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It is +7 C with a high forecast of +7 C. Sunrise 5:37 Sunset 21:19 Hours of daylight: 15:42.
See current forecast here. See current news here.This page last updated on: Friday, May 23, 2008 7:02 AM
There is light rain at the moment. But our high for the day is 16 degrees below average for this time of the year.
I anticipate finishing "And God Created Manyberries" today. It is a fine book - humourous and yet it actually gives a fairly accurate picture of life in a very small rural town.
| Long Term Activities | Planned Activities for Today | Time Today | Cumulative Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cull professional articles | Review Psychology articles | 5 hr |
|
| Prepare pdf files of my papers | Digitize 3 professional papers | 4 hr |
|
| Digitize slides | Digitize slide collection | 10 hr |
|
| Put away stamps | 0 hr |
I am still failing to actively engage in the various activities that I have identified. This is not a serious problem as there are still many little chores around the house to occupy me. Groceries, gas for the car, and liquid for the body are all on my list for this morning.
The lawn continues to grow while it is raining. The coulees will likely green-up over the next few days, which is always welcome.
| Learning Category | Planned Activities for Today | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | Begin morning with a Rumi reading | |
| Puzzles & Games | New York Times crossword puzzles | 1 hr |
| Literature | Complete reading "And God Created Manyberries" by Ron Wood | 1 hr |
| Literature | Begin reading "The Temptations of Big Bear" by Rudy Wiebe | 1 hr |
I bought this book last week while at the check-out counter at Greenwoods' Bookstore in Edmonton. I spotted the title in a brochure and asked if they had it. They did, and now I do.
Manyberries is part of my personal history. My grandfather homesteaded near there and we have driven through there a couple of times. once while locating the exact location of the homestead and the second time after doing some bird watching at Pakowki Lake. However we have yet to stop and have a beer at the Southern Ranchmen's Inn. After reading this book, we will definitely remedy that oversight this summer.
This is a grand book. It is a collection of about 50 vignettes, all having a strong Manyberrian flavour. I could hardly put the book down. It was pure fun with a nice touch toward the foibles of self-important people.
I would love to know more about why the author decided to retire there.
I tried looking up Manyberries using Google Earth, but due to some oversight on their part, this area is only available in a low-resolution format so I wasn't able to identify the streets nor the Ranchmen's Inn. But I do remember driving past it (on the left side driving north) (or on the right side driving south). I have gone by it in both directions.
I would rate this as 5 out of 5.
Tags: short stories, Alberta, humour
Now to select my next Literature book. I am going to opt for "The Temptations of Big Bear" by Rudy Wiebe. I bought this book in 2002 and have always meant to get around to it. Now is the time. This is also about southern Alberta. This will also complete my reading of books that I bought in 2002. A trivial milestone, but a milestone nonetheless.
I have begun reading "The Temptations of Big Bear" and am impressed with the literary quality of the story. This is historical writing on a higher plane.
I have added photos to my pages for May 9, May 13, and May 19.
Books on the Go Today |
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