Main Street

For me finishing a book is always a bitter sweet experience, a mixture of letdown and satisfaction . Having just completed Main Street (Sinclair Lewis) there was more balance between the two this time.Maybe it was the afterwards
analyzing the story that softened the letdown.

The book was written in 1920 . It is a novel that follows an "emancipated woman" through the early 1900's as she tries to socially reform a
small mid western town . After years of frustration and failure she decides to leave . Ending up in Washington DC for two years , she discovers it is too late for her to be a revolutionary and returns to except her husband and the town on their terms .
The book can be read in different ways as it is written as an allegory on exile and return . I found it interesting read as an historical novel. Here is an example of its great evocative detail.



Under the stilly boughs and the black gauze of dusk the street was meshed in silence. There was but a hum of motor tires crunching the road, the creak of a rocker on the Howlands' porch, the slap of a hand attacking a mosquito, a heat - weary conversation starting and dying, the precise rhythm of crickets, the thud of moths against the screen-sounds that were a distilled silence.It was a street beyond the end of the world , beyond the boundaries of hope. Though she should sit here forever ,no brave procession, no one who was interesting , would be coming by. It was tediousness made tangible,a street builded of lassitude and of futility.

Although sorry the story is finished I look forward to absorbing another classic soon.

the voice!

everyone wants in the act

They're Here!

It is hard to believe but Seasonal ales are here again. Cheers!

I will never forget this!

a new day dawns

The gems never dim at youtube!

Guess where!

Man's Best Friend

Impact

Had a interesting moment today while while reading Xenophon's "The Persian Expedition". It occurred as I was reading Xenophon's speech to the remainder of the 10,000 after suffering
a demoralizing setback . In the middle of his impassioned speech I suddenly sneezed. As it was only one time I continued reading . To my amazement the next paragraph said this.


"Just as he was saying this. someone sneezed ,and, when the soldiers heard it they all with one accord fell on their knees and worshiped the god who had given them this sign.
Xenophon went on: I think ,soldiers ,that, since an omen from Zeus the Saviour appeared just when we were speaking about safety ,we ought to make a vow that we will give thank-offerings to the god for our safety in the place where we first reach friendly soil, and we should also vow to offer sacrifices to the other gods to the best of our ability".Never knew a reader could have such impact ".

Progress

Proof that we are making progress! These small Ohia trees (some we transplanted and some volunteers) are really growing. It is most gratifying to see our reforesting efforts actually working.

somehow this relates to President Obama

Man this is beautiful !

From A. Wainwright's "A North Wales Sketchbook"

A Hawaii Moment

Walking this evening it occurred

imperceptible at first

then a sound on the edge of consciousness

relentlessly approaching like Xenophon's 10,000

A trade wind shower

pouring for a few seconds

and departing just as it had arrived

A Hawaii moment

The classics

I have returned to my classic book reading kick. As a student in high school I did not have much interest in reading. I failed to realize how much enjoyment comes from a good book. Of course in college I had to read but not much for pleasure. It was not until I happened to watch a TV series named In search of the Trojan wars that things began to change. In This interesting show, narrated by Michael Woods there were many references to Homer's Iliad. Before the series was finished I just had to get a copy and attempt to read it. Although it was a struggle I finished it and was hooked on penguin classics. Reading the odyssey followed ,and the whole world of these books opened up. Realizing I had not much knowledge of the classics I got a book titled "The life time reading plan" by Clifford Fadiman. It gave me direction and coupled with" How to read a book "written by Mortimer J Adler and Charles Van Doren I was rolling . Since then I have read more than a few of the classics and currently am reading "Main Street" written by Sinclair Lewis. Reading has become one of my interests which I do manage to get something accomplished. That and drinking!

Just another day on the 'estate'

Today we worked on our pineapples and bananas . After having either eaten or given away almost 100 pineapples . we are now organizing the remaining plants for next year . This involves weeding the plants that remain and will fruit next year and rooting the tops which are cut off of the fruits.They are processed by removing their bottom "petals" and placed in jars to develop roots . There are also other babies on the plants that can be removed and put through the same process. Today we weeded and fertilized part of the plants in the photo. To locate the area where we were working see August post section b. We also worked on our bananas in the same area. Over the last several weeks we have had 5 bunches develop. After they are cut off of the plant, it is cut down as it will not fruit again. So today we cut one bunch off and 3 plants down. We spent over two hours working on all of this. Just another day on the 'estate'