The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. | |
— Elbert Hubbard | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Putin’s Objective In Ukraine? |
2021 | It’s 12 O’clock Somewhere |
The Way It Is | |
2020 | And #IncompetentDonald Weakens It |
2019 | Morning Mirror |
2018 | Wondering About #45 |
2017 | A Prayer For London |
2016 | Don’t Default |
2015 | Her Pilgrim Soul |
2014 | Three Observations |
2013 | Robbed Again |
2012 | Good Hearts |
2011 | Interesting Reading |
What Are You Lookin’ At? | |
Posts Tagged ‘Friends’
With Some Fava Beans And A Nice Chianti
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Ambrose Bierce, Animals, Cannibal, Chief Dan George, Dark Humor, Fear, Friends, Gastronome, George Bernard Shaw, Hannibal Lecter, Old School, Philosophy, Quotes, Talking, The Devil's Dictionary, YouTube on March 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys. | |
― Chief Dan George | |
Animals are my friends… and I don’t eat my friends. | |
― George Bernard Shaw | |
Cannibal, n. — A gastronome of the old school who preserves the simple tastes and adheres to the natural diet of the pre-pork period. | |
— Ambrose Bierce | |
From his book: “The Devil’s Dictionary“ | |
[This post started with viewing a “Hannibal Lecter” video on YouTube: he was thinking of having an old friend over for dinner… — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | What Really Hurts |
2021 | Republican Governors Don’t Help |
We’re Coming To Your Town | |
2020 | With Friends Like This… |
2019 | Still Better Than Third |
2018 | A Tough Row To Hoe |
2017 | Just In Case |
2016 | Republicans Eat Their Young |
2015 | Still 99% |
2014 | Affirming The Wall |
2013 | Maintain The Freedom |
2012 | All Good |
2011 | Fountains Of Life |
Staying Alive | |
A Life Well Lived, A Story Well Told
Posted in 2022 Book Review, Book Review, Disclaimer, Family and Friends, Reviews, tagged 2022 Book Review, Craig J. Carrozzi, Dancing With Wolves, Disclaimer, Friends, Grizzly Bear, Hetch-Hetchy Valley, Highly Recommended Book, Ireland, Jeremiah Ignatius McElroy, Northern California, Oakland, San Francisco, SF Giants, The Curse Of Chief Tenaya -- book review, The Deer Hunter, The Last Of The Mohicans, The Peace Corps, Yosemite on September 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“The Curse Of Chief Tenaya” (2002©) — book review | |
Today’s book review is for a historic fiction novel set in 1800’s. The author is Craig J. Carrozzi. It is about an Irish immigrant coming to the United States and making his life through the pre-, actual and post- “Gold Rush” in Northern / Central California. | |
Full disclosure: Craig (the author) was a member of the football teams I played on while in high school in San Francisco. After high school graduation, Craig joined the Peace Corps, returned to San Francisco to get his BA and then subsequently lived a good deal of his life in South America. Like me, Craig was raised in San Francisco. He is the author of five published books and numerous articles. Of his five published books – one is about attending a SF Giants baseball game as a youth; three are semi-autobiographical fictionalized stories about his time in South America; and, this book (being reviewed) is about earlier days in Northern California. | |
The book’s main character is Jeremiah Ignatius McElroy. He is born in Ireland, starts off as a hard life (potato famine and Yellow Fever), moves to the US (via Canada), travels across the country / continent and ultimately becomes a hunter and tour guide in the Sierra Nevada mountains. His main geographic expertise is the high-country of Yosemite Valley and it’s “cousin”, the Hetch-Hetchy Valley. He spends the winters in Oakland, CA with his widowed younger sister and her family. Jeremiah is hired by a wealthy landowner to track down and destroy a Grizzly bear. | |
This is basically a “man’s” action book with a couple of interesting twists (interesting to me, anyway). First, the current day action is interspersed with the growing-up portion of Jeremiah’s life. The author / publisher uses the “trick” of italicizing the historical narration so the reader can clearly “see” when the author is talking about the past. The second interesting aspect of the book is an obvious attempt to include “real” famous / historic literary figures in the story. Hence, Jeremiah reads Ambrose Bierce columns in the daily newspaper; drinks with Jack London in a bar; and, meets John Muir while up in the hills. | |
The “action” portion is the life of the growing up, becoming a man and then aging and preparing for old age; but within the specific confines of the plot, it is the pursuit of a giant Grizzly which has been terrorizing cattle ranches in and around the Hetch-Hetchy area. | |
So, is this book any good? Is it realistic in it’s character(s) and / or historic depictions? Is it entertaining and / or interesting? And, finally, do I recommend this book? | |
In short – the answer is YES, to all of these questions. The book is relatively short (225 pages) and the story is a fast and well paced read. I read it completely in one sitting and found it hard to put down for my own meals. (This despite a good deal of delicious sounding meals through-out the book.) | |
In general, the book seems pretty accurate to very accurate in describing both people and locations. I must admit, I felt the author let a bit of his own “politics” come into the attitudes and language used in some of the conversations. One example is when Jeremiah uses the word “deforestation” in an extended dialogue. I looked the word up. The word is cited as first used around 1870, so it is possible Jeremiah might know it, but it seems to me, unlikely a hunter / trapper / outdoorsman / tour guide would know the word, let alone use the word. But, these are very minor flaws in an otherwise well written work. A brief clarification: I haven’t spoken with the author in over 50 years, so I really have no idea about his “politics” or if they are reflected in the writing. It’s just how I felt while reading the book. | |
And, “the Curse” itself? Well, it created a “hook” and theme for the book, but I felt it could have been better fleshed out. I’m not sure why I feel that way or how I might have advised the author to improve the story during development, but it (the “hook”, not the book as a whole) made me feel like I was reading a poor mix of “Dancing With Wolves“, “The Last of the Mohicans” and “The Deer Hunter“. Very much like those movies, the ending is thought provoking rather than PollyAnn-ish uplifting. A “Good” or “Bad” ending will then depend on the reader’s individual reaction to the ending. The “curse” was from the last Native American Chief of the tribe (Chief Tenaya, a non-literary, but “real person” from the period) which lived in the Hetch-Hetchy Valley. He pledged to haunt those who would despoil the tribes sacred lands (the Valley). | |
I found the book to be between “hard to put down” and “can’t put down”. That’s quite a statement from this reviewer. The descriptions of the skies, mountains, valleys, flowers and animals filled my imagination and reminded me of earlier outdoor travels and adventures from my own youth. | |
Final recommendation: Very highly recommended if you are into “masculine” adventure type action stories with a historical setting. Given I was raised in Northern California, I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of “old world” San Francisco, Oakland and the towns from the Bay Area to Hetch-Hetchy. If you are prudish, be advised there is some minor sexual content, but I felt it was well within the boundary of character and story development. | |
Disclaimer: I purchased this book at normal / sale price (for an old / used book) and no compensation has been provided to me by anyone for my opinions in this review. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | MAGA Choice: Reality Or Lies |
You Seem To Be | |
2020 | A Good Reason To Blog |
Finally Enjoying The View | |
2019 | Living Free |
2018 | Relative Imagination |
2017 | Thank You, Senator McCain (So Far Anyway) |
2016 | What About Friends? |
2015 | It Tastes Good To Me |
2014 | Others’ Footsteps |
The Not-So-Modern Samurai | |
2013 | Doin’ |
2012 | A Lover |
2011 | What Have We Found Here |
Words | |
Have You Earned A Statue Yet?
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anthony De Mello, Critics, Discouragement, Friends, Philosophy, Pioneering Spirit, Quotes, SJ, Society Of Jesus, Statues on July 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »
To a pioneering spirit who was discouraged by frequent criticism the Master said, “Listen to the words of the critic. He reveals what your friends hide from you.” But he also said, “Do not be weighed down by what the critic says. No statue was ever erected to honor a critic. Statues are for the criticized”. | |
— Anthony de Mello | |
Society of Jesus (SJ) | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | They Are All Perfect |
End The Drought (Please, God) | |
2020 | Perhaps There Has Been Some Method In My Madness |
2019 | An Accidental Escape |
2018 | And I Thought It Was Just My Deodorant |
2017 | Hannity And Limbaugh |
2016 | Or He Could Just Be Lazy |
Small Hero | |
2015 | Seeking Cultured Leadership |
2014 | Examining Failure |
2013 | Driving Passion |
2012 | Cannibal, n. |
2011 | Moments Of Truth |
In My Defense…
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Arnold H. Glasow, Friends, Honorable Life, Philosophy, Quotes on February 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Live so that your friends can defend you but never have to. | |
— Arnold H. Glasow | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | In My Defense… |
2021 | Mike Could Have Saved Us A Bundle On Border Walls |
Is It Too Late? | |
2020 | And Then There Was Yellow |
At This Moment | |
2019 | Sin Less Every Day |
2018 | Probably Only A Little Easier |
2017 | Stars Above |
2016 | Where Do You Stand? |
Health Update | |
2015 | Leaving On A Mid-Night Train |
2014 | Questioned Faith |
2013 | At Home In Fire |
2012 | A Tale Of Two Books |
More Meaning | |
2011 | Back At The Millstone |
To Learn, Teach | |
Biden Won By Almost 7 Million Votes
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2020 Election Popular Vote Difference, Enemies, Explanations, Friends, Philosophy, Politics, President Joseph Biden, Quotes, Victor Grayson on July 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Never explain; your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it. | |
— Victor Grayson | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | The Tragedy Of Trump Republicanism |
2019 | What Do Your Children See You Doing? |
2018 | Is #45 STILL Losing America |
2017 | We Sleep To Remember And We Sleep To Forget |
2016 | Useful Gift |
2015 | Who’s The Boss? |
2014 | What Counts In The Future |
2013 | Improper Sequence? |
2012 | Two Gems |
2011 | A True Test |
Aging Well
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Books, Friends, Logs, Quotes, Wine on March 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Burn old logs. Drink old wine. Read old books. Keep old friends. | |
— Alfonso X of Spain | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Seek Good |
2021 | Aging Well |
Now And Forever | |
2020 | Always |
2019 | #45 Is More Of A Piddle Than A Puddle |
2018 | Found Out |
A Message To The “Wanna Be” Dictator On Leadership | |
2017 | Still Waiting… |
2016 | Same Old, Same Old |
2015 | Shout! |
2014 | I Hear Voices |
2013 | Ethics And Standards |
2012 | Swing Higher |
2011 | Convicted For Life |
Doctor’s Orders
Posted in Family and Friends, Health, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Charlie Chaplin, Diet, Doctors, Exercise, Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, Rest, Rx, Self-Respect, Sun on November 18, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Six best doctors in the world…: | |
1. The sun | |
2. Rest | |
3. Exercise | |
4. Diet | |
5. Self-respect | |
6. Friends | |
Stick to them at all stages of your life and enjoy a healthy life… | |
— Charlie Chaplin | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Still Looking |
2021 | Misunderestimated |
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery | |
Four Fifths Of Music | |
2020 | Doctor’s Orders |
Make That Seven Orders… | |
2019 | Innocent |
2018 | Ripost |
2017 | Just Asking… |
2016 | And 4 |
How Tall Do You Stand? | |
2015 | More Prejudice |
2014 | Say What? |
2013 | Daring Errors |
2012 | Are You Comfortable? |
I Just Have To | |
In Flux | |
2011 | True New |
2010 | A Job Well Started Is A Job Half Done |
I See With My One Good Eye | |
Call Me!
Posted in Family and Friends, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anonymous, Friends, Humor, Lemons, Philosophy, Quotes, Salt, Tequila on July 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »
And always remember…. | |
when life hands you Lemons, | |
ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over! | |
— Anonymous (multiple citations on the internet with no direct attribution) | |
[As always, if someone knows of the original source, please let me know and I’ll update this post. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | A Perfect Description Of #IncompetentDonald |
2018 | Beating Feet Again |
A Bad Bet | |
2017 | Living Memory |
2016 | December |
2015 | That’s Gotta Leave A Scar |
It’s All About Me (…Not!) | |
2014 | Bull’s-Eye Next |
2013 | Change ÷ Time |
2012 | High Anxiety |
2011 | To Be, Do |
2010 | In the Arena… |
Not An Island, Today… | |
Shining In The Dark
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Family and Friends, Philosophy, Poetry, Quotes, tagged Friends, Philosophy, Poems, Quotes, Stars, William Blake on October 21, 2019| 3 Comments »
Good friends are like stars…….. | |
You don’t always see them, | |
But you know they are always there. | |
— William Blake | |
[Even when hidden behind the clouds… — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Table Talk |
No One Left To Blame | |
2020 | Plant Roots For A Hundred Years |
That Seat Is Taken | |
2019 | Shining In The Dark |
2018 | Sometimes Wisdom, Too |
2017 | What Do I Know… |
Not Much Magic Here | |
2016 | Rare Competition |
2015 | Now Where Did I Put That Thing? |
2014 | Reckoning |
Orange October (VIII) – Giants Win Game 1 Of 2014 World Series!! | |
2013 | Trying To Capture Serenity |
2012 | Above The Vaulted Sky |
2011 | Active Learning |
One Before I Go
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Death, Friends, Kind Words, Philosophy, Quotes, Roses, William Blake on June 17, 2019| Leave a Comment »
I would rather have one rose and a kind word | |
from a friend while I’m here | |
than a whole truck load when I’m gone. | |
— William Blake | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | A Very Few |
2021 | Or Blog Every Day |
Every Woman Should Have One | |
2020 | Where Are We Going? |
2019 | One Before I Go |
2018 | And Blog Posts, Too |
2017 | Just Doin’ It |
2016 | Definitely Not Bell Shaped |
2015 | Dreadful Pity |
2014 | Worse Than Useless |
2013 | Personal Prisons |
2012 | So, Not Yet Then |
2011 | Real Love |
Ripost
Posted in Humor, Quotes, tagged Friends, George Bernard Shaw, Humor, Insults, Quotes, Theater, Winston Churchill on November 18, 2018| Leave a Comment »
I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one. | |
— George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill | |
Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second ….if there is one. | |
— Winston Churchill, in response. | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Still Looking |
2021 | Misunderestimated |
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery | |
Four Fifths Of Music | |
2020 | Doctor’s Orders |
Make That Seven Orders… | |
2019 | Innocent |
2018 | Ripost |
2017 | Just Asking… |
2016 | And 4 |
How Tall Do You Stand? | |
2015 | More Prejudice |
2014 | Say What? |
2013 | Daring Errors |
2012 | Are You Comfortable? |
I Just Have To | |
In Flux | |
2011 | True New |
2010 | A Job Well Started Is A Job Half Done |
I See With My One Good Eye | |
Pity The Nation (Part 2)
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Family and Friends, Philosophy, Poetry, Politics, Quotes, tagged Facebook, Friends, Kahlil Gibran, Khalil Gibran, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Mit Maurille, Mithras Maurille, Philosophy, Poems, Politics, Quotes on September 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »
PITY THE NATION |
|
(After Khalil Gibran) | |
Pity the nation whose people are sheep | |
And whose shepherds mislead them | |
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars | |
Whose sages are silenced | |
And whose bigots haunt the airwaves | |
Pity the nation that raises not its voice | |
Except to praise conquerers | |
And acclaim the bully as hero | |
And aims to rule the world | |
By force and by torture | |
Pity the nation that knows | |
No other language but its own | |
And no other culture but its own | |
Pity the nation whose breath is money | |
And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed | |
Pity the nation oh pity the people | |
who allow their rights to erode | |
and their freedoms to be washed away | |
My country, tears of thee | |
Sweet land of liberty! | |
Written by: Lawrence Ferlinghetti | |
[Please note: “Khalil Gibran” is also spelled “Kahlil Gibran“. The latter is how I “normally” spell the name as this is how it appears on the several books I own. | |
I found this as a posting on FaceBook by an old friend from grammar school: Mit (Mithras) Maurille. Part 1, yesterday’s post was found on the internet. It is available on multiple sites. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Practically Worthless In Every Way |
It Never Was | |
Frustrating Incentive | |
2020 | You Too? |
Six Degrees | |
2019 | A Branching Stream |
Day 9: One Day At A Time | |
2018 | Pity The Nation (Part 2) |
Day 1: Redux | |
2017 | Good Blogs, Too |
2016 | My Prediction For #AmnestyDon |
2015 | Worth A Try |
2014 | I’m Feeling It |
2013 | May I Have A Little More, Please? |
2012 | Increasing Doubt |
2011 | You Can’t Touch This |
Hey, #45: Are We Sick Of Winning, Yet?
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Politics, Proverbs, Quotes, tagged #45 - The Loser, #IncompetentDonald, Friends, Philosophy, Politics, Proverbs, Quotes, Spanish Proverb, Spirit, Wealth on September 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Those that lose wealth, lose much; those that lose friends, lose more; but those that lose spirit, lose all. | |
— Spanish proverb | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Losing One’s Edge |
Can I Get An Up Front Seat? | |
2020 | Are You Sure? |
Who Could It Be? | |
2019 | Living Art |
Day 7: Week 1 – Mathematics | |
2018 | Hey, #45: Are We Sick Of Winning, Yet? |
Day 40: Wrists | |
2017 | Heart Vision |
2016 | A Labor Day / Pre-Election Hope |
Trust Me, Too | |
2015 | Without Hope |
Things Known And Unknown | |
2014 | A Wall Too High, A Bridge Too Far |
2013 | Glory = Danger |
Chicago Magic | |
Feelin’ It | |
2012 | How Did We Get Here? |
2011 | Labor Day Weekend Mishmash |
More, More, More | |
Hold On
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Family and Friends, Proverbs, Quotes, tagged Friends, Nigerian Proverb, Proverbs, Quotes on August 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Hold a true friend with both your hands. | |
— Nigerian Proverb | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Why Don’t You Tell Us What You Really Think? |
2016 | Discontent |
2015 | Do You Know Me? |
Appetite For Life Update | |
2014 | Tough Journalism |
2013 | Things I’ve Learned |
2012 | Abstainer, n. |
2011 | Rain, Rain, Rain |
Test Your Strength | |
2009 | End the mistakes… |