Wombats apparently enjoy many other furry animals, from horses, to dogs to the big cats, and even the little ones. And we've heard about Nutria (which I still say sounds like a dietary aid, and, no, I'm not willing to taste-test one of those).
I thought I'd add a few more. On one of the threads where we were discussing our zodiac signs, I mentioned I'm an Aquarius, so it should come as no surprise that I love aquatic mammals: otters, seals, sea lions and dolphins. And, well, sure, why not mermen? LOL.
I still have a book I bought at the sixth grade book fair. The pages are yellow, the glue of the binding is brittle and I don't think one page connects to another. When I gave it to my child to read, I made sure it was on the dining room table and one page was turned at a time.
The book? The True Story of Okee The Otter by Dorothy Wisbeski.
"Back in the day" when there was no ban on the import of exotic animals, she wrote to a pet shop or zoo (can't remember - I'm a bit older now that "back in the day" has passed) that she wanted to purchase a female Colombian river otter. Presto - she got one. Only "she" turned out to be a "he." (Have you checked the underside of an otter? Really, it's not that hard to tell...)
I devoured this book many times over. Dreamed of having my own river otter in the suburbs (which was so completely unfair to this otter, but at the time I didn't realize it), watching him slide through the snow, gambol in the creek, play with the dog...All the wonderful things Okee did.
Like I said, I still have this book; I still glance through the pages and wish we could build a pond in the backyard and have some North American river otters to watch (considerably smaller than the 6 foot long Colombian variety). I have sponsored the otters at my local zoo and enjoy seeing the decal the zoo sent me smiling by my computer.
As many of you know, I recently spent time in SeaWorld. I should have been an animal trainer. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Some of my children have the same wish, and I'm really hoping at least one goes for it. Since you've heard from me while on said trip, I thought I'd share some of the photos.
I didn't put all of them into the body of this article - be sure to click through them to the right and read the captions about the killer whales, the sea lion, the beluga whale the the rest.
I know we've discussed what books influenced your writing, but what books do you have from "back in the day"? Any? Have you bought them now that you're older to relive those memories/share with children in your life? I did buy Dodie Smith's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" - the book is such a great adventure story, more so than the Disney movie. The follow up book, "Starlight Barking." And one other one from my childhood that I bought for my children is "The Cricket In Times Square." The sad thing is, I don't remember what it's about (other than, obviously, a cricket), but I do know that I loved that book and read it over and over.
I did try to find Okee's book online, but it's out of print. There are several editions for $30 or so, but I'm figuring they're in the same condition. Plus, there's just something about watching my child handle the same book I did that has my awkward cursive writing of my name on the front cover. It was also a wonderful moment when said child looked at me and said, "Mom. I think that's the best book I ever read."
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Comments: 469
Rated as I was scrolling down and before I got to your comment.
Sorry. I owe you 1.
Otters are way cool Judi, I love them too. I actually do an impersonation of a sea otter opening shellfish, but my family won't let me do it in public. They claim that it is too suggestive.
Tales from the locker room
More tales from the locker room
There are more Tales coming in January with a how to exercise focus and one on Sex Signals at the Gym, which I expect to be a runaway best-seller.
Love the pics!
Have I kept a book from way back? Oh, yes! I have a bunch of the Agatha Christie's -- they've traveled all over with me in every move I make!
I got a bunch of samples, the bartender was very helpful as I tried to find a decent ale. Not too light not too heavy, not in a porter or stout mood. Anyway, the third sample in he gives me one, way too- well non existent. Asked him what it was- the Busch one that I ruled out.
Question: is he being sexist or is he testing me to see if I know what the h*ll I'm talking about?
I've been to SeaWorld in California as a kid and to San Antonio several years ago. I need to take the kids there again now that they're old enough to appreciate all the marine life!
My daughter has her own reading preferences, she likes biographies and Michael Crichton right now. I started posting poems on the fridge so we have something to read while wandering around in there. This month was the first time she posted one: Shel Silverstein's "Messy Room". It was a protest against my complaints about the state of her room :)
We read a bunch of Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter when she was very little. I was told the EA Poe was not a bedtime story writer when she was in about 2 grade. Then Harry Potter came along and that kept us busy. Reading every night was a wonderful time. I miss it, but she still comes over for a snuggle on the sofa or a random passing hug every now and again.
Dana F. - MURDER FOR HIRE: The Peruvian Pigeon, released October 2007
Todd - 3 year editing contract with Kensington Books for anthologies derived from my website - Thuglit.com. The first, HARDCORE HARDBOILED, is set for release in June.
My grandmother bought three Christmas books, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and one about the Nativity (don't remember the name) but I can see every illustration in my head.
She read them to us every Christmas season. I read them to my children every season, and I suspect my daughter will read them to the baby this year too.
Judi: "Rate this a 1, please."
Me: "As you wish."
Wrt books from our youth, mine were unfortunately all tossed by my parents when I went off to college, including a comic book collection that would have been worth enough today to put both my kids through college.
As a parent, I still have many of my kids' books tucked away in boxes, and I mailed my son's comic collection to him when he moved to Los Angeles. Other books that we didn't keep have found new homes either in my wife's classroom (3-4 year olds), or at Goodwill. Never the garbage (unless covered with some foul toddler spew).
Kids' books - Wrinkle in Time, Encyclopedia Brown, yes, I loved 101 Dalmations, the Narnia books, and I have these two cheesy hardbacks I treasured that were part of a series called: "A Dig Allen Space Explorer Adventure" - yeah, I wanted to be an astronaut.
Along those lines, I have a copy of THE MAKING OF STAR TREK, which was published while the show was still running (right at the end) - I LOVED that book, which was basically a look at how the show was put together, sold and what was involved with producing it. The book is actually still relevant in some ways, as it applies to the business of television in general. Lots has changed but the crazy deadlines and improvisational nature of it hasn't. And the network notes. Keep in mind I was a pretty young kid - my favorite parts were the censors notes complaining about "suggestive scenes" and "open-mouthed kisses." They had a real thing for "open-mouthed kisses." I don't know why but I thought these notes were hilarious.
BTW.. Sending good vibes to your surgeon for next week's surgery. You'll be on the driving range this Spring. Yes, yes you will. The will of the sisterhood has spoken!
Singing the chief song, "How I love to cut up little fish! First I chop off their heads and pull out their bones..." I'm sick I know.. gotta love Louis though.
Dana and Todd: Cool!!!!!
Wendy: Are you doing your duty, assigned on the last thread? :>)
JK: I Like Beaker's wig. Maybe I'm strange. (Maybe?)
Jamie: So, did you do that ping thing? What the heck is it? How does it work?
Pat: You are such a sweetheart, promoting my book all the time. Is it just cooincidence that my wife's name is Pat S? (Yes, Wombats, it's just coincidence.)
I've noticed that some of my connections have extensive profiles displayed on their namespace pages and some, like me, have nothing but an icon and a location. Beth doesn't even have a location. Are some of us too shy for profiles?
Childhood books that impressed me - well, the usual girl ones. Nancy Drew, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne of Green Gables. And then I jumped right into adult books (not XXX - get your minds out of the gutter!) I mean Steven King, John Jakes, and other classics.
One very uncommon one that I still remember was called 'A Candle In Her Room'. I don't remember the author, but it was about an evil doll that haunted a family through three generations. It was something of a kiddie horror novel. Can't find it any more, though. I'd buy it if I could. It just left an impression.
All my childhood books, except Nancy Drew, are gone with the ex (he had a bonfire with them.) So I re-purchased them for the son when he was little. He loved The Phantom Tollbooth the best, and still has it. I was fortunate to have a sister in college, majoring in library science/children's literature, while I was a child. Each semester, she'd send home the books that had been required reading. Lots of Newbury award winners on the list. But there was also her Shakespeare (what 10 year old is reading poems and histories of Shakespeare?). Loved the whole Wrinkle in Time series. For mu son, I loved reading him the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books.
Geat article Judi, although, being an impulsive fire sign, who leaps before she looks, I gave you a 10 before reading the instructions. And I love my flamingo, even if it's not showing its most flattering side to the world!
Haven't had time to read through all the comments here, yet. Back later.
Shatner swore he would kill everyone in sight, especially Ellison, when he found out Ellison was behind the stunt.
Tangent: Ellison, at the time of the talk, had just won a legal suite against James Cameron for the first Terminator movie, claiming that the premise, and especially the scene where the Terminator first arrives in present time, was stolen from one of Ellison's scripts for an Outer Limits episode. Ellison's award in the lawsuit was $100,000 and Cameron having to write something like 100 repetitions of "I shall not steal from my betters".
JK: Are you having some gender identity issues?
Pat: I agree on the profiles. I'm just leaving all that stuff off.
Wendy: I hope you got the link thing to work now.
Ping, pong ...
I was here, but now I'm gone.
Final grades for my classes:
13 As
26 Bs
19 Cs
2 Ds
6 Fs
11 Ws (withdraws) - I scare a lot of students. Well, my challenging class does.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
I'm just glad they are done.
Going home now. WHOOPIE! It's Friday!
JC. I think you are a little crab(by) today. Ha ha ha ha!
(p.s. I don't really think she's crabby, go look at her icon up close)
Is it wrong of me to want to hit on JK all of a sudden?
Rand cool bit about Ellison- I had no clue.
JK: I was wondering if you suddenly decided on a "dramatic" change.
Am I the only one who gets confused by changing icons?
I'm not sure if I should say, "Bad Wombats!" or "Good Wombats!" for all the 10s you've given me. How else are the DB1ers supposed to feel welcome? Come out of lurk mode and introduce themselves, standing up proud to their full DB1 height (I'm guessing about 3'8"???) Anyway, thank you for the 10s and the 1s :) Now, if we start getting DB2ers, I'm in trouble.
Jennifer! So glad you stopped by! What's going on with you?
Lisa - Aquarians are associated w/otters - well that explains a lot
Todd and Dana - fabulous news!
Rand - love that story about Shatner & Cameron. Was that the only lawsuit for Cameron or were there more? I thought I recalled another one, but can't remember it now.
I had 53 Nancy Drew books (I think that's all there were at the time.) My mom threw them away when I went to college, along with my comic book collection - Betty and Veronica, Richie Rich, Sad Sack, Josie and the Pussycats...I doubt they'd put my kids through college, like Rand's collection, but they'd give them some fun reading while they were there.
Fun pictures!
Jamie--Congrats on finishing your grading! Looks like you're a very fair grader. You gave a respectable number of As and more Bs than any other grade. Are you sure your bonesaw isn't scaring the students?
Good afternoon Wombats. Let's see if Dave's tutoring has done me any good.
Wombats on the Move
I had a dozen or so golden books as a child. I'd make my mom read ALL of them to me every night before I would go to sleep. I don't have them any more, though. I think they fell apart from over-use.
Tried to go shopping. Got frustrated and left. On the way home I got honked at at a stop light because I was waiting for an ambulance coming from the other direction. Hold yer horses, people!
We got new cell phones this week.. nice. Mostly because WA state has a new law effective 010108..only hands free in cars. Not that I use my phone while driving..much. DH does and our perfectly servicable 2yr old phones aren't blue tooth ready.
So I've spent the day scouring the internet for blue tooth deals. To save any of you the hassle, if you'd like the best price on the highest rated blue tooth (Plantronics Voyager 510) ping me and I'll give you the link.. under $40.00.. plain jane just for the phone.
I'm home alone... can you hear the silence? No, not that. That's the filter for the fish tank.. ignore the water.. yes blissful silence. I'm offically in heaven.
I didn't see the sexual preference Pat. Though I was tempted to say I was a man. Hey I knew a man named Wendy..yes I did. Short for Wendell, poor man.
Maybe I'll change to a man. I don't much like being a girl today.
Jamie we got more snow last night too. 3" of fluffy snow on top of the melted, glazed over snow we got last week. Driving is sooo much, fun. Tokyo drift comes to mind.
I'm a Gemini....which explains alot.
I don't have anything from my childhood but I always tried to get my girls interested in the books The Boxcar Children (for some weird reason I could relate to them) but my girls weren't interested. *sigh* But at least as they get older they're becoming readers.
I clasped my hand to my chest. "BUSTED!" It was so funny! She huffed off, magazine in hand, mumbling under her breath.
We had a large jar with greyish balls in the back of the fridge. I thought they were bull testicles for years. Turns out they were gefilte (?) fish.
I made my profile, other than my hometown, just for me.
How do we know if we get pinged? Does it show up at the top right like email?
Profiles? Nope. Never put one up. I know me and I reveal myself to my friends here. Don't want anything else up there. Did think of putting up something such as, "Follow me around a bit to learn something about me," but thought that strangers wouldn't take kindly to something like that. Dave, if we put the political stuff up, we could have lots of fun together!
I like the idea of posting our FC1 first chapters or FCR or something else. I know I missed stuff from a lot of the first FC1 folks. What were we looking at? Five pages? How about a natural first break?
Reminder that we're doing our own writing month in January. Wombats Novel Writing Month. Whoa No or woe no or just plain WoNo.
The initial idea was to write 50,000 pages of a new novel during the 31 days of January. Pat's great suggestion was to do that OR add 50,000 words to an existing manuscript OR delete 50,000 words from an exisiting manuscript. This is a time for creating, in honor of the year anniversary of FC1 and the 6-month anniversary of FCR.
Why are we doing this? So we can write. So we can commit to doing it and hold one another accountable for working on our projects. No real rules established yet, but be ready to publicly say what you will be doing. That way we can hold your feet to the fire.
Supposed to be at a holiday party in 15 minutes. Guess I should get going. Carry on, Wombats of Wombatonia!
Oh, and Dana & Todd--Whoo hoo!!! How about some details?
Dale - Could you put the actual stats together on that please? Thanks, Ty
JC - thanks for the ping!
Mind out of the gutter, people!
Oh, wait. See Jules' comment.
Never mind! *channeling Emily Littella*
Judi, nice article and great pics. The Wombats seem to have an obsession with animals. Have you noticed that?
Jill - Swedish triplets with those names? And you really expect us to believe they're little girls? Yeah, okay. Who wrote it? Someone with the last name of Flint or Hefner?
OK, any little girls beside me read Trixie Belden, Girl Detective, kind of like Nancy Drew lite?
Pat - I read the Bobbsey Twins and Trixie Beldan, too!
OK, here's the genus of my love of pirates (and yes, I do love them). At the age of about 7 or so, I went to the library to get a book about Lafayette, a guy I'd heard about in class. Again, being on my own, I inadvertantly checked out a book about Jean Lafitte instead. The former was a revolutionary war general; the latter was a pirate in Louisiana. I never looked at another general!
Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the New Dotted Dresses (it was my favorite) by Maj Lindman. There were seven books, written in the 1940s (no, I'm not THAT old.)
"Originally written in the '40's, these tales reflect a time of innocence. What makes these wholesome books so dear is that these children are especially respectful, kind, independent, resourceful, helpful, eager to work without thought of pay, and have every other virtue that we are trying to instill in our own children."
Oh, and I have a stoopid profile now.
I still read to my ten year old at night. His current favorite is a guy named Dan Gutman, who writes funny and challenging books on topics like sports, history and time travel. We've also read the "Boxcar Children" books, but they tend to be very formulaic; my son's gotten very good at figuring out who the villains are.
Congrats Todd and Dana.
I hope to start reading wombat ch 2 entries this weekend.
Beth: Politics in our profiles! Great idea! NOT. I'm going to have to try to get my voice recognition software going, so I can participate in WoNo while impaired.
Ping -- I got pinged. Gotta check it out.
Pong -- outta here again.
And, lovely pic...but you look bored. ;-)
You actually look familiar. I think I saw you in that coffee shop on Houston St, last Tuesday. Oh, and you dont need to worry about me. After that debacle of the pool lesson, I am turning over a new leaf and reforming. Never another innuendo, flirtatious remark, or even a compliment from me.
And Brenda, Dave gives lovely golf lessons. And Dave, can't you just get your wife to let you hire a sweet little thing to take dictation for you while you're laid up?