Friday, April 26, 2024

Grand Canyon Rattlesnake vs. Rock Squirrel

Here's a rock squirrel facing down a rattlesnake in Grand Canyon. The squirrel kept swishing his tail at that rattlesnake.

There's some evidence that they purposely heat up the base of their tails this way, to either make the heat-sensing rattlesnakes think they're bigger and more intimidating than they are or to make the rattlesnakes strike at the wrong part of the body.

This squirrel kept swishing his tail, totally ignoring me, and moving to different locations around the snake, as if he was herding it off the trail. When he finally succeeded, he went a few feet off and flopped down flat on the ground, legs splayed, as if he were exhausted.

I wondered if he had a nest he was defending. But this day, it was me he defended. The rattlesnake totally blended in with the dappled dirt (see picture 3--the scene when I first arrived). If I hadn't seen the squirrel first, I might have stepped right on or in front of the rattlesnake.

And we all know how that can end.

Amazing encounter.




This was right outside of Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I later met another backpacker who'd almost been bitten by one at his campsite at Cottonwood Campground on the North Kaibab. I believe both were the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus abyssus), sometimes called the Grand Canyon pink rattlesnake, found only here.

Just another fantastic part of my backpacking trip this week. More posts to come.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

The Last Human, by Lee Bacon

This is the second book I've read this year with the same title!  The first was The Last Human, by Zach Jordan, which started out really, really strong:  amazing sci-fi world-building and creativity, very interesting characters.  One of the characters was so culturally, mentally, anatomically, and ethically different from humans, yet the author made her very relatable, which is no small feat.  Then the book turned metaphysical and fantastical and kind of lost me (thought others love it, so give it a chance if you feel inclined).    


The Last Human
 by Lee Bacon is a completely different book (and much easier for our tiny little human minds to understand):  a charming middle-grade sci-fi novel that I enjoyed all the way through. 

It was a cute book, by turns funny, touching, and exciting.

I loved the little bits of culture clash, of the robots and humans learning about each other, trying to understand each other, and learning about friendship.

I did find a few things unrealistic, like the sheer number of solar panel the main character and his two coworkers had installed (about 1.3 million, added to an already-large sea of solar panels) while still being able to conveniently walk to work. I also questioned whether any [logical] robot would design another robot to only use emojis. Sometimes his coworkers knew exactly what he meant, inexplicably extrapolating a great deal of info from a couple of little emojis.  Other times they didn't know what he meant at all.  It seemed very imprecise in a very unrobot-like way.  [SPOILER ALERT]  It also felt too easy how the three robots immediately believed and trusted Emma and dropped everything to help her, considering how they've been programmed and brainwashed.  [BIGGER SPOILER ALERT]  The ease of the solution at the end also felt too easy.

That said, there was a lot to like about the book.  The adventure was good.  The writing was engaging.  I loved the characters.

A really fun read.

I look forward to more by Lee Bacon.  

Friday, April 5, 2024

How Can I Help You?, by Laura Sims


I really enjoyed this. 

You can tell the author works in a library, and I loved the details about the job. 

I also thought the characters were very interesting.  Maybe a tad one-note, but that note was very interesting, so it didn't really matter to me.  Seeing a glimpse into the thoughts and needs and motivations of a character like Margo was fascinating.   

The prose was good.

The pacing worked for me, but some people looking for a twisty, edge-of-seat thriller might not like it as much as I did.

I did wonder about the practicalities of a couple of things.  Like how did Margo get a new ID and employment references and such?  Not super important; I was just curious. 

The ending felt rushed, but the very last lines…suitably creepy.

Overall, a great slow-burn psychological thriller with an awesome setting (for library lovers) and an interesting premise and POV.  I will definitely read more by Laura Sims. 

More accurate rating:  4.5

Friday, March 15, 2024

My trial run with backpacking equipment

We car-camped in a campground along the Arizona trail by Colossal Cave (but one night I only used my backpacking gear).  Then in the morning I packed it all up and did a fairly rigorous uphill hike in Saguaro National Park.  

Good news:  I can carry the weight good distances (maybe not thru-hiker distances, but that's another story).  I can carry the weight uphill (which I've also been testing by doing things like hiking up and down Camelback twice and then up and down Piestewa without resting much).  The weight (non-ultra-light as it is) doesn't seem to be much of a problem. 

Bad news:  My pad and sleeping bag aren't good enough for the cold that night (there was frost in the morning on many surfaces, even though it was forecast to be in the mid 40s).  Hopefully the bottom of the Grand Canyon will be warmer when I go.  But I'm going to need to invest in better sleep gear.    





Thursday, March 14, 2024

Colossal Cave, near Tucson, Arizona

Me enjoying the Colossal Cave Ladder Tour.  We got to climb around in the cave, sometimes on cool ladders and catwalks and natural cave surfaces, sometimes on the regular route, once in the dark.  We got to touch certain features (carefully, and with gloves on).  So much fun!  

Here I'm playing music on the stalactites with a rubber spatula.


And in this blurry one, you can see a little of the ledges we got to edge around.  :)  Sorry the pictures weren't better.


Some pretty cave formations:





Tuesday, March 5, 2024

My story, "Palatable Potions," is live on Zombies Need Brains

Zombies Need Brains just published my short story, "Palatable Potions," on Patreon.  The story will also appear in an anthology this summer, available for pre-order here:  https://zombies-need-brains-llc.square.site/ (Look for Zombies Need Brains Presents Year Two)


Sunday, March 3, 2024

Cover Reveal: Samantha Picaro's Recipe for Confidence

 Look at this beautiful cover for Samantha Picaro's latest book, Recipe for Confidence.

To get to know Samantha and her book better, I asked a few questions.  Here are her answers.

Who was your favorite character to write?

My favorite character to write was Lana, Bryn's aunt and owner of the fictional bakery. Lana encourages Bryn to be herself and share her dreams with everyone, especially her parents. Lana has insecurities and has made mistakes but she undeniably loves her niece and Lana doesn't let anyone tell her what to do or how to feel.

Do you yourself bake, like your main character?   If so, what's your favorite thing to bake?

I love to bake, although I admit I like tasting more than baking. I like making Bundt cakes with my mom as well as ricotta cookies.

What do you find most difficult about the writing process?  

The most difficult part of the writing process is adding in new elements of the story (i.e. new character or plot point) as I'm writing the book. Even if it makes the story or characters better, it's still a little frustrating to squeeze it into the plot without making everything unorganized or creating plot holes.

If you'd like to read it, the pre-order price is currently only $1.99 for the e-book!  Click here.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Tiny Chuckwalla on Piestewa Peak

Look at this little guy I saw today at Piestewa Peak in Phoenix.  He was the tiniest chuckwalla I've ever seen.  Too young to know that he should be afraid of us, Too young to go do what chuckwallas normally do.  So I got to watch him for a while.


The second chuckwalla I saw today was good at doing what chuckwallas normally do:


 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Words for "Kite" in Different Languages

 


I was delighted when I learned the word for kite in Czech:  papírový drak, which literally means "paper dragon."  

One of the words for kite in Spanish is cometa, or "comet."

Today I was even more delighted when I learned the word in French:  cerf-volant, which could be translated as "flying stag."  

So I investigated.  Lots of variations on dragons, birds, and other flying creatures (one Spanish term seems to come from the Nahuatl word for "butterfly," and in Georgian it's "bee").  But here's another favorite:

In Chinese, it seems to translate as "wind zither."

Anyone know any other cool literal meanings?

Monday, February 5, 2024

My article, "Postal Culture Shock," in The Mantelpiece

Check out my travel article in the February 2024 edition of The Mantelpiecehttps://themantelpiece.org/recent-issues

It's about my experiences with post offices in different countries, and it's a fun little read.  



Wednesday, January 24, 2024

This is why we like rain in the desert

 Enough said:


We had about three days of slow, gentle, life-giving rain.  This is what the ocotillo are doing with it:  quickly putting on little leaves.  


Pictures taken 1/24/2024 at South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

My story, "Vodník," published in Shadows on the Water


Today is publication day for Flame Tree Publishing's Shadows on the Water anthology, which includes my story, "Vodník."  It's inspired by tales of the Czech vodník, a sort of water goblin that is in some versions a mischievous trickster and in some versions an terrifying stealer of souls.  Guess which one mine is.  

It's live in the UK and will go on sale in the US on February 13:   https://www.flametreepublishing.com/shadows-on-the-water-short-stories-isbn-9781804177785.html



Sunday, January 21, 2024

The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, by Brandon Sanderson


This was a fun read.  I especially loved the handbook entries. 

Some of the plot was a bit confusing to me—mainly how the mythology worked into the dimension they were in.  But that's probably my fault for not paying enough attention.

There was more repetition than I liked, especially about how the main character is such a failure.  I didn't need it pounded home quite that much.

But overall, I enjoyed the adventure, the humor, and the relationships.  

Note:  I've never actually read any other books by Brandon Sanderson (gasp), so I can't compare. 

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Zoo Lights, Phoenix Zoo

We went to Zoo Lights for the first time, back before Christmas.  They decorate the zoo with I don't know how many holiday lights and "wildlife lanterns" and a light/music show.  The animals are mostly hiding, but it's a beautiful experience.  I LOVED it.

Here are just a few pictures:








If you go, leave yourself plenty of time to explore the whole zoo, and be prepared for difficult parking. 

It's too late for this year, but keep it in mind for next year.   

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by Mary Roach


This was really interesting and thought-provoking—and by nature, rather depressing.  I think the title was slightly misleading, but the writing style, as always, was good.     

More accurate rating:  4.5

Monday, January 8, 2024

2023 Reading List

This is the time of year I have fun reflecting on my last year's reading list.

Some stats:  

Books read:  50

But don't be too impressed:  36% were middle-grade and 12% were YA (which are no less valid, often very thought-provoking and well written...but generally shorter).  

Nonfiction:  46%, my highest percentage ever

Of the nonfiction, I read a lot of biography/history/memoir this year.  It actually beat my usual highest category:  plants/animals.  

Of the fiction, I read a good amount of science fiction/fantasy/spec, but the highest category was contemporary (non-thriller, non-mystery, non-romance)

Best-of Awards:

Most bizarre premise:  Hope Never Dies: an Obama Biden Mystery, by Andrew Shaffer.  Yeah, you read that subtitle right:  Biden solves a mystery with the help of his friend, Obama.  In FIRST PERSON.  Bizarre.  But I enjoyed it. 

Most light-heartedly enjoyable speculative fiction for adults:  Brandon Sanderson's The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England.  A bit repetitive in some parts, confusing in others, but the guidebook entries were priceless.   

Most light-heartedly enjoyable speculative fiction for kids:  Pip Bartlett's Guide to Unicorn Training by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater.  Not quite as darling as the first book in the series, but still great.  And the guidebook entries were priceless.  I think there's a pattern here.

Best guidebook for how to die while hiking in the Grand Canyon:  Tail of the Scorpion, by Mike Graf.  The guidebook parts were informative and seemed factually accurate.  But the story part should have been called How to Kill your Kids in Grand Canyon.  You can read my whole rant on Goodreads, but do NOT start on a major hike of the Grand Canyon at 3:00 pm in August.  Just don't.

Best guidebook for how not to die while hiking in the Grand Canyon:  Okay, so it wasn't a guidebook at all, but a quietly tense thriller which portrayed the canyon realistically:  Getaway, by Zoje Stage. 


Best book about people who actually did die while boating the Grand Canyon:  Sunk Without a Sound:  The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of Glen and Bessie Hyde, by Brad Dimock.  Well written, comprehensive (but not in a belabored way), and grimly fascinating.

Best relentlessly religious historical fiction book taking place at the Grand Canyon (yes, there were a couple of themes this year):  A Deep Divide, by Kimberley Woodhouse.  I didn't realize when I put this on hold that it was Christian fiction, but I should have, because there doesn't seem to exist a genre of clean historical romances that doesn't ram religion down our throats.  I loved the locale and the historical details, and if it hadn't been so preachy, I really would have enjoyed it.  But some people will enjoy it because of all the talk of God and scripture.

Best book about nature:  Around the World in 80 Birds, written by Mike Unwin, illustrated by Ryuto Miyake.  Interesting little write-ups of fascinating birds.  Beautiful illustrations. 

Author whose books I read the most of:  Kathleen Krull.  I got on a kick and read several of her books of short biographies written for kids.  They're full of interesting, rapid-fire facts.  Maybe not a lot of depth, but fun to read.

Best novel for kids:  Across the Desert, by Dusti Bowling.  I love Dusti Bowling.  And the Arizona setting doesn't hurt any.  Check out her books!


Best novel for adults:  Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen.  Interesting setting, engaging writing, slight supernatural element.  A very warm and gentle read. 

Not sure if this counts, because I listened in audio, but…

Best mountain climbing survival book (yeah, this is a whole genre I read/listen to a lot of):  The Climb; Tragic Ambition on Everest, by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt.  Like all of these books, it had its flaws—like how I couldn't keep all of the characters straight—but it was really captivating.  I would tell myself I was just going to listen for 15 minutes before bed, and at the end of 15 minutes I'd set it for another 15 minutes…then another.   

Best graphic novels based on historical events and people:  )  Guardian of Fukushima, by Ewan Blain & Fabien Grolleau, about the man who defied government orders by staying in the irradiated zone to take care of abandoned animals after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster.  They Called us Enemy, by George Takei, about the Japanese Internment Camps in WWII.