Littourati News: On hiatus for a few days

Hi Littourati!  I'm sorry to say there will be no more new posts until after February 23rd.  There are two reasons for this, one fun and one stupid.

1)  I am going to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  I have done this every year since I moved there in 2000, and have continued it even after I moved away.  It is a great time of year where people just have fun up to Lent, where then one becomes sober and turns one's mind to self-reflection and spirituality.  I don't know if I do that, but I enjoy the fun.  And it's not THAT kind of fun, either.  My Mardi Gras is mostly family friendly.  Yes, I did say mostly...

2)  Oh no!  I somehow have misplaced my Blue Highways.  I laid my copy down and now I can't find it.  So even if I wanted to do a new post, I'll have to buy a new copy.  I had hoped that I could get a Kindle version for my phone, but it isn't coming out until April.  Oh well...

For those reasons, there will be a few days until the next post centered on Lake Itasca, Minnesota.  But don't worry...the posts will come back in style after the 23rd.

In the meantime, laissez lais bontemps roulet!

Michael Hess

Littourati on Hiatus for Three Weeks: Off to Turkey!

Meerhaba Littourati!  If you're wondering why there hasn't been any new posts in a while, it's because I am traveling.  I am accompanying my wife as she participates in a delegation of journalists to Turkey,  Our trip will take us from Istanbul to Ankara, south to Konya, then into Cappadocia, Izmir, and a stop in Ephesus.  Finally, we will finish with five more days to take in the sights and sounds of Istanbul again.

I will be back on May 30, and the Blue Highways posts will continue then.  In the meantime, I hope to make occasional postings to my personal blog, Muse Gumbo, and will possibly develop an interactive map of our trip, complete with pictures and perhaps even some video.

I look forward to getting back to the Blue Highways when I return, but for now, think of me in a bazaar bargaining for rugs, or in a Turkish bath, or watching Sufis whirling to touch God.

Michael Hess