet,” Emily St. John Mandel

"Good Eats: The Early Years,” Alton Brown

“The Science of Good Cooking,” the Editors of “Cook’s Illustrated

"Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food," Paul Greenberg

“Good Eats 2: The Middle Years,” Alton Brown

Reading Log: January 2019

The books that I finished reading in January 2019:

January 2019 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“The Old Man,” Thomas Perry

“Our Native Bees.” Paige Embry

“Gone with the Gin,” Tim Federle

“The Edge of Memory,” Patrick Nunn

Reading Log: December 2018 & Year in Review

The books that I finished reading in December 2018

December 2018 Reading: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,” Al Franken

“Red Shirt,” A.J. Stewart

“Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot,” Al Franken

“Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter,” Ben Goldfarb

“On Track,” David Allen

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita,” Tim Federle

“Farming While Black,” Leah Penniman

My favorite of these is "Eager". Beavers are fascinating creatures. They had, and continue to have, a huge impact on the environment.

Both of Franken's books are dated in terms of their publication dates, but what he  has to say is frighteningly relevant today.

And, obviously, I enjoy David Allen's work. "On Track" is the second of his books that I read in 2018.

A Year's Worth of Books

1. “The Wanted,” Robert Crais

2. “Getting Started,” David Allen

3. “Medium Raw,” Anthony Bourdain

4. “A Drive into the Gap,” Kevin Guilfoile

5. “Wine. all the Time,” Marissa A. Ross

6. “A Different Drummer,” William Melvin Kelly

7. “Fire and Fury,” Michael Wolff 

8. “The Negro Traveler’s Green Book,” Victor H. Green

9. “Pale Gray for Guilt,” John D. MacDonald

10. “Hiroshima Boy,” Naomi Hirahara

11. ”White Tears,” Hari Kunzru

12. “Down the River unto the Sea,” Walter Mosley

13. “Coffee Lids: Peel, Pinch, Pucker, Puncture,” Louise Harpman and Scott Specht 

14. “100 Amazing Facts About the Negro,” Harry Louis Gates, Jr.

15. “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo,” Marlon Bundo with Jill Twiss

16. “Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us,” Dr. Lucy Jones

17. ”Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work,” Matthew B. Crawford

18. “Off the Grid,” C.J. Box

19. “Black Betty,” Walter Mosley

20. “Stiff Arm Steal,” A.J. Stewart

21. “Offside Trap,” A.J. Stewart

22. “High Lie,” A.J. Stewart

23. “Dead Fast,” A.J. Stewart

24. “Crash Tack,” A.J. Stewart

25. “Deep Rough,” A.J. Stewart

26. “King Tide,” A.J. Stewart

27. “No Right Turn,” A.J. Stewart

28. “The Hidden Life of Trees,” Peter Wohlleben

29. “A Colony in a Nation,” Chris Hayes

30. “Cruise Control,” A.J. Stewart

31. “The Lost City of Z,” David Grann

32. “John Woman,” Walter Moseley

33. “The Tangled Tree,” David Quammen

34. “The Lost World,” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

35. “Black No More,” George S. Schuyler

36. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” David Grann

37. “Hell’s Angels,” Hunter S. Thompson

38. “Holy Ghost,” John Sanford

39. “Up the Mountain Path,” Marianne Dubuc

40. “The Feather Thief,” Kirk Wallace Johnson 

41. “Dark Sacred Night,” Michael Connelly

42. “The Feral Detective,” Jonathan Lethem

43. “Yosemite Fall,” Scott Graham

44. “The President is Missing,” Bill Clinton and James Patterson

45. “Crime Partners,” Donald Goines

46. “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,” Al Franken

47. “Red Shirt,” A.J. Stewart

48. “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot,” Al Franken

49. “Eager,” Ben Goldfarb

50. “On Track,” David Allen

51. “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita,” Tim Federle

52. “Farming While Black,” Leah Penniman

I read fifty-two books in 2018, they are presented in the order that I finished them. The total is lower than usual, but still beats David Allen's for the year. Of course, he works full time and I don't. But, I lost a month due to watching the World Cup, as many as three matches a day.

February 2018 Reading

The books that I finished reading in February 2018:

February 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

From Great to Poor

Head and shoulders above all the books I read this month is "A Different Drummer," by William Melvin Kelley. Indeed, it is one one of the best books that I have ever read. It is imaginative - starting with a mass exodus of all the black people in a Southern state - and well written. It contains, what for me is a fascinating perspective, a black man writing about what white people think about black people. I can not recommend it highly enough, especially for those of us who question what it means to be a black author.

"Wine. All the Time.: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking" is a fun piece of fluff with some good pointers. It is aimed at a much younger demographic than the one this reader belongs to, but it did introduce me to the Kalimotxo. That is a good thing.

"Fire and Fury" has been all the rage lately, but I found it lacking. Much of what is covered I already knew from following "The Guardian".  A lot of the rest seems like just so much conjecture, signifying  nothing.

The Green Book

"The Green Book": photo by Cliff Hutson

The small, thin book in the photo, with no title on the spine, is a facsimile edition of the 1954 "The Negro Travelers' Green Book", usually referred as just "The Green Book". This book listed hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, beauty shops, barber shops and various other services would cater to black customers during the years that Jim Crow was rampant. It seems no surprise to me that interest in this publication is resurgent as divisions in America are being stoked by the subject of Michael Wolfe's book.

Off the Pace

I have completed eight books as of February. This means that I had better pick up the pace if I want to fulfill my self-imposed goal of sixty for the year.

Catching Up on My Reading

The Books I Finished Reading in December 2017

December 2017 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

The Books I Finished Reading in January 2018

January 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Margarita Day

Drink Up

El Ranchero: photo by Cliff Hutson

February 22 is National Margarita Day 2017 in the United States of America.

I am not one to say that Jose Cuervo is a friend of mine. My current tequila of choice is Hornitos Reposado. But, when you get right down to it, almost any tequila listed as "100% de agave" on the label is good in a margarita whether you like one en las rocas or congelada. 

Hornitos: photo by Cliff Hutson

Then, again, I am of the opinion that "rocks" is the the way to go. And, I seem to be in good company thinking that frozen is a distant second place. A frozen margarita just ruins the experience as far as I am concerned. Your mileage may vary. My research also noted that they can be served "straight up", but I have never seen that done.

Old Fashioned Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

A margarita is a cocktail consisting of triple sec, tequila and lime or lemon juice. There are many stories as to its origin. There are nearly as many opinions as to which type of glass in which to serve one. I am pretty much uncommitted when it comes to this. But, I lean toward the old fashioned glass, or even a mason jar, over the more traditional coupe variant.

Premium Tequila: photo by Cliff Hutson

Being born and bred in Southern California, I feel fortunate having encountered Mexican (or Mexican-American) food when I was just a tad; eating my first burrito about the age of five or six years old. My first encounter with tequila would have been in the late 60s. It took several more years before I discovered margaritas But, this was because they were not all that popular until then. I highly recommend Taco USA, Gustavo Arellano's history of how, and why, Mexican food has such great popularity in America; and the margarita may be its most favorite cocktail.

El Coyote: photo by Cliff Hutson

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National Drink Beer Day

Drink Local: photo by Cliff Hutson

It seems that September 28th is National Drink Beer Day here in the US of A,  marking the closing of the Oktoberfest season. Many people apparently will enjoy it by having a glass of their favorite beer at a local tavern; and will use #DrinkBeerDay to post the occasion on social media.

I am truly puzzled that something called Oktoberfest takes place in September. But, it is what it is, any excuse to drink beer is a good excuse to drink beer. Is it not?

My late wife and I first partook of the festivities in the mid-1970s at a place called Alpine Village. It was a lot of fun then. And, a lot more low key that it seems to be today.

Last Name Brewing: photo by Cliff Hutson

These days, I am loathe to travel so far afield. Close to home, I am torn between Last Name Brewing (originally called Dale Brothers) and Claremont Craft Ales.

Claremont Craft Ales: photo by Cliff Hutson

My favorite brew at the former is Runway IPA; at the later it is Jacaranda Rye India Pale Ale.

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