Here's a picture of those of us who went to Highland Elementary School together. Some of us were in the same Brownie troop (we met in Debbie Springer's basement, her mother was troop leader). Someone could have told me my hair makes me look as if I just came out of a birth canal. Anyway, I like this picture. These people have known me longer than anyone except my family and I think that's really cool.
We moved 6 times before I was in 3rd grade and it made me feel geographically transitory for the rest of my life. Hawkeye is the only geographical stability my siblings and I had. That was really important to my brother. And me.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Last supper
We're trying to eat most of the food left in the house tonight but we can't even come close. We have leftovers from the restaurant last night, plus food the Midwestern contingent brought. There is the equivalent of a small grocery store still here and they're spending a lot of time trying to figure out who will take what home. Luckily those of us flying home have nothing to do with these discussions.
Still very hot and humid, blazing sun today. I got up at 5:45 this morning, plugged in the coffee pots and waited for everyone else to get up. We spent the day in Madison, first going to the broadcast of an NPR show (What d'ya know?). We got to be on the air (listen for the broadcast where he crashes Rockford and introduces the Potluckers one by one--I'm Betsy Rogers, of course). After that we walked to the farmers' market, through broiling streets, then went to a great restaurant/brew pub and had lots of great beer and food. Long hot walk to the cars, then drove around the UW campus, which made us all wish either we or our children would go there. Got ice cream at the student union (like the Univ.of Vermont, UW's ag people make their own ice cream). Some of us sat by the lake but most thought it was too smelly. Well yes, it was, but there were nice ducks there and I miss the water.
Long tiring ride home. Everyone faded and tired but we've all perked up. Now eating leftovers and drinking various combinations of vodka, cranberry juice, ice, etc. Cosmos, etc. Lots of conversations taking place in several places, such a companionable thing.
Friday, July 18, 2008
DROP 2
Field trip #2 for today works out well because there are 14 of us so we fit in 2 vehicles. Our morning trip was complicated because we had to put 8 in each van. We went birdwatching (with a guide, of course) in the John Muir woods. J.M. was from Wisconsin and those who know that are very proud. We saw several kinds of birds, the most exciting of which for me was a yellowthroat. That was my first one. Others I'd seen before but we also saw several sandhill cranes, one pretty close up so that was cool. Mostly I spent time identifying wildflowers, which I liked because they are prairie flowers, some are different from ours, but they're all open field flowers. I found one plant I absolutely cannot identify so I took lots of pictures and the search is on.
Yesterday we spent lots of time hanging around the house. Kathy, the organizer of these trips, decided we should play indoor badminton, so she rearranged the living room furniture and we did that for a while. Didn't break anything and had plenty of fun. Last night we watched the director's cut of Woodstock, lots of our old music. I looked through the entire yearbook from our senior year. Yes, my old boyfriend really was a cute as I remember. I found the whole thing sort of sad, which surprised me. We're talking about going to our 40th reunion, which is in 2 years. Interesting thought, and wouldn't be bad as long as enough of us went.
The nearest town is Oxford, pop. 350. Tonight in the corner bar there's a Coyote Ugly contest. We're going to a supper club, though, so no dice. Here in the Midwest there are supper clubs--restaurants with big appetizer tables, relaxed atmosphere like a family place. There was one in the North Country that Jamie and I used to go to a lot, then Ralph, Lin and I went to every Friday night. It closed but I think has reopened. It's called the North Country Club--see? a supper club.
Still hot, humid and buggy here. Lots of hungry mosquitos. This afternoon we might go on a Duck ride. Ducks are amphibious vehicles (the kind used in WWII for landing the troops on the shore) and they give you rides around the Dells. The Wisconsin Dells are a series of sandstone chasms through water. It would be great to see sandstone walls again--that's one thing you absolutely do not see in the Northeast, nor is there much limestone.
On to the next stop
Field trip #2 for today works out well because there are 14 of us so we fit in 2 vehicles. Our morning trip was complicated because we had to put 8 in each van. We went birdwatching (with a guide, of course) in the John Muir woods. J.M. was from Wisconsin and those who know that are very proud. We saw several kinds of birds, the most exciting of which for me was a yellowthroat. That was my first one. Others I'd seen before but we also saw several sandhill cranes, one pretty close up so that was cool. Mostly I spent time identifying wildflowers, which I liked because they are prairie flowers, some are different from ours, but they're all open field flowers. I found one plant I absolutely cannot identify so I took lots of pictures and the search is on.
Yesterday we spent lots of time hanging around the house. Kathy, the organizer of these trips, decided we should play indoor badminton, so she rearranged the living room furniture and we did that for a while. Didn't break anything and had plenty of fun. Last night we watched the director's cut of Woodstock, lots of our old music. I looked through the entire yearbook from our senior year. Yes, my old boyfriend really was a cute as I remember. I found the whole thing sort of sad, which surprised me. We're talking about going to our 40th reunion, which is in 2 years. Interesting thought, and wouldn't be bad as long as enough of us went.
The nearest town is Oxford, pop. 350. Tonight in the corner bar there's a Coyote Ugly contest. We're going to a supper club, though, so no dice. Here in the Midwest there are supper clubs--restaurants with big appetizer tables, relaxed atmosphere like a family place. There was one in the North Country that Jamie and I used to go to a lot, then Ralph, Lin and I went to every Friday night. It closed but I think has reopened. It's called the North Country Club--see? a supper club.
Still hot, humid and buggy here. Lots of hungry mosquitos. This afternoon we might go on a Duck ride. Ducks are amphibious vehicles (the kind used in WWII for landing the troops on the shore) and they give you rides around the Dells. The Wisconsin Dells are a series of sandstone chasms through water. It would be great to see sandstone walls again--that's one thing you absolutely do not see in the Northeast, nor is there much limestone.
On to the next stop
Thursday, July 17, 2008
AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND
Here I am, with 16 of my closest friends, nestled in the woods of Wisconsin. Last night there were 17 of us here, one is leaving now to take her kids and horses to St. Louis to compete. These are my friends from elementary school, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Jr.High & Sr High school. This is only the 3rd time I've been a member of this reunion group--they gathered twice before I joined them. The first gathering was for our 40th birthdays, then it was every 5 years but now it's more often. We just decided we'd get together in 2 years at Lake Tahoe, then for our 60th birthdays we'd rent a villa in Tuscany. Since we've been talking about Tuscany for a while, this may actually happen.
We all grew up in Rockford (Ill.) together, so when we get together we all become totally Midwestern. We've got 2 living in Calif., 1 in Montana, 1 in Ohio, 1 in Va., me in the Adks., 2 in Wisc., several in Ill. and maybe some I've forgotten. I always forget how much I have in common with these women and how nice it is to visit with them. There are always several conversations going on, with a couple of us off in private. I've been reading my book group book a little, joining in conversations some, taking pictures, enjoying the whole thing. We went on a walk this morning but it's sooooo hot & humid (soooo Midwestern). Lots of mosquitoes, too. Two of us headed back early and saw a doe & 2 fawns, very nice.
We're staying in a huge log lodge, which supposedly cost $1.5 million to build. It's not that attractive, just too big with too many huge pine beams, but it accommodates us well. Hysterically funny and complicated showers with side jets and steam. Kathy, our leader, gave strict instructions that everyone was to have to figure out how to use it alone: no hints or instructions from those who knew how.
Tomorrow morning we're going on a bird hike. This morning one of us demonstrated hula hooping as exercise, in front of a video. We haven't warmed up the hot tub yet. Last night we drank a WHOLE lot of vodka and beer (not together) but we're old and go to bed pretty early. I'm sleeping on the top bunk--shades of college.
Uh--oh, cocktail time. Bonnie keeps asking for bloody Marys, but that's only because we have no tomato juice and she says she doesn't want to succumb to peer pressure and have to drink.
Here I am, with 16 of my closest friends, nestled in the woods of Wisconsin. Last night there were 17 of us here, one is leaving now to take her kids and horses to St. Louis to compete. These are my friends from elementary school, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Jr.High & Sr High school. This is only the 3rd time I've been a member of this reunion group--they gathered twice before I joined them. The first gathering was for our 40th birthdays, then it was every 5 years but now it's more often. We just decided we'd get together in 2 years at Lake Tahoe, then for our 60th birthdays we'd rent a villa in Tuscany. Since we've been talking about Tuscany for a while, this may actually happen.
We all grew up in Rockford (Ill.) together, so when we get together we all become totally Midwestern. We've got 2 living in Calif., 1 in Montana, 1 in Ohio, 1 in Va., me in the Adks., 2 in Wisc., several in Ill. and maybe some I've forgotten. I always forget how much I have in common with these women and how nice it is to visit with them. There are always several conversations going on, with a couple of us off in private. I've been reading my book group book a little, joining in conversations some, taking pictures, enjoying the whole thing. We went on a walk this morning but it's sooooo hot & humid (soooo Midwestern). Lots of mosquitoes, too. Two of us headed back early and saw a doe & 2 fawns, very nice.
We're staying in a huge log lodge, which supposedly cost $1.5 million to build. It's not that attractive, just too big with too many huge pine beams, but it accommodates us well. Hysterically funny and complicated showers with side jets and steam. Kathy, our leader, gave strict instructions that everyone was to have to figure out how to use it alone: no hints or instructions from those who knew how.
Tomorrow morning we're going on a bird hike. This morning one of us demonstrated hula hooping as exercise, in front of a video. We haven't warmed up the hot tub yet. Last night we drank a WHOLE lot of vodka and beer (not together) but we're old and go to bed pretty early. I'm sleeping on the top bunk--shades of college.
Uh--oh, cocktail time. Bonnie keeps asking for bloody Marys, but that's only because we have no tomato juice and she says she doesn't want to succumb to peer pressure and have to drink.
Monday, July 14, 2008
july dock 028
july dock 028
Originally uploaded by woodsrun
There is a loon family on the lake--a mom, dad and fuzzy baby. A few of us have been watching them for a while. First we worried that a pike would snap up the baby, then that an osprey would, now that an eagle might. Have to worry about something, I guess.
favorite sight
For some reason I love this view. Looking down the lake from the boat house. It's funny that I like this, since what you see are other camps. I just like the way the boughs of the hemlock tree grace the view. Hemlocks are feathery and are one of my favorite trees.
Life on the lake is pretty good these days. Our camp is empty, after some cousins' week-long visit after the 4th of July, and a work weekend before that. I've been staying in the boat house a lot. It's been hot and humid, and I stay there when night temps are around 60 (is it because I'm a cataloger that I tend to live my life by absolutes?). That means I've been there a lot lately, but then the temps dipped into the 40's and I made the cat happy by staying at home.
There's a fair amount of boat traffic, especially on Saturdays. It was a wonderful dock day on Sat. I stayed home all morning because Bill's Boyz were stacking my firewood and I feel I should keep them company (they don't need to be supervised at this point). I got some gardening done, too. I got to read on the dock most of the afternoon while Jenica was here. Great stuff! Except that I was reading a preview copy of The history of the donut. My review is due today. The book was getting better, but it's awfully repetitive. There's not that much to say about the history of fried dough with a hole in the middle.
It was a busy weekend. Sat. afternoon we had a meeting of our shoreowners' association (called Hawkeye Conservationists--it started out as an organization fighting an extreme development planned in the '70s, now is just sort of a social thing) We do water testing, invasive species testing, a newsletter (that Linda and I do), we have a big treasury, we sound the alarm when someone threatens to break the rules big time. We used to sponsor sailing races, which were great. Anyway, we had our meeting with very few attendees but it was good anyway.
Last night there was a cocktail party at one of the new camps, held to what? maybe recruit new members? of the Adirondack Council, a big and very wealthy conservation organization. The Council has been a big help to us in recent times, paying for legal help in one case. It was a nice gathering, even when an hour after it started Jamie and Mrs. Jamie arrived. People from the Council had grilled me when I arrived about my connection to Jamie, then I found out why. A couple of the employees were sort of nervous. After the speeches, during the mingling I whispered to Jamie that we had to pretend we were friends to make everyone happy.
Later (after about 2/3 of a bottle of wine --yes, I know, I shouldn't drink very much) I talked to him--the turd monkey has never initiated a conversation with me--and he was pleased and his old self, like his 30 year old self. He remembers every detail of my house, which seems sort of sad but may come in handy.
Day after tomorrow I'm off to Wisconsin to reune with my high/junior high school friends. We do this every few years. There are about 14-15 of us (one year there were 18). We've all been emailing like crazy I'm looking forward to seeing them all.
Life on the lake is pretty good these days. Our camp is empty, after some cousins' week-long visit after the 4th of July, and a work weekend before that. I've been staying in the boat house a lot. It's been hot and humid, and I stay there when night temps are around 60 (is it because I'm a cataloger that I tend to live my life by absolutes?). That means I've been there a lot lately, but then the temps dipped into the 40's and I made the cat happy by staying at home.
There's a fair amount of boat traffic, especially on Saturdays. It was a wonderful dock day on Sat. I stayed home all morning because Bill's Boyz were stacking my firewood and I feel I should keep them company (they don't need to be supervised at this point). I got some gardening done, too. I got to read on the dock most of the afternoon while Jenica was here. Great stuff! Except that I was reading a preview copy of The history of the donut. My review is due today. The book was getting better, but it's awfully repetitive. There's not that much to say about the history of fried dough with a hole in the middle.
It was a busy weekend. Sat. afternoon we had a meeting of our shoreowners' association (called Hawkeye Conservationists--it started out as an organization fighting an extreme development planned in the '70s, now is just sort of a social thing) We do water testing, invasive species testing, a newsletter (that Linda and I do), we have a big treasury, we sound the alarm when someone threatens to break the rules big time. We used to sponsor sailing races, which were great. Anyway, we had our meeting with very few attendees but it was good anyway.
Last night there was a cocktail party at one of the new camps, held to what? maybe recruit new members? of the Adirondack Council, a big and very wealthy conservation organization. The Council has been a big help to us in recent times, paying for legal help in one case. It was a nice gathering, even when an hour after it started Jamie and Mrs. Jamie arrived. People from the Council had grilled me when I arrived about my connection to Jamie, then I found out why. A couple of the employees were sort of nervous. After the speeches, during the mingling I whispered to Jamie that we had to pretend we were friends to make everyone happy.
Later (after about 2/3 of a bottle of wine --yes, I know, I shouldn't drink very much) I talked to him--the turd monkey has never initiated a conversation with me--and he was pleased and his old self, like his 30 year old self. He remembers every detail of my house, which seems sort of sad but may come in handy.
Day after tomorrow I'm off to Wisconsin to reune with my high/junior high school friends. We do this every few years. There are about 14-15 of us (one year there were 18). We've all been emailing like crazy I'm looking forward to seeing them all.
as always
It never really changes--Silver Lake Mtn from the boat house at sunrise. Always pretty, always dramatic. Rearrange the clouds, move the sun around.
Prettiest girl
Is there are prettier site? Chances likes to pose alone on the end of the dock. As well she should.
When I took another test my sister posted I turned out to be the BULLY. Insecure, the kind of person who steals kids' lunch money. How discouraging. I much prefer this one--
I am NOT the quiet type, however. Everyone knows that. I'm only 33% intelligent?
Humility
Humility is your strongest virtue. You are humble.
Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. And you? When you do the right thing, you're doing it for all the right reasons. All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your humility runs deepest.
It is likely you're a quiet type. But if not, then you just have dark, secret side that loves to give.
Humble famous people: JD Salinger, Isaac Newton, Harry Potter (pre-puberty)
Your raw relative scores follow. 0% is low, and 100% is perfect, nearly impossible. Note that I pitted the virtues against each other, so in some way these are relative scores. It's impossible to score high on all of them, and a low score on one is just relatively low compared to the other virtues.
YOUR VIRTUES
40% Compassion
33% Intelligence
63% Humility
56% Honesty
13% Discipline
43% Courage
25% Passion
+ 'Quickly! Before the monkeys come: Take The Best Thing About You Test'
I am NOT the quiet type, however. Everyone knows that. I'm only 33% intelligent?
Humility
Humility is your strongest virtue. You are humble.
Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. And you? When you do the right thing, you're doing it for all the right reasons. All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your humility runs deepest.
It is likely you're a quiet type. But if not, then you just have dark, secret side that loves to give.
Humble famous people: JD Salinger, Isaac Newton, Harry Potter (pre-puberty)
Your raw relative scores follow. 0% is low, and 100% is perfect, nearly impossible. Note that I pitted the virtues against each other, so in some way these are relative scores. It's impossible to score high on all of them, and a low score on one is just relatively low compared to the other virtues.
YOUR VIRTUES
40% Compassion
33% Intelligence
63% Humility
56% Honesty
13% Discipline
43% Courage
25% Passion
+ 'Quickly! Before the monkeys come: Take The Best Thing About You Test'
Friday, June 20, 2008
LCT
A few weeks ago I went to Burlington (VT) for doctors' visits. From Plattsburgh you take a ferry across Lake Champlain. At this crossing they run 3 ferries during the day, down to 1 at night. The ferry runs 24 hrs. a day, 365 days a year. Winter crossings are cool because the boat makes a channel through the ice and the channel closes behind the boat. The ice makes a bump bump bump noise as it hits the hull. I love it but it scares some people. Sometimes the lake is so rough that waves splash high enough to wash over the cars.
I took the scariest ride ever one March with Julie. The boat couldn't go straight across because of the wind and waves so we went way up the lake. When we got to the other side my car was encased in ice. Right after we came home they stopped running the ferry. I thought the Coast Guard was going to have to rescue us. It was totally scary. Only once that I remember has a ferry sunk, and only cars were lost, no people. That was at least 30 years ago.
I took the scariest ride ever one March with Julie. The boat couldn't go straight across because of the wind and waves so we went way up the lake. When we got to the other side my car was encased in ice. Right after we came home they stopped running the ferry. I thought the Coast Guard was going to have to rescue us. It was totally scary. Only once that I remember has a ferry sunk, and only cars were lost, no people. That was at least 30 years ago.
Who'll stack this?
Here's the firewood I bought the other day. It's 4 cords, cost $280. We used to pay $35/cord, now we pay $70. Supply and demand--the American way.
lonely blossoms
This is all that's in bloom in my yard right now. Lemon lilies that I stole from a camp down the road.
Plant cruelty
You can see why Fred has founded the Silver Lake Society for Plant Protection. He and I feel strongly that you should never be cruel to plants. Apparently I don't feel as strongly about it as he does. I took this picture earlier this week, though, and last night I spent a long time planting annuals. Almost all of them, in fact. Now I have a bunch of perennials, which are harder because you have to find them a permanent home. I also have more annuals, but they will go in the ground.
I fall for the same thing every year--high hopes that THIS year will be the one I'll be a good gardener, a conscientious one who plants things as soon as she gets them home. Being a cataloger, though, seems to mean that I have to have them all together in one place before I decide what to do with each one. Must see them as a group before dealing with individual ones.
I fall for the same thing every year--high hopes that THIS year will be the one I'll be a good gardener, a conscientious one who plants things as soon as she gets them home. Being a cataloger, though, seems to mean that I have to have them all together in one place before I decide what to do with each one. Must see them as a group before dealing with individual ones.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Who's weather is this?
It's been hot and humid--Midwesterly hot and humid--for about 10 days here. This is so atypical and unwelcome. A couple of days, sure, but for this long? Just not right. Last week the black flies were so thick you really couldn't do any outdoor chores without appropriate coverage. I have a great bug shirt--fine mesh, long sleeves with elastic at cuffs and waist, with a hood. It's not comfortable, but I can plant, mow, function outside for short periods of time. Too hot in it to stay out long, plus you have to wear long pants. Anyway I mowed my lawn last week, and kept on going to the side part that I'd decided was too much work to mow. Wow it looks great.
Black fly season has ended but mosquitoes are fierce. I like to keep the door open at night but just can't. Dogs have a great time when I get home from work because they go in & out, in & out. Cat does too. We have a good life at Woods Run. Yes, in our neighborhood we name our houses and camps. Linda's is Trail's End. Fred's is Pinewood. Bill has The Owl and Morningside (he has two). Neighbors have Rappahannock Lodge. And Cammoosie (which makes me laugh because that's what we called out outhouses, saying it meant "little house in the woods")--we think those people are sort of jerks, they have solar lights lining both sides of their driveway so it looks like a landing strip at night. Very un-camp like. And on it goes.
Today I go to West Chazy, one of our smallest libraries. Really tiny. I'm weeding their adult non-fiction. Two trips of 2 hours each and it's done. A surprisingly good collection, built mostly from donations because they hardly have a book budget. The board recently agreed on a $200/month book budget, not bad for some of our libraries. That's adult & juvenile.
Tomorrow it's Saranac Lake again. I'm making progress on the collection--have worked up to the N's, but the S's will take a long time (Robert Louis Stevenson).
I have my big booger goldfish on the shelf above my desk. I brought him back from RI at Easter--he was bullying the other fish in Liza & Mark's tank, had grown much bigger so they were happy to get rid of him. He's big, more than 4", and in a small tank. He goes back & forth, up & down all day. When I get stuck or bored I stare at him. Do I feel cruel, keeping him in such a small tank? yes, pretty much. But that's all I really have room for. He's waiting for me every morning when the lights come on, in the corner where I feed him. I don't think he's a very nice fish, and I don't think he appreciates the nice life he has here.
Must catalog DVD of The return of Rin Tin Tin and graphic novel Diary of a wimpy kid. I hate graphic novels. Whose idea were they? Oh yeah, blame the Japanese.
It's been hot and humid--Midwesterly hot and humid--for about 10 days here. This is so atypical and unwelcome. A couple of days, sure, but for this long? Just not right. Last week the black flies were so thick you really couldn't do any outdoor chores without appropriate coverage. I have a great bug shirt--fine mesh, long sleeves with elastic at cuffs and waist, with a hood. It's not comfortable, but I can plant, mow, function outside for short periods of time. Too hot in it to stay out long, plus you have to wear long pants. Anyway I mowed my lawn last week, and kept on going to the side part that I'd decided was too much work to mow. Wow it looks great.
Black fly season has ended but mosquitoes are fierce. I like to keep the door open at night but just can't. Dogs have a great time when I get home from work because they go in & out, in & out. Cat does too. We have a good life at Woods Run. Yes, in our neighborhood we name our houses and camps. Linda's is Trail's End. Fred's is Pinewood. Bill has The Owl and Morningside (he has two). Neighbors have Rappahannock Lodge. And Cammoosie (which makes me laugh because that's what we called out outhouses, saying it meant "little house in the woods")--we think those people are sort of jerks, they have solar lights lining both sides of their driveway so it looks like a landing strip at night. Very un-camp like. And on it goes.
Today I go to West Chazy, one of our smallest libraries. Really tiny. I'm weeding their adult non-fiction. Two trips of 2 hours each and it's done. A surprisingly good collection, built mostly from donations because they hardly have a book budget. The board recently agreed on a $200/month book budget, not bad for some of our libraries. That's adult & juvenile.
Tomorrow it's Saranac Lake again. I'm making progress on the collection--have worked up to the N's, but the S's will take a long time (Robert Louis Stevenson).
I have my big booger goldfish on the shelf above my desk. I brought him back from RI at Easter--he was bullying the other fish in Liza & Mark's tank, had grown much bigger so they were happy to get rid of him. He's big, more than 4", and in a small tank. He goes back & forth, up & down all day. When I get stuck or bored I stare at him. Do I feel cruel, keeping him in such a small tank? yes, pretty much. But that's all I really have room for. He's waiting for me every morning when the lights come on, in the corner where I feed him. I don't think he's a very nice fish, and I don't think he appreciates the nice life he has here.
Must catalog DVD of The return of Rin Tin Tin and graphic novel Diary of a wimpy kid. I hate graphic novels. Whose idea were they? Oh yeah, blame the Japanese.
Friday, June 13, 2008
At last!
Hey--where've I been? Nowhere, really, just busy. I spend one day a week in Saranac Lake so my days at CEF are full of more cataloging and book selection, etc. My time in Saranac Lake is getting to be very nice. I used to sort of dread it--hated to leave my regular work behind. Now I look forward to seeing Michele, to cataloging the stuff there, to our little lunch club. The stuff I catalog runs the gamut, sometimes NYS Museum bulletins about the geology of specific quadrangles (blech), lots of times reminiscences of tuberculosis patients (vaguely interesting), sometimes family histories (full of tributes to ancestors), some biographies of famous people who have a connection to Saranac Lake. I finally figured out Bela Bartok's connection--he composed several works while staying in a cottage on the lake there. Anyway it's peaceful, stimulating and entertaining work. Michele and I have worked out a good arrangement--we talk just enough, not too much but enough to keep each other company and awake.
The bugs are especially bad this year--black flies are voracious and plentiful. No-see-ums especially fecund. Mosquitoes are everywhere. Bats are dying like crazy, from some disease they can't figure out, so there's speculation that bugs have no predators. I think it's just one of those years, and we've been lucky for the past several years. The no-see-ums are so bad that, sitting in my living room at night they're all over me and I even have phantom bugs biting me. There's one! No, nothing there. Aha! got one. yes, that was one. On and on.
We had a horrible hot spell that kept me inside and inactive but it finally cooled off. I spent most of my time at Linda's--she's here for the summer, newly retired. We're seeing each other just about every day, and talk on the phone when we don't see each other. Fred joins us most evenings. He's started his new job as college president so the 3 of us talk about our days. Very companionable. Bill's been around a lot so it's really pleasant. Last night Linda "encouraged" me to leave early and I was motivated enough to mow the lawn and plant some flowers. Fred says the Silver Lake Society for Plant Protection is watching me closely to make sure I take good care of the dozens of plants I bought and must get in the ground. He and I have the same feeling, that plants shouldn't be neglected and it's awful to see them suffer. Apparently I don't have the same intensity of feeling that he does, though, since my plants continue to sit in their 6-packs and pots, miserably waiting for attention. Bad, bad me. I'll do work on them this weekend. yes.
Firewood delivery tonight. Must be home by 6. This morning I spent 10 minutes staring into space, reliving the year after I graduated from college (some good memories, some bad) so I didn't leave as early as usual. Luckily I was home to answer the phone when Lee called to tell me he'd be there at 6 with the wood. Sometimes he just shows up, but tonight is a Ken night, then probably a follow-up trip to Linda's, so I wouldn't haven been home.
Spent some time in the boat house, got to spend the night there once. It has to be around 60 at night for me to stay there--any colder and I suffer. It was almost 70 that night and hot. I spent that evening and most of the next day on the porch reading. What a luxury. I'd hoped to stay there this weekend but the butthole husband of the butthole cousin is supposed to be in camp so I'm self-banished from there. He screams at my dogs and kicks them. But he screams at everything, he has to be the center of attention at all times. (guess what? spellcheck doesn't include butthole). The idea of walking my dogs on leashes around the boat house makes me think it's probably not worth it. My bedroom sticks out into the forest and there's usually a nice cold breeze from the woods so it's not too bad. I have to leave the door open to generate a breeze, though, which Tess loves. She pushes the front door open and goes outside, then barks forever until I get up to let her in. High sport. The idea of being outside during the night gives her a real thrill. In Rockford when we were kids there was a curfew for kids, 10:00 I think. We were always afraid the police actually patrolled the streets, looking for kids out past curfew. Once Molly and I got up really early, before curfew was lifted (or so we thought), climbed out of our windows and walked around the neighborhood. We were young and brave.
I just finished writing a review for Library Journal. For some reason they've decided I should review cookbooks and memoirs of cooks that have recipes in them. Anyway, this one is called Cuisines of the Axis of Evil. I had such a hard time writing this review because I wasn't too crazy about the book--but the recipes seemed pretty good. The guy writes all this stuff about the politics, history and culture of 10 evil countries (including the US), then describes their food, then writes recipes for a dinner for 8. I guess you're supposed to educate yourself so you can bore 7 friends telling them how imperialistic America has been and how evil Israel is. The book is amazingly biased. Anyway I wrote a crummy review. I've done better.
Haven't been swimming yet--no docks. Almost went last weekend, it would have felt so good. The water is cold but not unbearable. Hard to get in from the rocky shore. Especially at my age and lack of limberness. I fall a lot when I'm getting in and out. Never get hurt, just end up in the water. The dogs have been having a great time swimming.
I read David Guterson's new book. He wrote Snow Falling on Cedars, which was excellent. The new one is The Other. It's really good, just as I expected. Today I was talking books with a member director--we agreed that Lonesome Dove is one of the best books ever written and that The Kite Runner was fantastic. She said I must, must read The Book Thief. Then she said Death is the narrator. I moaned but she insisted it was one of the best books she's read. OK, maybe I'll bring it up at the next meeting of our book group. Last month we read Emma and none of us could stand it. Only M'lou finished it, brave soul. So what is the big deal about Jane Austen, anyway? I really couldn't stand reading her. Is this a fundamental character flaw? Have I missed the critical period in my life when I would have enjoyed reading her?
Must wrap things up so I can get out of here posthaste. Hardware store for bolt to fix wheelbarrow. Liquor store for wine for Sunday dinner. Grocery store for soy milk, milk for yogurt and apples. Will I really limit myself to that? A test of willpower. I will not pass.
Hey--where've I been? Nowhere, really, just busy. I spend one day a week in Saranac Lake so my days at CEF are full of more cataloging and book selection, etc. My time in Saranac Lake is getting to be very nice. I used to sort of dread it--hated to leave my regular work behind. Now I look forward to seeing Michele, to cataloging the stuff there, to our little lunch club. The stuff I catalog runs the gamut, sometimes NYS Museum bulletins about the geology of specific quadrangles (blech), lots of times reminiscences of tuberculosis patients (vaguely interesting), sometimes family histories (full of tributes to ancestors), some biographies of famous people who have a connection to Saranac Lake. I finally figured out Bela Bartok's connection--he composed several works while staying in a cottage on the lake there. Anyway it's peaceful, stimulating and entertaining work. Michele and I have worked out a good arrangement--we talk just enough, not too much but enough to keep each other company and awake.
The bugs are especially bad this year--black flies are voracious and plentiful. No-see-ums especially fecund. Mosquitoes are everywhere. Bats are dying like crazy, from some disease they can't figure out, so there's speculation that bugs have no predators. I think it's just one of those years, and we've been lucky for the past several years. The no-see-ums are so bad that, sitting in my living room at night they're all over me and I even have phantom bugs biting me. There's one! No, nothing there. Aha! got one. yes, that was one. On and on.
We had a horrible hot spell that kept me inside and inactive but it finally cooled off. I spent most of my time at Linda's--she's here for the summer, newly retired. We're seeing each other just about every day, and talk on the phone when we don't see each other. Fred joins us most evenings. He's started his new job as college president so the 3 of us talk about our days. Very companionable. Bill's been around a lot so it's really pleasant. Last night Linda "encouraged" me to leave early and I was motivated enough to mow the lawn and plant some flowers. Fred says the Silver Lake Society for Plant Protection is watching me closely to make sure I take good care of the dozens of plants I bought and must get in the ground. He and I have the same feeling, that plants shouldn't be neglected and it's awful to see them suffer. Apparently I don't have the same intensity of feeling that he does, though, since my plants continue to sit in their 6-packs and pots, miserably waiting for attention. Bad, bad me. I'll do work on them this weekend. yes.
Firewood delivery tonight. Must be home by 6. This morning I spent 10 minutes staring into space, reliving the year after I graduated from college (some good memories, some bad) so I didn't leave as early as usual. Luckily I was home to answer the phone when Lee called to tell me he'd be there at 6 with the wood. Sometimes he just shows up, but tonight is a Ken night, then probably a follow-up trip to Linda's, so I wouldn't haven been home.
Spent some time in the boat house, got to spend the night there once. It has to be around 60 at night for me to stay there--any colder and I suffer. It was almost 70 that night and hot. I spent that evening and most of the next day on the porch reading. What a luxury. I'd hoped to stay there this weekend but the butthole husband of the butthole cousin is supposed to be in camp so I'm self-banished from there. He screams at my dogs and kicks them. But he screams at everything, he has to be the center of attention at all times. (guess what? spellcheck doesn't include butthole). The idea of walking my dogs on leashes around the boat house makes me think it's probably not worth it. My bedroom sticks out into the forest and there's usually a nice cold breeze from the woods so it's not too bad. I have to leave the door open to generate a breeze, though, which Tess loves. She pushes the front door open and goes outside, then barks forever until I get up to let her in. High sport. The idea of being outside during the night gives her a real thrill. In Rockford when we were kids there was a curfew for kids, 10:00 I think. We were always afraid the police actually patrolled the streets, looking for kids out past curfew. Once Molly and I got up really early, before curfew was lifted (or so we thought), climbed out of our windows and walked around the neighborhood. We were young and brave.
I just finished writing a review for Library Journal. For some reason they've decided I should review cookbooks and memoirs of cooks that have recipes in them. Anyway, this one is called Cuisines of the Axis of Evil. I had such a hard time writing this review because I wasn't too crazy about the book--but the recipes seemed pretty good. The guy writes all this stuff about the politics, history and culture of 10 evil countries (including the US), then describes their food, then writes recipes for a dinner for 8. I guess you're supposed to educate yourself so you can bore 7 friends telling them how imperialistic America has been and how evil Israel is. The book is amazingly biased. Anyway I wrote a crummy review. I've done better.
Haven't been swimming yet--no docks. Almost went last weekend, it would have felt so good. The water is cold but not unbearable. Hard to get in from the rocky shore. Especially at my age and lack of limberness. I fall a lot when I'm getting in and out. Never get hurt, just end up in the water. The dogs have been having a great time swimming.
I read David Guterson's new book. He wrote Snow Falling on Cedars, which was excellent. The new one is The Other. It's really good, just as I expected. Today I was talking books with a member director--we agreed that Lonesome Dove is one of the best books ever written and that The Kite Runner was fantastic. She said I must, must read The Book Thief. Then she said Death is the narrator. I moaned but she insisted it was one of the best books she's read. OK, maybe I'll bring it up at the next meeting of our book group. Last month we read Emma and none of us could stand it. Only M'lou finished it, brave soul. So what is the big deal about Jane Austen, anyway? I really couldn't stand reading her. Is this a fundamental character flaw? Have I missed the critical period in my life when I would have enjoyed reading her?
Must wrap things up so I can get out of here posthaste. Hardware store for bolt to fix wheelbarrow. Liquor store for wine for Sunday dinner. Grocery store for soy milk, milk for yogurt and apples. Will I really limit myself to that? A test of willpower. I will not pass.
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