Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Sixteen

-American Avocet. Lifer bird.



-Last punch. August 31st, 2020.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



June:

66) Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell 3.7 stars
67) The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship & a Killer by Rich Cohen 4.3 stars (audio)
68) IQ (An IQ Novel (1)) by Joe Ide 4 stars
69) The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom 3.7 stars (audio)
70) I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir by Malaka Gharib 4.2 stars GN
71) Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly 4.3 stars (audio)
72) Arcadia: A Novel by Lauren Groff 3.6 stars
73) The Hidden Lives of Owls by Leigh Calvez 4 stars (audio)
74) Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais 4.2 stars
75) The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems by Pablo Neruda 4 stars Poetry
76) One Long River of Song (essays) by Brian Doyle 4.4 stars
77) The Mirror & the Light (Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel 3.8 stars (audio)
78) A Burning: A novel by Megha Majumdar 5 stars

July:

79) Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler 4 stars (audio)
80) Blood: A Memoir by Allison Moorer 4.2 stars (audio)
81) The Prisoner of Heaven (Book 3) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón 4.4 stars E
82) The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer 3.6 stars (audio)
83) Animal Spirit: Stories by Francesca Marciano 4.5 stars
84) With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo 4 stars (audio)
85) The Virgin Suicides by Eugenides Jeffrey 4.5 stars
86) The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration by Michelle Alexander 5 stars (audio)
87) The Migration by Helen Marshall 3.6 stars
88) Parakeet: A Novel by Marie-Helene Bertino 4.2 stars
89) American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin 4.6 stars (audio)

August:

90) The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall 4 stars
91) Department of Mind-Blowing Theories by Tom Gauld 3.7 stars GN
92) Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 4.8 stars
93) Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts 3.8 stars (audio)
94) The Driftless Area by Tom Drury 3.7 stars
95) All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren 4.2 stars (audio) AAC
96) Sansei and Sensibility by Karen Tei Yamashita 4 stars
97) Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby 4.3 stars
98) The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean 3.8 stars (audio)
99) Q Road by Bonnie Jo Campbell 3.7 stars
100) The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 4 stars (audio)

September:

101) The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin 4.6 stars (audio)
102) Vesper Flights by Helen MacDonald 4.2 stars E
103) Burning Bright: Stories by Ron Rash 4.4 stars E
104) Migrations: A Novel by Charlotte McConaghy 4.3 stars
105) Postcolonial Love Poem: Poems by Natalie Diaz 4.7 stars P
106) Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust 4 stars GN
107) How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi 4 stars (audio)
108) Tiny Love: The Complete Stories by Larry Brown 5 stars

October:

109) The New Wilderness by Diane Cook 3.8 stars

-Logging Trails, Northwoods



-This is at a campground and bar, geared toward ATV riders. A big community.



^I am the masked man in the middle ATV. My cousin and her husband are in the third vehicle.

"Author Ron Rash, captures the eerie beauty and stark violence of Appalachia through the lives of unforgettable characters. With this masterful collection of stories that span the Civil War to the present day..."

I loved Rash's story collection Nothing Gold Can Stay: Stories, which I read in late 2018 and have been anxious to try something else by him. I remember Richard being a big fan of Burning Bright: Stories too. I will start it today.

Not much reading was done over the long weekend, due to other activities but I started to get back on track yesterday afternoon, finishing up Vesper Flights. On the audio front, thanks to our road-trip I am 4 hours into How to Be an Antiracist. Of course, it has been very good, although some of this was covered in The New Jim Crow, which is not a bad thing, in the least.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Nice pics of the masked man in the ATV, congrats on your first from-the-first-message Retirement Thread.

Happy new one, Mark!

The Avocet Lifer is sweetly thrilling!

If you are not a member of the SIERRA CLUB online newsletter,
you can simply do a Search for Xavi Bou Birds - for his extraordinary photographs.

Bet you are glad not to be out trudging through this early dose of Winter...low 50's up here...

>5 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. You are Number One in my book.

Happy new thread, and much pleasure in reading Burning Bright: Stories.

>6 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. Always good to see you.

>7 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Glad you like the lovely avocets. I will have to check out the Xavi Bou Birds. Thanks.

Staying in today, other than a quick run to the store. Also damp and cool here, but in the mid-60s. I will be back on the trails tomorrow.

>10 msf59: Sounds like retirement is agreeing with you, Mark. Glad to hear.

After the hottest summer in Chicago history, this cool and damp today feels kind of nice. Maybe only 60 today and we certainly can use the rain.

Happy new thread, Mark! I see you've found a way to listen to audio books. Does that mean many more road trips in your future?

Good to hear about all the fun you are having, Mark. I don't believe I've seen/heard of an atv with seats for four.

Happy new thread!

>11 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. Retirement has been grand so far. It sure cooled off, right? Feels good and it is keeping me inside with the books, along with the much needed rain.

>12 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We are doing another Carolina trip soon, which will include lots of driving. There will be several drivers so I am sure how much audio time, I'll be able to clock in.

>13 weird_O: It was a fun, long weekend, Bill. I think these are 4 seat UTVs. I am just learning the lingo myself.

>14 quondame: Thanks, Susan.

I've just started Vesper Flights Mark. Enjoying so far.

>15 msf59: I've probably got about 7 or 8 years to go but it sounds wonderful.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Retirement does good to you :-)

>16 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. I am glad to hear you are enjoying Vesper Flights. She is such a good writer.

>17 lindapanzo: All I can say, Linda is that it will go quickly.

>18 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. My retirement is off to a great start.

"Back in 1984, a rebellious,17-year-old, punked-out Ulli Lust set out for a wild hitchhiking trip across Italy, from Naples through Verona and Rome and ending up in Sicily. Twenty-five years later, this talented Austrian cartoonist has looked back at that tumultuous summer and delivered a long, dense, sensitive,and minutely observed autobiographical masterpiece..."

I have finally ended my GN drought, (it has been 3 months) and started Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life, which Joe recommended. It is off to a good start but it is a chunkster.

>9 richardderus: *sniff*

no, no, I get it

*schnerkle*

it's really just not that important that you notice me

*gulp*

really, it's it's just fine

>9 richardderus: >21 richardderus: Oh no! Sorry, RD! Nothing personal, my friend. Thank you and Burning Bright: Stories has been excellent. He really nails these stories. I am quickly approaching the halfway point all ready.

Funny, I was thinking earlier- Hey, Richard hasn't stopped by. Grins...

Ron Rash is a popular author in these parts. He has a new book that either just came out or is coming out soon. I've got it on either a list I just ordered or will order soon.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!!

Happy new thread, Mark. First of the rest of your life, so to speak! ;-)

Happy new thread, Mark! How is retirement after a full week now? I ask because I could almost see myself feeling like I was in a surreal vacation at first, and it not hitting that I'm really not going back to work until after a week has past... Glad to see you've already had some fun times birding, visiting family and reading. Looking forward to your thoughts on Vesper Flights too, it's on the ever-growing TBR list.

Happy new thread, buddy.

Wishing you a healthy, prosperous and leisure filled retirement.

>23 thornton37814: Hi, Lori. Good to see you. I hope the new Rash is more short fiction. I think this is what he excels at.

>24 figsfromthistle: >25 banjo123: >26 jessibud2: Thanks, Figs, Rhonda & Shelley

>27 bell7: Thanks, Mary. My first week went great. Lots of activity. Today was more laid-back. Still a touch of the surreal flitting about. I am sure that will linger. Vesper Flights was another winner by MacDonald.

>28 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Much appreciated.

^Fires have been traveling north and are now ravaging Oregon. This is my sister's backyard in Salem. This is mid-afternoon. They did not have to evacuate but still scary as hell, which it eerily resembles. Put her and her family in your prayers.

>29 msf59: still a touch of the surreal flitting about

It took me a while -- at least a month -- to shake off the pace of my workday and just relax into doing whatever I wanted, whenever. My job was filled with meetings, and I kept checking my calendar thinking, "where to I need to be today?" I also spent too much time thinking about things like office politics or other workplace drama, wondering how things were working out. But that, too, passed with time.

>30 msf59: That's scary, Mark. I hope your sister and her family remain safe.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

>30 msf59: Oh my. Very scary and surreal.

>30 msf59: That is scary Mark. Hope they all stay safe.

My sister and friends in Bozeman, MT have also been hit. No evacuations, but the fires are less than 30 miles from the town. The Bridger Ski area has been hard hit. It is where the latest fires started and that is where my sister skies. She said it would be really different to ski in a burned out forest area.

Then there was the article on NPR this morning about how due to climate change the forests are not bouncing back after fires like they should. Baby pines don't like the warmer climate. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/09/911006004/after-forest-fire-a-warming-climate-int...

Thanks for your kind words about our pooch, our late lamented pooch. On my thread.

On the birdwatching/graphic novel front, I read in today's NYT that Christian Cooper, the Black birdwatcher who had the run-in with a dog-walking woman in Central Park, has created a short GN that incorporates aspects of that run-in. At the time, I missed the tidbit of Cooper being a comic book writer.
According to the article, the GN runs 10 pages and will be free on-line from several comic book websites.



Here's a link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/nyregion/christian-cooper-amy-comic-graphic-n...

>15 msf59: UTVs. Hmm, something new every day.

>30 msf59: OMG!

>34 AlyssaUther: Never conscious of spammers on LT. An exchange between Sandy and Richard about them suggested (to me) that these are Russians trying to wheedle their way into "our" community, perhaps for nefarious ends.

>31 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura! I have a feeling I will be able to shake this surreal feeling off sooner than later. We will be going on another Carolina trip soon and that could swipe the slate clean. As far as my everyday activity- I love birding in the morning and reading in the afternoon. Works good for me.

As far as I know my sister & family are doing okay. Have not heard from her yet today.

>32 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Yes that is one scary photo. Glad the fire didn't reach them.

>33 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I am assuming all is well in OR, although I have not heard from her today.

>35 benitastrnad: This should be a major wake-up call, Benita. I have never heard of fires this out of control and so often. Sad and scary.

>36 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I love the comic clip from C. Cooper. I will have to see if I can track it down. I didn't realize he was a comic writer either. Thanks for putting it on my radar and supplying the link.

Yep, these spammers sure seem to get around. At least we can flag them immediately.

Happy New Thread, Mark. Those may be the best toppers ever! And the WI photos just add to that.

I'm glad Today is the Last Day is off to a good start for you. If you're like me, the chunkster-ness will be A-OK. Her adventures . . . wow.

I didn't know Christian Cooper was a comic writer either, so I'll add my thanks to yours for Bill's >36 weird_O: post.

I'm reading another good GN, Old Guard by our pal Greg Rucka. They made a pretty good movie with Charlize Theron based on it.

Hey there Birddude!

>39 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Glad you like the toppers & the WI photos! Yep, I am enjoying "Today is the Last Day". Some spicy adventures, eh? But why does the text have to be so tiny?

I saw and liked the film version of Old Guard. I am also a fan of Rucka. I hope you are enjoying the book.

>40 richardderus: Hey, RD! All good here. Birding in the morning- books in the afternoon. You can't beat it.

-Purple Finch (NMP)

I was able to see both a male and a female purple finch today on my bird ramble. They are not very common here so this was a treat, although I wish I had a better look at them. Of course, I have to give a shout out to my birding companions for help with the ID. It was cool and damp, and it rained lightly at the end but we made the best of it.

American Arithmetic

Native Americans make up less than
one percent of the population of America.
0.8 percent of 100 percent.

O, mine efficient country.

I do not remember the days before America—
I do not remember the days when we were all here.

Police kill Native Americans more
than any other race. Race is a funny word.
Race implies someone will win,
implies I have as good a chance of winning as—

We all know who wins a race that isn’t a race.

Native Americans make up 1.9 percent of all
police killings, higher than any race,
and we exist as .8 percent of all Americans.

Sometimes race means run.

I’m not good at math—can you blame me?
I’ve had an American education.

We are Americans, and we are less than 1 percent
of Americans. We do a better job of dying
by police than we do existing.

When we are dying, who should we call?
The police? Or our senator?

At the National Museum of the American Indian,
68 percent of the collection is from the U.S.
I am doing my best to not become a museum
of myself. I am doing my best to breathe in and out.
I am begging: Let me be lonely but not invisible.

In an American city of one hundred people,
I am Native American—less than one, less than
whole—I am less than myself. Only a fraction
of a body, let’s say I am only a hand—

and when I slip it beneath the shirt of my lover,
I disappear completely.

-Natalie Diaz

^This is from her latest collection Postcolonial Love Poem, which I am currently reading. It is terrific.

Happy new thread!

>30 msf59: - Wow, Mark, that is eerie. When the air has an actual colour, you know something is *off* in nature. Scary. I hope your sister and her family are ok and don't have to evacuate

It looks like you're not bored with retirement yet, Mark. Happy new one.

>44 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>45 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. It looks like all is well with my sister and her family. They did not have to evacuate. Whew!

>46 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Retirement is off to a perfect start.

>42 msf59: Another great sighting Mark. Retirement has got off to a good start.

>48 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. Heading out early this morning too. See if I can drum up anything else special.

-GHO (NMP)

Last night, my wife heard a Great Horned Owl calling, out behind our house. I stepped outside and heard it calling several times. I never saw anything but still mark it down as very sweet.

Your retirement schedule sounds lovely, Mark!

I am making my way slowly through Vesper Flights. Savoring it...

Here is a little v90-second ideo by Helen introducing the book. Thought you (and others) might enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi53GDE1X00&t=1s

Hi Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. I hope you enjoy your guided bird walk this morning.

>36 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. It’s available on Amazon Kindle, free, and I just downloaded it. I never thought I’d want to read another GN, but this one is calling out to me. Plus, free…

>42 msf59: Nice. I find Purple Finches hard to differentiate from House Finches, but that pic makes it clear.

>50 msf59: What a treat. I hear them out here in the distance, but have never seen one.

>51 alphaorder: Ooh, I loved the video introduction to Vesper Flights, by MacDonald. Thanks for sharing the link, Nancy. I am a big fan of the book. Yes, retirement is treating me fine. B.A.G.

>52 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. We had a great bird walk. If you see a purple finch at your feeders, they definitely stand out but you have to look closely.

Thanks for the heads-up on the birding GN. I am going to see if I can snag it, as well.

Have an American-Avocet level day!

Happy new(ish) thread! Glad you are enjoying your first full week of retirement!

>54 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! No avocets today but anytime I see a bald eagle soaring, is a good day. (NMP):



>55 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. Good to see you. It is has been a most excellent 10 days.

"Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean’s tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she so loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world’s last flock of Arctic terns and follow them on their final migration."

^Of course, the title Migrations caught my eye but the novel's description, sealed the deal, along with some advanced buzz. I just finished the excellent Burning bright: Stories so I will start this one tomorrow.

Mark, my friend, CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement! You know I'm envious but I will get there. These past 10 days off to focus on my knee recovery have given me a taste of the lower stress level that comes with not working. This has hardly been a "holiday," but it's confirming my desire to retire when I can.

Your adventures and reading look pretty wonderful! I'll be interested in Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life as I have also been in a GN drought.

>58 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. Great to see you. I hope the knee recovery is going fine. Your retirement will be here before you know it. Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life definitely pulled me out of my GN slump.

HAppy Friday, Mark!

Glad to see that you are enjoying the first bit of retirement.

Happy Friday, Figs! Retirement has been going perfectly and I don't see that changing. Enjoy your weekend.

Happy Friday, Mark! Enjoy your solo flight. Enjoy your books this afternoon.

Just reading comments about your retirement makes me smile, Mark. I well remember the stress of my last job and the utter relief when I retired and it was GONE! Right after I retired, I packed up all my belongings and, 2 weeks later, moved from my wonderful condo in Pasadena to Aurora, Colorado, so there was still stress, but it wasn't the same.

Isn't Postcolonial Love Poem a knockout, Mark? I knew it would work well for you. Nice pick from it with the .8 per cent.

Yes, Today is the Last Day is quite spicy. :-) It's kind of amazing that she survived all of that; I was wincing at some of her decisions.

The Old Guard GN was very good; it turns out the movie tracked it more closely than I would've guessed. There's a second one either out or about to come out, so I'll track that down.

Happy Friday, buddy. I'm sure you're enjoying the good life.

>62 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Another fine day with the birds and the books.

>63 Storeetllr: Happy Friday, Mary. Not far into this retirement thing but it sure feels like a good fit.

>64 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe. Yep, the books are treating me fine. The Diaz has been terrific. She is such a smart and insightful poet. The GN has been a fun ride too. How to Be an Antiracist has been a hard-hitting audio and I just started Migrations and this is shaping up to be another winner.

^A couple photos from my solo bird hike this morning. These are from my cell. This is Springbrook Prairie. I did snap some bird photos too, which I will have to share later.

Black Throated Blue Warbler (NMP)

^This is easily one of my favorite warblers and this sighting was a FOY and I was able to ID it all by my little self. The coloring was a bit duller though, with the fall plumage. I had a Black Throated Green yesterday but they are more common during migration.

Warblers are so teensy, aren't they. Does that make them more of a challenge to ID than, say, the Chicago River Dodo and its ilk?

>69 richardderus: Yep, warblers are tough to locate and ID. They are small, fast-moving and usually foraging in trees or brush. To make matters even trickier, their fall plumage is duller, something I am slowly trying to learn. I have yet to get a Chicago River Dodo on my life list but I will keep trying. Grins...

"The Arctic tern has the longest migration of any animal. It flies from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and then back again within a year. This is an extraordinary long flight for a bird its size. And because the terns live to be thirty or so, the distance they travel over the course of their lives is the equivalent of flying to the moon and back three times."

^This is from my current read, Migrations and it begins very well. Think Station Eleven with birds, climate change and equally fine writing.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. I'm glad you got your FoY Black-Throated Blue Warbler yesterday.

Interesting about Arctic Terns living up to 30 years.

Morning, Karen. Hooray for the black throated blue and the Arctic tern! Enjoy your day.

-J. Drew Lanham. The collection is Sparrow Envy. Thanks to Nancy for sharing this.

Vesper Flights by Helen MacDonald 4.2 stars

“It was science that taught me how the flights of tens of millions of migrating birds across Europe and Africa, lines on the map drawn in lines of feather, starlight and bone, are stranger and more astonishing than I ever could have imagined, for these creatures navigate by visualizing the Earth's magnetic field...”

“For days afterwards, my dreams are full of songbirds, the familiar ones from woods and backyards, but also points of moving light, little astronauts, travelers using the stars to navigate, having fallen to earth for a little while before picking themselves up and moving on.”

“There is a special phenomenology to walking in the woods in winter. On windless days there's a deep, soft hush that makes the sound of a stick breaking underfoot resemble a pistol shot. Its a quietness that fosters an acute sensitivity to small sounds that earlier in the year would be buried under a riot of birdsong.”

“Later (swifts) gather higher in the sky...And then, all at once, as if summoned by a call or a bell, they rise higher and higher until they disappear from view. These ascents are called vesper flights....”

H is For Hawk pounced on my reading life like an owl on a vole. I was quite taken with that memoir and so were many others. We all waited for what Ms. MacDonald would do next and she finally delivers a collection of essays. Yes, the bulk of these pieces are bird and nature related but she also gives a personal glimpses of her life, including her struggles with migraines. Of course there are environmental warnings, as well, with dire warnings of what lays ahead. She is a fine writer, with a big, inquisitive mind, making this a worthy read. I hope the quotes I chose, give you a taste of what to expect.

>76 msf59: 4.2 stars! That's praise indeed. I'm glad it worked for you so well, and what better way to mark the weekend than to love a read.

Hi Mark, hope your sister is safe. It is really quite frightening.

And it looks like you have some great retirement reading!

>77 richardderus: Hey, RD! Vesper Flights was a definite winner. I hope you can give it a try.

>78 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Good to see you. I heard from my sister yesterday and all was good. I sure hope the worst of it has past for your state.

>29 msf59: The Rash book is entitled In the Valley. It contains short stories and a novella.

I'm loving all the flowers and birds.

>76 msf59: I still need to read H is for Hawk. This one is already on my wish list, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's on order at the library.

Happy Sunday, Mark! I'm glad to hear that all is good with your sister.

I can hear a crow calling, see several finches, including one bright yellow male Goldfinch, just watched two crows fly by, and have had two visits by female hummingbirds.

American goldfinch on a purple coneflower. I saw this and was enchanted.

Happy traipsing and fanboying!

So Mark. Have you sprouted any feathers yet?

Finished the Joyce Carol Oates I was reading, her dystopia story of 18 months ago, Hazards of Time Travel. Reviews have been mixed, but I liked it. Definitely a page-turner.

Going to read a chapter in All the Kings Men whilst I settle on sumpin that'll really grab me. Multiple candidates rattling the gate.

>81 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Love the bird feeder report. I just heard from my sister and all is well in Salem, OR. Just smoky and hazy.

>82 richardderus: Love the beautiful goldfinch, Richard. I had an excellent Sunday. Birds, beer, football and a little baseball. No books, though. I will try to make up for it tomorrow.

>83 weird_O: Hey, Bill. No feathers on me, that I can see. Sue checks me regularly. Glad to hear you enjoyed JCO. You still reading All the King's Men? Are you finding it a slog?

-(NMP)

Common Nighthawks are migrating through our area. I sat on my patio last evening and saw at least 12. Sometimes they are flying very high but normally I can make out their very distinctive markings. Dragonflies are also migrating south, (something I only learned last year) and the nighthawks take this opportunity to grab a snack while in flight.

Hey Mark, I thought of you yesterday afternoon. We are staying in a place on Seneca Lake in NY, and there are lots of cormorants and other waterfowl. But yesterday, while walking the dogs along the lake we saw a pair of bald eagles. So cool.

Morning , Laura. It always puts a smile on my face, when someone sees a bird and thinks of me, especially a majestic one like the bald eagle. I would love to visit that part of NY. Have a great getaway.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Monday to you! I didn't realize dragonflies migrated. I learn so many cool things here on LT.

>85 msf59: Dragonflies migrate?! How interesting! I thought they mated, egged, and died...but that makes them even cooler critters than I thought they were before.

Go read my blogged review of Stillicide, it's got birds *and* dragonflies!

>76 msf59: Great review Mark, definitely a book for me.

>85 msf59: Wow, I've never seen one. And you see twelve of them. On first view i thought it was a hawk!

>84 msf59: I don't think of All the King's Men is a slog, Mark. I'm just not that interested or engaged by it. The writing (the wording, the sentences) is marvelous. Close observation. The fault is me. Need an attitude adjustment or something. Heh heh. (Touchstones are on strike, I observe. What are their demands? Higher pay? Better working conditions?)

Anyway, I think I'm going to slow walk it. Got a P. D. James started and a James Ellroy in the on-deck circle.

Bears won a close one, I hear. The Eagles scored 17, then took the rest of the afternoon off. And The Football Team scored 27. Oops.

Lucky you, Mark, with still blooming Wild Sunflowers! We have three left along Portage Road.

This morning's Driveway Walk yielded the female Groundhog getting ready for hibernating
and
a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak with an immature male nearby.

With the feather color of the mature male, they resemble three distinct species, all with yellow beaks.

>88 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Yep, I can't believe I didn't know that dragonflies migrated either. A fascinating, natural world out there.

>89 richardderus: Hey, Richard. I don't know a lot about dragonflies yet but I plan on learning more. I have the time, right? Thanks for the blog link, I will check it out.

>90 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I hope you can track a copy of Vesper Flights down. I do not know if there are common nighthawks in Europe. I will have to check that out.

>91 weird_O: Hey, Bill. Thanks for clarifying on All the King's Men. I was quite impressed with that classic, although it did get a bit "wordy" at times. I will have to stop by and see what Ellroy you are thinking of reading. I am a fan, although I have not read him in years.

Bummer about your Eagles, especially losing to The Football Team. Grins...

>92 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Love the nature report. And hooray for the groundhog and grosbeaks. I will miss the latter, when they finally move out.

Oh, and Diamond Book Distributors has launched a new website and celebrates by giving all visitors in September a free comic book! I mean GN, of course I do, GN.

Oh cool, RD! I will check it out.

^I won an ER giveaway of Utopia Avenue back in April. I just received it. This maybe the longest I have ever waited but at least I got it. A new Mitchell is always a happy event and I know Joe loved it.

>94 msf59:

Addendum, Mark - when we looked out the kitchen window to see if the Blue Jays were letting the other birds back in,

there was the Groundhog way up in the tree hovering over the bird feeder!

She climbed back down after a few minutes...

>97 msf59: Nice. I am waiting hopefully for my library's reservation system to deliver my copy (no beer with it though!).

>98 m.belljackson: A groundhog in a tree? Wow! I have never seen that. Much more agile than I would have thought.

>99 charl08: Your library doesn't serve beer? What the heck? Grins...I hope to bookhorn in Utopia Avenue in the next month or so.

Well I could see you with Helen Macdonald at the top of The Empire State Building as I read 'High-Rise', in Vesper Flights, this afternoon Mark. Fascinating. I'm taking the volume with me when I go away for a couple of days tomorrow.

Hey Mark! You need to know about this Kindlesale! A History of Birds By Simon Wills is $2.99 today!

The skies in your sister’s pic are more densely full of smoke than the ones here, Mark. Her’s look more threatening, our smoke is more stealthy coming in with a wind from the south.

>101 Caroline_McElwee: LOL. I can picture myself atop the Empire State Building with Ms. MacDonald too, Caroline. I hope you enjoy the book, as much as I did. Enjoy your few days off.

>102 richardderus: I always these suggestions, Richard. Looks interesting.

>103 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. My sister has not mentioned that any thing has gotten worst in her area. Hopefully nastiest of it has moved on. Be safe, my friend.

-Keith Taylor

>105 msf59: - Please tell me he didn't actually come out and say that, though, being t-Rump, it probably wouldn't surprise me if he did....

>106 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. He didn't actually say that but he of course, he made some idiotic statements about California and the wildfires. Business as usual with him.

>67 msf59: Lovely. What a great place to spend some time.

Vesper Flights: it sounds good. Thanks for blazing a trail.

>85 msf59: Seeing at least 12 nighthawks from your patio! Wow.

Of course, you made me think of "... at the Diner", the Hopper painting.



I've no idea what caused Ken to turn to a life of crime.

Enjoy the day, buddy.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday and solo bird ramble to you.

>98 m.belljackson: I did not realize that groundhogs climbed trees. They are persona non grata here because … well, everything. We had a cousin who called them Ground. Hogs. Two separate words, both filled with loathing.

>105 msf59: Yes. Keith Taylor nailed it.

Ramble on, Birddude!

>109 karenmarie:

We'd definitely not mess with any of the groundhogs that have been living around us since we moved in around 35 years ago.
They seem to be fearless!

Yet, they totally avoid us when we happen to walk up the driveway where they are eating dandelions.

>108 jnwelch: Happy Wednesday, Joe. I LOVE that Hopper image. A great mash up with Hitchcock's "Birds". Where did you get that? If you guys get out on your back deck in the evenings and have an open space of sky. I am sure you would see nighthawks migrating through. Just have your binoculars handy.

I would love to show you both, Springbrook Prairie. A very fine place to visit.

>108 jnwelch: Great homage to Hopper, Joe. I just finished The Narrow Land, the Walter Scott prize winner about Hopper and his wife on Cape Cod in the 1950s. I didn't know much about him (or his strange marriage) so it was enlightening, particularly his process of searching for the exact scenes he wanted to paint.

(sorry to hijack your thread, Mark!)

>109 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Like you mentioned earlier, you always learn something from our eclectic flock of LT of pals. I have seen groundhogs on my route several times but it is very rare that I see them on my birding ventures. Strange.

>110 richardderus: Hey, RD. It was a quiet solo bird ramble this morning but of course I loved every moment of it.

>111 m.belljackson: We don't see groundhogs around that often, Marianne. Funny, for an animal their hefty size, they are incredibly secretive.

Remember when that used to matter? *blissful sigh*

>114 msf59:

Mark - today's poem-a-day, Give Me This, by Ada Limon, is about a GROUNDHOG!

Can you bring it up for all the fans?!

>115 richardderus: Grins...I sure remember that, Richard. Still getting up early, though. See if that changes.

>116 m.belljackson: I saved the Limon poem to share, Marianne. Like minds...

Give Me This

I thought it was the neighbor’s cat back
to clean the clock of the fledgling robins low
in their nest stuck in the dense hedge by the house
but what came was much stranger, a liquidity
moving all muscle and bristle. A groundhog
slippery and waddle thieving my tomatoes still
green in the morning’s shade. I watched her
munch and stand on her haunches taking such
pleasure in the watery bites. Why am I not allowed
delight? A stranger writes to request my thoughts
on suffering. Barbed wire pulled out of the mouth,
as if demanding that I kneel to the trap of coiled
spikes used in warfare and fencing. Instead,
I watch the groundhog closer and a sound escapes
me, a small spasm of joy I did not imagine
when I woke. She is a funny creature and earnest,
and she is doing what she can to survive.

-Ada Limón From Poem-A-Day

This is in relation to our groundhog discussion, plus I know there are several of us that our Limon fans. A very fine poet.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Thursday to you.

>118 msf59: Good visual - a liquidity
moving all muscle and bristle. A groundhog
slippery and waddle thieving

I'm really enjoying the 5th in the Cormoran Strike/Robin Ellacott series, Troubled Blood. It's a doorstop at 927 pages. I'm already at page 261. *smile*

Have a great bird ramble today. Maybe bag a hudsonian godwit, which despite its purely Dickens-meets-Dr. Seuss name is an actual real thing?

>67 msf59: Ohhh....drop me down there for a while please.

MARK - Thanks for the fun Groundhog updates.

(A few days ago, I emailed a photo of Groundhog in the Tree to Joe - maybe he can forward to you since sending anything to LT remains a mystery for non-tech persons.)

Also, today online in The Sierra Club Magazine GREEN LIFE, there is a lovely write up of a family walk
along Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail.

>122 m.belljackson:
I was so intrigued by the idea of the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail that I went and looked it up. It looks like it would be an amazing hike.

I was surprised to learn that it is administered by the National Park Service. It looks like a wonderful place to hike.

>119 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Glad you like the groundhog poem. It is a keeper. I am happy to hear that you are enjoying the latest Cormoran Strike novel. I liked the first three but never did get to book 4. Since, my audiobook time is so limited, it may be awhile.

>120 richardderus: Yep, a hudsonian godwit is an actual bird and part of the godwit family. I did not see one today. I was no where near water. Sadly, I have not seen any of the godwit clan. I think they are rare visitors to the Midwest.

>121 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Great to see you. I would to take all my LT pals on a tour of some of my favorite local birding spots. Only Joe has had that pleasure.

>122 m.belljackson: Ooh, I will have to look up the Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail, Marianne. Sounds like another WI Wonder!

>123 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. How is it shakin'? I haven't seen you stop by in awhile.

-A female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Not as colorful as her husband but still lots of personality.



-Great Egret. They like perching in trees, which makes for fine photo opportunities.



-A Northern Flicker looking a bit sleepy. This is a type of woodpecker.

>118 msf59: Limon fan.

>126 msf59: Great catches Mark. The egret looks like he Is standing in the wings, waiting to make his entry on stage.

Hiya, Mark.

Love the groundhog context for the Ada Limon poem. Such a good one from her (no surprise).

>126 msf59: Lovely photos. I like Caroline's description of the egret.

Have a great time in the Carolinas. I imagine there are birds there planning a welcome party.

>126 msf59: Nice pictures! And I too like >127 Caroline_McElwee:'s description of the egret.

>127 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. Hooray for another Limon fan. I hope she graces us with another collection soon. Glad you like the egret.

>128 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. Hooray for Limon and egrets! Both winners. Not sure how much birding I will do in Carolina but I will still keep my peepers open. Should be a swell time.

>129 richardderus: Thanks, RD. I am only able to take a few photos now and then. I am glad a handful are worth sharing.

"A career-spanning collection, Tiny Love brings together for the first time the stories of Larry Brown’s previous collections along with those never before gathered. The self-taught Brown has long had a cult following..."

Sadly, I have never read Larry Brown, although he looks like a perfect fit for me. I still have his acclaimed novel, Joe unread on shelf. Well, Tiny Love: Stories looks like an ideal place to start and a great fit for my upcoming Carolina trip. I acquired this at the DC ALA. Jeff also read and loved it recently. I will begin it tomorrow.

FYI- Brown died in 2004, in his early 50s.

Yep, I think you'll enjoy it.

I'm reading Homesick for Another World (thank you), and they're some of the most creepy stories I've read. And I'm loving it! :)

Hi Mark, I have been enjoying your pictures and those nature photos at >67 msf59: are gorgeous! What are those yellow flowers? We get a fair amount of Northern Flickers around here, especially in the fall. They are gorgeous birds but have a very loud squawk.

I saw the grey heron when I walked into work yesterday morning, just flying away from the lake. Nice start to the day.

Morning Mark! Happy Friday. Any birdwatching today?

>132 mahsdad: Hey, Jeff. I am really looking forward to diving into Tiny Love today. I am so glad you are enjoying Homesick for Another World. It is a terrific collection.

>133 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I am not a flower guy, but my uneducated guess would be some kind of daisy. They were everywhere at that prairie. Glad you get to see the flickers regularly and hear their raucous calls.

>134 charl08: Hooray for seeing the grey heron yesterday. I am sure that is always a treat. Enjoy your weekend, Charlotte.

>135 figsfromthistle: Happy Friday, Figs. I have been out birding the last four days but not today. We heading out on our Carolina trip early afternoon.

Hi Mark, and happy Friday to you.

I love looking at your bird photos, thanks for posting them.

Have a safe and good trip to my adopted home state.

>137 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you like my photos. Unfortunately, I don't get a chance to take many photos, due to my lack of skills. Finding and sharing usable photos is another obstacle but I get lucky now and then. Grins...

104) Migrations: A Novel by Charlotte McConaghy 4.3 stars

“He said our lives mean nothing except as a cycle of regeneration, that we are incomprehensibly brief sparks, just as the animals are. That we are no more important than they are, no more worthy than any living creature. That in our self-importance, in our search for meaning, we have forgotten how to share the planet that gave us life.”

“Because it seems to me, suddenly, that if it's really the end, really and truly, if you're making the last migration not just of your life but of your entire species, you don't stop sooner. Even when you're tired and starved and hopeless. You go farther.”

The world is failing. The sixth extinction at full throttle. Seas are raging and the wildlife is disappearing at a startling pace. Franny Stone is a restless spirit. A wanderer and a lover of nature. She arrives in Greenland on a mission. She wants to track the final migration of the Arctic tern, which have been nearly depleted. She will follow them from the North Atlantic to Antarctica, with the guidance of a very reluctant fishing vessel and it's eccentric crew.
Franny is a strong character with a darkened soul. She can be equal parts, frustrating and endearing but the reader will be glad she is at the helm of this beautifully written novel. Think, Station Eleven with birds.

>140 msf59: It sounds like the perfect send-off to your NC trip...though Larry Brown's rough-toughness might make a depressing companion read.

Have a great trip!

>141 richardderus: Hey, RD. You know I like dark and edgy, so Mr. Brown should be a great fit. The foreword to this collection was excellent. It gave me a great look at how Brown evolved. Do you own this collection?

“The Spanish called us Mojave. Colorado, the name they gave our river
because it was silt-red-thick.

Natives have been called red forever. I have never met a red Native, not
even on my reservation, not even at the National Museum of the American Indian, not even at the largest powwow in Parker, Arizona.

I live in the desert along a dammed blue river. The only red people I've seen
are white tourists sunburned after staying out on the water to long.”

“America is a land of bad math and science. The Right believes Rapture will
save them from the violence they are delivering upon the earth and water;
the Left believes in technology, the same technology wrecking the earth and
water, will save them from the wreckage or help them build a new world
on Mars.”

Both quotes are from “The First Water is the Body”, from a beautiful poetry collection called Postcolonial Love Poem. Her poem "American Arithmetic " is in post #43, featured in it's entirety. I highly recommend this poet and I know Joe is a big fan too.

>143 msf59:

It would be great if we stayed away from Mars until we find cures for the people and land of Earth.

Have a joy and bird filled journey!

>144 m.belljackson: Great point, Marianne and thanks. I will check in when I can. Stay warm up there in WI. Cool here, today.

>142 msf59: I do! And I am slowly reading it. I can't tear through the stories because there will never be more, so I need to make these last.

>140 msf59: I'm glad you enjoyed that one. It's been on my radar, and got a nudge up.

Safe travels, Mark!

Happy travels Mark.

Hi, Mark! Happy Friday!

>126 msf59: Love your bird pics, especially of the egret. Gorgeous!

Somehow missed your post about your trip. North Carolina? Beautiful state! I've been to the Great Smokey Mountain area and the Crystal Coast. Have fun, stay safe, post pics!

I hope the drive was a good one, and you're already enjoying that beautiful part of the country, buddy.

Another trip? Good to see you are making the most of that retirement, Mark. Wishing you safe travels and lots of bird spots...

Greetings from South Carolina! We are staying at a beautiful lake house, in the northwest corner of the state. We had a safe, uneventful drive in. Much cooler here, than a year ago, when we visited, which is fine with us. We went to a local brewery last night, sat outdoors where there was live music, (country/bluegrass) and a fire. Perfect social-distancing and as a bonus I saw a northern mockingbird.

We are driving into Greenville for lunch today and to visit with a friend of Sue's who recently moved there. Hope to catch an NFL game somewhere too and then back to the house for games and refreshments.

There is a mile and a half lake-trail here that I am going to hike each morning. Of course I will have my binoculars along. Grins...

>146 richardderus: I am 100 pages into Tiny Love and loving it RD.

>147 thornton37814: I am glad Migrations is on your radar, Lori. It is a terrific read.

>148 katiekrug: >149 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Katie & Caroline.

>150 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Glad you like my bird photos. We are currently in South Carolina and we will drive up to NC, on Wednesday to visit with my brother.

>151 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. The drive was a smooth one. Sean did all the driving. It was nice that we broke it up and spent the night in eastern Kentucky. Such gorgeous country.

>152 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Yep, another trip and it is shaping up to be another winner.

Hi Mark, and happy Sunday to you. So glad you arrived safe and sound. I hope you have a wonderful time.

>153 msf59:
It is nice and cool here in Alabama as well. Very fall-like and Not the usual weather for this time of year. Normally this is still summer. Fall doesn't arrive here until in late October. However, it makes it perfect morning coffee drinking and reading a book outdoors time. The forecast is that it is supposed to be this way for most of next week. Enjoy the Climate Change while it is still good.

Hi Mark - good to hear that trip through the south is going smoothly.

Today's online SMITHSONIAN Weekend has an intriguing feature
on why Birds survived the meteor extinction when dinosaurs did not.

Happy vacationing, Birddude! Many many lifers added to your list *whammy*

Well, as a graduate of Clemson, and father to a graduate of Clemson, have fun with this latest trip! Downtown Greenville was always a nice part of visiting the son. The restaurants there were great - is the Trappe Door still there? Had some really good Belgians there...

>157 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Yep, having a good time in SC. Spent the afternoon in Greenville yesterday. Nice looking town. I like the river that runs through the bustling downtown.

>158 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am glad you are enjoying the unexpected cooler weather. A nice respite.

>159 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I will have to check out that Smithsonian article. Thanks.

>160 richardderus: Hey, RD. I would have to get pretty lucky for a lifer bird but you never know. We are going to picnic at promising location today that is supposed to be ripe with wildlife.

>161 drneutron: Hi, Jim. I had forgot that you have a Clemson legacy going on. How very cool. We were quite impressed with Greenville. A nice looking town and I love that river that winds through the downtown area. Did not see the Trappe Door but did see a lot of bars and eateries.

>57 msf59: >140 msf59: this one caught my eye too and with each word of the description, I was further entrapped!!!! Also....Think, Station Eleven with birds. = wins award for most fulfilling description of a book in the fewest words :)

>165 msf59: is a very mysterious post, Mark. :-)

Kentucky's beautiful, and its politicians have been so ugly. Let's hope the politicians part changes to match the state's attractiveness.

Good for Sean for doing the driving. Do you rent him out for that?

That lakeside hike sounds mighty fine. What a great area to get away to, buddy.

I've got another worthwhile GN for you when you get back: Lupus by Frederik Peeters. He's Swiss. It's sci-fi in the sense of spaceships, but otherwise it's character-driven.

Happy SCing!

>164 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Great to see you. I am glad I ensnared you with my warbling on Migrations. I think this one would be a good fit for you.

>166 jnwelch: LOL. I still have issues posting images, with my iPad, Joe and I tried to share a photo of the lakeside trail. Of course, it failed. We haven't had to do any of the driving so far and there has been a lot of it.

Happy Tuesday, my friend and thanks for the GN rec. Those always come in handy.

>167 richardderus: Thanks, RD. Last full day in SC.

Oh yeah, I gave up on iPad posting of images on LT.

From Facebook, it looks like you've had a beautiful trip. If yesterday was your last full day, you're probably on the road today. You could tell everybody in the car to shut up and then listen to an audio book, but that probably would be rude.

Safe travels, buddy.

Hi Mark!

>169 jnwelch: I gave up on iPad posting of images on LT.

I post to LT “from an iPad” all the time, but not directly *from* the iPad. The image has to be stored somewhere online (e.g., LT member gallery, public Facebook photo). Then you can copy the image URL and use it in a post.

——
Have a good one Mark!

Safe travels!

Greetings from North Carolina. We met my brother and sister in Highlands, NC yesterday morning. Had a nice lakeside lunch at a quiet mountain lake. We then drove back to Hendersonville with them and enjoyed a fine dinner at their place. We spent the night at the white squirrel motel, (I don't think we will see them this year, since we are heading out early). We leave for Pigeon Forge TN, shortly, where we will spend the day and night. I have never been in this area before. Tomorrow we will meet Bree and Sean in Asheville, where they have stayed a couple of nights and spend our final day with them before heading home on Saturday. It has been a great trip and it is always a pleasure to hang out and reminisce with my siblings.

>169 jnwelch: >170 karenmarie: >172 richardderus: Thanks, Joe, Karen & RD. Good trip so far.

>171 lauralkeet: Thanks for the pointer, Laura.

>173 msf59: That sounds like a wonderful vacation indeed. So glad it's been a lovely celebration of being retired!

Really sounds like a lovely time. I hope to get back to Asheville some day.

Glad you are having a wonderful trip and getting along with your siblings :)

Mark - so glad you avoided all the recent Carolina politics - wish you could have left some Blue Votes!

>168 msf59: I upload all my photos from my Ipad photos, to LT, and use that link.

Hi Mark! That sounds like a wonderful trip. Love the Groundhog poem by Limon.

Your road trip sounds great, Mark. You are seeing a beautiful part of the country.

^We are back home but I am really going to miss my morning stroll, along this lakeside walking path. This was during our visit in South Carolina. Just a bit over 2.5 miles, from one end to the other. I logged in a decent amount of birds here too. Sadly I did not get any walks in, while in NC or TN, but that is a minor quibble.



Devil's Fork State Park, Lake Jocassee SC. This is the mighty foursome, with Bree & Sean. This day trip did include a short but rugged hike. Gorgeous lake area.

>175 richardderus: Hey, RD. Yep, I can't believe I am fast approaching a month all ready. Wow!

>176 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Yes, this area around Asheville is still tops in my relocation, if that ever happens. Of course, I hope it does.

>177 figsfromthistle: >178 m.belljackson: Thanks, Figs & Marianne!

>179 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I will see if I can try your suggestion.

>180 banjo123: >181 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Rhonda & Judy. It was a nice trip and great to spend some time with my siblings.

^This was from our trip from Hendersonville NC, (where my brother lives) to Pigeon Forge TN, with a lunch/beer stop in Gatlinburg. The weather was cruddy- damp & chilly but the scenery, when it was clear enough was stunning. I was not impressed with Pigeon Forge, where we spent the night. A monster
tourist trap, smeared across this beautiful landscape. Ugh!

*One thing I learned, when we were traveling through the town of Cherokee, which is on a big Indian Reservation, (of course an immense casino sits front & center) is that elk were reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains in 2001. There are approx 140 animals in the park. We saw a small herd, to my delight.

Sounds like a fabulous trip with lots of time with family and nature.

I started Homeland Elegies today. Highly recommend!

Beautiful photos, Mark! I’m glad you had a great trip!

>184 msf59: I agree that Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville are tourist traps in a beautiful setting. I like to get off the beaten path and wander some of the back roads. A lot of people prefer the Townsend area which has seen less commercial development (although it still has some).

>185 alphaorder: Happy Sunday, Nancy. It was a very good trip and it worked well with traveling with Bree and Sean for a large chunk of it. Ooh, Homeland Elegies does sound promising. I had not heard any buzz on that one.

>186 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. We sure did. I didn't even bring my Canon along. These are just cellphone photos.

>187 thornton37814: Hi, Lori, I know this is your neck of the woods, so thanks for chiming in. We also drove through Sevierville too. That is Dolly Parton's hometown, right?
Not familiar with the Townsend area though. Sounds better. When I go back to this area, we will rent a cabin and just explore the trails. There are hundreds of miles of them.

-Harry Bliss

I haven't listened to this yet, but it looks good:
https://slate.com/podcasts/working/2020/09/charles-finch-literary-criticism

'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

Glad you had such a great trip, and thanks for sharing the photos.

I didn't even know elk had been lost, much less reintroduced at this end of the US. So glad you got to see a herd. Coincidentally, my friend Karen sent me a photo of an elk cow staring at her car while she was doing census work in Big Sky, MT last week.

The female hummingbirds are fattening themselves up for the long migration. The sit and drink and drink and drink.

>190 alphaorder: "I do think something accumulates in you or builds up inside you when you dedicate your life to reading books.” You know I love that quote, Nancy. I will bookmark that link and check it out later. Thanks.

>191 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It was a good trip. Like you, I did not know that elk once roamed the Smokies. I am sure your pal Karen gets the pleasure of seeing elk regularly. I took my hummer feeder down while we were gone and just put it back up. Hope to see them a few more times before they head out for the year.

Welcome back, Mark!

Love the photos. The Freeburg clan is looking good.

We love that Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and have only been in a smidgen of it - it's huge, isn't it.

Any bear sightings? They have a lot there.

I'm glad you had such a great trip. Now, back to work . . . not!

>192 msf59:
so did Buffalo and Bear.

We forget that man has been working on changing the environment in the U.S. since the 1500's.
Thanks for all the photos. I love seeing them. Keeping up with people's trips is one of the things I miss about the Covid Crisis. Nobody is doing much traveling. Including me. I have been 6 months at home and it is no thrill to say that.

>193 jnwelch: Happy Sunday, Joe. It was a good trip. Love them Smokies! No bear sightings, though. There is supposed to be 1500 or so in the park.

Go Bears, right? And Cubs are looking good too!

>194 benitastrnad: Amen, Benita. We have managed to get out quite a bit, in the past 6 weeks, although trying to stay safe is always a constant worry. So far it has worked out. Knock wood...

Started a new book today that you might like - the latest from Max Brooks, the guy who wrote World War Z, called Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre. So far it’s been really fun.

I see you've been leaving a trail of little round brownish birds as you traipse through 75BPY threads. Sounds like you had a great vacation.

>196 drneutron: Hey, Jim. Thanks for the rec. I loved World War Z and have heard nothing about his latest. Sounds refreshingly different.

>197 quondame: Thanks, Susan. We sure did. Hooray for the LBJs!

Mark, my sister-in-law recently recommended Migrations. When I read about it, I thought I would let you know about it. Silly me. Of course, you know about the latest books featuring birds. I’m glad you are able to indulge in your hobby more regularly these days.

>184 msf59: You are in what I think of as my second home -- after the Pacific Northwest. My sister lives in Black Mountain, just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I love love love that part of the world. I'm glad you're having such a terrific post-retirement adventure. I have fond memories of some trail runs in those mountains.

>199 Donna828: Hi, Donna. I am glad you thought of me after the recommendation of Migrations, although I have no idea why. Grins...Any plans on reading it yourself? I think you would like it.

>200 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. We have a shared love of that part of the country. I remember you mentioning Black Mountain before. That is the type of area that would suit me. Away from the hustle and bustle of Asheville. The traffic there is becoming insane. I would love another NC trip, one where I can just hike different places for a week or so.

^Wow! That thirty days flew by. I think I am enjoying this not working thing...

Hey Mark! Isn't every Monday wonderful in Retirement Land! By all appearances it seems you're fitting in very well! Enjoy the Carolina's!

Happy 1 month of retirement, Mark, and happy Monday, too.

Enjoy your solo ramble today.

>202 msf59: Congrats! :)

>202 msf59: Glad to see that retirement agrees with you. The time flying by and lots of activities of your choosing make for a great 'after-work-life' hey?

I am currently frustrated as all get out trying to identify a couple of tiny birds in my oak tree. Nope, I'm not asking for help, just saying this looks to be a new-to-my-backyard irruption.

They flick around so quickly that I can't ID any field markings properly so haven't done anything but eliminate vireos, tree-creepers and (easy), the slightly larger nuthatches. These buff-bellied, grey backed jobs are so difficult.

I used to enjoy the help of an elderly neighbourhood fellow who was a life-long birder. He would come through my front door entry and join me at the kitchen window. We identified a Western Tanager once!! I didn't know at the time that was pretty unusual.

OK. That wasn't a bookish topic, but I thought you'd be interested.

(PS Thanks for complimenting my TKaM review. I was worried someone might be offended by what I chose to quote).

>203 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Hooray for Retirement Land! I like this place. We are back from our Carolina trip. Good times!

>204 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I am skipping the bird ramble today. A massage spot opened up at Sue's work so I went in and got a long overdue session. Ran some errands after, now I am going to chill with the books.

>205 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs. Loving it!

>206 SandyAMcPherson: Hi, Sandy. Good to see you stop by. I always love hearing about bird sightings, even the frustrating ones. Are they dark-eyes juncos? Do they have little black masks? I also thought of bluebirds. Of course, I am not familiar with the exact birds in your location and it is migration season, on top of it. I want to add a Western Tanager to my list, one of these days.

Mark -

Did you see this birdy book post?

https://bookriot.com/books-featuring-birds

Nancy

>209 alphaorder: Ooh, I like that list, Nancy. I remember reading Bird Cottage on your recommendation. Have I go that, right? I have been meaning to read that TTW for awhile now too. Thanks for the reminder.

"Growing up on the Navajo Indian Reservation, David Crow and his siblings idolized their dad. Tall, strong, smart, and brave, the self-taught Cherokee regaled his family with stories of his World War II feats. But as time passed, David discovered the other side of Thurston Crow, the ex-con with his own code of ethics that justified cruelty, violence, lies, and even murder."

The Pale-Faced Lie was an Audible Daily special awhile back and it sounded like the kind of memoir I could sink my teeth into. I started the audio today, while running errands and it is off to a tough, gritty start. Has anyone here, heard of this one, which came out last year?

>211 msf59: - I haven't heard of it, Mark, but it sounds good! Look forward to your thoughts on it.

>211 msf59: Ooohhh, that sounds fascinating. I hope it lives up to its premise.

Welcome home, spend a great week, and read hearty.

>182 msf59: Looks like you had a great time Mark.

>202 msf59: When you find out where time goes, share the secret please.

>212 katiekrug: >213 richardderus: Hi, Katie & RD! The Pale-Faced Lie is off to a good start but I think this will be a very dark read, much like Blood: A Memoir.

>213 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I plan on taking it a little slower this week.

>214 Caroline_McElwee: LOL, Caroline. That is the great mystery, right?

>211 msf59:
Interesting that a Cherokee would be living on a Navajo reservation? Last time I looked at a map those two tribes reservations were close to 1,000 miles apart. How a Cherokee got to a Navajo reservation might be a story in itself.

>216 benitastrnad: The author briefly mentioned it in the opening chapter but didn't really explain why his father, who is Cherokee, is allowed to stay there.

"No one leaves the City anymore, because there is nowhere else to go. But across the country lies the Wilderness State, the last swath of open, protected land left. Here forests and desert plains are inhabited solely by wildlife. People are forbidden. Until now...A debut novel that explores a mother-daughter relationship in a world ravaged by climate change and overpopulation..."

The New Wilderness has made the Booker Shortlist but the timely subject matter and the strong buzz that surrounds the novel, is what got my immediate attention. I dipped into it today and I feel it is going to be another winner.

>218 msf59: The author (I assume that's the author pictured) looks a bit like our Katie.

>219 laytonwoman3rd: ...I think it probably is...her cover is blown!

>219 laytonwoman3rd: >220 richardderus: I swear I thought the same thing. LOL. I was going to mention it to her but didn't want to offend.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Maybe a good description of the beginning of retirement. Looks like it is going well for you, Mark.

It sure is, Meg. Back to local birding tomorrow.

Shut the front door! It hasn't already been a *month* has it?! Wow. Well, at any rate, it looks good on you, friend.

Morning, Amber! Great to see you over here. Yes, this retirement thing has been treating me fine, my friend.

'Morning, Mark, and a happy Tuesday to you. Enjoy your bird ramble.

Hiya, Mark! Have fun with the boids :)

Up with the birds, huh? I'm really not ready for consciousness until after coffee, and having a roommate means I can't bumble around grumbling because no one needs that, so I've trained myself to sleep until 9 (after he's had breakfast & been alive {drat} for a few hours).

I don't like eating my breakfast while the sun is down, and lunch arrives sometime after 11am, so this pattern has the advantage of slicing a meal out of my day painlessly.

See what you have to look forward to? Bird on!

>211 msf59: Sounds like a gritty read, Mark.

>218 msf59: I've not seen anyone reading this on the threads, look forward to hearing what you make of it. I do miss my library's "normal" service for the chance to read books like this one.

>226 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It was a good bird ramble, my friend and a long one to boot.

>227 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Lots of boids today! Always makes me happy. Do you notice anything interesting about the author in #218? Grins...

>228 richardderus: Yep, up with the birds, Richard. Today was earlier than usual. I wondered why I didn't see you on the threads until after 9CT. That explains it perfectly. I do not think I have slept in past 8am in over 20 years.

>229 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. The memoir is off to a satisfying but very gritty start. Nothing worse than abusive parents. Not much time spent with The New Wilderness today but I am enjoying it quite a bit.

^This is from the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, on the Lake Michigan lakefront. These are my birding buddies, Mike & Karen. Karen has a spotting scope strapped to her back. This will be my next acquisition. The Chicago skyline is in the background. We had a good birding day, clocking in 41 species, in 4.5 hours. It was a beautiful morning but it got breezy and cooler as the day went on.

^Man, I would LOVE to see this!!

>232 msf59: - OMG, that is HILARIOUS!!!

>232 msf59: HA!!!

Snagged.

>233 jessibud2: >234 richardderus: I wish that game was being played rather than the scary circus that is being televised right now.

>235 msf59:
I thought it was so disgusting that I turned it off, got ice cream and came into this room to look at my computer. I got lost in reading Wikipedia articles about the events described in the book I just finished. Control of Nature by John McPhee. This is an old book (published in 1991) but it is great reading.

Who watches that Orange Clown and thinks he has anything to offer? It must be the same people who like the bully kid in the "Christmas Story" movie!

>230 msf59: - LOL! I actually saw that last night and meant to comment today and then totally forgot. I'm not offended - she's not hideous or anything, so I'll take it :)

'Morning, Mark, and a very happy Wednesday to you.

It's amazing - go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. It's still mostly dark so can't see any more than a bird flutter here and there in the Crepe Myrtle before sunrise.

>232 msf59: I couldn't bear to watch what I'm reading passed for a debate. I would love to watch this.

>236 benitastrnad: You made the right decision, Benita. I should have shut it off too and opened my book, but it was like a car wreck on the highway...

>237 katiekrug: Nope she is not "hideous" in the least and she is a pretty damn good writer, so all is fine, Katie!

>238 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am sure we all have days like that. I am pretty much, in bed before 10 and up before 6. More sleep than I got when I was working, though. Yep, that Jeopardy game between the two candidates would have been much more entertaining.

I'd have paid money to see *that* Jeopardy show! I did not/could not watch last night. The sound bites we are hearing on our news today are more than enough. When the question comes up of who won, I have to say, I did. I did not waste a minute of my evening listening to the disgraceful behaviour, behaviour I would not allow my 7 year old students display in a classroom, talking over one another, shouting, attacking. Ridiculous. And shameful, from a person in a supposed position of power.

>208 msf59: Hi Mark. Our Oregon juncos fled at the beginning of September. They migrate through our area from the "parklands", a forested belt in the north-central zone.

I couldn't see the eye markings so I can't answer that question about eye character, but definitely, no masked colouring. They've all fled now and in the last 3 days.
We've had gusting high winds and all the oak leaves have turned yellow and are dropping. Autumn has really hit with overnights down near frost and glorious sunny afternoons around 15 to 18 oC.

>232 msf59:

Thank you for this memorable event!

As I wrote to Mr. Welch, Joe Biden should speak to trump again only if Trevor Noah is the Moderator.

>240 jessibud2: I guess I am a glutton for punishment, Shelley, because I watched the entire debate, (stomach churning). I guess I was just interested in how Biden would come across and was somewhat encouraged that he did a decent job, despite the relentless onslaught by the gross incumbent. I will not watch anymore of those, although I may tune in to the Pence/Harris debate.

>241 SandyAMcPherson: Are your Oregon juncos the same as our dark-eyed variety, Sandy? Ours winter here, so we get to enjoy them for a few months.

>242 m.belljackson: That is a fantastic idea, Marianne. I hope Trump will agree to it. B.A.G.

I might watch a Pence/Harris debate. I did not watch the event last night. I like my dinner down, not up.

>245 richardderus: I always considered you a smart cookie, Richard. Like an idiot, I suffered through it.

I've seen some bits and parts of the debate, I already knew I'd not want to see more. But I heard they are considering changing the rules, so maybe they could go for a bit of >232 msf59:?

>247 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. I think all you needed to see were bits and pieces of that terrible debate. Yes, I think we would all like to see Debate Jeopardy, instead!

^"Soras are small, chubby, chickenlike birds with long toes. They have a stubby bill unlike other rails in the United States and Canada, which have longer bills. They frequently hold their short tail cocked up."



^"Wilson’s Snipes are medium-sized, pudgy shorebirds with short, stocky legs. The bill is straight and very long (several times the length of the head). The head is rounded and the tail is short. It is a solitary creature of wet fields and bogs, seldom seen on open mudflats."

^I was able to see and photograph both of these birds yesterday. I have seen them before but these were good looks. Yep, the snipe is a real bird, not make-believe. That long bill is pretty amazing.

>249 msf59: Nice work on those LBJs, Mark. Or at least, I assume they are little? Our bird feeder has been getting lots of action with the cooler weather here. I love to sit and watch them.

'Morning, Mark! Enjoy your bird ramble, good luck on getting a lifer or two.

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

The Pale-Faced Lie looks interesting. I'm glad you're still getting in some audio-reading.

I'm loving The Awkward Black Man. As a short story enthusiast, you might get a kick out of this one.

I hope the Cubs and White Sox come through today.

Enjoy the bird life, brother.

>250 charl08: Hi, Charoltte! We have been seeing some LBJs too but the soras and snipes are a bit bigger. My feeders have been slow but I am glad yours are hopping.

>251 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. No lifers and nothing extraordinary but we discovered a cool new place.

>252 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I am enjoying the memoir but it may be too dark for your tastes. Cubs game was postponed but it looks like the Sox are winning.

>249 msf59: Very nice Mark. Look what beautiful feathers that first bird, with those small white lines outlining them. Good catch, and good pictures.

>254 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I think this sora may be a juvenile. It's colors seem to be muted. I have seen others, with more colorful plummage.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday. Enjoy the books today, endure the mowing.

I was just going to write that I hadn't seen a hummingbird this morning, when one flew in and is having a nice long drink. I expect them to be leaving very soon.

108) Tiny Love: The Complete Stories by Larry Brown 5 stars

“I was smoking my last cigarette in a bar one day, around the middle of the afternoon. I was drinking heavy, too, for several reasons. It was bright and hot outside, and cool and dark inside the bar, so that's one reason I was there. But the main reason I was in there was because my wife left me to go live with somebody else.”

“I loved nature and I felt nature loved me. Why else would they send those fireflies, and doves, and geese that honked like a pack of wild dogs howling down the sky?”

“I didn't know why something that started off feeling so good had to wind up feeling so bad. Love was a big word and it covered a lot of territory. You could spend your whole life chasing after it and wind up with nothing, be an old bitter guy with long nose hair and no teeth, hanging
out in bars looking for somebody your age, but the chance of success went down then. After awhile you got too many strikes against you.”

This was my introduction to Mr. Brown and what a fine place to start. This is all of Brown's stories collected in one volume. Yes, the majority of these southern-based stories involves the consumption of massive amounts of alcohol and the reckless behavior that trails along with it. Somehow, Brown makes it all work and I never tired of flipping the pages, as character after character, lands on his or her face. This are Brown's people and he knows and loves them deeply. Sadly, Brown died early, at age 53 but he sure left a helluva legacy.

Morning Mark.

So glad we were able to "stumble" on this collection. A really excellent read.

>257 msf59: I couldn't possibly agree more, Mark, that in a short life Brown did a long lifetime's work; and, even though one could call it repetitious, it can also (and more fairly IMO) be called a deep and strong dive into his subject of greatest interest.

Friday! Whee, who cares!!

>258 mahsdad: Hey, Jeff. This collection has earned a coveted spot on my "Keeper" shelf. B.A.G.

>259 richardderus: Happy Friday, Richard. I hope you enjoy the Brown collection as much as I did. Have you read any of his novels? If so, what is your favorite?

>261 msf59: Well, there are a lot of them that haven't that I don't like much more than I like DT - or whom I despise only slight less than DT to be more accurate. Effectively repressive POTUSs are to be despised whatever their health.

>260 msf59: I really liked Joe a lot and, now that I've seen the film, I liked it just fine as well.

>261 msf59: I do not mind one little teensy oochkin of a scoche that 45 is COVID-ridden.

>263 richardderus: Yah! I have Joe on shelf! I may bookhorn it in this year.

ETA- Is that the film adaptation with Nicholas Cage?

>264 msf59: It is, and that's one of the more suitable roles I've seen him play. It's included on Prime if you'd care to watch it.

Hi, Mark!

>261 msf59: When I see stuff like this - where his own words are used against him - I just shake my head and think, "Karma."

The trip pics are lovely. I spent time in NC a couple of times - once in the Ashland area and once on the Crystal Coast - and loved it so much I thought of retiring there. It is a beautiful country! Glad you enjoyed your trip!

Wishing you a great weekend, Mark.
Covid continues to make the headlines and I am sure Chump doesn't think it fake news any more!

To amuse our birder, it's only a few seconds...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-54387941

>267 PaulCranswick: - ha!

>268 Caroline_McElwee: - Who needs a microchip when you can just whistle?

Hi, Mark! ;-)

>265 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I have added the film to my Watchlist, although I want to read the novel first. Hopefully before the end of the year.

>266 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. good to see you. Yep, I love the Carolinas, especially North. This is where I would relocate if and when I can.

>267 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Never a dull moment in the good ole' U.S. of A, right? Chump and his minions will put some kind of spin on the this, I am sure. I know conspiracy theories are all ready flitting about.

>268 Caroline_McElwee: That is super cute, Caroline. It put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing.

>269 jessibud2: Happy Saturday, Shelley!

-Eastern Phoebe



-Cooper's Hawk



-Young White-tailed Deer

^Some highlights from last week's bird rambles. Yes, the deer isn't a bird but a very nice surprise.

Hi Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>271 msf59: Nice photos. I was wondering about the third picture – didn’t see wings. *smile*

>271 msf59: Great catches Mark. Are you going to make an album of your bird photos?

I recently got back to making albums, and I really enjoy looking at them. Of course it's also easy to make digital albums and have them printed too now.

>271 msf59: Oh thank god I thought either the universe got replaced by something weirder while I was asleep and now there were deerbirds or you'd flipped your wig and thought there were.

Pretty things, deer. And hawks are always lovely, at least to a non-prey item.

I am happily reading one of the first books I got after I joined LT back in 2008. I am finally reading Lost to the West by Lars Brownworth. I got this book because I had read about Brownworths podcast back in 2008 on the Byzantine Empire. It was listed as one of School Library Journals best web sites for the year. On that same list was a thing called Librarything. The rest is history. Maybe not Lost to the West but still ---- history.

Mark -

I know you already read Migrations, but here is a post featuring three climate novels.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2417050/new-climate-fiction-fall-2020

Nancy

Hi Mark! Hooray! on successfully completing your first month of retirement. I know you'll get even better at it with practice!!

>217 msf59: Anyone can live on Indian reservations without being a member of the specific tribe. On many reservations (maybe all?), the tribe was not allowed to hold the ground in common; instead tribal members were made to choose their small parcels, and then the government sold the "extra" unclaimed lands to others, especially whites. Tribal members living on their specific reservation can access tribal services, take part in the governing and have various privileges that are not enjoyed by non-tribal members.

We lived on the Flathead Reservation in Montana for several years. The northern part of the res includes the really beautiful 40 mile long Flathead Lake. Surprise! almost all the expensive lake property is owned by whites, while the southern part of the res has a higher density of tribal members. XDH was an editor for a small newspaper in the southern part; I worked in a hospital lab in a town on the lake which was predominantly white.

I was noticing yesterday that "my" fawns have all lost their spots. Their newly growing winter coat is coming in solid.

>272 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen and thanks.

>273 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I was not planning on doing an album of my photos but I have definitely been thinking about one of those digital photo displays. That would be neat.

>274 richardderus: Nope, the universe hasn't flip-flopped and there are no deerbirds as far as I know, Richard. Yes, birds are usually my main focus but I love nature of all kind.

>271 msf59: Oh! That Cooper's Hawk! Love all the bird pics, even Bambi with its spots. Very sweet.

>275 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. How did you decide to read that book in particular? In the mood for that subject matter? Lost to the West does sound interesting. You will have to stop back by and let me know what you think.

>276 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Give me a minute to check out the link...

>277 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet and thank you. Retirement has been great. I appreciate your comments about the Indian reservation. It is nice to hear from someone with firsthand knowledge. As you know I find Native American history fascinating.

>275 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. How did you decide to read that book in particular? In the mood for that subject matter? Lost to the West does sound interesting. You will have to stop back by and let me know what you think.

>276 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Thanks for the link. I am currently reading and enjoying The New Wilderness but Ruthie Fear also sounds really interesting. Hey, it could end up being 3 for 3.

>277 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet and thank you. Retirement has been great. I appreciate your comments about the Indian reservation. It is nice to hear from someone with firsthand knowledge. As you know I find Native American history fascinating.

>268 Caroline_McElwee: Oh that's great!

>275 benitastrnad: The Eastern Roman empire was never forgotten as far as I know, though it was disguised under the B word and demonized by western Europeans. I'm never happy to see the B word used for a people who would never have employed such a term for themselves.

Hi Mark, glad that you are enjoying your retirement. The New Wilderness sounds good.

>277 streamsong: thanks for that clarification. Do the tribes ever buy the land back?

>281 msf59: The topic for the Nonfiction Challenge this month is Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. This book is my selection to read for the month. If I finish this one early enough I plan on reading Justinian's Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe by William Rosen.

>283 quondame:
The author addresses that issue on page xiv of the introduction. "'Byzantine,' is a thoroughly modern invention, ... What we call the Byzantine Empire was in fact the eastern half of the Roman Empire and its citizens referred to themselves as Roman from the founding of the Constantinople in 323 to the fall of the city eleven centuries later. For most of that time, the neighbors, allies, and enemies alike saw them in this light; when Mehmed II conquered Constantinople, he took the title of Caesar of Rome, ruling, as he saw it, as the successor of a line that went back to Augustus. Only the scholars of the Enlightenment, preferring to find their roots in Ancient Greece and classical Rome, denied the Eastern Empire the name 'Roman,' branding it instead after Byzantium - the ancient name of Constantinople. The 'real' empire for them had ended in 476 with the abdication of the last western emperor, and the history of the 'imposters' in Constantinople was nothing more than a thousand-year slide into barbarism, corruption, and decay." pg. xiv - introduction Lost to the West by Lars Brownworth

>283 quondame: But he legitimizes the B word by using it in the title instead of "The Forgotten Roman Empire" or something.

>284 banjo123: I sure am, Rhonda. Smooth as butterscotch. I just finished The New Wilderness. A solid read and one I think you will like.

>283 quondame: >285 benitastrnad: I always learn some thing new around here. I wasn't really familiar with the term byzantine or the eastern half of the Roman empire. I am taking notes.

Good morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. Good luck to your Bears.

I always learn things here on LT, too. That's on top of getting great book recommendations and knowing wonderful people.

Morning, Karen. We are going over to Bree's place to watch the Bears game, which got bumped from noon to 330. Yep, lots of joy to be found on LT. B.A.G.

>287 msf59:
I wouldn't say that he "legitimizes" the term. He said that he used it because that is what people would be most likely to know it as. The term has not been officially changed in high places so if you want to sell books you have to give people clues as to what the book is about. The purpose of a subtitle is to clarify and pinpoint exactly what the book or article is about and that is what the author was trying to do with that term. For the majority of people in Western European culture (the dominate culture in the U.S.) the known term would be Byzantine. That is not correct and I am sure that the term will change over time. The new term, whatever it turns out to be, will be one of those thesaurus notes with a "Used For" tag at the end of the entry.

As a librarian I am well aware of the fact that terms change over time. I often find myself explaining this to researchers who can't find anything on ... (fill in the blank). In fact I worked with a person on Friday who couldn't find anything in our Indexes about "Mentoring" in schools. The correct term is Mentors. The thesaurus clearly states that the correct term is mentors. It gives the definition of mentors and then a full list of related terms. At the end of the entry in the thesaurus is a note that says to use Mentors for Mentoring.

As the child of Eastern European immigrants I have long lamented the fact that if history isn't French, British, or German it isn't taught, written, or discussed very much in the U.S. Brownworth started out as a high school history teacher and tried to open up all kinds of history to his students. Along the way he became fascinated with the history of the Eastern Roman Empire and found that it had great relevance to current events, such as the wars in the Balkans. (this was in the 1990's). This book is his attempt to get high school teachers to broaden their horizons regarding ancient history and its relevance to the world of today. Like all researchers, in his introduction, he took the time to explain why he wrote this book the way that he did. His introduction is his apologietic for his argument. Like all readers of research, there is an obligation for the reader to read the apologetic and take that into consideration as they read the rest of the research.

Clearly, Brownworth doesn't think that the term Byzantine is the best term. He does make the case that it is the most common term and has told us why it is expedient that he use it for this book. It is also clear that he hopes that will change in the future.