Remember me my darlin' when spring is in the air and the bald-headed birds are whisperin' everywhere

[rolanni]

Death-march weekend. We can do this.

Yesterday, we had the rag and tag of the tropical storm through. Blew and rained like a sonofagun. I left for work on streets paved with the gold of downed pine needles, and stopped at the top of the hill to let the turkeys cross. About eighteen turkeys, going slow and orderly, like a class of third graders, a guard-turkey at the top of the line, off the side of the road to my right, and a rear-guard-turkey at the back of the line, off the side of the road to my left.

There were only four or five more left to cross, when one of the turkeys saw me, turned and bolted back the way they had come. And every other turkey, including the ones that were safely on the right-hand side of road, also ran back the way they had come, including the guard-turkey, last, as honor dictates.

Progress on Ghost Ship:

94219 / 100000 (94.22%)

Edited to add: Progress on Ghost Ship:

95022 / 100000 (95.02%)

That includes about 2500 words of new material. Haven't quite gotten all the red-pen changes entered, since two chapters are with Steve, being reworked.

Stopping because the words on the screen are too blurry to read. Tomorrow, I've got some writing to do, and the rest of the red-pens to enter.

Guess I'd better get up early.

Comments

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I'm laughing. You gotta love turkeys, and not just with cranberry sauce. No claims that turkeys are the brightest bulbs in the aviary.

I didn't realize (because I haven't had as many opportunities to watch them) that turkeys also utilize guard birds. I love how groups of geese will always have a one or two geese on watch while others eat or nap.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

They aren't the dimmest either, my vote for that goes to pheasants. The things have a death wish ("Eat me!"), they actively try to run under moving vehicles. (In the UK if you kill a bird or animal by accident you can't take it home to eat, but someone who sees one killed or finds roadkill can do so. It used to be common in some country areas for cars to drive in pairs, one to hit the birds and the other to pick them up for the pot. These days the kestrels hover waiting for a car to kill their dinner for them...)

Ben Franklin's turkeys

[(Anonymous)]

Ben Franklin wanted to have the turkey as the national bird but PR-minded people prevailed and we got the more majestic-looking bald eagle instead. This isn't a political blog but when I combined Ben's choice for national bird and your description of the turkey march to nowhere I was starkly reminded of some of our current crop of wanna-be politicians. Don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Anne in Virginia

Re: Ben Franklin's turkeys

[bookmobiler.livejournal.com]

Ben was also rather caustic about eagles. See his letter to his daughter here: http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html (http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html)

Re: Ben Franklin's turkeys

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

the turkey march to nowhere. . .

No, no -- you wrong them. The turkey's were going somewhere, and eventually they will arrive. They're just a little timid, is all. And a lot shatterbrained.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sending good thoughts your way.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Day Two commencing...

Turkeys, Eagles, Ghost Ship

[claire774.livejournal.com]

Good luck with Ghost Ship. I am very interested to know what Steve's work is on the books where his name appears. From today's posting he's a pre editor editor. But also contributes to ideas for the story line ...from a past posting.

As for Turkeys vs Eagles. You have to love them both. All species are protected on Best Friends Animal Society land, 3,300 private land, much more leased BLM acres (you don't have the federal agency the Bureau of Land Management back east I believe. But can look it up) The turkeys at BFAS are very bold. They don't run from anyone but continue their deliberate way across any road in complete safety since we drive slowly on the sanctuary roads.

Ben Franklin was entirely wrong about the Bald Eagle. Of course, back in the day, who knew? They come through here in the winter. Summer way north in Canada and AK. If you have ever seen one of these majestic birds in person as I have it is a thrilling sight. Anyone who sees a Bald Eagle around here reports "I saw a Bald Eagle today. Wow! Incredible!" whether in flight or sitting in a tree. I looked them up in Wikipedia so you can too. Suffice it to say these are very large and fierce looking birds. The adults have the white feathered head, the immature birds are all brown. They are water birds preferring access to bodies of water where they hunt for fish themselves diving down and catching them with their huge talons. Their nests can weigh up to a ton.

They are protected by substantial fines. I think around $50,000 per infraction although it may be more. So that discourages the local good ole boys completely.

The Eagle is sacred to the local pueblo Indians. Their feathers are prized to decorate like the lightening sticks and other items.

Gus says this is too long. Sorry. C.

Re: Turkeys, Eagles, Ghost Ship

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I am very interested to know what Steve's work is on the books where his name appears. From today's posting he's a pre editor editor. But also contributes to ideas for the story line ...from a past posting.

I'll try to send Steve around to answer. Failing that, sometime later, when I'm not actually doing it, I'll try to make a post exploring what some folks dignify as Our Process.

We have lots of bald eagles in the neighborhood -- see the title of this blog. They've made a substantial comeback in the last...decade? My first sighting was something of a shock -- a large winged shadow passed over my car as I crossed the Waterville-Winslow Bridge and the only thing I could think was that it must be the Garuda Bird...