Review: What it Takes to Save a Life

 What it Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian's Quest for Healing and Hope

by Kwane Stewart

So inspiring that when I reached the end that I immediately looked into volunteering at a pet-friendly homeless shelter. Or contributing to his visiting veterinarian charity.  But I'll need to think over the logistics of all that.

This is a candid and very unstructured memoir of a veterinarian who practices among the homeless people of LA (or other places; I got confused) in his off-hours. He starts his career at an animal shelter with a very large kill-to-adopt ratio, but he is able to make a huge improvement before moving on to other jobs.  Cool--I only wish there had been more detail about how he did it.

And the rest is an intriguing mix of stories from his younger life (a difficult one but with loving parents who got him through); current-time autobiographical details; and stories of the homeless people and animals he cares for. With a smattering of essay-type material on subjects such as why homeless people's animals are usually much better behaved and socialized than non-homeless people's. Mostly it's due to their being close to their owner--24x7.  With much together time, dogs learn how to make us happy. And us them, too.

Lovely book--I only wish it had been twice as long.

Review: My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy

 
by Clint Hill

A photographic memoir of Mr. Hill's time as a secret service agent protecting Jackie Kennedy.  Lots and lots of lovely and revealing photos, plus fun stories of their time together.  Although all this occurred in 1961 through 1963, a little bit before my days--I was born but knew nothing about anything--I found it a fascinating look at history, especially the part where she met the queen.  They were both in their early thirties (Elizabeth II was 35 and Jackie 32) and oh, how young they looked!  Such brilliant smiles!

I'd never known anything about her before, other than she eventually married the amazingly rich Aristotle Onassis, so I assumed she was just another political snob. But she wasn't at all--she was a devoted mother, a great horsewoman and horse lover (and dog lover). She was genuinely interested in history and culture; studied much during their travels so she could fully understand what was going on in the countries. And she spoke fluent Spanish.

Wow.  And I grew to really like Mr. Hill. The premise of the book is that he and his daughter are going through all the old stuff stashed in his house to prepare it to sell. They're especially looking for a medal he received for bravery, but he had no interest in finding it. What they found instead, though, was a poignant trip down memory lane for a very loving and honorable man.

Review: Kept: An American Househusband in Paris

 by Gregory E Buford

So many smiles crossed my face while I was reading this!   I wanted it to go on and on...but I guess he hasn't written the next one yet.  He and his family are leaving Paris and heading for someplace new at the end, and I'll just have to be patient until they get there and he gets another book written.

In his first book his wife was stationed in India. His many adventures were a little off-putting at times, with the culture shock making me scratch my head and wonder how he could stand living in such a peculiar place.  He took it all in good humor, though, made some lifelong friends and enjoyed his time immensely. 

But this one is even better, and maybe a little bit funnier, too.  His three kids are a hoot!  Loved it.

Review: Dead stop

by Barbara Nickless

Intense and gruesome, almost to the point when I had to skip one of her murder scene descriptions so as not to trigger my overactive imagination. But other than a few TMI moments, I was glued to the pages and turning them rapidly.  Very, very rapidly.  The mystery was first rate, but the action was not for the faint of heart.

The detective, retired marine and current railroad cop, is investigating a murder of a woman on the train tracks and her investigation leads to a paper with a series of numbers written on it.  They look like a railroad crossing identifier...except the crossing doesn't exist in any database. What gives?

Great stuff.   Maybe a few too many bodies scattered along the way. But that seems to be what to expect from this series, so be prepared.

Review: Birding at the Bridge

Birding at the Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn Waterfront
by Heather Wolf

I enjoyed her other book very much, but this one is not what I hoped for. After reading a brief introduction about why she was birding that particular area and what she hoped to find, I expected chapters of exciting observations. But it was very commonplace and dull, mostly--little one or two page snippets about specific birds she saw, where and when, but not in enough detail to be more than the slightest bit interesting.  

Occasionally--but seldom--she told about her excitement in finding the particular bird at the particular place.  But usually it was just the name, a picture, and a very brief description.  I only "finished" reading it by skimming and picking out the few that interested me.

Magnus Returns From Thor, Day 5

Saturday, 9 November 2024

Bye to Boomland and all the geese--

We were able to get a quick and early start next morning but we drove in rain almost all day.  The destination was the North Little Rock KOA, where I'd made a reservation because it was full hookup, I had a membership to get 10% off, and it was on the route.

Very much on the route.  Note to self: if you choose a campground beside a major interstate highway, you will hear the major interstate highway.  All night long.

Of course, when we're inside Magnus the Mighty Motorhome we hear nothing.  Even with the TV off.  Which never happens.

Other than the noise, it was an okay KOA.  I wouldn't stay there again unless it was necessary.  Crowded to the gills--all those people, and all so close together!  I shudder.  And all had dogs (or cats)  I hate private campgrounds

There were two dog parks and some space around the tent camping area where I could walk Molly.  In the rain.  And squirrels all over, which made for a very exciting walk.  Until it quit raining, and then everyone brought their dogs out to walk.  I wish I had an old, calm dog who could be trusted to let other dogs alone and not pick fights. But instead, I have Molly. The bully.

And that's about it.  Next morning we got up early, hauled out and went home.

NOTES
1. When making plans, weigh heavily against private campgrounds.  Except the few with little business and lots of space around.

2. Off-season parks without reservations are a strong option.

3. Neither of us likes traveling without Molly.  It's easier, especially in motels and big cities.  But who wants to spend much time in those?  We'd rather be out walking muddy trails with the pup.

4. Don't order steak unless you're at a steakhouse. Unless you think it's close enough to being a steakhouse that you can trust them.  Or not.

Magnus Returns From Thor, Day 4

Friday, 8 November 2024

Still getting up earlier than we need to for such short drives. Today's was about 3-1/2 hours, as simple as getting on I-70, going to I-57 and taking it south aways, then getting off at Reeves Boomland.  Oft seen; never visited. I don't think.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway the people at campgroundreviews.com said it was self-service and only $20 for full hookups in a level, grass and gravel lot, with a pond and trees across the road. And that's what it was, exactly.  Although no one mentioned that the pond would be full of Canada Geese--cool. Plus a single Kingfisher that I saw on the second loop around the pond.

 

Very nice. The only slight issues were the highway noise and the lack of company. Yes, I know that lack of company is not typically an issue for me, but the park was wide open to the road with no fences or gates or anyone on premises to keep an eye on your stuff while you were gone.  There was one other RV parked there when we arrived and another one came in later. Good--at least there were two other big honking expensive vehicles there so that we didn't stand out like a sore thumb.

I saw a woman get out of the second RV and direct it into the site, but other than that I didn't see any of the other people.  Which is also fine. I just wanted vehicles around, not people. And certainly not people with dogs.

The only other issue was the goat's head stickers in the grass.  Where ever campers go they carry the annoying little seeds around the country. This was my first encounter with them farther north than Oklahoma, but there they were.

So anyway, Molly got her two walks around the pond and a later walk round and round the campground (that's when we found the stickers).  Ed and I got our walk down to Reeves Boomland where we bought candy. And then it was time for showers and supper.
 

The venue of choice was Lamberts Cafe, Home of the Throwed Rolls.  Which was a literal interpretation. At first a guy came by and scooped fried okra onto our "napkin" aka paper towel.  Then a guy came by and tossed me a roll.  It was good although that didn't prevent me from lathering it with copious amounts of whipped spread to make it even better.  I turned away the molasses lady not thinking that it was probably sorghum molasses, which I love.

My vegetable plate was so-so. Great turnip greens but the other stuff (beans, cucumber, beets) was just okay. I didn't get a second roll.   When I was about finished eating, a guy came out and threw rolls all over the big dining room from a cart in the front.  Just as I was getting ready to put up my hands, he ran out.  And by the time he came back I was out of the mood.

Ed's chicken-fried steak was okay but not great  But he filled up on fried okra.
Verdict: try it again, now that I know how it works, but definitely order something different.