cormorant in the headlights

December 13, 2002

Is a cormorant crossing your path on Friday the 13th anything like a black cat crossing your path? Of course the cormorant didn't exactly cross my path, it sat down and spread its wings to dry smack dab in front of my car. Judging by the amount of white on its neck and chest, I figure it's young. Anyway, it made a startling sight all lit up in the headlights and I couldn't resist a photo.

Besides the cormorant, the other notable bird today was a short-eared owl hunting in the marsh. Pretty cool. First one this winter. Uh, I know it's not winter yet astronomically, but I mean this cold and snowy season...

Following up on my question in Wednesday's entry: A quick search on such things reveals that Niijima Jo's studies at Andover Theological Seminary took place before the so-called Andover heresy (published in 1886 - held that there is a probation after death for those who don't learn the Lord's will during their lives on earth -- sounds kind of Mormon actually).

I finished The Willows at Christmas thanks to a bout of insomnia. It was fun. I don't have anything more literate to say. In fact I don't have much of anything to say at all about anything. I imagined I'd write about how fascinating Modern Japanese Diaries is or something like that, but I am retreating into word-shortage again. Someday I will understand why I can't write any more. Yeah, yeah, I know you're all saying what do you mean any more you never could in the first place?!

Today's Reading
Modern Japanese Diaries by Donald Keene

This Year's Reading
2002 Book List