Mark's Reading Place: Chapter 23

-Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor Maine. Est. 1916 (also mentioned in The Hour of Land). I WANT to go this park!!



-Palm Warbler

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

August:

97) Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden 4.2 stars (audio) CAC
98) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 4.2 stars
99) Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee 3.3 stars (audio)
100) Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars
101) Atonement by Ian McEwan 3.8 stars (audio) BAC
102) The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan 4 stars ER
103) Dust by Arthur Slade 3.5 stars (audio)
104) The Regional Office is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales 3.4 stars (audio)
105) The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck 4.7 stars (audio)
106) The Mare by Mary Gaitskill 3.7 stars (audio)
107) Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates 4.3 stars AAC
108) Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter 4.3 stars
109) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 5 stars (audio)
110) Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes 3.8 stars Bowie 100
111) The Lighthouse Road by Peter Geye 4 stars

September:

112) The Hour of Land: America's National Parks by Terry Tempest Williams 4.6 stars (audio)
113) White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg 3.7 stars (audio)
114) The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 5 stars
115) Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee 4.2 stars
116) Pax by Sara Pennypacker 4 stars (audio)
117) The World According to Garp by John Irving 4.4 stars (audio) AAC
118) All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews 4.3 stars (E)
119) A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson 4 stars (audio)
120) The North Water by Ian McGuire 4.5 stars (audio)
121) Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 3.8 stars (audio)
122) The Blue Star by Tony Earley 4 stars (audio)
123) Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout 3.7 stars
124) Madam Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 3.6 stars Bowie 100

October:

125) Dog Run Moon: Stories by Callan Wink 4.3 stars
126) The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing 4 stars BAC
127) Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon 4.2 stars (audio) AAC
128) A Whole Life: A Novel by Robert Seethaler 4 stars
129) Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir by J. D. Vance 4.2 stars (audio)
130) The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney 4.3 stars E.R.
131) I am No One by Patrick Flanery 2.7 stars (audio)
132) Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson 4.2 stars (audio)
133) The Hike by Drew Magary 3.8 stars (audio)
134) The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan 3.8 stars (audio)

American Author Challenge 2016

January- Anne Tyler
February- Richard Russo
March- Jane Smiley
April- Poetry Month
May- Ivan Doig
June- Annie Proulx
July- John Steinbeck
August-Joyce Carol Oates
September- John Irving
October- Michael Chabon
November- Annie Dillard
December- Don DeLillo

Mark's Picks for the AACIII: (under construction)

January- Anne Tyler- Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Completed
February- Richard Russo- Straight Man Completed
March- Jane Smiley- Some Luck Completed
April- Poetry Month The Dream of a Common Language Completed
New and Selected Poems, Vol. One Completed
May- Ivan Doig This House of Sky Completed
June- Annie Proulx Heart Songs and Other Stories, Bird Cloud Completed
July- John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men Completed
August-Joyce Carol Oates Blonde Completed
September- John Irving The World According to Garp Completed
October- Michael Chabon Telegraph Avenue Completed
November- Annie Dillard
December- Don DeLillo

The General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/209611

The Poetry Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/220301#
Part 2: http://www.librarything.com/topic/230813#

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE/CANADIAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE

There is no way, I'll be able to read all 4 of these Challenge authors, per month but I will select one each and try my best to bookhorn them in. There are other various Challenges going on, in '16 and I would like the chance to give one or 2 of those a chance too.

BAC:

January - SUSAN HILL & BARRY UNSWORTH -Morality Play Completed
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple The Murder on the Orient Express Completed
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy The Accidental Completed
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi Silas Marner Completed
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard The Man in the Wooden Hat Completed
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness Completed
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells The Island of Dr. Moreau Completed
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan Atonement Completed
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee The Grass is Singing Completed
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell

CAC:

January: Robertson Davies, Kim Thúy- The Manticore Completed Ru Completed
February: Helen Humphreys, Stephen Leacock The Lost Garden Completed
March: Farley Mowat, Anita Rau Badami Never Cry Wolf Completed
April: Margaret Atwood, Michael Crummey The Heart Goes Last Completed
May: Michel Tremblay, Emily St. John Mandel Last Night in Montreal Completed
June: Timothy Findley, Joseph Boyden Through Black Spruce Completed
July: LM Montgomery, Pierre Berton Anne of Green Gables Completed
August: Mordechai Richler, Gabrielle Roy
September: Miriam Toews, Dany Laferrière All My Puny Sorrows Completed
October: Lawrence Hill, Jane Urquhart
November: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence
December: Alice Munro, Rawi Hage

-This is at the Candice Millard event. She discussed her new book, Hero of the Empire. It really sounds terrific. She was smart and articulate and yes, my author crush has not abated.

**And yes, this is a repeat but can you really blame me?

Happy new thread, buddy.

Happy New Thread, Mark!

That was a tough late-inning loss last night. And I bet you were wishing you'd gotten more sleep....

>5 msf59: Great photo.

And that thread-topper! I want to go there too! Maybe a bunch of us should plan a road trip/meet-up in Acadia National Park!

>6 PaulCranswick:

Thanks, Paul! You earned a trophy.

>7 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. I went to bed in the 7th inning, just after 11pm. If I would have know it was going to go into extra innings, I would have went to bed earlier. Tough loss. Hope we can get it down tonight. Fingers crossed.

I would LOVE to do a Meet-Up in Acadia. I have talked to a couple of friends/family who have been there and they loved it.

Thought I might be first! Wasn't. :|

But third to those two is good enough for me :)

Happy newest thread Mark! Keep on warbling.

Nice new thread, Mark.

I'm a nervous nellie about the Cubs game tonight. If their hitters can't turn things around, I don't think this'll end well.

>10 LovingLit: You are always number one to me, Megan. Keep that in mind. Yes, no stopping the warbling. That will continue until I take my last breath...

>11 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. We NEED to get these bats going, my friend. I want to finish this tonight.

>12 msf59: Feeling a tiny bit better now that they've tied it up, but not much. They need to get the hitters going, not just the occasional homer.

Happy new one, Mark!

>13 lindapanzo: Tough inning for Lackey. We NEED to turn that offense on. We do not want to return to Chicago on Thursday.

>14 katiekrug: Thanks, KAK.

Happy New Thread, Mark. I'm having trouble with Dave, my husband. After Trumps "it's just locker room talk " , Dave is mimicking Trumps locker room talk. I'll told him I'm going have to call 911 and have Dave taken away. :)

>16 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. I did not realize Dave was a comedian. LOL. As long as he keeps it verbal and does not get "grabby", you should be ok.

Sigh. Three more outs for our Cubbies to take this one. P observed that it means we get one more game in the series, but I want them to win it now! At least game five (if needed) is back in Chicago.

They have tied it in the ninth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a gorgeous opening, Mark. Happy new one.

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread!

^Cubs win 6-5 in dramatic fashion in the 9th inning, beating the Giants and moving on to the Division Championship on Saturday.

Footnote: This old man went to bed in the 8th. I was tired and frustrated that my team could not manufacture any runs. Surprise, Surprise!

>19 EBT1002: >20 EBT1002: Yahoo, Ellen!! They sure know how to give their fans a nervous breakdown but they got it done in the end. Yeah, baby!

>21 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Glad you liked the topper.

>22 scaifea: Morning Amber! And thanks!

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread - I still have to catch up with your old one, but I thought I'd claim a seat here first.

Mamie made it! Mamie made it! Hooray!

Morning Mamie! You just made my day, my friend!

And now you've made mine. Thanks, Mark!

^Next up is The Glorious Heresies, which I snagged on E.R. This one sure has all the dark ingredients to be just my cuppa. Stay tuned kids...

>27 Crazymamie:

Happy new thread!

Good morning, Mark!

Drive-by-hello from SoCal to wish you a happy Wednesday.

Happy New Thread, Mark! Love those toppers.

Fantastic win for the Cubs! We've got only one person at work so far who made it through to the end. She's exhilarated and sleepy at the same time. I think many figured it was a lost cause. What a team. Love that Baez.

>30 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

>31 karenmarie: Morning Karen! Hope you are having a fine time in SoCal!

>32 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I watched all the highlights from the game. Where were all those hits and runs, the other 7 innings?

Baez has been a complete joy to watch. Hands-Down MVP of the series.

Happy new thread Mark, I finally caught up again with your threads ;-)
Good to see you enjoyeded A whole life!

>34 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! Glad you got caught up. Hope your week is going well.

>23 msf59: Clearly you need to go to bed before all the games end from here on out. Don't want to jinx the Cubs.

>36 msf59: LOL

The Glorious Heresies was a four-star read for me. Enjoy!

>37 Oberon: LOL! I was thinking the very same thing, Erik. I am so glad we can rest easy until Saturday's game.

>39 EBT1002: Only a few pages in, Ellen. It takes just a bit, to get used to her writing style but her prose is robust. I think this one will be a winner.

-An unwanted guest. An intrepid little devil...

I finally put up a bird-feeder, behind our house, after a very long hiatus. 5 or 6 years, maybe longer. Of course, I am tying it to my recent "birder" interests. I really enjoy watching it though. I wish I had a clear view from my reading spot but it is not working out that way. (Sorry, about the little brush pile. Sue wants me to move it too. It is raining at the moment...so that will have to wait.)

Any one else have an active bird-feeder? Any suggestions, recommendations or thoughts, are more than welcome.

>40 msf59: I think this one will be a winner
Yeah, I think it's right up your street, Mark. Enjoy!

P.S. I'm happy the Cubs won. I grew up in Cincinnati during the Big Red Machine era, so I will forever have a soft spot for the Reds. I became a Cubs fan while at Purdue during Harry Caray's tenure. I only like the Phillies when they are playing well. Which is, like, almost never.

>41 msf59: Mark, I highly recommend the Squirrel Buster feeders. We have the "plus" and the "peanut" models. They really work!
http://www.bromebirdcare.com/
(also available from major retailers)

We get a little mouse on our feeder.

From my experience, the problem with having birds viewable from the reading seat is a conflict of loyalties!

Happy new thread, Mark! I watched the highlights of the Cubs game. Quite a nail biter. But, hey, it's winning in this kind of dramatic way that makes history...interesting! Go Cubs!



I see something like this is in the Cubs' near future. This is Kurt Gibson after his game winning home run in the 1988 World Series.

Hi Mark! Happy Wednesday and congrats on the Cub's win!

>42 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura! I am really enjoying The Glorious Heresies. I like her tough, no nonsense style.

Hey, I will have to look into those Squirrel Busters. So far, they haven't been able to mess with the one I have but we will see...

Go Cubs! Go Harry Caray!

>44 charl08: "the problem with having birds viewable from the reading seat is a conflict of loyalties". Excellent point, Charlotte. If I do sit up in the living room, the window is behind me and I have to twist around to look out. Not very comfy.

No mouse yet, at our feeder but we do have a cute little chipmunk.

happiness of Cubbies, Mark. spiffy new thread. :-)

>45 brodiew2: Glad you are following and enjoying the Cubs, Brodie. I also like your optimism. Last night's game was very frustrating to watch but they finally got 'er done. Let's do it again, starting Saturday night.

>46 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda! Good to see you. And yes- Go Cubs!!

>48 mirrordrum: Thanks, Ellie! We are very excited in Chicagoland, for our Cubs team.

>49 msf59: Last night, I was in touch with my old season ticket holder friend (we sat together for years). She mentioned that she was sure they'd lose and shut it off so I was giving her a play by play of the 9th inning.

Not sure who I'd rather face in the NLCS. I always thought of the Nats as a top team but the Cubs seem to have trouble with the Dodgers.

For tonight though, Go Hawks!!

btw, Cubs NLCS games both start at 8 pm this weekend, Sat and Sun.

>50 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I am sure you are a Happy Camper! Incredible rally. I think I would rather have them face the Nationals but both teams would be tough.

I WISH the games started at 7pm. Give this old working guy a break, will ya?

"On one hand he didn't mind because he knew she was better for him- she was whip-smart and as beautiful as morning and each time he saw her he felt with dizzying clarity the blood in his veins and the air in his lungs and his heart beating strong in his chest-but then it pissed him off that he couldn't approach her on his own two feet. That he was no upright now than his father. That uselessness was hereditary."

"We're all gods when we fucking feel like it."

"She wouldn't have met him at all if it wasn't for that shared interest: they kept bumping into each other on the same couches, doing the same drugs to the same end. He had sea-gray eyes and hair the colour of a muted sunset. Coasting on borrowed intelligence, they spoke about all manner of insubstantialities."

-The Glorious Heresies. I am really liking this one. Gritty prose, good story structure.

>51 msf59: my Dad always said that the reason baseball was his favorite sport was that the game isn't over until the last strike. he was a Bums fan (first Brooklyn then LA) and a Padres fan when the Pads were still a minor league team. he always took, or listened with, a now old-fashioned scorecard. actually, he had a book of scorecards. he always explained to me that with a scorecard, he could relive the entire game play-by-play just by looking at a sheet of paper. he disliked televised baseball games as they never allowed him to see how the defense was set up for each pitch. he wanted to know how the outfield was playing, what they and the infield were expecting for each batter and for each pitch. he disliked the TV's over-focus on the pitcher as that was not, in his opinion, the person to watch. he wanted the view one could only really get from the seats. preferably, the 3rd base line. as a fan, he was, in a word, AVID. he played catcher because that was the only player actively involved in every defensive play. :-)

>47 msf59: Mark I'm glad the squirrels aren't giving you trouble. For some reason when I saw your photo, I assumed they were. I love watching birds in our back yard. We also have a good-sized pond that attracts wood ducks and herons, and other migratory birds. It's really the best thing about where we live.

Happy New Thread, Mark! I LOVE the Acadia Natl. Park thread topper -- one of my favorite places in the world!

The Cubs sure made a great comeback last night. They showed the kind of never-quit attitude that allowed them to trounce my Pirates on numerous occasions this year. I hope it takes them through to the World Series championship.

>53 mirrordrum: Thanks for sharing your Dad and baseball story, Ellen. Now, that sounds like a true fan. My father also did the scorecards when we went to games. You do not see many fans doing that anymore.

I agree with your Dad took out the catcher position.

>54 lauralkeet: The squirrels are not causing any problems...yet. I have only had the feeder up for a couple of weeks. We will see.

Your back yard sounds like a bird paradise. I am jealous.

>55 tymfos: Hi, Terri. Hooray! Another fan of Acadia. I will have to get there, one of these days.

We are pumped about the Cubs. Sorry about your Pirates. They were not as strong this year. Maybe 2017?

HI Mark! Squirrels are the bane of our existence. We feed them only because we also want to feed the birds. 'Course with that feeder you could put something sticky on the roof.....

Good morning, Mark. Here in Switzerland we only feed birds during very strong winter days because they can find enough food otherwise. In the surrounding we have lots of plants (trees etc.) which are full of fruits. When there is lots of snow or ice we have several balls (made of grease and seeds) which we hang at places no cat or squirrel can reach.

>58 karenmarie: I guess we are stuck with the squirrels, eh, Karen? Hope the trip is going well.

>59 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. So nice to see you posting. I will feed the birds through the fall and winter months but our feathered friends will be on their own for the rest of it. Balls of seeds huh? Interesting...

Woo Hoo for the Cubsters!! I'll keep my eye on them as both our teams proceed to league championships!
>41 msf59: I slick my birdfeeders with a generous portion of Vaseline. Squirrels and raccoons usually walk away in frustration.
Have a good day, my friend.

Morning, Mark! We used to have a bird feeder up in front of our living room window and Charlie and I loved to watch the birds. But, our post went wonky and the family member who's purview is the lawn and all of its trappings hasn't fixed that problem yet. We never had a squirrel problem, though, and if we did, I'd be conflicted about not letting the poor thing have some feed, too. We do have TONS of rabbits in our yard, though, and they drive Mario bonkers. Tuppence couldn't possibly care less about them.

Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature? Huh?

I guess it doesn't have to go to a book author.

Morning, Mark! We have MANY bird feeders - Craig has set up little sanctuaries outside of our dining room and master bedroom windows for Mercy's entertainment. She is a very avid bird watcher. We don't have any problems with squirrels here, although in Indiana we were crazy with the squirrels getting into the feeders. We do have one very fat little mouse that eats from the feeder outside of our bedroom, which is what probably attracted the rattlesnake. *blinks*

You are making want to get to The Glorious Heresies, which I have in the stacks.

Good morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday!

>53 mirrordrum:, >56 msf59: Love that story. Ellie's dad is the truest fan I've ever heard of. Sitting on the third base line is my favorite, too. Jeez, you've got to have iron knees if you're going to play catcher. I'd last about 5 minutes in that crouch.

I can recommend the Lazarus GNs to you. An interesting and complex story, told well by Rucka.

I'm still enjoying Hidden Figures, although I've been a bit of a slow poke with it just because. I'm starting Peter May's The Black House next. (Too hard to find the touchstone for the title).

Chilly but clear - enjoy the day, buddy.

>63 lindapanzo: I just read about Dylan getting the Nobel! Could have knocked me over with a feather.

Good morning, Mark! Happy Thursday.

Hi Mark, I admit to having skimmed your last thread in order to catch up so I missed a lot - but the good news is that I probably also avoided a few book bullets! You posted a lovely picture of your meetup with Roberta. I was lucky enough to have dinner with her and Lori (Ikernaugh) in Victoria along with Ro's aunts and my sister. It was a fun evening.

I also have just finished The Orphan Master's Son which I believe was another BB from you. Wow, what a creepy regime is in charge of that country! My Thanksgiving thought was how lucky I was to be born in North America.

I am just starting an audio version of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. This is a reread and I am looking forward to this classic ghost story.

>61 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! Yes, Go Cubs! Go Indians! What a good match up that would make in the W.S.

I will keep the Vaseline idea in mind, if it ever becomes a bigger problem. Thanks.

>62 scaifea: I wonder what family member you might be alluding to, Amber....hmmmmmmm. Occasionally we get a rabbit or two but not lately.

>63 lindapanzo: I LOVE Dylan but that was a ridiculous pick, Linda.

>64 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Hooray for bird-feeders. Do you ever keep track of what you see? And boo to rattlesnakes. Not a fan of those.

>65 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. I read the first Lazurus GN awhile ago. I need to do a reread and follow through with the rest. I really want to read Hidden Figures. It sounds terrific.

>66 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen! I love Dylan but think that was a weak pick.

>67 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Good to see you. Glad you had a great Meet-Up with Ro and her aunts. Meet-Ups are so special, aren't they?

Glad you liked The Orphan Master's Son. I really loved that book. I listened to The Haunting of Hill House last October. Good old-fashioned yarn.

We used to have bird feeder, but like others, the squirrels were the bane of the bird feeder. And they attract mice and rats around here.

>23 msf59: so you missed the exciting comeback? Shame.

I saw a cool book today when I was out spending my birthday voucher (!!!). It was about birds and their collective nouns...of course there was a warbler and of course, I can't remember it :( (bad Megan)

Good story though, ay!? ;)

>60 msf59: our bird feeder is white lard stuff, rolled in bird seed. They seem to love it.

Eta: stop the press, according to googles findings, the collective noun for the Palm Warbler, as in >1 msf59:, is a reading! Nice.

>70 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! My wife is worried about mice too, especially since our shed is nearby. I will keep an eye on them. Hopefully no rats.

>71 LovingLit: Hooray for Palm Warblers!! I knew they were special. Let me know more about your bird book. I have one called The Genius of Birds which came out earlier in the year, but haven't made time for it yet. Looks great.

Our lard & seed mix here is called suet. I think it is used mostly for woodpeckers. I have not used it in a few years.

^I started I am No One and I have to admit it is a bit of a slog and not what I expected. I think Mamie had issues with this one too and that is why I have dragged my feet a bit on plucking it off the shelf. This is an E.R, book so I will finish it. I also snagged it on audio, (Whew!) so I will power through it.

Fortunately, The Glorious Heresies continues to impress.

It will be the Dodgers and the Cubs in the NL Championship Series, starting Saturday night.

Go Cubbies!!

Happy Friday, Mark!

Go Cubbies! Exciting times.

Arggh, I've got some work challenges today that I'm dreading, but at least it's almost the weekend. It's supposed to turn into a really nice one out there. Hope the day goes smoothly for you.

Morning, Mark! And good memory! I did have issues with I Am No One, and it was a shame because it's a brilliant premise. The middle of the book picks up and is better, but the ending disappoints. And you are right - the beginning is a total slog.

>75 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Happy Friday! Good luck with those work challenges.
Sue will be going out of town for a "girl's weekend". I will be watching the Cubs tomorrow night at one of our favorite bars, with Bree and hopefully Matt. It is dog friendly, so Reese will be going too.

Go Cubs!

>76 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I am in the 2nd half of I am No One. There are some interesting ideas, sprinkled here and there but more sloggish, than I would like. This would have made a better novella or long short story than a novel. IMHO.

Completely agreed.

Good morning, Mark!

Well, >74 msf59: I was raised a Dodgers fan. My mother listened to them anytime they were on and a radio was nearby. On vacations we tuned in and caught Vin Scully between static bursts. We went to games at Chavez Ravine. We have a recording of Sandy Koufax's perfect game last inning (against your Cubbies, I'm afraid!). I learned how to score a baseball game for brother's Little League games and then scored Dodgers games from the radio. So I'll be happy if they win for my LA roots, but happy if the Cubbies win for you.

Good morning, Mark! Happy Friday!

>45 brodiew2: >74 msf59: Perhaps the Kurt Gibson image was not appropriate given the circumstances. My intent was still true. ;-)

>76 Crazymamie: >78 msf59:. I'm glad it wasn't just me. I just finished I Am No One and I was never sure where it was going. Initially that was okay, but it got old. I didn't like the ending either

>79 Crazymamie: My LT Book Buddy Barometer is so much more on the money than any other source. This book received some decent buzz from the outside world.

>80 karenmarie: Morning Karen. Thanks for Rootin' on for my Cubs but at least it will be a win, win for you. Grins...

>81 brodiew2: Happy Friday, Brodie. It will be another tough series, my friend. Kershaw is a killer. No question.

Go Cubbies!

^ I bought a copy of Peterson's field guide to birds of eastern and central north america. I NEEDED to have a handy volume. I had a copy of Sibley's but I could not find it. It must have got buried somewhere when I took my bird-feeder down a few years ago. I have only flipped through the new one a few times but I like the way it is laid out.

Does anyone else have a guide that they really like?

>84 msf59: I own two, Mark, and at my parents we had an other.
One is a Readers Digest edition Vogels van West- en Midden-Europa (Birds of West and Middle Europe), easy to find any bird.

at my parents we had the first edition (1937) of Zien is kennen (Seeing is knowing) comparable with the book above.


the other is more literary, Vogels kijken : alle driehonderd Nederlandse vogelsoorten (Birdwatching : all 300 Dutch birds) including all birds you can see in our small country. The illustrations are from "Iconographia Zoologica" and there is one page of tekst for each bird, with often beautiful lyric descriptions :-)
Not handy in the field, but nice to look up a bird or two, just for fun!

Cool pix of your bird book, Mark! I love the black and white silhouettes, even though I know I would never be able to identify a bird from them . Maybe the entire book. We have lot of birds around here - but mainly I see water birds - plovers, sea gulls, herons, snow geese, crows, the dreaded Canada Geese that poop everywhere, as do the Snow Geese. Of course I would need a guide to "Birds of Southwestern B.C" and I do have small one, Common Birds of British Columbia - and yes it there! Quite a few ducks and swans too. Walking with Poppy does not lend itself to bird watching, mainly because I am so busy keeping an eye on Poppy. She regards birds as a minor curiosity, but she does not run after them, not that I would let her. She even regards rabbits and cats with a friendly eye, hoping to befriend them.

>85 FAMeulstee: Thanks for sharing Anita! The guides look great. Are you an active bird watcher? Do you have a bird feeder? And do you see the say migratory patterns we do?

>86 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I do not think I could recognize anything by a silhouette either. That is tough. Like anything, I think it is all about the experience. You spend enough time "watching", you will begin to learn the birds. I may never reach "expert" status but I would like to be a pro-amateur.

Poppy sounds like a good companion.

Go Cubs!

Have a good celebratory weekend buddy.

Hi Mark, How about them Cubs!!

We feed the birds here, too. This past spring/summer we had a great variety of birds, more than we ever had before. My favorites are the chickadees. The squirrels are a problem...

I mark my bird books with the date we see the more unusual birds but I did discover a pretty cool app - Audubon Birds. You can track birds there but I use it for identification mostly. I used it to identify an Eastern Screech Owl (not Western, oddly) and a juvenile Copper's Hawk, both by their calls.

Have a happy weekend!

>87 msf59: No, I am not a very active bird watcher, Mark, no bird feeder either.
Just when I see a bird, I do like to know what it is :-)

We have a garden where birds like to come, with trees and shrubs and a dog who keeps the cats out.
We live very close to the Oostvaardersplassen a nature reserve where a pair of White-tailed eagles (very rare in our country) nest and you can find there rare birds like Eurasian bittern, Little egret and Great egret.
In spring and fall many waterbirds rest a few days here before they move on migrating, so once in a while I see a bird that I have to look up.

>88 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! We are getting excited about this series. It will be another tough one and we hope to send the Dodgers packing.

>89 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Happy Saturday. I find it so interesting, that each state has their own variety of birds. Always something interesting. We have Cooper Hawks in this area but I have yet to see one or if I did I did not recognize it. And I have still yet to see an owl in the wild. I am on a mission.

I will have to check out the Audubon app. Thanks.

>90 FAMeulstee: Happy Saturday, Anita. Glad to hear that you have so much bird life in your area. I wish we lived more in the country-side. I bet those White-tailed eagles are beautiful.

Life is an endless search for a good bird guide Mark. Now with tech I tend to look on the rspb website - they have calls on there (good for when I can't see anything, just hear it). We have a Collins Wild Guide to British Wildlife which includes flowers, trees and bugs too. I find it quite heavy to walk with though!

Happy Saturday, Mark! Windians! - ALCS! Yeah baby! - Hoping they'll do it again today!

Morning, Mark! Loving all the bird talk - I need to check out that Audubon app that Joanne mentioned.

Hi Mark, here is a picture from the seed ball we are using.



Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

>93 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Go Indians! Sweet win.

>94 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I am enjoying the bird talk too and hope it will continue.

>95 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. I have seen these bird seed balls on the route. I will have to check them out. Do they attract all kinds of birds?

>96 msf59: Yep, they do. :-)

>97 Ameise1: Music to my ears...

Erm >92 charl08: Mark...

Happy Saturday, Mark!

Are you out of the work day yet? Enjoy the Cubs game tonight, buddy. Where is this favorite bar of yours?

>99 charl08: LOL! You know I thought I saw you up there but then I didn't...must be an age thing. Sorry, my friend.

"Life is an endless search for a good bird guide. " Good to know, Charlotte. I am also looking for bird identification cards. I saw a few of the birders, with them. Easy to carry and easy to make a quick ID.

>100 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Yes, I am home. Took a short nap, (although with the dogs barking and the phone ringing, it wasn't easy). We are leaving shortly for our brew/pub. It is located in Napervile, about 15-20 minutes away. They have a nice covered outdoor patio, with plenty of TVs and of course, good beer.
Go Cubs!!

^Heading out to watch the game. Yeah baby!

Morning, Mark! Whoot for the win!

Morning Mamie! Game 2 tonight! This city is rockin' my friend!

129) Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir by J. D. Vance 4.3 stars

“I am a hill person. So is much of America’s white working class. And we hill people aren’t doing very well….Americans call them hillbillies, rednecks, or white trash. I call them neighbors, friends, and family.”

“But yeah, like everyone else in our family, they could go from zero to murderous in a fucking heartbeat.”

Vance grew up poor in southeastern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. He was raised mostly by his grand parents, largely his grandmother (Mamaw) who was a guiding force in keeping J.D. from the fate of many young men, in these hard-scrabble regions. Many of the same things we see in our inner-city “ghettos” happen here too: rampant drug/alcohol abuse, poor education, crime, joblessness and of course hopelessness and anger.
J.D. survived school and entered the Marines. This transformed his life and he went on to college and then to Yale Law School.
This is a timely and beautifully written memoir, filled with humor, grief, pain and insight. It also looks at the reasons why the white working class supports the GOP:

“There is a cultural movement in the white working class to blame problems on society or the government, and that movement gains adherents by the day.”

This makes a perfect companion piece to White Trash, which I read awhile back, although that book has flaws, this one does not.

**This also worked very well on audio, with the author doing a fine job narrating.

Hi Mark, I noticed on Darryl's thread that you are reading Another Brooklyn. Me too! I picked it up from the library yesterday and will dive in today. Happy to see your early warbling on this one.

Also: go Cubs!

>107 lauralkeet: Morning Laura! Yes, I am loving Another Brooklyn but why can't it be longer? I just finished I am No One and I wanted that one to be three hours, instead of twelve. Sighs...

And yes, Go Cubs!!

"Well then,
invisible
birds
of the forest, of the woods,
of the pure bower,
birds of the acacia
and of the oak,
crazy, amorous,
astonishing birds,
conceited
soloists,
migratory musicians,
one last
word
before
I go back..."

-another excerpt from "Ode to Bird-Watching"

Migratory Musicians? How lovely is that? I am absolutely crazy about this Neruda collection, Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon and I owe Ellie a big hug for a great recommendation.

Good morning, Mark!

Wow, I'm glad you're enjoying the Neruda collection so much! You're inspiring me. I imagine many of them are in his Selected Poems, which I've read, but I'll take a look at this collection, too.

I've been eyeing Hillbilly Elegy, so it's great to hear your positive reaction to it.

Go Cubs! What an exciting win!

>110 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Yes, great Cubs win. We left in the 7th inning and made it home for the final two. Go Montero! Now, let's do it again tonight.

I think you would really like Hillbilly Elegy and please find a copy of Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon. It will end of being one of the best collections I have read and that is saying a LOT!!

Hi Mark - I can't keep up with you. Go Cubs. The Vikes have the day off, so I guess I'll cheer for whoever is playing the Packers. :) Have a great day.

"I can't keep up with you." On this poky old thread? Be serious...grins.

Happy Sunday, Beth. Go Cubs! Go Vikes!

Skimming the sports stuff.....loving the bird stuff. I'm fond of my well-thumbed Sibley guide, but I can't say I'm any kind of serious bird-watcher. I just dabble.

Oh, I just saw that Full Woman is translated by Stephen Mitchell. I really enjoy him as a translator. His Tao Te Ching is my favorite. Since this Neruda volume is "Selected Poems", I'm sure I've read a lot of them, but I'll look forward to reading his translation.

Hey Mark hope you are having a great Sunday and wishing you a wonderful week.

>114 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. We are excited about our Cubs but I will try to keep more book joy running over here.

Hey, I have no problem with bird-dabbling. Is that a female Mallard?

>115 jnwelch: I am not familiar with this translator but this translation is stellar. This collection also features a Spanish version, which runs on the opposite page.

Also not familiar with Tao Te Ching. Should I be?

>116 GeezLouise: Happy Sunday, Rae. Great to see you.

>118 msf59: If you want to be a bona fide hippy, you want to read the Tao Te Ching. Seriously, it's an easy read (in its way), and hugely influential. Quite tied to Buddhist beliefs.

Yesterday while walking the dog, I ran across the usual pond of birds, but this time I had a proper look. A heron that seems has been hanging around in the area for months, lot of little sandpipers perched on some floating logs, mallards, buffleheads. It's a small pond right by the river, but it is sheltered. Good place for the birds to hang out in the wind .

By the way, my mom is back from Cuba and I have a " report" for you as requested. She went with my brother and his family (wife , two kids, daughter aged 15 and son aged 12). She is still staying with my brother and family out of town, but she said she had a great time. Stayed at a resort, yes, Playa Pesquero, in Holguin Province. Apparently the resort was lovely , great service but it was very hot and humid , 30 C err - that is about 86 or more in Fahrenheit. There was a/c in the resort. Beaches were beautiful , they did go into town and my mom said she never felt unsafe. Took a tour in an old 1955 Chevrolet ( that the driver admitted actually had a fairly new Toyota transmission under the hood. ) Went shopping in the market place, saw some zoo that used to be Castro's private zoo, headed out on a catamaran etc and swam a lot. She commented that besides Canadians there were quite a a lot of Brit's staying at their resort, whom she called " pests" due to their smoking ( Canada does not allow smoking in any area where it would bother another person , like a bar, restaurant, outdoor eating areas, the beach , doorways , shopping areas etc) . She did say it was an eye opener in the town, with some cars, mainly older ones, but also horse and wagons on the roads and people using the back of pick up trucks as makeshift buses. But she really enjoyed it and would go back.
So perhaps Cuba is for you?

>119 jnwelch: I have no problem with bona fide hippy explorations, so I will try to snag a copy of Tao Te Ching and give it a spin. If there is one religion, that I can really admire, it would be Buddism.

>120 vancouverdeb: Happy Sunday, Deb! Thanks for the bird report. Sounds lovely. And thanks for such a thorough report on your Mom's Cuba visit. It does sound like a place I would like to visit, with the '55 Chevys and the beautiful beaches. Boo to the smokin' Brits though. LOL.

Hope you are enjoying a fine weekend.

Mark, if you are going to read the Tao Te Ching, you should look for Ursula Leguin's translation.

Deb, your walks sound so idyllic!

Hi Mark,

The only way we've been able to keep the squirrels away from the feeder is to be sure the feeder is a looooong ways from anything from which they can get leverage. We have a tall stand with a hook from which we have hung a simple seed feeder. We have a baffle underneath and it seems to work amazingly well. In the summer, we have to chop down any volunteer sunflowers that grow nearby because the furry-tailed little buggers will climb those to get to the feeder.

My Seahawks are letting me down but I'm confident that the Cubbies will make us smile this evening!

Whew, finally caught up with your thread, Mark. About the birds here, we do have lots of waterfowl but so some of the land ones too. Besides the obligatory crows and pigeons, I have seen jays, hummingbirds and finches that I can identify. I would need one of those bird books to identify any others.

Tough football day. Your Bears were looking good and were leading when I left my sister's house. Got home and was shocked that they lost.

OTOH, my Packers just looked pathetic today.

Hoping the Cubs are better.

>123 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Those pesty squirrels, eh? They are everywhere. They are everywhere!

Sorry to hear about the Seahawks! Our Bears are stinkin' up the joint too! Go Cubbies! Let's take down Kershaw!

>124 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Good to see you. Thanks for the bird report. We like our birds around here. I am considering putting up a hummingbird feeder next spring.

>125 lindapanzo: I was watching the Bears game too, Linda! What a meltdown. What a bad team. 1-5. Butt- Ugly!

We NEED a Cubs win tonight!

>126 msf59: Hoping for a win but Kershaw makes me nervous.

>127 lindapanzo: Kershaw is brutal. We have to find a way...

>128 msf59: They are starting to hit him harder. I wish those weren't right at people though.

>129 lindapanzo: Okay, Linda, let's get some runs. Here is our chance.

Well, the Seahawks miraculously pulled out a late-game win. I wish the Cubbies had done the same. Kershaw is so good (darn it).

Sorry about the Cubs!

Apologies to any Brits that visit Mark's thread , as my mom reported the " Brits " visiting Cuba as " pests with their smoking." You Brits are wonderful civilized people and hey, we have folks in Canada who smoke too! :) Just giving Mark the full picture.

Good morning, Mark. Wishing you a good start into the new week. I'm soon leaving for my Black Forest spa.

Morning, Mark!

>131 EBT1002: " Kershaw is so good." You can say that again, Ellen and you know we will be facing him again. Shudders...

Go Seahawks! Glad they pulled it out.

>132 banjo123: Sad face.

>133 vancouverdeb: Brits Stay Out! At least the chain-smoking ones. LOL. All in fun, Tonto. All in fun.

>134 Ameise1: Hi Barb! Can I please join you at your Black Forest Spa? Sounds perfectly lovely.

>135 DianaNL: Big Waves to Diana. Hope you had a good weekend.

Morning, Mark!

Morning Amber! Good luck today.

Morning, Mark!

Too much Kershaw. Too bad. I won't even mention that football team that plays here.

Hope the week otherwise gets off to a good start, buddy.

>136 msf59: :-)
We are safely arrived and will get soon our first massage.

>137 msf59: Awe, sorry about the sad face, Mark. When I shut off the game the Cubs were down by one and I was almost certain they'd bounce back. Still early, lots of time to get it done!

>140 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Tough loss. Incredible pitcher. We need some action from our 3,4,5 batters. These guys are in a major slump.

And yes let's not name that local football team. Ugh.

>141 Ameise1: Ooh, the massage sounds delicious, Barb. Enjoy.

>142 Carmenere: Morning Lynda. I like your optimism, my friend. We need Arietta at his finest tomorrow night. Fingers crossed.
Go Tribe! Hope they snag another win tonight.

>140 jnwelch: Ha! It appears that our fortunes are reversed this year. The Twins were historically bad and the Vikings are actually winning.

I have high hopes that your Cubs will pull this out.

>144 Oberon: Hi, Erik. Good to see you. Yes, your Vikings are on fire. Do they seem to be strong enough to hold the lead in the Central? Good timing with the Pack struggling.

And yes, Go Cubbies. We need that win tomorrow.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you had a good weekend...aside from the pitching duel that occurred last night. The Cubs will rebound. As I said before, nothing like a little adversity to up their intensity. :-)

Hero of the Empire is hitting it s sweet spot. Good stuff. I love this Churchill, but I can see why so many thought he was arrogant. Bold, confident, brave, and reckless.

Very disappointing result last night. I figure the Cubs must win 2 our of 3 in L.A. this week. They sure don't want to have to face Kershaw in a must-win game on Sat night at Wrigley.

Hi Mark! Happy Monday.

As you can imagine, lots of people here in LA are happy, but for YOU I'm sorry the Cubs lost.

>133 vancouverdeb: Personally I get annoyed at the Brits who smoke here, never mind overseas. I wonder if they were chuffing through more because they are cheaper in Cuba ? (We have a huge tax stuck on them - quire rightly IMHO :-)

>117 msf59: Oh, I would never dash cold water on your sports excitement --- we had a dear friend (no longer among us), actually one of my husband's college professors who we stayed close to over the years, who was always rooting for the Cubs. So I get it. Neither of us ever caught the professional sports bug, that's all.

Yes, that's a female mallard. Mallards are among the ducks commonly known as "dabblers", hence the choice for that post.

>146 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Once again, I like your optimism about the Cub's chances. The postseason is a stressful time and a place where anything can happen. This is baseball and these are the best teams going head to head. I WANT that win tomorrow night.

I am so glad to hear, (although I am not surprised) that Hero of the Empire is hitting your sweet spot. I plan on kicking off November, with that book.

>147 lindapanzo: I am with you, Linda! We need our 3,4 & 5 hitters to start contributing. It is really hurting us. We NEED that win tomorrow night and I can begin to relax a little again.

>148 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I am sure L.A. is buzzing. It is sure nice to have Kershaw in your rotation. The guy is amazing and we will have to face him, at least one more time, maybe twice. Ugh...

>148 karenmarie: Honestly, I do not get smoking...period. With all the health warnings and the big expense...WHY? I did dabble in it, in my younger years but you move on from bad habits, right?

>150 laytonwoman3rd: No problem, Linda. I know there are plenty of people who not watch baseball or sports. I am not a sports fanatic but I do love my Cubs and I do enjoy our other home teams too, when they are winning. Winks...

I did not know they called ducks dabblers. See? Amateur.

I know nothing about sports, Mark, so I can't comment. I used to follow hockey slightly , so as to be a good mother to my eldest son, but he has given up on the Canucks and now is into Power Lifting, so now I just have to watch the occasional video of him power lifting on you -tube. You are not a sports fanatic? Hmmmm.

>1 msf59: Yes, Mark, you really do want and should go to Acadia. It is incredibly lovely!!!! Will and I love Maine and frequently vacation there.

>153 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! You know books are my first love, so expect plenty more bookish adventures, being posted here. We just have to get through this baseball playoff season. Grins, impishly...

>154 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Great to see you. Acadia is on the list. I was rampantly warbling about The Hour of Land and this one you might like, about our national parks. It is heart-felt and beautifully written.

>71 LovingLit: the book was was just a long list, broken up into pages with a bird and it's collective noun on each page. It was novelty.

>137 msf59: L for loser? Yikes! Sorry to hear that, but, you know....you can't winnem all! :|

Popping in to say Hi!!

Good morning, Mark. Wishing you a lovely day.

>156 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! We do like our birds around here. They have blended in perfectly with our book life.

Yes, the Cubs did lose but it was one game, in a seven game series, so there is plenty of hope.

>157 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. Stop by longer next time and have a coffee or a beer. Grins...

>158 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! How is the spa getaway going? I bet that massage was lovely.

Morning, Mark!

Morning Amber!

^I started the audio of The Hike yesterday. This one has been fun. Trippy, funny, creepy and a bit scary. A mash up of a nightmare, a video game and a folk tale.

Good morning Mark, reporting in to say I zipped through Another Brooklyn in just two days. Even though I was trying to read slowly and savor it, it was so well-written that I just kept reading.

Good morning, Mark!

>163 lauralkeet: Oh, I'm looking forward to reading Another Brooklyn. Just a few books down the line . . .

I'm really taken with His Bloody Project. This one is a natural for you, Mark.

>163 lauralkeet: Morning Laura! Glad to hear you also loved Another Brooklyn. I plan on revisiting it, in print. I really want to savor that lyrical prose, once again.

>164 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Another very nice day out here. It is nice to have the shorts on.

His Bloody Project does sound like my cuppa. Grins...

>162 msf59: msf59 - Got to keep the loonies on the path.....I like the sound of this one. I'm not normally a sci-fi reader, but I'm going to pick up The Hike: a novel today as well as Gillian Anderson's 1st book in the Earthend series.

>152 msf59: Because most people start smoking in their younger years when foolish and get hooked. Once hooked it is extremely difficult to quit. It took me two years and I WANTED to quit. With someone who is feeling ambivalent about quitting (like MrMorphy because it's been his only stress relief for 40 years), it is impossible.

*

Another part of bird-watching that I like is bird calls. Eventually you'll learn some of the more unique calls like the cardinal (water), robin (laughter), chickadee (chick-a-dee-dee-dee), red-wing blackbird (metallic), and cowbird (baby/kitten cry). And, of course, most people recognize the crow and geese.

>167 Morphidae: Yup, I was always glad I never started.

Mark I finished By gaslight - I think you might like it - very dark and atmospheric.

Good morning, Mark. I hope all is well with you. In reviewing my third quarter, I discovered I only read 2 books and GN. I listened to 7. I'm not sure if this is good, bad, or ugly. But, it feels deficient. I have not done well 'reading' in the past quarter. Let's see what I can do in the fourth.

>166 kittenfish: Hi there! Good to see you. I am just about done with The Hike: a Novel. It has been a trippy but entertaining ride. Let me know what you think.
Have not heard anything about the Earthend series.

>167 Morphidae: Hi, Morph! I am familiar with the difficulties of smoking. Both my parents smoked til the end. My sister and her whole family smoke. It is unbelievable. My kids are more social smokers, when they are out partying with friends but I am doing my best to steer them off of it. I quit when I was 24 and never looked back.

And thanks for the birdcall class. That will come in handy. We have chickadees at the feeder but I haven't heard them chirp.

>168 charl08: Hooray for never smoking, Charlotte. Smart woman. By Gaslight sounds like a winner. Thanks!

>169 brodiew2: Good luck getting back on your reading track, Brodie. I am not a temperamental reader. I am more like a machine. LOL. What helps guide me, is I try to read, at least 50 pages of print a day, more if I can, (not counting GNs or poetry). On my days off I try 80 or more pages. Of course, my kids are grown, so I have more free time.

Once the postseason is over, I hope to even read more. Go Cubs!

^Well, I finally started Someone Knows My Name, aka The Book of Negroes. I have wanted to read this since my early days in LT and have had it in the stacks for a few years. Thanks to the CAC, I have finally dragged it out, dusted it off and cracked it open. I am happy to report that it begins beautifully.

This will fit in perfectly with Homegoing and The Underground Railroad, which I have read in the past few months.

Another vote for His Bloody Project here, Mark. I have yet to crack open The Book of Negroes but it is my plans for this month (my plans seem to be much more ambitious lately so it is hard to get to everything *sigh*)

>172 msf59: I remember all the cool kids were reading that one back in the day, Mark. Bonnie and Donna, at least, loved it, as I recall. I need to get to it one of these days!

Hey Mark, I just finished Dark Matter, and OMG do I love this book. As you well know, this takes a couple left turns. The first one, the basic premise of the story I saw coming and it made sense, but then when the BIG penny dropped I was not expecting it and it took it to a whole'nother level.

Dang this was a fine read. More (or just about the same) praise on my thread, eventually.

Sorry about your Cubbies tonight. Even though I live in the midst of Dodger country, my teams all hail from Pittsburgh.

>173 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! I have added His Bloody Project to my WL. It does look bloody good. I hope you can find time to bookhorn in The Book of Negroes. I can tell early on, that this will be a very special read.

>174 Copperskye: This came out in '07, just before we joined LT. No wonder the cool kids adopted it. I want to be one of the cool kids! Wah! I hope you can move it up in the pile, at least. Grins...

>175 mahsdad: "Dang this was a fine read." Glad you had a good time with Dark Matter, Jeff. It sure has turned out to be a favorite among the Mighty 75. I want to go back and read some of his earlier stuff now.

Boo to the Cubs. Can't win, if you can't hit. We have to win tonight.

We are now down 2-1. Come on Cubbies. Let's get those bats going.

Morning, Mark!

Morning Amber!

Good afternoon, Mark! How goes the day?

I know the Cubs loss is disappointing, but, as Yogi Berra said: It ain't over till its over. The Cubs will persevere.

>171 msf59: Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I am a temperamental reader. It works or it doesn't. Sometimes it works for a while and stops. My mood can enter in, but I usually don't toss a book unless I am pretty sure my interest has died.

Hey Mark! Don't despair! The Cubs are destined for the WS they'll bounce back.

>180 brodiew2: "It ain't over till its over." I like the way you think, Brodie! My day went very well. Just relaxing a bit before the big game tonight. We NEED a win.

On the book front- I say just keep plugging away, at your own pace. No one plays it as a race around here. You can't force reading or it becomes a chore and we can't have that.

>181 Carmenere: You are an angel, Lynda. Many of my Cubs fan buddies are all getting very anxious. We have waited a long, long time for this and we sure don't want it to slip away.

Go Cubs! Go Indians!

>172 msf59: I'm waiting for this one to come in at the library - I hope it comes soon!

>183 charl08: Someone Knows My Name, is so good, Charlotte. It reminds me a lot of Homegoing but this one looks like it will follow the main character through her whole remarkable life.
I am very impressed, at a 100 pages in.

Must win for our Cubbies tonight, Mark. I'm a nervous Nellie these days. Not feeling too confident in our boys. Maybe the bats can wake up tonight.

I think you read The Underground Railroad, didn't you? I just picked up my copy via ILL.

>185 lindapanzo: Hi, Nervous Nellie! I think many of us are feeling the same way, Linda. Total frustration with that offense. The Dodgers are a tough team but we are too. Go Cubs!

I LOVED The Underground Railroad. I think is tied with Homegoing, as the best novel I have read this year. AND, Someone Knows My Name, which I just started, has the potential to beat them both.

^After finishing The Hike on audio, I decided to start The Association of Small Bombs, which has been getting some buzz, since landing on the National Book Award short-list. I like it so far. It presents some unique perspectives and the writing is solid.

The Underground Railroad is going to be very tough to beat, in Marky-Mark's Bookish World. Just sayin'...

Uh oh, I thought I was on Charlotte's thread. I'll be back later to chat.

Yes indeed, I'd say Someone Knows My Name knocks it out of the park. Excellent book!

>189 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I was going to ask you if you had read Someone Knows My Name, although I had a feeling you had. It is excellent so far.

You might also like The Association of Small Bombs. Just sayin'...

Sweet Thursday, Marky. hah! i have Association of small bombs in my basket or possibly wish list. so many books, so little time. *sigh*

Dark Matter is almost at the top of the list!! And Happy Thursday. : ) I'll come over later to have that beer...

Morning, Mark! I'm really enjoying The Bell Jar on audio - Maggie Gyllenhaal is doing a fabulous job reading a fabulous novel. You know, in case you haven't read it. Just sayin'.

>191 mirrordrum: Hi, Ellie! I am enjoying The Association of Small Bombs and it is working well on audio. I think this is your cuppa.

>192 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. I will keep those beers cold, my friend. You will have a good time with Dark Matter.

>193 scaifea: Morning Amber! I have never read The Bell Jar, but it sounds like I should get to that classic, eh?

^Cubs Win! Cubs Win! They even the series with the Dodgers 2-2. Happy Camper.

131) I am No One by Patrick Flanery 2.7 stars (audio)

I am No One, aka Paranoid Middle-Aged Professor, (Who Also Happens to Be White and Privileged, in an era of Surveillance and Terrorism). Sounds promising, right? Ah, not so fast...

An American college professor spends a decade working in England and finally returns to NYC, but the city has changed, in the 9/11 aftermath. There is more suspicion and paranoia, fueled by the professor's own mental uncertainty. Are there people stalking him? Is he on the government's watch-list? Or is his mind just slipping?

Good premise. Lack-luster pacing. Tries for atmospheric dread. Fails. There must be a cautionary tale buried in here somewhere but did the author have to bore the reader to tears, as he delivers it for 350 pages? It may have worked better
as a short story or a novella.



^**The only reason I decided to finish it.

***if anyone wants my pristine copy, PM me.

Morning, Mark! Your review of I AM No One is spot on, IMO. Sweet Thursday to you, my friend.

Tries for atmospheric dread. Fails.

Ouch! Hope your next read is a better one.

>197 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! We definitely had the same feelings about I am No One. Meh! One stinker in the bunch, I can handle. Smiles...

You've done some great reading, Mark. Sweet Thursday.

Morning Mark!


I'm reading The Association of Small Bombs too. "Like"

>200 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Yes, I am happy with my reading and both of my current reads are terrific.

>201 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Love seeing the Cubbie Blue! It would sure be nice to get another win tonight. Fingers crossed.

And hooray for The Association of Small Bombs.

Good morning, Mark! Cubs win handily. It's back to even steven. Nowhere to go but up!

>203 brodiew2: It was a big win, Brodie! Finally got those cold bats swinging. Made a helluva difference. We can pull it out tonight, we should be looking very good for our return to Chicago.

The Association of Small Bombs - I saw this at the library the other day and I almost got it. I'll have to go back and get it next time.

>205 mahsdad: You would like it, Jeff. And it's good on audio too.

Agree! I just finished The Association of Small Bombs on audio and thought it was very good - whole new perspective on post-traumatic events. Now I'm listening to Adam Haslett's Imagine Me Gone which was on the National Book Awards longlist and its' terrific.

I've been missing long enough that I can celebrate the Cubs win with you! Go Cubs!

Sorry the ER book was a disappointment. Looking forward to hearing what you think of The Book of Negroes/Someone Knows My Name. To me the first title is more eye-catching, but what do I know.

I couldn't stand it any more, and let Another Brooklyn jump the queue. I'm liking it very much so far. And I'm right near the end of the excellent His Bloody Project.

>156 LovingLit: If you say a book is good, then I've learned to trust that it is good. It is now added to the tbr pile, along with the many others that you have recommended over the years. Thanks Mark.

Hey Mark, I know you get a commission for your book flogging, but I did get Another Brooklyn from the library. I've got so many Can Lit books and still a few Man Booker's in my mental TBR pile, I'm not sure I'll get to it this time round. Sweet Thursday Mark!

Sorry about the not-so-great ER book.

Happy dance for the Cubbies! Last night's game was quite enjoyable.

Nervous Nellie is keeping her fingers crossed again tonight. They need to treat this as a must win game. I get so wound up for these games that I can't sleep afterwards. I'm still tired.

>207 vivians: Hi Vivian! So good to see you. Glad you also enjoyed The Association of Small Bombs on audio. The Underground Railroad will be very hard to beat in my book, but Small Bombs has been good.

I also WANT to read Imagine Me Gone. I think I have it on ebook.

>208 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Thanks for checking in from TN. I am sure you will love Someone Knows My Name. Anyone that appreciates Homegoing should also fall for this one.

You'll have a good time with Another Brooklyn. I just wish it would have been a bit longer.

Oh yeah- Go Cubs!

>209 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! I think you have the post wrong, but you were referring to The Hour of Land, right?

^Dark-Eyed Junco

^I have been having a great time watching the action at my bird-feeder, (much eye-rolling going on with my other family members but they love me). I spotted several of these Junco's the past couple of days. They feed off the ground. I have never seen them before.

One danger of the bird-feeder watching, (I think, Charlotte pointed this out) is that it can cut into my reading time, so I have to be wary.



^I have also been spotting black-capped chickadees. Cute little guys.

>210 vancouverdeb: No commissions coming in, Tonto, but the money would be nice. Glad you picked up Another Brooklyn. It is a very fast read. You might read it in one sitting, if you choose.

>211 tymfos: Hi, Terri! I had hopes for I am No one, but it fell far short. It happens now and then but let's just keep it to a minimum.

Great win by the Cubs last night. I am hoping for the same performance tonight.

>212 lindapanzo: You should be a bit less nervous, Nervous Nellie, after that offensive explosion last night. I hope they saved some runs for tonight. It would should be sweet to go back home, 3-2.

I'm loving your bird watching, Mark. I really like watching the visitors change through the seasons. There are certain birds we see only in the winter when their regular food sources are snowed under. And of course some who are migrating and just passing through. After a while you come to appreciate the patterns.

>216 lauralkeet: I am having a blast with the bird-feeder and doing my occasional birding walk. I plan on going on another one next Friday. I think most of the migrating birds have moved on, so most of the birds at the feeder are sticking around.

Do you keep a bird-feeder through the year?

130) The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney 4.3 stars

Maureen Phelan, a tough Irish grandmother, caught by surprise at her home, strikes an intruder and kills the young man. This random event kicks off a series of consequences, that ripples across a Cork community, mainly affecting
a quartet of criminal misfits. This includes Maureen's son, a low-level gangster. There is a fifteen year old drug-dealer and his alcoholic, woebegone father and lastly, a young pregnant prostitute, in search of her boyfriend.

This gritty, searing novel, is not for the faint of heart. The language and tone is harsh but the writing is strong and the author has created vivid, memorable characters, even though their actions, will leave the reader cringing at times.

“Parents sat gloomy and still, like rows of turnips in a grocer's box. Their little criminals sat with them, tapping LOLs on their phones, or milled in the yard outside stinking of Lynx and taut nonchalance. Solicitors strode in and out in a twist of slacks and briefcases.”

McInerney is an acclaimed author in Ireland and I can clearly see why.



^Much better than my last E.R. read.

>217 msf59: Do you keep a bird-feeder through the year?
Usually, yes. We fell behind last year and your posts have inspired me to get my act together again!

>218 msf59: glad to see you liked The Glorious Heresies!

>218 msf59: GO CUBS! Great win.

Morning, Mark! Your bird-feeder posts are inspiring me, too, to start heckling Tomm into fixing our feeder post. I've recently moved my reading/rocking chair closer to the window that looks out onto where our feeder used to be, so it would be lovely to sit and watch them there. I'm sure Tomm will thank you for the nudge...

>219 lauralkeet: Morning Laura! I hope you get the feeder up for the winter. We can keep each other posted. I am joining our local bird club and will probably attend my first meeting next month. Grins...

>220 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! We sure came roaring back, didn't we. Now we return to Chicago to nail it down. Go Cubs!

^Cubs Win! Cubs Win! They lead the Dodgers 3-2 and we return to Chicago for the final 2 games. Big Happy Camper.

>221 scaifea: Morning Amber! I hope Tomm fixes that post. We can trade birding stories. Grins. My reading chair is in the Marky-Mark Man Cave, so I can't see the feeder and if I read in the living room, my back is to the window. I will look at this as a positive though, it keeps me focused on the books.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! And hooray for the Cubs win!

>218 msf59: Glad you liked this one Mark. I'm hoping she writes another soon, I did enjoy it a lot - felt like real people.

I'm also enjoying the birds. As winter hits the birds here tend to hang around in flocks a lot more - so we're seeing big groups of starlings and sparrows in the fields, as well as the usual blue tits (similar to your chickadee family) and some really bold robins - one came right up to the back door this morning.

>225 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Go Cubs! This town is buzzing.

>226 charl08: Happy Friday, Charlotte. Yep, very pleased with The Glorious Heresies.

Robins are very common here, along with sparrows, although robins do not hang around the feeder.
Hooray for blue tits!

Love to follow your birding, Mark!
Last week I saw an enormous flock of starlings, it looked like a fast moving dark cloud. Starlings gather in this time of year.

Good morning, Mark! I'm happy to hear that the Cubs won. Fantastic. One down. One to go.

I finished Hero of the Empire last night and was greatly pleased with it. Millard's narrative voice is easily accessible and she is a gifted storyteller. You are in for a treat.

Hiya, Mark! Way to go, Cubs!

Wouldn't it be something if they could take it against Kershaw?

Hope all is going well, buddy.

>228 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita! Glad you like the bird chatter. The huge flock of starlings sounds wonderful. Good for you.

>229 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Happy Friday! Yes, great pair of Cubs wins. Now we have the showdown in Chicago. It would sure be nice to take it Saturday night.

Glad you enjoyed the Millard. I hope to start it, in the next 2 weeks.

>230 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I am sure you are having a great time in TN. Such a beautiful locale.

So nice to see the offense come roaring back with the Cubs. Let's hope that continues, right on through. Yes, Kershaw will be tough but I think we can beat him.

Great review of The Glorious Heresies, and thumbed. So you've joined your local chapter of bird watchers. You are a Renaissance man, Mark, what with your interest in craft beer, sports, birds and books. I've got a gritty read for you, The Parcel. Just sayin' ;)

Hoping for a nice relaxing evening ahead. Reading and watching the Blackhawks.

>232 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! I am keeping up my trend of things I love, that start with Bs: books, beer, biking, boobs, baseball and now birding. Sounds like a great list.

Thanks for the Thumb on The Glorious Heresies. Always appreciated. And thanks for the rec. I will look into it.

>233 lindapanzo: Happy Friday, Linda! Nice to have a night off, eh? I want to relax and read a bit too. I would sure like to wrap it up tomorrow night. Fingers crossed.

GO CUBBIES!

No baseball here in T-town. It is football all the way. Tomorrow's game is the ESPN gameday feature and has brought with it tons (literally) of ugly trucks. Those semi's have turned a pretty campus into a parking lot at Truckstops America. When you see the ESPN game day tent/set just know that the real scene resembles that fantasy the same as a postcard of the Alamo resembles that fabled buildings true position on the main street of San Antonio. (The Alamo is so tiny that it is easily overlooked, so the postcard view of it is misleading.) Likewise, the ESPN game day tent is completely surrounded by semi trailers and trucks of all colors and degrees of wear. It makes the stadium look like some kind of weird truck stop.

>235 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! Good to see you! Chicago is all about the Cubs right now. The town will be rockin' this weekend.

Boo too ugly ESPN tents and trucks. Do you watch college football at all? I do not.

Reading anything good?

^ White-Breasted Nuthatch. I have spotted a few of these guys at the feeder. Yes, I am in full Bird Geek mode now. The bird joy continues...

Now let's see about the Cubs joy....

On the book front: Still locked into The Association of Small Bombs and Someone Knows My Name.

Happy weekend, Birdlover Mark!

Thanks, Diana! You have a nice weekend too. Getting ready to head out to work...

Happy weekend, Mark. I hope it's a short work day.

Happy Saturday, Barb. I'll be off at 3 today, so not bad at all. A chilly start to the day though.

Howdy Mark! Woot woot woot! Hoping the Cubs finish business tonight and buy their plane tickets to Cleveland.
Have a great day!

Fingers and toes crossed Mark.

All this talk of birds reminds me of a very politically incorrect gag where I was once asked by a Taiwanese business associate what I thought of "yellow tit" - I was immediately offended thinking that he was making disparaging remarks about my then chinese malaysian girlfriend! I now realise that the Yellow Tit is indigenous to Taiwan.

Have a great weekend buddy.

>242 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! This town is sure buzzing, just like yours. I would sure like to clinch it tonight and then rest up until Tuesday.

I would love to meet you in the World Series. B.A.G.

>243 PaulCranswick: Happy Saturday, Paul. Let's hope we get it done tonight, my friend.

And hooray for Yellow Tits!

Happy Saturday, Mark!

Sounds like all is well in your world, and that it's full of birds.

I'm still enjoying Another Brooklyn and about to start Mister Pip, a Paul C. and Paul Harris (Polaris) recommendation.

Morning Joe! Sounds like you are having a terrific time visiting your family.

And yes, I am having a fine time with my books, birds and Cubbies!

Come on, let's wrap it up tonight and see those Indians on Tuesday.

Afternoon, Mark! Saw your Canada Geese on FB. Tell Trump they are Canada's spies :) They are very plentiful pests. I sent them your way. When the Snow birds are here, I'll see if I can't send them your way too. I like birds but some of those of big guys can really " crap " up a field. I am sorry to be so vulgar, but it is true. They ruin parks and school grounds with their mess. Ugh. And they aren't afraid of people.

Have a good weekend! :)

Happy Saturday, Deb. Yes, I agree with you. Canadian Geese are pests here too, for the very same reason. They are nightmares for golf courses and sporting grounds. The location, where I took that photo, is a soccer field and kids were getting ready to play or practice. Yuck.

Also, if they have little ones, they will sometime attack me while I am riding my bike through the local parks.

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

^I am sure this will really surprise everyone, but I started The Genius of Birds on audio. I have wanted to read it, since it came out last April and even had a copy from the library for a few weeks. It is interesting in the early going, plenty of scientific observations, some of it a bit dry but most of it is pretty fascinating. Good things to know about my feathered friends.

^Let's wrap this baby up tonight and move on to Cleveland!!

Very excited for tonight but getting increasingly disgusted by Fox Sports and their romance with Clayton Kershaw. Come on. Good pitcher but not worthy of all this love shown by a national network. Kershaw practicing in a tank top. Kershaw walking down the stairs.

Very tempted to just shut off the sound. It's getting ridiculous.

Ah you are a double warbler, Mark. Have a great weekend!

Congrats to the Cubbies!

Assuming you have a B.A.G. on your face tonight, Mark!

Hurray for our Cubs!! Someday is here!!

That's a big W to clinch the National League pennant! I knew they could do it. Enjoy it and get ready for the big big show!

71 years since they made the World Series. Go Cubs.

It is 108 years since the Cubs won the World Series and Cleveland will be tough but shut-outs like tonight are not going to hurt.

"The Cubs win the pennant! The Cubs win the pennant!"

:)

Good for your Cubs. But also Bill Murray's Cubs, Obama's Cubs, George Will's Cubs. Oh! And just a few other folks.

>251 lindapanzo: I hear ya. I mostly watch football with the sound turned all the way down.

Oh, and Mark, I just finished # 70. Thanks for the cheering.

Happy Sunday, Mark. I hope it's filled with lots of R & R.

Woot, woot! Congrats to your Cubs, Mark!!!!
The North Coasts are the best coasts! Ha ha ha
What a great match up! See you in Cleveland on Tuesday!!

^Cubs Win! Cubs Win! We are going to the World Series. Like Paul mentioned up there, first time in the WS, since 1945. We have not won it since 1908.

This is it baby!

>251 lindapanzo: >255 lindapanzo: We did it, Linda! Yah!! I wasn't paying attention to the FS Kershaw lovefest, but I was enjoying the runs we scored off of him. What a fantastic win. Now let's go to Cleveland and nail it down.

>252 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Hooray for double warbling!

>253 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Very exciting. We wanted to win last night and we got it it done.

>254 katiekrug: Went to bed with a B.A.G. and woke up with a B.A.G. Great win, KAK.

>256 brodiew2: I really appreciated your faith, Brodie and it sure paid off. Go Cubbies!

>257 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the Cubs history, Mr. Stat-Man! What a great win. And it was nice to beat the best pitcher in baseball too.

>258 tymfos: Hooray for the Cubs, Terri!!

>259 weird_O: Thanks, Bill! Go Cubs! And hooray for reaching #70! Good job.

>260 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barb! Hope to get in plenty of reading today.

>261 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Should be a great match-up. C to shining C! (I stole that phrase. Grins.) We are all buzzing like crazy, my friend. See you Tuesday night!

Congratulations, Mark!

>251 lindapanzo: - I know what you mean. When Cleveland was playing my Jays last week, suddenly, because it was post-season, the tv broadcast was only American. I really missed our local broadcaster and truly couldn't stand the American broadcasters' obvious bias and lack of impartiality so I simply muted the tv, and listened to our radio coverage. The funny thing was, the tv was on a 10 second or so delay from the radio so I would hear the plays before actually seeing them!

My Blue Jays are really an excellent team but sadly (for us), the wheels fell off in this last series and Cleveland really did play better. But it was our second year in a row getting this far and I was around to remember our back-to-back Word Series wins in 92-93. It WILL happen again - soon, I feel it. Meantime, I'll cheer for Chicago!

>265 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! Great to see you over here. It was a very exciting win. Sorry that your Blue Jays fell short. That must be incredibly frustrating. It reminded me of last year, when we faced the Mets. Total shut-down. Glad to see you rooting for our Cubbies!!

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

What a great game eh, Mark? The Cubs were strong from the very beginning, it was fun to watch. I hope they do just as well in the World Series!!

>267 lauralkeet: Happy Sunday, Laura. Yes, great win. I would have been happy with just those first 2 runs against Kershaw. LOL. Did not expect us to get 5 and shut them out. Sweet!

So good to finally get to the WS!!

Happy Sunday, Mark! 5 against Kershaw. Sweet indeed!

Well, I've skipped a lot of messages just to get to the bottom and say "WHOOOOOOT!!" for you and your Cubbies. I may not be much of a sports fan, but I get excited over big moments like this anyway. And, it's just grand to have something happy to celebrate, isn't it?

>269 jnwelch: Morning Joe! What a fantastic win. I really like our chances, especially with the offense on fire, like it is.

>270 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! It is very exciting and now we get to do it again in Cleveland. Go Cubs!

Hi Mark!
I thought of you this morning when I saw that the world series will be Cubs and Indians! I bet you are over the moon! Sad that my jays bombed, it would be been exciting to have had a Jays and Cubs series! Good luck to your team!! :)

>270 laytonwoman3rd: that pretty much sums me up too!

>272 ChelleBearss: Chelle stopped by! Chelle stopped by! Hooray! Great to see you. It just made my day. Sorry about your Jays. We had that happen last year. We are very excited about our Cubs being in the WS. Go Cubs!

>273 lauralkeet: Grins...

>274 msf59: yes it was very sad that the Jays didn't continue on but after many years of October drought we are happy they did as well as they did! I'll be sad if they don't keep Bautista and Encarnacion next year!
I'll be cheering for your team :)

Mark, It has happened again! I wrote a review for a book I just read, then saw that you also read Everything I Never Told You. Just last week, I commented to Diane (Keenoy) that I think you share more books than any other member of our group. Amazing!

>275 ChelleBearss: I don't follow the American League as much as I should, but I will start to keep an eye on your Jays and hope we meet sometime in the WS. I know the Cubs are destined to be in the postseason, for a few more years.

>276 Whisper1: Happy Sunday, Linda. I saw that you were reading Everything I Never Told You. It fell a bit short for me but I know many readers loved it. Maybe, I will have to revisit it, at some point.

I am glad we share as many books as we do. It shows we have very good taste. Smiles...

LOL! Went to bed with B.A.G and woke up with a B.A.G. Lone Ranger, I am glad that your sports teams are doing so well.

>275 ChelleBearss: - Hi. Are you in Toronto? Pity we didn't know as we had an LT meetup over Canada Day weekend, 7 or 8 of us in all. It was fun. I will try to remember for next year.

I have been reading and hearing lots of rumblings and have to agree that if anything, they should let Bautista go but do everything possible to keep Encarnacion. Eddie is just more consistent, reliable and has much less of an ego. Oh well, nobody is paying me the big bucks to decide so I guess we shall wait and see. ;-)

>278 vancouverdeb: And I am still wearing a B.A.G. Grins...I had a good off day too. Lots of reading. Getting close to wrapping up Someone Knows My Name. It is such a great read, Deb.

133) The Hike by Drew Magary 3.8 stars

Ben is a thirty-eight year old businessman. Happily married and a father of three young children. He is on a trip for work, visiting the
Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. He decides to take a hike on a trail behind his hotel, before attending an important meeting. The walk is soothing and easy, until he meets a large man wearing a Rottweiler face mask, attacking a little girl. The dog-faced killer begins to pursue Ben. Instead of exercise, Ben finds himself tumbling into a particularly bizarre rabbit hole, as the life he knew disappears behind him. He encounters many trials along the way, including man-eating giants, demons and giant insects. His sidekick is a sarcastic crab, with a foul mouth, who helps steer him through this labyrinth, as Ben tries to find his way back home.
Part nightmare, fable and video game, this fun mash-up, is an entertaining ride, filled with laughs, chills and suspense. If you are looking for something different and a bit off the wall, look no further. And please, if you run across a man in a dog mask, run like hell

Back to the Geese.

I am well acquainted with geese. We had a flock of domestic geese on the farm when I was growing up. They made a big mess everywhere but they are GREAT watchdogs. Nothing comes within 200 yards of them without them making a huge racket. And they are fierce. People don't scare them and when they come flapping at you with that big wing span they are scary. Of course, they really are helpless because the only weapon they have is their beck and all they can do is pinch. But that does hurt. What hurts worse is to get hit by one of their wings. But most likely it hurts the goose more than it does the people. (tends to break the bones in their wings.) They have to be fierce to survive.

The geese were messy but the most annoying thing was that, being domesticated they couldn't fly very well. That didn't stop them. Every spring and fall they would cover the skies of the great Midwestern flyway and as soon as the farm geese would hear them they would try to follow. (Proves that instincts die hard in animals.) They would get about a mile to a mile-and-a-half from the farm, depending on the wind and windspeed and then tire. Somebody would have to go fetch them back. Since we had a flock of about 50 birds it was easiest to take the old Willies jeep and herd them back to the road and then drive them down the road. Of course, after a week or two of that and the birds lost more weight and were able to fly a little farther each time. Then the migration would be over and the geese would settle down to the domestic life and protecting themselves from the rampant aggressive raccoon population. Coons love geese. Especially young silly impressionable tender ones who don't stay with the noisy messy flock. Their best protection was to roost on the cement driveway to the Shop under the sodium yard lights. That meant that every morning somebody had to wash the driveway or you couldn't walk on it. In winter it wasn't so bad because everything would freeze, but when it thawed it was as bad as the hill on Highway 177 in Florence Kansas just before you came to the truck stop. But that is another story. One best left to Craig Johnson to tell.

Take an eco-vacation to the Platte River valley in Nebraska in the spring to see the birds. It is amazing. Including the geese. And the cranes. And ducks. Millions of them. All in one place.

What am I reading that is good.

Finished Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. This is a YA dystopian that is so much better than anything Veronica Roth has written. There are three books in a loose trilogy about Jenna Fox, but I haven't read books two or three. Yet. Have some other reading to do first.

Still reading and enjoying the Hillerman and Johnson mystery read. I did read All the Light We Cannot See and thought it was a good book. A bit different take on a WWII novel.

>282 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Thanks for the geese stories. You are quite the story teller. You might want to make this a part of memoir. You know the 75ers would read it.

The Platte River valley sounds great. It is on the list, along with a few dozen other places. Sighs...

Thanks for the book update. Glad you liked All the Light. I was a fan of that one too.

I am nearly done with Someone Knows My Name. If you have not read it, you might really like this one. It might end up being a 5 star read for me or close.

Wow, we were all surprisingly emotional when the Cubs won. It started in the 8th or 9th inning. Got to thinking about family members and friends who are not longer with us but would've loved to have seen this. Thought about former Cubs players who would've loved to have seen this.

My 80 year old father says that he would like to go to a World Series game. He was just a boy the last time they went. Not sure that I can afford the tix with standing room starting at $2,300.

>286 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda. I was also thinking of family and friends, who are no longer with us, that would have loved seeing the Cubs in the WS. This includes my Dad, who was a big baseball fan and a Cubs lover.

Could you imagine hearing Santo, call this on the radio?
LOL.

I wish they would have left the starting time at 7, instead of moving it to 730. Ugh...

Ha. Last time I visited your thread we were acknowledging that Kershaw is good and lamenting that the Cubs would have to face him again. Ha. That's all. Just ha.

Methinks The Hike is not my cuppa but I'm excited to read Someone Knows My Name.

As you know, I'm thrilled that the Cubs are headed to the World Series. My sister's partner, age 80, is the person who introduced me to baseball and taught me to love it. She has always been a Cubs fan (she also taught me to hate the Yankees) so I picked it up from her. I'm so happy for her! We ordered a National League Champions t-shirt today and had it sent to her.

Have a great week, my friend. I have to work a bit late on Tuesday but I'll tune in for game one as soon as I get home!

>288 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Keep the Cub love flowing. What a great win. This city is going nuts.

Glad you found baseball. I have loved it since I was a kid. I wish my Dad was around to see his favorite team in the World Series.

You will love Someone Knows My Name. It is amazing.

I was about 13 when Betty introduced me to baseball and I've loved it ever since. In those days, we would go to spring training in West Palm Beach (my sister lived in the area and I would visit for spring break). Entrance was about a dollar and Dale Murphy was in center field. I wish your dad was here to witness this, too. I love all the images I've seen of elderly Cubs fans, faces full of joy!

Good morning, Mark.

Morning, Mark!

>290 EBT1002: Thanks for supplying more fond baseball memories, Ellen. Never saw the Cubs in spring training but always wanted to.

>291 Ameise1: Big Monday waves to Barb!

>292 scaifea: Morning Amber!

One more day, one more day! I'm feeling tingly all over! How about you? I'm hoping the Cubs and Indians will give us a fantastic series! Squeeeeeel!

>294 Carmenere: Morning Lynda. Yes we are all buzzing like crazy. It looks like a great pitching match up for game 1.
Try to keep calm.

Morning Mark. The Hike sounds like it's right up my street. On the list it goes

Morning Jeff. I thought of you, when reading The Hike. Glad I had the right instinct. It was very good on audio too. I did laugh out loud a few times.

>282 benitastrnad: Great story.

***

Mark, congrats on your Cubs winning! I don't follow sports at all except on LT threads but I know it's important to some of you.

Did you start your bird life list?

Morning Morph! Thanks for the Cubs shout-out. We are very excited. It has been a long haul.

I now have the Audubon app on my phone so I started a Life List over there. Do I include every bird I see?

You don't count every robin you see. But you do count every "different" bird - so a robin, a red-winged blackbird, a crow, a cardinal, a chickadee, etc.

>299 msf59: - Mark, are you just getting into birding? It's great fun! Do you know about this ID website:

http://www.whatbird.com/

I find it quite useful

Good morning, Mark. I am hoping that pennant fever is still in full swing!

After last night's Seahawks' game, I was ready to beat my head against a wall.

>281 msf59: The Hike sounds interesting, but my luck with weird and off the wall this year has not been good.

Not sure how things are for you, Mark, but at my office, I'm a well known Cubs fan. Everyone knows how much I love them.

There's been a steady procession of people stopping by to see what I think. "You're happy, I assume?" Also to see whether I'm going to the WS.

Also, I think you remember that I have a Cubs plate (and not just any old plate but a really good plate number, one that suggests that my car could be a Cubs players' car--until they see why kind of car it is). I've had people honking at me and waving quite a bit the past few days. At first I was baffled as to why but now I just smile and wave back and do a thumbs up.

Hi Mark and congratulations to your Cubs! I will be rooting for them to win. I was so far behind that I had to resort to some skimming in order to get caught up, but I still managed to take a couple of BB! I am currently reading Someone Knows My Name as well, although I am still in the first hundred pages I can tell this is going to be a special book

Sniff. Sadly, I did not get picked in the ticket lottery. They had 1.7 million entries and only a few thousand tickets to sell.

>300 Morphidae: That is exactly what I thought, Morph. Thanks. I will start adding the more common birds we see but I also want to include the ones I saw on my last two birding adventures.

>301 jessibud2: Thanks, for the link, Shelley. I will check it out. I want to find a very reliable bird ID app for my cell. Something I can locate quickly.

>302 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Yes, the city is buzzing. Getting itchy to start tomorrow night's game.

You might like The Hike but I guess it all depends on the timing, right?

>303 lindapanzo: I love that Linda! You always have worn your Cubbie Love, prominently on your sleeve. I think that is fantastic. We have a bunch of Cubs fans at work, along with a couple of Sox fans, (I know shocking, right?) that are rootin' right along side us.

I also love it that everyone is honking at you!

Sorry, you did not get picked for the lottery. Bummer. Well, we hope to be returning to the post-season for years to come, so you may still get a chance.

>304 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Thanks for the Cubs love. Always appreciated. I only have a few pages left in Someone Knows My Name. I can clearly see why, readers adore this book. It is excellent.