Sunday, December 8, 2019

A Literary Goal


Olga and I went back to the Heath yesterday, where I was surprised to see some trees that still have plenty of leaves. I think those are oaks. So much for what I said yesterday about all the trees having lost their leaves by now.


Most of them have, though!


I found this sign on a small evergreen. Christmas is an existential threat for certain types of trees. I'm glad someone is looking out for this one.

Today I'll be at school all day judging a robotics tournament. I did this several years ago, too. They always need judges so I'm happy to pitch in, although, reading my blog post from back then, I see that I second-guessed myself a lot in scoring the competing teams. I suppose a certain amount of doubt is to be expected, right? I'm going to do my best not to stress about it.

Did I mention that I'm reading "David Copperfield"? I'm about 100 pages in. After enjoying "Oliver Twist" so much last year, I thought I'd take on another Dickens, and I like this one a lot too. If I do one Dickens per year, having already read three, I'll finish off his entire oeuvre -- at least all his novels -- right about the time I turn 65!

15 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

That is a laudable goal Steve...but should you reach the grand old age of 65 it is possible that you will have lost your marbles as I have done. Once I had great expectations...
P.S. Sorry for the herpes joke and for any undue distress caused. I know that herpes is not a laughing matter - but not I hasten to add - from personal experience!

e said...

A Tale of Two Cities was my introduction to Dickens as a kid. Perhaps I'll re-read it before I'm 65...

Ms. Moon said...

"David Copperfield" is one of my favorite books ever. I know you'll love reading it.

37paddington said...

A worthy goal. I read Dickens as a youngster. Makes me wonder how I'd receive him now. Maybe I will pick up one of his books and read afresh. Thanks for the inspiration.

Red said...

You've reminded me that it's time to read some Dickens.

Colette said...

I admire your fortitude in reading Dickens. I read a number of his novels when I was younger and had a longer attention span. I'm not sure how I lost that! Bravo to you for judging the robot competition. Looking forward to haring about that.

ellen abbott said...

the oaks here are slower to lose their leaves but the pecans are all bare.

Edna B said...

That's a beautiful photo of Olga in the open field. I agree some trees take a bit longer to lose all their leaves. However, most of the trees here are getting quite bare too. I think it's great that you are enjoying Dickens' books. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

Sharon said...

That is a lofty literary goal you seem to have set. But it is a good one. I love the scenes at the Heath both the full trees and the bare ones. Enjoy your day judging. It should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

It's lovely to see the trees there still with some leaves. Enjoy them while you can. I wish I could read long novels, but my brain simply won't put up with all those words.

Catalyst said...

Good luck with your reading program. I'm having enough trouble just keeping up with blogs.

jenny_o said...

Yeah, the leaves on different trees do fall at different times. I like that it's a gradual thing instead of a big whoosh all at once.

I never could read Dickens. I feel that may be some kind of character flaw in me, but there it is.

The Padre said...

"Happy Little Note." Says BoB Ross - Olga, Just Love That Look!!

Cheers

Elizabeth said...

I think it's a great plan to read one Dickens a year. Surely some of them are shorter than the others, so you could maybe read TWO in some years! I remember when you did the War and Peace thing -- how long ago was that?

Fresca said...

DC used to be one of my favorite books. I find his attitude a little snotty now, but I still ove the opening line (I briefly thought of getting it as a tatoo--but I'm not the type):
"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

The hero of my own life...