Kingsolver

Last night we were delighted by an evening with Barbara Kingsolver at Sweet Briar College. She talked about the process she goes through developing an idea into the scheme for a novel, read from her new book Flight Behavior, and answered audience questions. I have not read one of her books since she moved to Virginia, so it has been a few years, but I always loved her writing. It is rich prose, the kind that draws the reader in, etching a picture of a scene into one's mind. From Flight Behavior,

The people, she and the others here, were human boulders in the butterfly-filled current. They had waded into a river of butterflies...

Kingsolver's books are not for speed reading, rather they are ones to savor, to enjoy the flow of her writing as the words paint a picture in your memory. I look forward to reading the rest of the book!

Why Sweet Briar College? It turns out that professors Lincoln Brower, a renowned Monarch Butterfly expert, and his colleague Linda Fink helped Kingsolver in her research for Flight Behavior, even reading drafts to ensure that the science about butterfly behavior was accurate in the novel.

Posted with Blogsy

Is that snow?

Is that snow or snow geese? On Gretchen's last spring break we went to Pennsylvania to see her mom and sister. One day we went with Peg, Priscilla, Phil and Jon to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. It is on the Eastern Migration Route of snow geese. Twenty to forty thousand snow geese arrive daily to feed and rest before taking wing once again on their northern journey. The birds literally cover a field like snow and move from one end to the other feeding. Then they all take off at once and move to another field. The pattern continues until dusk when they move to the lake to sleep. The next day they are gone and more geese arrive taking their place; pausing to rest and feed on their journey.

There was cause for many toasts on this trip. Peg is doing great as she approaches her 93rd birthday! Matt passed his state boards and is officially a dentist and in this photo we were raising a class for Liz's birthday while eating dinner at The Westy in Hamburg. It was a great trip. Thanks Pris and Phil for you hospitality. We appreciate you opening your home to us!

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Cultural Expererience

After living in Lynchburg for 33 years, I finally did it. I ate at the Texas Inn (the T-Room)! David planned a bike ride so we would eat lunch at the T-Room near the end of the ride. During the ride he prepped Gary and me on the lingo for ordering. So when my time came, I confidently said to the waitress, "I'd like a Western all the way!"

I really liked that relish stuff.

I give the T-Room two thumb's up. I felt like I was in Germany eating an egg on my burger but it was mighty fine. The people who work at the T-Room are great and the atmosphere is unique. So what's next? We're grabbing the girls and going out to Leesville Road to check out their new restaurant. I'm thinking I'll order a "Bowl with"!

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Guilty Pleasure!

It's that time I relish each year, the time when my dear wife has her birthday, and becomes one year older than me! It happened last week when we celebrated Gretchen's 65th birthday with family and friends! For the next nine months she will out rank me in the age department; a fact I will relish pointing out frequently as I have dutifully done in years past....a guilty pleasure!

All kidding aside, it is hard to believe we are in our mid-sixties, and that we will be married 43 years in August! Over that long span, you have been my best friend and companion and I love you dearly!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Crossword Progress

The New York Times puzzle continues to be a challenge and passion for me. As of today, I have solved the daily puzzle for six straight weeks! Certainly, I have reached my retirement goal of solving a Sunday puzzle, but I will continue on because it is so much fun! I love to check my answers on the iPAD and hear the "bell" for correct words. One might say I've become a Pavlov's dog!

Posted with Blogsy

Arc of the Universe

In my DC 2013 blog below, I referred to a quote at the Martin Luther King Memorial: The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. I wondered what the origin of the quote was, so I googled it! Quote Investigator ( http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/11/15/arc-of-universe/ ) attributes the origin to Theodore Parker, a nineteenth century Unitarian minister and Transcendentalist, found in a collection of sermons published in 1857. The excerpt from his sermon on slavery appears below. If you refer to the Quote Investigator page, many permutations of the concept by other writers are listed.

Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of the right. I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.

Things refuse to be mismanaged long. Jefferson trembled when he thought of slavery and remembered that God is just. Ere long all America will tremble.

Posted with Blogsy

Of Boats and Old Men

SunShower in Northeast Harbor, ME

It began last summer when Gretchen and I had a grand time sailing SunShower in Maine. We began to wonder if we could buy a larger boat (one we could stay on but still trail) so we could spend 3-4 weeks in northern climes in summer cruising and perhaps again down south in winter. We considered motor boats for cruising the ICW and canal systems in NY and Canada. We looked at a C-Dory 22 (nice cabin, outboard powered) but the sleeping area was so confined we could not imagine extended cruising on it. Further research led to Ranger Tugs (diesel engine) but the cost of maintaining a diesel plus the small size of the one Ranger we could afford eliminated that option.

So, our focus returned to sailboats which made us feel a lot more comfortable. A boat which was on our short list when we bought SunShower became our focus and I went on a road trip to the Rhodes 22 factory in Edenton, NC, to sail a recycled boat. The boat was beautiful with a lot more room; the factory does an excellent job recycling the boats! But a short sail on a calm day proved to be a life changing event for me. The Rhodes 22 has a mast furling system for the main sail and just operating it on a calm day irritated an old neck injury I've had for 30 years. It was evident I could not buy and sail this boat; a life changing event in the sense that it was the first time in my life I could not pursue something due to aging!

Rhodes 22

I returned from the trip, walked in the door and told Gretchen to "Break out the Cabernet, I'm DEPRESSED! Wine and reasoning led us to the conclusion that we would keep SunShower and the money we would save would let us stay 6 months in B&Bs on our sailing adventures! So we're looking into going to Maine again this summer.....but the reality of this experience still lingers. We are getting old, and even sixty-five year olds in good health, have physical limitations; not to mention the effect on decision making that aging brings with it!

Posted with Blogsy