Journal of a Sabbatical

December 1, 2000

big white bird

Today's Bird Sightings:
Plum Island
snowy owl (1)
greater yellowlegs (2)
mallard (a lot)
black duck (a lot)
Canada goose (210+)
snow goose (2)
mute swan (2)

Today's Reading: The Story of the Stone (a.k.a. Dream of the Red Chamber): Volume 4 by Cao Xueqin, Autumn from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau edited by H.G.O. Blake

Dream of the Red Chamber - greatly abridged

Academic Research and Info Center for Dream of the Red Chamber - even includes a list of all the dishes (and there a great many) served at the banquets described

Went to look for snowy owl. Found same. It was cold. I had a good time and good looks at the owl. It was sitting on the ground when I first saw it, but eventually it flew up and landed on a hay staddle so I could see the whole magnificent bird. Two van loads of Brits on a birding tour got good looks at it too. They were pretty happy. The snowy owl was one of their target birds for the trip. Seems funny to have a place that I spend so much time at be a big deal destination for foreign tourists.

After freezing myself to the bone by inexplicably leaving my jacket in the car while I stood by the edge of the salt pannes staring at the owl first through a borrowed scope and then through my own binoculars, I was in no condition to spend much more time outdoors. Remind me to put the jacket on the next time, not just bring it along for the ride. So I went to downtown Newburyport where I bought 1/2 pound of French Roast coffee and no books. I browsed for quite awhile and petted Domino (of course) who was unusually quiet today. I told her person about how Princess Catnip had gotten adopted and then returned immediately because she talked too much. People either love vocal cats or can't stand them. I guess the people thought Princess was unhappy there because she was vocalizing so much. People who come into Olde Port Book Shop always think Domino wants to be fed or is complaining about her litter box or something. My mother always thinks Wilbur is crying and therefore wants to be fed or something. Personally, I am starting to understand some of Wilbur's vast vocabulary of sounds.

This picture has nothing to do with today's entry. It's just here to remind me I haven't nearly finished the China trip journal yet. The sign is from Du Fu's Cottage. I made a print of it for Ned to hang in his basement, which like Du Fu's Cottage is a shrine to poetry.