Two and a Half Toms

Ah, Spring is in the air. Courtship has begun.

And as every red-blooded american turkey knows, that means it’s time to strut.

Yeah, ain’t nothing better than a good strut by the ladies, letting ’em know you’re there, you’ve arrived, you’re all that and more, you’re It!

Glorious, in’t it? All that manhood, the sheer volume of masculinity, makes one proud it’s happenin’ in one’s own backyard.

Turkeys aren’t particular where they strut. Down the street, in the office, at the coffee shop, getting groceries, don’t matter.

If they think there’s a womans near by, they gotta strut.

Don’t even matter if she’s available or not ’cause all the womens be available when you got a good strut.

Have at it, gents.

And do notice the women don’t care. Sometimes I wonder if women see men as a necessary evil. As Sandy Olafssen says in Empty Sky, “…someone who won’t open his mouth and won’t get a fixation and will just do his job and get out before morning.”

I suspect ladies are alike everywhere in this, truth be told.

And, as always, enjoy.

 

I’m Arm Casted by Armand Rosamilia

Want to hear me rolling with the punches? Give a listen to Arm Cast Podcast: Episode 341 – Carrabis.

 
I’m fascinated, listening to it. We talked a bit about the business Susan and I had, my past writing, re-evaluating past writing, practicing my writing, learning to describe something in five words instead of fifty, taking courses, reading books, perfecting my craft, and applying my research talents to writing good books.

No, really, we did.

And then we talk about the publishing world that existed when I wrote trade-technicals (late 1980’s-early 1990’s) and how it is now. Specifically, what’s changed and what’s not.

Give a listen and let us know what you think.

(and thanks)

Why It Works for Me – Brian Fagan’s “The First North Americans”

This is the seventh in a series wherein I discuss why a particular piece of writing works for me, aka, this piece of writing taught me something about writing, encouraged me to be a better writer, engaged me, captivated me, educated me, et cetera.

As I’ve written elsewhere, it’s one thing to know something is good, it’s a better thing (in my opinion) to know why it’s good and then be able to copy what’s good about it, to learn from it so you can be as good and (hopefully) better.

This time out, Brian Fagan’s “The First North Americans”.

 

 

Shaman Story Chapter 3 – Truth Like Wine

Read Shaman Story Chapter 2 – Listen


Shaman Story Chapter 3 – Truth Like Wine

 
Grandpa kneels on the ground and pats the freshly turned earth where he buried the cigarette, then looks up into the few cirrus clouds forming horsetails high in the blue sky. “People will come to you, asking you questions. Be careful what you tell them.”

“You said to always tell the truth.”

“To us. To me. To others…”

He lets it hang and I’m unsure. “Do you want me to lie to them?”

“No, Gio. Never that. Truth is like wine; a few sips and you smile and nod. Too much and you get a headache and your dinner goes plah on the floor.” He makes a funny face and I laugh, then gently turns me to face him. “You must tell the truth, Gio, but listen to them. Pay attention when you answer. They will let you know when they’ve had enough truth, then you stop.”

“How will they let me know?”


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Turkeys, NPR, and Friday Morning Coffee

I mentioned our Turkeys penchant for NPR and coffee in Turkeys, NPR, and Morning Coffee.

Well, they’re at it again.

Many of the same turkeys. Some new ones. This was videoed in Feb of this year. Currently we’ve had a lone Tom visit. The hens have, we’re hoping, been staying on their eggs. We further hope most if not all the eggs have hatched and we’ll soon see turklets.

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a bunch of hens corralling an even larger bunch of turklets.

Turklets are lighter and get airborne more easily.

Unfortunately, they haven’t quite mastered powered flight.

They’ll travel 5-10 feet then you’ll hear an awkward BWAACK! followed by a crashing turklet. Often into a hen or another turklet.

They get up, unhurt.

But you should see the look on their face.

So ashamed.

Meanwhile, Turkeys, NPR, and Friday morning coffee.

Enjoy.