Weeks 10/8 through 10/20/2011
Tuesday (10/16) 6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins
12:50 – 1:10pm “The Door in the Wall” H.G. Wells
Wednesday (10/17) 6:25 – 6:50am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins
12:40 – 1:10pm “A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner
Thursday (10/18) 6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins
2:10 – 2:35pm Prairie Wings Audubon of Kansas
Friday (10/19) 6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins
Total minutes=185
This week brought about a lot of change in my reading time having to make up missed minutes from the previous week. Instead of finding time to read, I had to make time to read. This was an easier adjustment then I first perceived. I began waking earlier with my wife and found an easily accessible half hour in the morning prior to the time that both my sons are awakened. The other adjustment I made was during my lunch break. Usually, I rush through eating, taking very few minutes, and returning to work even though I’m entitled to more time. I found it easy to locate a short story on the internet, print it out and sit calmly and read. http://www.readbookonline.net has a lifetime supply of short stories. I haven’t even looked at the texts and essays. It may harken many back to the earlier education, but I’ve always had a love for them. Because of the limited plot development, some can even be difficult to analyze; most are still enjoyable to read and you can get through meaningful literature without the larger commitment of an entire text.
It’s sad to say, but I always see Drew Barrymore in the movie Fifty First Dates reading the book with a cover that looks like a pack of Camel cigarettes. This is kind of a poor reason to search out a book, but fruitful none the less. I discovered that the book is Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins author of the more well-known Even Cow Girls Get the Blues (popular in the nineties). I will say I wasn’t prepared for the level of vulgarity, but never do I remember laughing out loud so much when reading a book. Besides its comedic unfolding plot, Robbins is masterful at using words and creating thought-provoking phrases.
The two short stories read during my lunches were such a nice break to my normal routine. H.G. Wells “The Door in the Wall” was written as a conversation between two men about one’s childhood experience of blissful wonder behind a green door and his search to find the door. I’m sure I’m missing some of the potential theme, but the imagery of returning to childhood wonders and longer for opportunity to revisit such experiences. The second short story, A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner was a mystery in many ways about a wealthy spinster who lived a secret life aside from society in her town. The narrator builds up sympathy for her treatment by others, only to conclude with a strange and deceptive twist.
At lunch on Thursday I read through the latest edition of the Audubon Society of Kansas publication (printed in Manhattan, KS). For an environmental cooperative, they sure print on some high grade paper. There was an article on Greater Prairie Chickens linked back to back with an article on autumn grasses in the Flint Hills. I read two other pieces on threats to the Prairie. One covered the changing landscape caused by wind farming. This included some convincing photos. Another piece discussed the emergence and spread of the invasive species Sericia lespedeza. interestingly there is still research being conducted to determine the best course of action. There are other invasive plant species in the conservation lands of the prairie, but cattl egrazing and trampling have kept them from expanding their ranges. Sericia is not palatable to cattle and too resilient to trampled down. K-State Ag research is still working on potential solutions, but trying to avoid chemicals as much as possible.
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