Flu, what flu?

Sometimes you can hear a pin drop in the Reference Department as the students sit at the computers to read their email or surf the internet or, occasionally, do library research. All together, yet each in his/her own world.

Goose update

It's not good news. They seem to have abandoned the nest. No goose in sight yesterday. I'll check again next week. They didn't even make a proper nest with grass.

New spring hat

I've been riding my nice old Raleigh 3-speed bike for about 38 years now. When did I get my first helmet? Today!! From L. L. Bean. It came with an instruction book, wouldn't you know. Should I read it or just be a mensch?

The reason I concluded it was time to get helmeted ... About 6 weeks ago I went for a test ride on a new Trek bike around the snazzy store's parking lot. Very nice, lots of power, would be good on hills, and I was doing beautiful circles until I tried to brake and hop off in my usual way. Crash. Feet tangled in frame (they make 'em shorter now). Nasty gash on knee. Embarrassment. Salesman very nice (I didn't tell him I was wounded but I could feel the gore oozing onto my jeans). He said, "That's all right. You know, we're not 21 any more, it's the balance thing ..." (No, it was the shorter frame thing).

Later I thought, well maybe one could fall on one's head even with good balance; and traffic is getting worse and worse. So ..... that's the story.

(P.S. I didn't buy the Trek bike, but I have the thick glossy brochures)

Same old, same old

In the same convenient depression on the same ledge at the library sits brooding a Canada goose which may or may not be the same goose that with its loyal mate hatched out 3 little chicks last May 9th whose sudden disappearance left us all wondering. These pix were taken on April 10th. We shall see! (My new theory: she grabbed each one by the leg and flew down with it at dawn)

Little blue flower -- Update

"Spring Time", or the way we experience time in the spring, includes the pleasure of comparing today with the other day, yesterday's blossoming with today's, and since today's is always better, spring can be thought of as a great sea of optimism and progress we swim in (for a while).

The middle picture shows the same 3 flowers I posted a year ago as my first digital photo. They are just to the right of the anemones.

Trivia: Pirate question

Why are pirates called pirates?

(Think a bit and then look below for answer)










Because they just AAARRGH!

Is this it, Oppie?

No matter, this guy can still yodel purty good!

Big white whale... yeah, I've seen 'em.

Woops!

This kind of thing can ruin your day if you happen to be a hardworking little donkey.

(Picture sent to me by Danial, my 7-year old friend in Canada. Thanks, Dani!)

At-hen-shun!

Hey chickens . . . . . .

If you click on this link

and put in this number: 1816135305406

you'll see what's happnin' at the barnyard.

(Thanks, Lana!)

This is becoming a series

Look, Lana! Now Cricket has opened a restaurant in Sayville, Long Island. She has that wildflower business--I saw the booth in Philly,7th pic down--and who knows what else. Perhaps it's a cover. What a multi-tasker she is....

(For those of you in the dark, Cricket is the main character of the novel which has been writing itself for the past 2+ years and may just possibly be finished. The characters have become quite real to me.)

Geography Lesson

"THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN
Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful!
Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.
Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.
Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece, gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.
Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.
Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel, has been through war and doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.
Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.
After 70, she becomes Tibet, wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages...only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN
Between 1 and 70, a man is like Iran, ruled by nuts."

(This wisdom appeared in the Comments section on Mary Beard's wonderful blog A Don's Life )