Click here for a photo of Mary Johnston.
Mary Johnston's 23 novels are relatively obscure in this new millennium. The best-selling novelist of 1900 was all but forgotten by 1920 for her books had drifted from the Colonial buccaneering escapades of damsels in distress to calls for women's rights in Hagar and then onto pacifism and mysticism. These were not things her readers wanted to read about and her books were no longer selling by the time she died in 1936.
The Buchanan, VA native was a daughter of a Civil War hero and other relatives served in the Virginia General Assembly. Her family donated land to colleges that eventually became known as Hampden-Sidney, Longwood and Hollins.
She grew up on the banks of the James River in a fine home where she was surrounded by books and coddled because of fragile health. She was raised by an aunt, grandmother and governesses.
As a teenager she traveled abroad, returning home to write of her adventure in England in an article published in The Fincastle Herald in 1895. It was called "Royalty on an Outing" and she was paid $28 for it, a high sum in those days. It was then that she decided she would not be her father's burden but would instead earn her own living with her words.
Her first book, Prisoners of Hope, published in 1898, was a modest success, but To Have and To Hold, published in 1900, became a US bestseller and garnered the author followers from overseas as well.
Johnston later wrote two Civil War novels: The Long Roll and Cease Firing, both of which were so exacting in detail that it is said the General Eisenhower studied them. Margaret Mitchell once despaired during her writing of Gone With the Wind because she was sure she would never write anything so fine as Johnston's books.
In the early 1900s, Johnston, who never married, built Three Hills in Warm Springs in Bath County. She had often visited the healing waters there and found them helpful. She had thought the money from her writing would continue so that she and her two sisters, Elizabeth and Eloise, could live a modest life in a rather large mansion on the hill. She spared no expense in building the house, which has a foundation of the now-rare American chestnut.
But she could not make a living from her writing, so she began operating her home as a bed and breakfast.
Johnston soon became interested in various causes, including pacifism - she declared herself a pacifist during World War I - and women's rights. She became friends with Ellen Glasgow, another Virginia writer, and they exchanged a long and often dramatic correspondence about issues of the time. From 1903 to 1913, Johnston drove around the country in a Model-T, giving speeches on suffrage. She also wrote three books during that time.
She was the first woman to ever address the Virginia General Assembly, and she gave an impassioned and outspoken speech on women's rights and the right of the gentler gender to vote. She believed the women's vote was important because it would help create a better society, one with no war and one which humanely treated all people.
She entertained a Hindu mystic and theosophist, J. Kirshnamurti, at her home in 1926. Three of her later books, Silver Cross, Sweet Rocket, and Michael Forth, had mysticism as their subject matter.
As for her writing habits, Johnston woke early and went for walks in the woods around Three Hills, carrying with her No. 2 pencils and a yellow legal pad so that she could work on her first drafts.
She was a woman ahead of her time, perhaps even ahead of the times today.
Some of her books:
To Have and To Hold, 1900. A historical romance set in Colonial Virginia.
Cease Firing, 1911 and The Long Roll, 1912. Two novels set in the Civil War. Johnston literally travelled Stonewall Jackson's battle trail in order to accurately recreate it in her books.
Hagar, 1913. This book criticizes traditional women's roles and advocates the right to vote and endorses the feminist movement. Some consider it an autobiography.
The Great Valley, 1926. This book, set in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1700s, features a woman who is captured by Indians. It could be based on the true story of Johnston's uncle, Charles Johnston, who was captured by the Indians in 1790. (I read this book when I was in my teens, not realizing the significance of the author at the time.)
Silver Cross, 1922. One of her "mystic" books, the tale is of Henry VII in England and a rivalry between two religious establishments.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Friday, November 05, 2010
Mary Johnston - Ahead of Her Time
In a recent post about voting I mentioned Mary Johnston, so I thought I'd tell you a bit more about this novelist and relay a little story about my efforts to write about her.
Johnston (1870-1936) in 1900 wrote the best-selling book of the year, To Have and To Hold. Her first work, Prisoners of Hope, was published in 1898. Both books dealt with Colonial times and the settlement of Virginia and what was the frontier in the 1600s. She went on to write twenty-three novels, and three of them were made into movies. She also wrote shorts stories, a drama, and a couple of narrative poems.
She was raised in Buchanan, VA, a small town not far from where I live. Eventually she built a home known as Three Hills in Warm Springs, VA, because she thought the healing waters in the mineral springs there helped her.
In the early 1990s I wrote an article for The Fincastle Herald about Mary Johnston. After I received my undergraduate degree from Hollins College, I decided to go into graduate school there. Knowing I would eventually need to write a dissertation, I started studying Mary Johnston in hopes of writing about her. I even gave a few little talks about her to a few women's groups (where I learned that public speaking is not my forte').
Johnston's fame by this time had diminished and she was relatively unknown both locally and nationally, but my article, my little talks, and a spate of other news items stirred local interest in her work. In 1995, a reporter with the Roanoke Times, whom I knew from college, interviewed me as an "expert" on Johnston even though I had done little more than a lot of research. Johnston's papers are on file at the University of Virginia and I had gone through all 31 boxes of them, so I suppose that made me an expert of sorts.
After the article ran in the newspaper, I started receiving phone calls and letters from people making various claims about Johnston. At least three claimed to be Johnston reincarnated; several others told me they were in contact with her spirit.
I wasn't sure how the woman could possess three different bodies and still be a ghost. That seemed to debunk all stories as far as I was concerned.
It was a learning experience for me on how a little bit of fame brings the kooks out of the woodwork. It was probably my fault, as I had told the reporter that when I visited Three Hills (then a bed and breakfast), "I felt like I had Mary Johnston there walking beside me."
My dissertation lies unfinished in a drawer as I never progressed far enough in my studies to finish my degree. I also lost interest in the project and allowed this opportunity to bypass me, though I've never forgotten the things I learned about Johnston. I am no longer the local expert on her, as someone else took that title and ran with it.
However, tomorrow I'll write a little more about this fascinating woman, so I hope you'll come on back to learn more.
Johnston (1870-1936) in 1900 wrote the best-selling book of the year, To Have and To Hold. Her first work, Prisoners of Hope, was published in 1898. Both books dealt with Colonial times and the settlement of Virginia and what was the frontier in the 1600s. She went on to write twenty-three novels, and three of them were made into movies. She also wrote shorts stories, a drama, and a couple of narrative poems.
She was raised in Buchanan, VA, a small town not far from where I live. Eventually she built a home known as Three Hills in Warm Springs, VA, because she thought the healing waters in the mineral springs there helped her.
In the early 1990s I wrote an article for The Fincastle Herald about Mary Johnston. After I received my undergraduate degree from Hollins College, I decided to go into graduate school there. Knowing I would eventually need to write a dissertation, I started studying Mary Johnston in hopes of writing about her. I even gave a few little talks about her to a few women's groups (where I learned that public speaking is not my forte').
Johnston's fame by this time had diminished and she was relatively unknown both locally and nationally, but my article, my little talks, and a spate of other news items stirred local interest in her work. In 1995, a reporter with the Roanoke Times, whom I knew from college, interviewed me as an "expert" on Johnston even though I had done little more than a lot of research. Johnston's papers are on file at the University of Virginia and I had gone through all 31 boxes of them, so I suppose that made me an expert of sorts.
After the article ran in the newspaper, I started receiving phone calls and letters from people making various claims about Johnston. At least three claimed to be Johnston reincarnated; several others told me they were in contact with her spirit.
I wasn't sure how the woman could possess three different bodies and still be a ghost. That seemed to debunk all stories as far as I was concerned.
It was a learning experience for me on how a little bit of fame brings the kooks out of the woodwork. It was probably my fault, as I had told the reporter that when I visited Three Hills (then a bed and breakfast), "I felt like I had Mary Johnston there walking beside me."
My dissertation lies unfinished in a drawer as I never progressed far enough in my studies to finish my degree. I also lost interest in the project and allowed this opportunity to bypass me, though I've never forgotten the things I learned about Johnston. I am no longer the local expert on her, as someone else took that title and ran with it.
However, tomorrow I'll write a little more about this fascinating woman, so I hope you'll come on back to learn more.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Thursday Thirteen - Dona Nobis Pacem
For several years I have participated in the "Blogblast for Peace" which comes from this blog. This year it falls on a Thursday so I am offering up 13 things anyone can do to promote peace in his or her life or in the world.
1. Define it. What is peace to you? To me peace means no raised voices, no yelling, no domestic violence, no abused children, no wars, (and most definitely no negative campaign ads!), among other things. It means smiles and happiness, not fists and violence.
2. Think about it. Of course, you have to think about it to define it, but you also have to acknowledge a problem to deal with it. I see peace as a matter of priorities. Peace is not a priority for society so we don't have it. It really is that simple. Peace does not make money, bring profits, or send the adrenaline racing with violence. These are some of the reasons why I think we do not have peace. What are yours?
2. Talk about it. If you want peace, mention it to your friends, your family, and your coworkers. Examine the issues with another person and ask them why they do not believe peace is a possibility. How would their world change if there was nothing but peace in the world?
3. Organize events to promote the idea of peace. This doesn't need to be on a grand scale. Maybe you have dinner with your closest friends and you all sit down and discuss peace as a goal for yourselves and humanity.
4. Make changes in your own little world to promote peace. For example, do you yell and scream at the kids? Go for a single day without raising your voice. Better yet, try whispering for 24 hours and see what happens.
5. Seek resolutions. What would happen if politicians stopped arguing and actually began seeking solutions to the problems facing the world? Recently the TV has been filled with hateful verbage. No one was looking for answers because they were all so busy pointing fingers and calling names that resolutions and solutions were the furtherst things from their minds. Let's not do this in our individual worlds.
6. Be willing to act. You may be called upon to take a stand, write a letter, have a discussion. Don't shy away from the discussion, but of course do not let it become violent. You must also be prepared to walk away when voices raise in anger.
7. Create a sense of community. If you don't have peace within your neighborhood, or, God forbid, your own house, however will there be peace throughout the greater world? Get to know your neighbors. They aren't going to bite you.
8. Practice peace and patience in your own life. For example, when you're driving, don't give in to anger. For all you know, the person in the car that's poking along just lost a parent or has a very ill child. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They're so wrapped up in their own dramas that they have no clue that you're waiting impatiently behind them.
9. Use art to promote peace. Write poems, draw pictures, or tell stories to illustrate what peace means to you and how it might be obtained. Share these where possible.
10. Educate yourself, not only on the topics of the day but also on the larger philosophical questions. If you don't have a clue why humanity exists because you have never thought about it, then it is hard to convince someone else of the importance of something as broad-ranging as "peace."
11. Write letters to the local media and to your politicians advocating peace. Ask them to tone down the rhetoric. You can do this monthly if you want, but yearly is good, too.
12. Try to understand what is really the root of the problem and seek solutions, not ways to cover up the issue or circumvent the real trouble. Some issues are too large to have a single root but generally you aren't dealing with those, anyway. Look closer to home. What's really behind all the anger at work?
13. Meditate or pray. Every day, find your inner peace in whatever manner is comfortable for you. If everyone sought their inner calm, wouldn't the world be a little quieter at least for a few minutes a day?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 163rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Muzzleloader Kill
If you don't like deer trophy kill photos, please stop reading here. Otherwise, scroll down for the photo and story.
My husband shot this nice 8-point buck yesterday evening with the muzzleloader. He was happy. He enjoys hunting and it serves several purposes. For one thing, it helps with the deer population, which is huge. So many deer are very hard on the hay and other crops. We also eat the meat so it helps with the grocery bill. And deer meat is better for you than beef - not as much fat, etc. And since he likes to do it and finds pleasure in it, that in and of itself has its own worth and I would never begrudge him that even if I am not an enthusiastic hunting fan.
My husband shot this nice 8-point buck yesterday evening with the muzzleloader. He was happy. He enjoys hunting and it serves several purposes. For one thing, it helps with the deer population, which is huge. So many deer are very hard on the hay and other crops. We also eat the meat so it helps with the grocery bill. And deer meat is better for you than beef - not as much fat, etc. And since he likes to do it and finds pleasure in it, that in and of itself has its own worth and I would never begrudge him that even if I am not an enthusiastic hunting fan.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Election Day - Go Vote
The hallowed halls of the Virginia General Assembly never heard such a speech as the one Mary Johnston gave before the learned politicos on January 19, 1912.
An advocate for a woman’s right to vote, Johnston, a Botetourt County native and by then a much-accomplished and well-respected author (she wrote To Have and To Hold, The Long Roll, Hagar, and over 25 other books), told the legislatures that she paid $1,000 annually in taxes to the state, yet had no voice in how the revenue was spent.
Her family settled western Virginia and had fought in all of the country’s wars up to that time. Yet recent male immigrants, who knew nothing of democracy, she said, were treated as if they knew better than she what the interests of the state might be.
“We are asking that those who live under the laws of a state . . . may have something to do with the making of those laws,” Johnston said in another speech, this time before a meeting of governors. “We are asking that we who pay a very considerable portion of the taxes of the State and of the country may have a voice in the apportionment of those taxes. We are asking that we who work may have a say as to the conditions under which we work.”
For six years, Johnston gave up much of her life so that women could obtain the right to vote. She suffered from vicious personal attacks from anti-suffrage groups. She did not give up.
How sad then that today, the local voter registrar expects far less than half the entire population of the county to turn out when the polls open today.
Less than 100 years after Mary Johnston took a stand and fought for the right to vote, have we thrown it away? If just half the population votes, and half of those are female, then only 25 percent of the women in this area will bother to exercise a right for which some women were imprisoned.
In this new millennium, I have heard calls a late night radio talk shows advocate a change in the voting laws so that only landowners could vote.
I have heard other people advocate taking the vote from women and from minorities. No doubt about it, at this very moment, there are folks working to undermine a linchpin of democracy that 50 percent of you, male and female, black or white, apparently take for granted.
If you don’t vote, they could very well be successful, because you can be sure they will vote for candidates who think similarly.
Voting is your right. It is also your duty as a citizen to take this single action every year to ensure that the county or the country is overseen by the best person.
So make plans now to go vote. Be a little late for work this morning.
It’s that important.
*A version of this essay originally ran on October 24, 2007.*
An advocate for a woman’s right to vote, Johnston, a Botetourt County native and by then a much-accomplished and well-respected author (she wrote To Have and To Hold, The Long Roll, Hagar, and over 25 other books), told the legislatures that she paid $1,000 annually in taxes to the state, yet had no voice in how the revenue was spent.
Her family settled western Virginia and had fought in all of the country’s wars up to that time. Yet recent male immigrants, who knew nothing of democracy, she said, were treated as if they knew better than she what the interests of the state might be.
“We are asking that those who live under the laws of a state . . . may have something to do with the making of those laws,” Johnston said in another speech, this time before a meeting of governors. “We are asking that we who pay a very considerable portion of the taxes of the State and of the country may have a voice in the apportionment of those taxes. We are asking that we who work may have a say as to the conditions under which we work.”
For six years, Johnston gave up much of her life so that women could obtain the right to vote. She suffered from vicious personal attacks from anti-suffrage groups. She did not give up.
How sad then that today, the local voter registrar expects far less than half the entire population of the county to turn out when the polls open today.
Less than 100 years after Mary Johnston took a stand and fought for the right to vote, have we thrown it away? If just half the population votes, and half of those are female, then only 25 percent of the women in this area will bother to exercise a right for which some women were imprisoned.
In this new millennium, I have heard calls a late night radio talk shows advocate a change in the voting laws so that only landowners could vote.
I have heard other people advocate taking the vote from women and from minorities. No doubt about it, at this very moment, there are folks working to undermine a linchpin of democracy that 50 percent of you, male and female, black or white, apparently take for granted.
If you don’t vote, they could very well be successful, because you can be sure they will vote for candidates who think similarly.
Voting is your right. It is also your duty as a citizen to take this single action every year to ensure that the county or the country is overseen by the best person.
So make plans now to go vote. Be a little late for work this morning.
It’s that important.
*A version of this essay originally ran on October 24, 2007.*
Monday, November 01, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Autumn Visions
I was trying to make a kind of serenity video from shots of Autumn's colors. However (1) the colors this year are very muted and (2) I have been ill and I shook a lot when I was trying to shoot this video, so I am not very happy with the end result.
Maybe I can do better next year.
Maybe I can do better next year.
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Bolton Cemetery
When you live on a farm that has been in operation since before 1800, there is a bit of history there.
A piece of that history lies on the ridge. We call it Cemetery Hill because that is where the Bolton Cemetery is.
The cemetery is in a state of disrepair.
This stone says: In remembrance of Mary K. Bolton, Born May 1, 1821, Died May 19, 1915. I am not able to read the epitaph below.
This stone has four names around it, apparently children of Henry Bolton. The farm, called Rose Hill Farm, was once owned by the Boltons. These people are some relation to my husband's family.
A piece of that history lies on the ridge. We call it Cemetery Hill because that is where the Bolton Cemetery is.
The cemetery is in a state of disrepair.
The stone reads:
The soul has now taken its flight
To mansions of glory above.
To mingle with angels of light
And walk in the kingdom of love.
This stone says: In remembrance of Mary K. Bolton, Born May 1, 1821, Died May 19, 1915. I am not able to read the epitaph below.
This stone has four names around it, apparently children of Henry Bolton. The farm, called Rose Hill Farm, was once owned by the Boltons. These people are some relation to my husband's family.
I had not been near this cemetery in years. I did not realize it was in such a sorry state.
Not particularly spooky, eh?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday Thirteen - BOO
Well, it is almost Halloween, so I thought I'd list 13 things I like about October 31.
1. It's weird. Halloween is the strangest holiday there is. Dressing up and going begging? Who thought that up?
2. Costumes. I enjoy seeing the costumes on TV and in the stores. I like to see them on children, especially. They look adorable.
3. Spooky factor. I enjoy being scared occasionally and so, apparently, does everyone else. I especially like a "fun" scared when you know it isn't going to amount to anything.
4. Memory #1. When I was a teenager, my friend R. and I visited a haunted house/maze in Vinton. As we were going through it, a werewolf began following us and he jumped out and scared us at every turn. After we finished the maze, the werewolf asked R. out on a date (he offered to have a mummy join us). We declined.
5. Memory #2. I dressed up as a hobo one year; it was my favorite costume. It was homemade and easy. I think I was about 9. I had a plastic black hat and red rouge on my cheeks.
6. Memory #3. My brother and I went trick or treating. The parent (I forget which one) stayed behind the bushes while we went up to the door. At one house, a lady was decked out as a witch and she invited us inside to see her spooky decorations. "No thank you," I said politely. "We're not allowed to go into the homes of strangers."
7. Memory #4. When I was about 11, I went crying to my mother. "No one likes me at school," I sobbed, "because I believe in the possibility of witches and ghosts." Note I did not say I believed in ghosts and witches; only the possibility of them. I have always been strong on possibilities. My mother cuddled me and told me I was just smarter than the rest of them because I didn't disregard things without thinking about them first. And I still believe in the possibility of witches and ghosts, among other things.
8. The Autumnness of it. It's cooler, the leaves are turning or have turned, the holiday seems to suit the air of the time of year.
9. The history lessons. Every year, particularly in this Internet age, I'm reminded of how Halloween supposedly came to be, what it means and why it is celebrated. I get to think about the word Samhain.
10. I tend to step back and watch with amusements as the religious folks get in an uproar. Sometimes they even try to change the day Halloween is celebrated (it was debated locally this year but they left it alone after a disastrous attempt to change it the last time it fell on a Sunday). These folks dress themselves up as pretzels, they are so bent out of shape.
11. The candy! Well, that is what it's all about, isn't it? It's now a Hallmark holiday embraced by Hershey's and Nestle's. I love chocolate but I also like Smarties at this time of year. I just can't eat too many of them.
12. Ghosts and goblins walks. My little town of Fincastle often has a ghost walk on the Saturday before Halloween. It is always fun to hear the tales of the folks whose ghosts now haunt the historic village.
13. Making a jack-o-lantern. This is fun because you get to play with the pumpkin guts and be creative all at the same time! And then you get to play with fire, too. What more could you want?
Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 162nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. It's weird. Halloween is the strangest holiday there is. Dressing up and going begging? Who thought that up?
2. Costumes. I enjoy seeing the costumes on TV and in the stores. I like to see them on children, especially. They look adorable.
3. Spooky factor. I enjoy being scared occasionally and so, apparently, does everyone else. I especially like a "fun" scared when you know it isn't going to amount to anything.
4. Memory #1. When I was a teenager, my friend R. and I visited a haunted house/maze in Vinton. As we were going through it, a werewolf began following us and he jumped out and scared us at every turn. After we finished the maze, the werewolf asked R. out on a date (he offered to have a mummy join us). We declined.
5. Memory #2. I dressed up as a hobo one year; it was my favorite costume. It was homemade and easy. I think I was about 9. I had a plastic black hat and red rouge on my cheeks.
6. Memory #3. My brother and I went trick or treating. The parent (I forget which one) stayed behind the bushes while we went up to the door. At one house, a lady was decked out as a witch and she invited us inside to see her spooky decorations. "No thank you," I said politely. "We're not allowed to go into the homes of strangers."
7. Memory #4. When I was about 11, I went crying to my mother. "No one likes me at school," I sobbed, "because I believe in the possibility of witches and ghosts." Note I did not say I believed in ghosts and witches; only the possibility of them. I have always been strong on possibilities. My mother cuddled me and told me I was just smarter than the rest of them because I didn't disregard things without thinking about them first. And I still believe in the possibility of witches and ghosts, among other things.
8. The Autumnness of it. It's cooler, the leaves are turning or have turned, the holiday seems to suit the air of the time of year.
9. The history lessons. Every year, particularly in this Internet age, I'm reminded of how Halloween supposedly came to be, what it means and why it is celebrated. I get to think about the word Samhain.
10. I tend to step back and watch with amusements as the religious folks get in an uproar. Sometimes they even try to change the day Halloween is celebrated (it was debated locally this year but they left it alone after a disastrous attempt to change it the last time it fell on a Sunday). These folks dress themselves up as pretzels, they are so bent out of shape.
11. The candy! Well, that is what it's all about, isn't it? It's now a Hallmark holiday embraced by Hershey's and Nestle's. I love chocolate but I also like Smarties at this time of year. I just can't eat too many of them.
12. Ghosts and goblins walks. My little town of Fincastle often has a ghost walk on the Saturday before Halloween. It is always fun to hear the tales of the folks whose ghosts now haunt the historic village.
13. Making a jack-o-lantern. This is fun because you get to play with the pumpkin guts and be creative all at the same time! And then you get to play with fire, too. What more could you want?
Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 162nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Kousa Dogwood Tree
I have discovered the name of the tree from my post on Saturday. This is called a kousa dogwood tree.
The kousa dogwood, also called Japanese flowering dogwood, is becoming a good replacement for the traditional white flowering dogwood because the kousa is more disease resistant. The tree also requires little water.
The tree is considered an ornamental tree, although apparently the fruit is edible. One description likened it to a persimmon and said the fruit from mature trees is bigger and sweeter.
The kousa dogwood, also called Japanese flowering dogwood, is becoming a good replacement for the traditional white flowering dogwood because the kousa is more disease resistant. The tree also requires little water.
The tree is considered an ornamental tree, although apparently the fruit is edible. One description likened it to a persimmon and said the fruit from mature trees is bigger and sweeter.
Apparently in China and Japan the fruit of this tree is widely used. I found references to wines and jams made from the fruit, as well as a notation stating the leaves are edible, too.
From the looks of this large tree in this old cemetery, the tree has been in the US for a while.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Books: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows
By J. K. Rowling
Read by Jim Dale
Audiobook 21 hours
I read this book in 2007, but decided to listen to the audiobook recently since the movie (part 1) will be out soon. I read it in seven hours then, a third of the time it took to listen to it. Fortunately I listened to it mostly in the car.
In this book, He Who Must Not Be Named has risen to power and created a rather fascist rule, one in which pure blood wizards will rule and put the poor muggles in their place.
Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron go on the run while Harry attempts to carry out Dumbledor's last orders. Destroy the horcruxes, which are pieces of Vlodemort's soul. They have a lot of adventures. I remember thinking when I read this the first time that this would be a very action-packed movie.
For a total synopsis of the book, read my 2007 review.
By J. K. Rowling
Read by Jim Dale
Audiobook 21 hours
I read this book in 2007, but decided to listen to the audiobook recently since the movie (part 1) will be out soon. I read it in seven hours then, a third of the time it took to listen to it. Fortunately I listened to it mostly in the car.
In this book, He Who Must Not Be Named has risen to power and created a rather fascist rule, one in which pure blood wizards will rule and put the poor muggles in their place.
Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron go on the run while Harry attempts to carry out Dumbledor's last orders. Destroy the horcruxes, which are pieces of Vlodemort's soul. They have a lot of adventures. I remember thinking when I read this the first time that this would be a very action-packed movie.
For a total synopsis of the book, read my 2007 review.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
"But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
- Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3.
Today I am writing about identity theft.
1. Identity theft is a crime. It is a federal offense. Identity theft involves the use of someone else's personal data, and can include things like using a credit card number, stealing money from bank accounts, taking mail from the mailbox, or completely taking over someone's identity and pretending to be that person.
2. Your information can be obtained in numerous ways. Criminals can look over your shoulder while you punch in your card numbers on your cell phone. They can eavesdrop on open cell or cordless phone conversations. They can rummage through the trash for all of those "preapproved" credit card offers you receive in the mail. They can find hack accounts on the Internet and obtain your Social Security number, you bank numbers, your passwords - pretty much anything.
3. With a certain amount of identifying information, a criminal can take over your good name, run up charges in your name, obtain medical care in your name, and cause great harm to your reputation. People have had to spend thousands to restore their name.
4. Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act in 1998. Conviction carries a maximum 15 years in prison, a fine, and forfeiture of the ill-gotten gains. Instances of identity theft may also fall under other laws, such as fraud statutes.
5. Protecting your information is incredibly important. To do this, do not give out personal information. The Department of Justice recommends remembering the word SCAM: be STINGY with your information, CHECK your financial information regularly, ASK for a copy of your credit report (the federal government in 2005 made it easy to get a copy for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/, but be aware the site does ask for your Social Security number), and MAINTAIN careful records.
6. If you think you've been a victim of identity theft, don't panic. It's a very upsetting thing to be a victim of a crime but it is important to keep your head. Contact your financial institution immediately if you find a problem with a credit card. Contact your local police and any other appropriate agency. Be prepared to spend many hours dealing with the fallout of the crime.
7. Many homeowners' insurance policies now offer identity theft protection and assistance as an addendum to the policy. While the annual fee might seem high, it is a bargain compared to the damage a thief can do to your finances.
8. The credit reporting companies, as well as some banks and other places, offer credit monitoring services. If you are experiencing problems with your identity or have experienced identity theft, these may be a good investment if only for peace of mind.
9. When online, create passwords that do not use identifying numbers or words, such as your Social Security number, your mother's maiden name, your birthday, your pet's name, or consecutive numbers or letters.
10. Do not give out your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. Do not use this number on checks, driver's licenses, and even job applications if you can help it. Don't say the number aloud in a public place and do not let others say the number aloud.
11. Install a firewall and update your virus protection frequently. Use encryption where possible.
12. When shopping online, only use secure transaction sites.
13. Information about identity theft can be found at the Department of Justice website, privacyrights.org, annualcreditreport.com, and many other places. Learn all you can and be safe. It's pretty wicked out there.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 161st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
- Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3.
Today I am writing about identity theft.
1. Identity theft is a crime. It is a federal offense. Identity theft involves the use of someone else's personal data, and can include things like using a credit card number, stealing money from bank accounts, taking mail from the mailbox, or completely taking over someone's identity and pretending to be that person.
2. Your information can be obtained in numerous ways. Criminals can look over your shoulder while you punch in your card numbers on your cell phone. They can eavesdrop on open cell or cordless phone conversations. They can rummage through the trash for all of those "preapproved" credit card offers you receive in the mail. They can find hack accounts on the Internet and obtain your Social Security number, you bank numbers, your passwords - pretty much anything.
3. With a certain amount of identifying information, a criminal can take over your good name, run up charges in your name, obtain medical care in your name, and cause great harm to your reputation. People have had to spend thousands to restore their name.
4. Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act in 1998. Conviction carries a maximum 15 years in prison, a fine, and forfeiture of the ill-gotten gains. Instances of identity theft may also fall under other laws, such as fraud statutes.
5. Protecting your information is incredibly important. To do this, do not give out personal information. The Department of Justice recommends remembering the word SCAM: be STINGY with your information, CHECK your financial information regularly, ASK for a copy of your credit report (the federal government in 2005 made it easy to get a copy for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/, but be aware the site does ask for your Social Security number), and MAINTAIN careful records.
6. If you think you've been a victim of identity theft, don't panic. It's a very upsetting thing to be a victim of a crime but it is important to keep your head. Contact your financial institution immediately if you find a problem with a credit card. Contact your local police and any other appropriate agency. Be prepared to spend many hours dealing with the fallout of the crime.
7. Many homeowners' insurance policies now offer identity theft protection and assistance as an addendum to the policy. While the annual fee might seem high, it is a bargain compared to the damage a thief can do to your finances.
8. The credit reporting companies, as well as some banks and other places, offer credit monitoring services. If you are experiencing problems with your identity or have experienced identity theft, these may be a good investment if only for peace of mind.
9. When online, create passwords that do not use identifying numbers or words, such as your Social Security number, your mother's maiden name, your birthday, your pet's name, or consecutive numbers or letters.
10. Do not give out your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. Do not use this number on checks, driver's licenses, and even job applications if you can help it. Don't say the number aloud in a public place and do not let others say the number aloud.
11. Install a firewall and update your virus protection frequently. Use encryption where possible.
12. When shopping online, only use secure transaction sites.
13. Information about identity theft can be found at the Department of Justice website, privacyrights.org, annualcreditreport.com, and many other places. Learn all you can and be safe. It's pretty wicked out there.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 161st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Books: Lucid Intervals
Lucid Intervals
By Stuart Woods
Audio approx. 8 hours
Copyright 2010
Read by Tony Roberts
Stone Barrington is a lawyer and former police officer who often acts as a detective. This is one in the series.
Barrington is a guy's hero and my husband likes these books. I checked this one out of the library to listen to in the car during our ill-fated trip to Myrtle Beach in September. We heard about half of it during that adventure and then finished the remainder of the book in the evenings when there was nothing on TV.
Our hero is hired to find a missing MI6 agent from England. The man has been missing for 12 years, having vanished the day after his superiors learned he was doing some un-agenty type things. Someone wants the man dead now.
His employer is a beautiful woman named Dame Felicity. Of course he beds her and she takes him to social dinners where only the elite can go.
A subplot involves a guy named Herbie, who has won the lottery. He has no brains and later is charged with murder.
My husband gave the book a thumbs up. The hero is not exactly my kind of guy but he is okay. I recommend the series to anyone who likes books with male lead characters, intrigue, high society, guns and airplanes, and a little bit of sexual titillation thrown in for good measure.
By Stuart Woods
Audio approx. 8 hours
Copyright 2010
Read by Tony Roberts
Stone Barrington is a lawyer and former police officer who often acts as a detective. This is one in the series.
Barrington is a guy's hero and my husband likes these books. I checked this one out of the library to listen to in the car during our ill-fated trip to Myrtle Beach in September. We heard about half of it during that adventure and then finished the remainder of the book in the evenings when there was nothing on TV.
Our hero is hired to find a missing MI6 agent from England. The man has been missing for 12 years, having vanished the day after his superiors learned he was doing some un-agenty type things. Someone wants the man dead now.
His employer is a beautiful woman named Dame Felicity. Of course he beds her and she takes him to social dinners where only the elite can go.
A subplot involves a guy named Herbie, who has won the lottery. He has no brains and later is charged with murder.
My husband gave the book a thumbs up. The hero is not exactly my kind of guy but he is okay. I recommend the series to anyone who likes books with male lead characters, intrigue, high society, guns and airplanes, and a little bit of sexual titillation thrown in for good measure.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday Thirteen #160
Today, I thought I'd offer up a list of some of the books in my "to read" pile. I haven't read them so these aren't recommendations.
1. A Writer's Book of Days, by Judy Reeves. "A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse for the Writing Life."
2. Voices, by Ursula K. Le Guin. "Themes of revenge, family legacies, personal morality, and a humanistic magic redolent more of earthy mysteries than flashy sorcery."
3. The Power of Story, by Jim Loehr. "Rewrite Your Destiny in Business and in Life."
4. How to Write Mysteries, by Shannon OCork. "The howdunits of whodunits are no longer a mystery. Inside you'll learn how to spin intriguing yarns guaranteed to keep your readers in suspense until the very last word."
5. A Break With Charity, by Ann Rinaldi. "A story about the Salem Witch Trials."
6. Breathtaking, by Lorin Roche, Ph.D., "Lessons in Breathing to Enhance Your Health and Joy of Living."
7. The Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction, ed. by Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda B. Swanson-Davies. "In excerpts from interviews conducted over a sixteen-year period, and preserved by the editors of the highly respected literary quarterly Glimmer Train Stories and its newsletter Writers Ask, contemporary writers who rarely discuss their craft present you with eye-opening techniques, diverse perspectives, and genuine encouragement."
8. Yoga for Dummies, by Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D. and Larry Payne, Ph.D. "A tremendous service for yoga enthusiasts and health professionals."
9. 8 Minute Meditation, by Victor Davich. "Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life."
10. The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. "An epic journey from the Mexico of artists Diege Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR and J. Edgar Hoover."
11. Becoming Queen Victoria, by Kate Williams. "The tragic death of Princess Charlotte and the unexpected rise of Britain's greatest monarch."
12. The Lindar Diamond, by Katie Hickman. "A gripping historical tale of love and avarice in Venice."
13. Snowbound, by Richard S. Wheeler. "A haunting novel about hubris and its consequences."
My "to read" pile is rather large; actually, probably, the largest it has ever been as this is just the tip of it. I definitely don't need another trip to the bookstore anytime soon.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 160th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. A Writer's Book of Days, by Judy Reeves. "A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse for the Writing Life."
2. Voices, by Ursula K. Le Guin. "Themes of revenge, family legacies, personal morality, and a humanistic magic redolent more of earthy mysteries than flashy sorcery."
3. The Power of Story, by Jim Loehr. "Rewrite Your Destiny in Business and in Life."
4. How to Write Mysteries, by Shannon OCork. "The howdunits of whodunits are no longer a mystery. Inside you'll learn how to spin intriguing yarns guaranteed to keep your readers in suspense until the very last word."
5. A Break With Charity, by Ann Rinaldi. "A story about the Salem Witch Trials."
6. Breathtaking, by Lorin Roche, Ph.D., "Lessons in Breathing to Enhance Your Health and Joy of Living."
7. The Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction, ed. by Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda B. Swanson-Davies. "In excerpts from interviews conducted over a sixteen-year period, and preserved by the editors of the highly respected literary quarterly Glimmer Train Stories and its newsletter Writers Ask, contemporary writers who rarely discuss their craft present you with eye-opening techniques, diverse perspectives, and genuine encouragement."
8. Yoga for Dummies, by Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D. and Larry Payne, Ph.D. "A tremendous service for yoga enthusiasts and health professionals."
9. 8 Minute Meditation, by Victor Davich. "Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life."
10. The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. "An epic journey from the Mexico of artists Diege Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR and J. Edgar Hoover."
11. Becoming Queen Victoria, by Kate Williams. "The tragic death of Princess Charlotte and the unexpected rise of Britain's greatest monarch."
12. The Lindar Diamond, by Katie Hickman. "A gripping historical tale of love and avarice in Venice."
13. Snowbound, by Richard S. Wheeler. "A haunting novel about hubris and its consequences."
My "to read" pile is rather large; actually, probably, the largest it has ever been as this is just the tip of it. I definitely don't need another trip to the bookstore anytime soon.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 160th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Doe Whistle
Does make a snorting, whistling sound when they are frightened or are trying to attract your attention so they can see if they need to run from you.
In this video, you can hear the whistles of does off camera as they try to get me to move. I was afraid to turn around because I knew I would make them all run.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Bucks Clash 2010
This is my first video. The bucks are fighting in my front yard. It was about 7 a.m. on Saturday morning; very dark. I had just woke and hadn't had anything to drink.
At the end I fell off the stool I was sitting on. You don't see that on the video though.
Hope you like it.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
Autumn is one of my two favorite seasons (the other being Spring) and so I thought I'd celebrate by listing 13 reasons for this season.
1. The leaf color. Those wonderful reds, oranges, and gold from Mother Nature leave me breathless as Autumn takes over my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.
2. Cooler weather. After a summer which had more than 50 ninety-degree days in its number, the break from the heat is exceedingly welcome.
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3. School. I don't go to school anymore but I used to be quite the geek. I loved school and I miss taking classes.
4. Halloween. This is my favorite holiday although I don't really celebrate it. I have always enjoyed the scare and the idea of honoring the dead (although I don't think trick or treat quite does that). Boo!
5. Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving is still in Autumn! It's a great holiday and a wonderful reminder to count your blessings.
6. Winter squash. I love butternut squash, acorn squash... even pumpkins! Yum.
7. Turning on the heat on a chilly morning. It's like magic!
8. Watching the fog rise from Catawba Creek and Stone Coal Gap and up into the sky.
9. Seeing deer romp in the front yard, and watching young bucks with velvet turn into strapping, huge-bodied deer with horns.
10. Autumn festivals that feature apple-butter making, pumpkins, banjo music, and crafts.
11. Apples! I love apples, apple cider, apple butter, apple pie, cooked apples . . . even better than squash! Yum!
12. New television season. I haven't found much on that I care to watch but at least there is something different to see.
13. The end of humidity for a while. Thank goodness!
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a number of years and this is my 159th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
Smilin' Monday
But we won't think about those bitter days to come. Instead let's rejoice in the bright days we have right now!
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Happy Day
Wishing all of my readers and blogging friends a spectacular Sunday. May the road rise to meet you, may the breezes be gentle, may grace be bestowed upon you like a soft kiss from a mother's lips.
Peace to you all.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Animals on Parade
Turkeys from the front window. Gobble gobble!
There were 20 of them marching along the fence line.
They pay no heed to the woman behind the glass.
I slipped out the back door hoping to snap a picture without the glass and window screen in the way.
Hi there, I'm the big daddy deer.
I sneak around the corners!
Friday, October 01, 2010
The Eyeglasses Saga
Seeing is one of those things that I find necessary. I did not obtain glasses until I was about 12 years old, though I needed them much sooner, and as a result I tend to want my eyesight perfect.
In January I went to visit a different opthamologist because the man I had been seeing for 20 years retired.
I was having trouble reading and knew it was time for bifocals.
The doctor suggested progressive lenses, and that is what I went with.
They gave me a great deal of trouble. In the end, I went back to the eye doctor and he changed the prescription in my right eye. The optician changed the prescription in my reading glasses and sunglasses, too.
After that, I adjusted well to the progressive lenses and had no trouble with them.
Fast forward to the first part of August. My nephew gives me a hug and in the process my glasses are scratched. It is, of course, the right lens.
I have a scratch warranty on the eyeglasses, so I call and ask for the replacement.
Once I receive the replacement, I find I have trouble reading. I can see out of my left eye alright but the right one is problematic again. I can't read anything out of that eye with my progressive lenses. However, I can read just fine with my reading glasses.
I spend five weeks adjusting the lenses, going back and forth to the shop. The woman at the shop suggests it might be allergies and dry eye causing the problem, so I start using more artificial tear drops.
There was no improvement, so today I went back to the eye doctor.
He told me my prescription in my right eye has changed and is now better with the prescription I had initially. Not the one I had been seeing out of for months, but the one that he changed in January. Which is a lesser strength than what I had been using.
He seemed as perplexed as I. We went over my medications but he did not think they could be causing the problem. He even suggested it might be the time of day.
None of this makes sense to me since my reading glasses are fine.
But now the eyeglass shop (which, by the way, is owned by the eye doctor) is making me a new lens with the lesser prescription.
I have no idea if this will fix the problem. If it doesn't, the next time it will cost me as I was told this was the last time they would replace the lenses at no charge to me.
In January I went to visit a different opthamologist because the man I had been seeing for 20 years retired.
I was having trouble reading and knew it was time for bifocals.
The doctor suggested progressive lenses, and that is what I went with.
They gave me a great deal of trouble. In the end, I went back to the eye doctor and he changed the prescription in my right eye. The optician changed the prescription in my reading glasses and sunglasses, too.
After that, I adjusted well to the progressive lenses and had no trouble with them.
Fast forward to the first part of August. My nephew gives me a hug and in the process my glasses are scratched. It is, of course, the right lens.
I have a scratch warranty on the eyeglasses, so I call and ask for the replacement.
Once I receive the replacement, I find I have trouble reading. I can see out of my left eye alright but the right one is problematic again. I can't read anything out of that eye with my progressive lenses. However, I can read just fine with my reading glasses.
I spend five weeks adjusting the lenses, going back and forth to the shop. The woman at the shop suggests it might be allergies and dry eye causing the problem, so I start using more artificial tear drops.
There was no improvement, so today I went back to the eye doctor.
He told me my prescription in my right eye has changed and is now better with the prescription I had initially. Not the one I had been seeing out of for months, but the one that he changed in January. Which is a lesser strength than what I had been using.
He seemed as perplexed as I. We went over my medications but he did not think they could be causing the problem. He even suggested it might be the time of day.
None of this makes sense to me since my reading glasses are fine.
But now the eyeglass shop (which, by the way, is owned by the eye doctor) is making me a new lens with the lesser prescription.
I have no idea if this will fix the problem. If it doesn't, the next time it will cost me as I was told this was the last time they would replace the lenses at no charge to me.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen things I did not see and do during my few hours at Myrtle Beach beach on my non-vacation last Friday. (Short version: We drove 7 hours down, the hotel was unacceptable, we couldn't find another room, we drove 7 hours back home, all in the same 24-hour period).
1. I did not get into the ocean because we weren't there long enough.
2. Cheesy gifts were left unpurchased from Wings or Eagles gift stores.
3. My Minnetonka moccasins, which I had not purchased online because I wanted to try them on first, went unbought because there wasn't time to get to the store that carries them.
4. Christmas gifts were not bought.
5. No sand castles were made by me during the very short time we were there.
6. My husband did not bring home any very cheap jeans.
7. We did not get to eat at Captain George's Seafood.
8. No strolls around Broadway at the Beach.
9. No visit to Barefoot Landing, either.
10. No dives into the pool to cool off.
11. No sitting around the pool, or out on the beach, soaking up rays.
12. No books were read.
13. No visits to Tangier outlet malls, or any other shopping area, for that matter.
Photos taken on previous trips.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a number of years and this is my 158th time to do a list 13 on a Thursday.
1. I did not get into the ocean because we weren't there long enough.
2. Cheesy gifts were left unpurchased from Wings or Eagles gift stores.
3. My Minnetonka moccasins, which I had not purchased online because I wanted to try them on first, went unbought because there wasn't time to get to the store that carries them.
4. Christmas gifts were not bought.
5. No sand castles were made by me during the very short time we were there.
6. My husband did not bring home any very cheap jeans.
7. We did not get to eat at Captain George's Seafood.
8. No strolls around Broadway at the Beach.
9. No visit to Barefoot Landing, either.
10. No dives into the pool to cool off.
11. No sitting around the pool, or out on the beach, soaking up rays.
12. No books were read.
13. No visits to Tangier outlet malls, or any other shopping area, for that matter.
Photos taken on previous trips.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a number of years and this is my 158th time to do a list 13 on a Thursday.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Vacationus Interruptus
The wheels of my Toyota Camry whirled along SC 9, the sound a steady hum that seemed to urge me forward as I drove with my right heel firmly planted on the gas pedal. My sleeping husband breathed rhythmically beside me in the passenger seat.
The inky midnight sky stretched long over the flat Carolina horizon and the full Autumn moon hung high, a lantern offering dim light and little in the way of comfort. The stars looked cold and far away as the lob lolly pines on the wayside flew by me.
We were alone on the road, traveling through dinky unlit small towns that offered no sanctuary at this hour. As the miles slipped by, I found myself wondering how it was that I was returning home early Saturday morning when I'd only left my abode just 14 hours before.
It was to have been a four-day vacation, something to help us over the rough summer. The last several months have been difficult, what with my father-in-law's illness and his somewhat unexpected passing in late July. Now my husband's aunt, his father's sister, also lay ill. It seemed too much for one family to take and a few days away sounded like a good remedy.
But it was not a family crisis that had us heading back to Virginia so soon after our departure. I really wasn't sure how things had gone so awfully wrong.
Our drive down had been nice, almost fun, if a long seven-hour drive can be fun. We listened to a book on tape and enjoyed several hours of story as we rode along. We stopped for lunch in Greensboro and took several breaks to walk around and stretch before venturing back in the car. We have long passed the age where we can ride for hours without stopping, so we make the most of our need to be leisurely in the drive.
Aside from one small argument over directions, the day progressed smoothly. We arrived at Myrtle Beach via 501 around 4:30 p.m. and went directly to our motel.
We were staying at the same place we stayed last year. I confess I had qualms about the hotel, having found it okay but not great. There were a lot of children and some concerns with housekeeping. However, I was determined, for my husband's sake, to have fun and not complain unless things were so dirty as to warrant complaint.
We checked in and were directed to the second tower of the motel, a different part of the place than we stayed last year. When we found our room, no. 839, we entered to discover the bed unmade and towels and things in the floor. We quickly backed out, not at all certain the room wasn't occupied, and made our way to guest services for this tower.
The clerk checked with housekeeping and then decided to move us to another room, no. 750. My husband went up with him to inspect the premises and he returned giving me a thumbs up.
After we obtained new keys, we went up so I could look around the room. I found no sign of bugs (I worry a lot about bed bugs these days), and no visible sign of mold and the air seemed okay when I breathed in (sometimes the mildew smell in older buildings will take my breath immediately and cause an asthma attack), so we brought our suitcases in.
We did not unpack, as by this time it was after 5 p.m. and we were hungry. We set out for a meal and decided to eat at Original Benjamin's Calabash for a seafood buffet, where I enjoyed crab legs, scallops and other delicacies the likes of which I cannot find in Roanoke.
Then we went to Bass Pro Outdoor World so my husband could do a little shopping. He found what he was looking for, so then it was on to Walmart to purchase breakfast and lunch items so that we would not be eating out the entire time we were there.
We returned to our hotel and I went up while my husband parked the car. Upon my entry into the room, I realized the smoke detector was malfunctioning. It needed a battery and continued chirping to let us know this.
I called guest services, who said they would send someone up.
Meanwhile, my husband returned from parking the car, a block away. He was quite unhappy with the smoke detector issue and he also noted that the air conditioner, which we had set to 65, did not seem to be cooling the room. And then we decided to watch TV while we waited on the maintenance man, and found that the sets didn't work.
After an hour passed and no one came to fix the smoke detector, which I confess was annoying and quite the nerve-wracking noise, my husband had had enough. "I'm going down to the desk," he said. "I think we aren't going to stay here."
I called my brother and asked him to look up the phone numbers of other area hotels for me, which he did. As we talked my husband beeped in. "We're leaving," he said. "I'm going to get the car."
I called several hotels but none had rooms available. The only thing I could find was a Hampton at Broadway at the Beach but my husband didn't want to stay there. It was oceanfront or nothing, I guess.
We had a wait while we checked out; the clerk did not want to refund our money and James had to go to the other hotel tower to find a manager. Finally he returned with refund in hand to where I waited with the luggage.
We loaded the car back up. Then we drove down Ocean Boulevard to find "no vacancy" lights in practically every hotel, except perhaps a few dives where we would not have stayed regardless. Finding nothing suitable, we headed north to North Myrtle Beach.
The whole time I was calling hotels we had frequented in the past, to no avail. I couldn't figure out why everything was so full in September, but later learned it was a bike week and a shag dancer week, not to mention a fishing time and apparently folks have gone to the Carolina beaches instead of the Gulf beaches thanks to the oil spill.
North Myrtle Beach also offered us one vacancy at $300 a night, which meant nothing was available as we couldn't afford that. We were so far north now as to make going back to SC 501 a hour's drive, so we headed down SC 9. That's the back way into North Myrtle Beach and not necessarily the best roads but there you go.
I told my husband that if we were going to make this seven-hour drive back, then I needed to share driving duties. I drove us away from the coast, then, so he could sleep and drive us home on the last shift.
And that is how it was that we drove to Myrtle Beach, ate seafood, and came back home, in a 23-hour period, and how I came to find myself driving in blackness on unfamiliar roads at midnight.
We still haven't had a vacation this year. At this rate, I don't know that we will be getting one.
The inky midnight sky stretched long over the flat Carolina horizon and the full Autumn moon hung high, a lantern offering dim light and little in the way of comfort. The stars looked cold and far away as the lob lolly pines on the wayside flew by me.
We were alone on the road, traveling through dinky unlit small towns that offered no sanctuary at this hour. As the miles slipped by, I found myself wondering how it was that I was returning home early Saturday morning when I'd only left my abode just 14 hours before.
It was to have been a four-day vacation, something to help us over the rough summer. The last several months have been difficult, what with my father-in-law's illness and his somewhat unexpected passing in late July. Now my husband's aunt, his father's sister, also lay ill. It seemed too much for one family to take and a few days away sounded like a good remedy.
But it was not a family crisis that had us heading back to Virginia so soon after our departure. I really wasn't sure how things had gone so awfully wrong.
Our drive down had been nice, almost fun, if a long seven-hour drive can be fun. We listened to a book on tape and enjoyed several hours of story as we rode along. We stopped for lunch in Greensboro and took several breaks to walk around and stretch before venturing back in the car. We have long passed the age where we can ride for hours without stopping, so we make the most of our need to be leisurely in the drive.
Aside from one small argument over directions, the day progressed smoothly. We arrived at Myrtle Beach via 501 around 4:30 p.m. and went directly to our motel.
We were staying at the same place we stayed last year. I confess I had qualms about the hotel, having found it okay but not great. There were a lot of children and some concerns with housekeeping. However, I was determined, for my husband's sake, to have fun and not complain unless things were so dirty as to warrant complaint.
We checked in and were directed to the second tower of the motel, a different part of the place than we stayed last year. When we found our room, no. 839, we entered to discover the bed unmade and towels and things in the floor. We quickly backed out, not at all certain the room wasn't occupied, and made our way to guest services for this tower.
The clerk checked with housekeeping and then decided to move us to another room, no. 750. My husband went up with him to inspect the premises and he returned giving me a thumbs up.
After we obtained new keys, we went up so I could look around the room. I found no sign of bugs (I worry a lot about bed bugs these days), and no visible sign of mold and the air seemed okay when I breathed in (sometimes the mildew smell in older buildings will take my breath immediately and cause an asthma attack), so we brought our suitcases in.
We did not unpack, as by this time it was after 5 p.m. and we were hungry. We set out for a meal and decided to eat at Original Benjamin's Calabash for a seafood buffet, where I enjoyed crab legs, scallops and other delicacies the likes of which I cannot find in Roanoke.
Then we went to Bass Pro Outdoor World so my husband could do a little shopping. He found what he was looking for, so then it was on to Walmart to purchase breakfast and lunch items so that we would not be eating out the entire time we were there.
We returned to our hotel and I went up while my husband parked the car. Upon my entry into the room, I realized the smoke detector was malfunctioning. It needed a battery and continued chirping to let us know this.
I called guest services, who said they would send someone up.
Meanwhile, my husband returned from parking the car, a block away. He was quite unhappy with the smoke detector issue and he also noted that the air conditioner, which we had set to 65, did not seem to be cooling the room. And then we decided to watch TV while we waited on the maintenance man, and found that the sets didn't work.
After an hour passed and no one came to fix the smoke detector, which I confess was annoying and quite the nerve-wracking noise, my husband had had enough. "I'm going down to the desk," he said. "I think we aren't going to stay here."
I called my brother and asked him to look up the phone numbers of other area hotels for me, which he did. As we talked my husband beeped in. "We're leaving," he said. "I'm going to get the car."
I called several hotels but none had rooms available. The only thing I could find was a Hampton at Broadway at the Beach but my husband didn't want to stay there. It was oceanfront or nothing, I guess.
We had a wait while we checked out; the clerk did not want to refund our money and James had to go to the other hotel tower to find a manager. Finally he returned with refund in hand to where I waited with the luggage.
We loaded the car back up. Then we drove down Ocean Boulevard to find "no vacancy" lights in practically every hotel, except perhaps a few dives where we would not have stayed regardless. Finding nothing suitable, we headed north to North Myrtle Beach.
The whole time I was calling hotels we had frequented in the past, to no avail. I couldn't figure out why everything was so full in September, but later learned it was a bike week and a shag dancer week, not to mention a fishing time and apparently folks have gone to the Carolina beaches instead of the Gulf beaches thanks to the oil spill.
North Myrtle Beach also offered us one vacancy at $300 a night, which meant nothing was available as we couldn't afford that. We were so far north now as to make going back to SC 501 a hour's drive, so we headed down SC 9. That's the back way into North Myrtle Beach and not necessarily the best roads but there you go.
I told my husband that if we were going to make this seven-hour drive back, then I needed to share driving duties. I drove us away from the coast, then, so he could sleep and drive us home on the last shift.
And that is how it was that we drove to Myrtle Beach, ate seafood, and came back home, in a 23-hour period, and how I came to find myself driving in blackness on unfamiliar roads at midnight.
We still haven't had a vacation this year. At this rate, I don't know that we will be getting one.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Clean at Last
Earlier this month, I noted that my desk looked like this:
The papers were piled high and stuff was scattered everywhere.
But now it looks like this!
The papers were piled high and stuff was scattered everywhere.
But now it looks like this!
Much nicer, wouldn't you say?
And here's a view of my entire work station. Let me point out a few little things.
To the far left at the window, you'll see a pair of binoculars. I use those to watch deer, turkey, squirrels, etc.
In the front in the plastic tub, you'll see a little black metronome. I use this for breathing exercises that are supposed to help control my blood pressure.
The mirror on the far right is a recent addition. A book I read recently recommended a mirror to reflect the door and change the energy in the room if you sit with your back to the door. I'll let you know if it helps.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Invaded!
I know I am not alone in decrying the invasion of the sink bug, but good gracious where did these things come from?
They are all over the exterior of my house. And they are inside my garage (and occasionally in other parts of the house, but mostly in the garage).
Nothing seems to kill them. James put down pesticides around the exterior of the house and sprayed the windows and door crevices and still they come. We don't use pesticides in the house; apparently it wouldn't help, anyway.
I don't know if birds eat these things but I hope so. Something needs to. If you suck them up in a vacuum, they make the vacuum smell very bad.
And if you apply insecticides inside, carpet beetles come and feast on the stink bug carcases, so don't do that.
From what I have learned, stink bugs came down through Pennsylvania (which is an interesting migration pattern; just like the Scots-Irish immigrants in the 1700s). The stink bugs are a native to Asian countries, such as China and Japan, and did not come to the US until the late 1990s.
The bugs attack fruits and many other plants and cause a lot of problems in orchards and for farmers with other crops.
Apparently they are here to stay.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen books I've read this year (but I've read many more than 13). The links on the books either take you to my full review of the book or to the author's page if it is available and I have not put a review on this blog.
1. The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci. This was my first Baldacci book and so far of the three I've listened to on audio tape it is my favorite. Aging war reporter Tom takes train trip across US and runs into old flame.
2. America's Women, by Gail Collins. My favorite nonfiction book so far this year. A wonderful synopsis of the struggles of women as well as an explanation of where we are today. I was left inspired and amazed.
3. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, by Heidi Durrow. A biracial coming of age story with a hint of a mystery. Excellent characterization and a heartbreaking story.
4. Through Wolf's Eyes, by Janet Linkskold. Orphaned wolf-girl with magical powers returns to culture to fix majestic problems. First in a series; I read two others before giving out and taking a break from this line. I thought the first book was the best.
5. Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier. I love Marillier's books and this was no exception. Young girls go through a magic door to a magic kingdom. There are always consequences.
6. Hearts on a String, by Kris Radish. Five very different women are stranded in the same room in a five-star hotel. Laughter and a bit of a mystery ensues.
7. Sea Glass, by Anita Shreve. A thoughtful book set in the early 1900s and the Great Depression. Exquisitely written with wonderful characters and terrific setting. Multiple themes of life, death, hope, love. This is a brilliant book, solid and sturdy as a New Hampshire fishing village.
8. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. A book that every southern woman should read. This is a story of race relations and the art of being a neighbor, among other things.
9. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, by JRR Tolkien. Frodo saves the world and Aragorn becomes king. In between there is a lot of world-building and things to discover. The father of fantasy.
10. All Over the Map, by Laura Fraser. This memoir takes the reader to many different countries as the writer embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
11. The Blueberry Years, by Jim Minick. Memoir of a local blueberry farmer. Poetic prose and lots to think about.
12. Dune Road, by Jane Green. Okay beach read; a lot of redundancy in the writing.
13. Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich. I hadn't read a Stephanie Plum book in a few years, having tired of them. It was nice to revisit familiar character.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a number of years and this is my 157th time to do a list 13 on a Thursday.
1. The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci. This was my first Baldacci book and so far of the three I've listened to on audio tape it is my favorite. Aging war reporter Tom takes train trip across US and runs into old flame.
2. America's Women, by Gail Collins. My favorite nonfiction book so far this year. A wonderful synopsis of the struggles of women as well as an explanation of where we are today. I was left inspired and amazed.
3. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, by Heidi Durrow. A biracial coming of age story with a hint of a mystery. Excellent characterization and a heartbreaking story.
4. Through Wolf's Eyes, by Janet Linkskold. Orphaned wolf-girl with magical powers returns to culture to fix majestic problems. First in a series; I read two others before giving out and taking a break from this line. I thought the first book was the best.
5. Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier. I love Marillier's books and this was no exception. Young girls go through a magic door to a magic kingdom. There are always consequences.
6. Hearts on a String, by Kris Radish. Five very different women are stranded in the same room in a five-star hotel. Laughter and a bit of a mystery ensues.
7. Sea Glass, by Anita Shreve. A thoughtful book set in the early 1900s and the Great Depression. Exquisitely written with wonderful characters and terrific setting. Multiple themes of life, death, hope, love. This is a brilliant book, solid and sturdy as a New Hampshire fishing village.
8. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. A book that every southern woman should read. This is a story of race relations and the art of being a neighbor, among other things.
9. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, by JRR Tolkien. Frodo saves the world and Aragorn becomes king. In between there is a lot of world-building and things to discover. The father of fantasy.
10. All Over the Map, by Laura Fraser. This memoir takes the reader to many different countries as the writer embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
11. The Blueberry Years, by Jim Minick. Memoir of a local blueberry farmer. Poetic prose and lots to think about.
12. Dune Road, by Jane Green. Okay beach read; a lot of redundancy in the writing.
13. Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich. I hadn't read a Stephanie Plum book in a few years, having tired of them. It was nice to revisit familiar character.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a number of years and this is my 157th time to do a list 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sci Fi (or SF or Syfy)
I have long been a fan of science fiction and fantasy works. I love books, movies and TV shows that deal with these topics, though I prefer my science fiction to be mild and not violent. Some science fiction can be very violent, so I am not a fan of something like a Clockwork Orange.
When I was around six or seven I was enamored with a TV show called Land of the Giants. I do not really remember the show but I do remember being upset because we were at a circus and I was missing the show. Apparently it was must-see TV.
I liked some cheesy shows, such as Land of the Lost (not the 2009 movie), the Batman series (the one with Adam West), and others like The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, and the Six Million Dollar Man. I never saw much of Lost in Space; we couldn't get the channel.
Later I enjoyed shows such as Quantum Leap and Sliders, but managed to miss seeing Star Trek: The Next Generation and similar shows of that era (doesn't that make me sound old?).
These days, I like to watch TV while I am walking on the treadmill of mornings. I have gone through the entire Xena: Warrior Princess series several times, mostly because it was all I had here. Then I bought Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and walked through all seven seasons of that show. I've also walked through a season of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and am getting ready to walk through yet another one.
Over the summer I walked through the first season of Babylon 5 and I am just finishing up the first season of Star Trek: Voyager.
Until someone gave me the DVD, Babylon 5 was a show I had never seen. This is because for a very long time we could only obtain two television stations, CBS and NBC. We could sometimes see ABC if the clouds were right.
It was not until 1994 that we purchased a C-Band satellite. That's one of those huge satellites. Suddenly I knew what MTV and VH1 was. I could watch HBO!
And series that were already in progress, like Babylon 5, went right on by me because (a) there was so much stuff to watch and (b) I didn't want to jump in the middle of something and (c) I am not sure we subscribed to the channel it was on.
So I watched the first season, or maybe the first two seasons, of Star Trek: Voyager but then my satellite subscription for the channel it was on (UPN? the WB? something like that) went away and I never finished the series. Hopefully as money permits I will eventually see all of B5 and Voyager.
Fortunately we purchased the satellite in time for me to see Hercules, Xena, Buffy, the Lost World and a few other shows.
Now we have DirecTV. The C-band satellite began to lose programing after the turn of the century and in 2004 we went to the smaller satellite. We are not unhappy with it. I don't watch a lot of TV to begin with and aside from losing the picture in heavy rains or other bad weather we don't have any trouble with it.
But they don't seem to be making very many TV shows like Voyager, Buffy, or B5 these days, although it is quite possible that there are things out there I am missing since I don't check out news shows very often.
I was never able to get into Lost or Heroes. I'm not sure why.
Anyone have recommendations for completed SF or fantasy series that I might look for?
When I was around six or seven I was enamored with a TV show called Land of the Giants. I do not really remember the show but I do remember being upset because we were at a circus and I was missing the show. Apparently it was must-see TV.
I liked some cheesy shows, such as Land of the Lost (not the 2009 movie), the Batman series (the one with Adam West), and others like The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, and the Six Million Dollar Man. I never saw much of Lost in Space; we couldn't get the channel.
Later I enjoyed shows such as Quantum Leap and Sliders, but managed to miss seeing Star Trek: The Next Generation and similar shows of that era (doesn't that make me sound old?).
These days, I like to watch TV while I am walking on the treadmill of mornings. I have gone through the entire Xena: Warrior Princess series several times, mostly because it was all I had here. Then I bought Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and walked through all seven seasons of that show. I've also walked through a season of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and am getting ready to walk through yet another one.
Over the summer I walked through the first season of Babylon 5 and I am just finishing up the first season of Star Trek: Voyager.
Until someone gave me the DVD, Babylon 5 was a show I had never seen. This is because for a very long time we could only obtain two television stations, CBS and NBC. We could sometimes see ABC if the clouds were right.
It was not until 1994 that we purchased a C-Band satellite. That's one of those huge satellites. Suddenly I knew what MTV and VH1 was. I could watch HBO!
And series that were already in progress, like Babylon 5, went right on by me because (a) there was so much stuff to watch and (b) I didn't want to jump in the middle of something and (c) I am not sure we subscribed to the channel it was on.
So I watched the first season, or maybe the first two seasons, of Star Trek: Voyager but then my satellite subscription for the channel it was on (UPN? the WB? something like that) went away and I never finished the series. Hopefully as money permits I will eventually see all of B5 and Voyager.
Fortunately we purchased the satellite in time for me to see Hercules, Xena, Buffy, the Lost World and a few other shows.
Now we have DirecTV. The C-band satellite began to lose programing after the turn of the century and in 2004 we went to the smaller satellite. We are not unhappy with it. I don't watch a lot of TV to begin with and aside from losing the picture in heavy rains or other bad weather we don't have any trouble with it.
But they don't seem to be making very many TV shows like Voyager, Buffy, or B5 these days, although it is quite possible that there are things out there I am missing since I don't check out news shows very often.
I was never able to get into Lost or Heroes. I'm not sure why.
Anyone have recommendations for completed SF or fantasy series that I might look for?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Books: The Laughter of Dead Kings
The Laughter of Dead Kings
By Elizabeth Peters
Performed by Barbara Rosenblat
10 hours unabridged
Copyright 2008
Elizabeth Peters is better known for the Amelia Peabody mystery series, which generally deal with Egyptian mysteries and archeology and that sort of thing.
However, The Laughter of Dead Kings is a Vicky Bliss novel, with the heroine ostensibly brought back for a final investigation. Though she also was in Egypt for much of the book, she is not simply another Amelia Peabody.
For those who may not know, Elizabeth Peters is also Barbara Michaels. I became a fan of Barbara Michaels more goth-type novels a long time ago.
I enjoyed this Vicky Bliss novel, and since this is a Peters series I had not read before, I will go back and look for the earlier books.
Someone has stolen King Tut's body, and the chief suspect is John Tregarth. He is Bliss's significant other, and an art connoisseur (and thief) of some renown. Bliss works in a museum and is a person of note in her own right.
The book follows the duo as they set out to prove that Tregarth did not steal Tut. Along the way they are helped by several friends, murder occurs, Tut needs to be ransomed, etc.
A good listen in the car and recommended especially for readers who like a more ensemble approach to mystery-solving. I also enjoyed the reader; Rosenblat did a good job. A good reader is crucial to the enjoyment of an audiobook.
By Elizabeth Peters
Performed by Barbara Rosenblat
10 hours unabridged
Copyright 2008
Elizabeth Peters is better known for the Amelia Peabody mystery series, which generally deal with Egyptian mysteries and archeology and that sort of thing.
However, The Laughter of Dead Kings is a Vicky Bliss novel, with the heroine ostensibly brought back for a final investigation. Though she also was in Egypt for much of the book, she is not simply another Amelia Peabody.
For those who may not know, Elizabeth Peters is also Barbara Michaels. I became a fan of Barbara Michaels more goth-type novels a long time ago.
I enjoyed this Vicky Bliss novel, and since this is a Peters series I had not read before, I will go back and look for the earlier books.
Someone has stolen King Tut's body, and the chief suspect is John Tregarth. He is Bliss's significant other, and an art connoisseur (and thief) of some renown. Bliss works in a museum and is a person of note in her own right.
The book follows the duo as they set out to prove that Tregarth did not steal Tut. Along the way they are helped by several friends, murder occurs, Tut needs to be ransomed, etc.
A good listen in the car and recommended especially for readers who like a more ensemble approach to mystery-solving. I also enjoyed the reader; Rosenblat did a good job. A good reader is crucial to the enjoyment of an audiobook.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Books: The Blueberry Years
My review of Jim Minick's The Blueberry Years, printed in The Roanoke Times today, can be viewed here. Copyright issues keep me from printing it in its entirety but please go and read it if you like.
The nonfiction book is about growing blueberries in nearby Floyd County.
Minick, a Radford University professor, also wrote a column for the Roanoke Times' New River Valley edition. His last column, printed in August of this year, is located here.
Minick's website is here.
It's a very interesting book.
The nonfiction book is about growing blueberries in nearby Floyd County.
Minick, a Radford University professor, also wrote a column for the Roanoke Times' New River Valley edition. His last column, printed in August of this year, is located here.
Minick's website is here.
It's a very interesting book.
Friday, September 17, 2010
My Poor Nikon
As I looked at photos I had taken the other day, I realized that I was getting spots on the pictures taken with my Nikon D40.
I had not noticed this before, but a glance back through some files indicates that these spots have been there a while.
A search on the Internet shows that the sensor in the camera needs cleaning.
The camera issix years* old, so I have been lucky to have used it this long without issue.
But I did not know where to get it fixed. I phoned a few friends, one of whom told me I'd likely have to ship it off, or maybe drive it to northern Virginia.
One business told me that they could repair it but they sent it off. It was rather expensive, too.
This did not sound good.
I also discovered that the Nikon D40 apparently has been discontinued and if I wanted to replace the camera I would need to go to a different model.
I mentioned the problem to my husband last night and he suggested that I send a note to one of the firemen he works with. He loves cameras.
The fireman suggested Lee Hartman & Sons.
I called there this morning and after talking to the technician I felt my camera would be in capable hands and so dropped it off shortly thereafter.
Now all I can do is wait for my little baby to be returned to me, hopefully sans dust bunnies.
I will be much more careful about changing lens in the future. I have always felt that was an issue with these DSLRs, and while I do my best to keep the dirt away, sometimes you fail, I guess.
Meanwhile, I spent some time looking at point and shoots, which have come so far in the world as to be deserving of some grudging respect.
While I am not buying a new camera right now, I like the looks of the Nikon Coolpix P100, which has an incredible 26X zoom. My Canon Powershot, which is actually a year older than my Nikon
D40, has a 12X zoom, which seems comparable to the 200mm lens on my Nikon DSLR. A 26X zoom would give me some great close-ups of those deer and turkey, would it not?
For about the same money, Canon has a Powershot SX20 with a 20X zoom. I have enjoyed my Canon point and shoot, too, although I tend to prefer the picture saturation of Nikons in my photos. But for everyday photography my Canon has been terrific.
*It was pointed out in a comment that the camera wasn't released until 2006. Apparently I have only had the thing for three years but it certainly seems like a lot longer.*
I had not noticed this before, but a glance back through some files indicates that these spots have been there a while.
A search on the Internet shows that the sensor in the camera needs cleaning.
The camera is
But I did not know where to get it fixed. I phoned a few friends, one of whom told me I'd likely have to ship it off, or maybe drive it to northern Virginia.
One business told me that they could repair it but they sent it off. It was rather expensive, too.
This did not sound good.
I also discovered that the Nikon D40 apparently has been discontinued and if I wanted to replace the camera I would need to go to a different model.
I mentioned the problem to my husband last night and he suggested that I send a note to one of the firemen he works with. He loves cameras.
The fireman suggested Lee Hartman & Sons.
I called there this morning and after talking to the technician I felt my camera would be in capable hands and so dropped it off shortly thereafter.
Now all I can do is wait for my little baby to be returned to me, hopefully sans dust bunnies.
I will be much more careful about changing lens in the future. I have always felt that was an issue with these DSLRs, and while I do my best to keep the dirt away, sometimes you fail, I guess.
Meanwhile, I spent some time looking at point and shoots, which have come so far in the world as to be deserving of some grudging respect.
While I am not buying a new camera right now, I like the looks of the Nikon Coolpix P100, which has an incredible 26X zoom. My Canon Powershot, which is actually a year older than my Nikon
D40, has a 12X zoom, which seems comparable to the 200mm lens on my Nikon DSLR. A 26X zoom would give me some great close-ups of those deer and turkey, would it not?
For about the same money, Canon has a Powershot SX20 with a 20X zoom. I have enjoyed my Canon point and shoot, too, although I tend to prefer the picture saturation of Nikons in my photos. But for everyday photography my Canon has been terrific.
*It was pointed out in a comment that the camera wasn't released until 2006. Apparently I have only had the thing for three years but it certainly seems like a lot longer.*
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