A Veritable Mish Mash of Random Things

This Week, a Little Bit of Everything

This week, a random, completely unrelated series of weird things where I try to touch on all the subjects I normally write about. Ready?

Rocks

Spun on down to Pelham this week to do a little GPS coordinates gathering for Pulpit Rock, one of the historic rocks that will be included in our upcoming field guide, More NH Rocks That Rock: Memorial Stones.

Way back in 1719, a sermon was given atop this road side outcropping by the good Rev. James McGregor. His group of Scots Irish settlers were enroute to make a permanent home up in Nutfield, later Derry, and the crew stopped here to rest and pray. Little side-note: Two members of that flock were the future parents of the one and only Gen. John Stark.

Anyway, today there’s a nice plaque attached to the rock.

But as it often happens, this blurb isn’t about the rock, it’s about soda pop and spicy puffed wheat. Nearly across the road from the rock is one of those ubiquitous snack stores and I stopped in for, well, a snack. But I found much more. I found an RC Cola and a bag of Chile and Lime Puffed Wheat Chips.

Being a Great Lakes boy myself, I understand that a New Englander can’t possibly appreciate the refreshing deliciousness of a RC. And chile and lime chips? Goodness!

“Wow,” I said to the nice man behind the counter, “RC Cola! This is hard to find around here!”

He nodded. “I know, but it doesn’t sell too well.”

“A shame,” I said.

“A shame,” he agreed.

I should have bought two.

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Parenting

My daughter’s friend: I really like the song “Running up That Hill.”

Me: Oh wow, Kate Bush, yeah, “Hounds of Love” is an seminal album, a classic operatic masterpiece, here, sit down right there, put these headphones on, yes right there, you have like 50 minutes right, ok so you know what an album is right, I mean of course you do, anyway, I have this set up in surround sound, so let’s begin with the first track, “Running up That Hill” of course and we’ll work our way through to “The Morning Fog”; I have the 1997 remaster, obviously, with the bonus tracks, but CDs just aren’t the same and…”

My daughter: Mom! Dad’s doing it again!

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Library

Here’s this little gem; an actual, real Tweet from an actual, real Congressman. I had to look this up to confirm that this was real and not some satire account or maybe just a strange joke. Anyway, I plop it here without specific comment because it relates somewhat to a conversation I had with another library director recently.

Have a look at the Tweet first.

Got that? My one take away here is only how strange it is to find my new profession to be on the front lines of the culture wars. How, I don’t know, unexpected? At least unexpected to me. Book challenges are one thing, but stuff like this is, well, really, just… I don’t even know.

Anyway, just taking a moment to mention that there is no agenda; just the reaffirmation and promise that MY library will continue to serve as an all-encompassing place where everyone in my community can see themselves and feel represented and safe. That’s all.

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Mortality

Recently, my wife and Little Bean were away visiting family for a couple days and I had the house to myself. My original thought was that I’d be able to catch up on some work, play loud music, stay up late, you know how it goes.

But as it turns out, I’ve grown fond of the chaos. Of the idiot dog and my daughter’s squeals as they run through the house. Of all her friends wrecking our basement. Of never being caught up with the dishes and the laundry. Of this strange life outside of my own individual construct that leaves me breathless and exhausted, but also grounds me and gives me direction and inspiration.

Waking up to a quiet house was… disconcerting. I don’t like it. Nope not at all. Need to remember that next time the world is collapsing. A little chaos keeps me young.

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The Housekeeping Paragraph: Hi all, welcome to spring! As always, thanks for stopping by. And also as always, thanks for the support and the donations. We’re building a free and open community here, but if you’d like to fill my cup with some dark, dark coffee to keep me going, I’m ever grateful.

Here’s that link: Buy Dan a Cup of Joe

In the weeks ahead we’ll have some updates on two upcoming books, “Where There’s Smoke” and “NH Rocks That Rock: Memorial Stones.” We have a couple day trips coming up that we’ll write about, and I have some Notebooks From the Library on tap as well.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to share and spread the love! On we go!