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The Daily Dose/September 4, 2008
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
   
Notes from around the Human Experience...
CAPSULE CAMPING REVIEW: Space #7, Dolomite Campground, Spring Mountain National Recreation Area: As noted in our first Capsule Camping Review last spring, I am not a veteran camper. I am not completely useless at a campsite, but my main contributions seem to be providing ground transportation and paying half the bills. I am usually appointed Director of Tent Ventilation to make me feel useful. The Woman and I headed out Monday night and, being avid early-to-bed-early-to rise fans, we were asleep almost before it was dark.
Stop The Presses: Tuesday started with a nice six-mile hike on the Bristlecone Trail and the big news is yours truly found the greatest walking stick in history a few minutes into our hike. It's a fine piece of aspen, good heft, but not heavy, widening at the base, with a notch formed from a broken branch in the perfect location for your hand.
Instant, Envy-Filled Analysis: The Woman, who knows these things and who also walked right passed it, jealously said a fine piece of wood like that would cost $40 (or more!) in a store. It was mine for nothing more than keeping my eyes open, but when you've spent as much time on the trail as I have, you have a sense for these things, and it's perfect for poking a bear or a badger or something like that out of the way.
Reward Time: The best part was after the hike, when I did nothing. I had been looking forward to this afternoon since we made these plans last month. I not the busiest person in history, certainly not one of those on-the-go Type A personalities we all know and love. But I do have a living to earn - the Writer's Shack being a labor of love at this point - The Daily Dose and The Bottom Ten do not write themselves, though at times they may appear to, and The Woman and I aren't hermits. It's good to make your time serve you, and it is rare when I have an entire afternoon with nothing planned.
Initially, out of habit because few humans can take rest like yours truly, I laid down in the tent. But after about 15 minutes of this I decided I wasn't going to waste my afternoon with nothing to do sleeping, especially with a long night of mountain air sleeping to look forward to. I have too much respect for a good night's rest.
So I dug in with my the current book Education Of A Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour.
CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: Education of a Wandering Man By Louis L'Amour: This was my first experience with Mr. L'Amour. Of course, I knew who he was; I simply had never read anything by him. I happened to come across Education Of A Wandering Man when my mom sent it up, along with some other things, when my aunt and uncle visited a couple of weeks ago.
A Warm, Personal Thought: Mom may well have thought the book reminded her of her son. Circumstantially, no. Intrinsically, maybe, Anyone familiar with L'Amour's early life knows he was, to use a term from the time period, a knockabout. He road rails and buses and ships and worked at whatever he could find wherever he could find it. My existence, on the other hand, has been punctuated by staying in one place more long periods and the tendency of doing more or less things that pleased me, though I have been known to sell most of what I own, put the rest in the back seat, and chase a dream or two. But that's it.
Numbers Game: Education of a Wandering Man certainly has some autobiographical elements, but its main purpose is to show how a substantive writer educated himself through traveling and reading. The sheer amount of reading L'Amour did was incredible. He kept track of his reading throughout his life and from 1930-35 he read well over 100 books a year, and not fluff, either.
100 books in a year is a lot. L'Amour must have been an incredibly fast reader because we are rather well read here at the Writer's Shack and we might get in a couple-three dozen books a year in, though it should be noted we are very leisurely readers, even taking us a few days to get through Education Of A Wandering Man and it wasn't even 250 paperback pages.
To Review: As noted, this was our first time reading L'Amour, and even after one book it is plain there aren't many writers we have enjoyed more: Gore Vidal, Rex Stout, WEB Griffin, Ed McBain, David McCullough, David Halberstam. There are others, of course.
Refreshing is L'Amour's self-educated man's eye for human character, the kind of eye that can only come from finding things out for yourself, instead of merely being told what happened.
Quote That Sucker: "Each people is, I believe, inclined to believe it is the purpose of history, that all that has happened is leading to now, to this world, to this country. Few see ourselves as fleeting phantoms on a much wider screen, or that our great cities may someday be dug from the ruins.."
This Might Be Hitting A Little Too Close To Home…And Not In A Good Way: "Only one who has learned much can fully appreciate his ignorance."
Wrapping Up: L'Amour sums up his wanderings nicely: "I was by no means a scholar, simply an interested reader with nothing to do but live and learn."
Standard Internet Disclaimer: Gaylon is neither Grizzly Adams nor a professional book reviewer. All opinions are based on his own personal preferences, which may or may not be in line with any established, objective criteria on the matter.
We Interrupt This Column For A Word From The Ratings Department: Following Is The Official Writer's Shack Rating scale:
EX - Excellent; as good as the medium can produce in every respect.
VG - Very Good. Well worth your time.
GD - Good. More or less worth your time.
AR - All Right. Not completely without merit.
SP - Nothing of substance; a steaming pile, utterly without merit.
Final Ranking, Space #7, Dolomite Campsite, Spring Mountain National Recreation Area: VG. The can could've used electricity, and I got attacked by a humming bird, but other than that it was an enjoyable time. It was a lot of fun watching a woodpecker ply its trade. After initially, hilariously confusing his pecking with incoming artillery fire, I recovered and spent a usefull ten minutes or so watching him peck wood.
Final Ranking, Education of a Wandering Man: VG. A very good book, one that L'Amour lovers and readers accustomed to reading works of substance will enjoy.
WHICH WAY TO HOLLYWOOD? On this date, in 1781, the city of Los Angeles is founded by 44 Spanish settlers. Even back then LA was a melting pot, with Mexicans, Spaniards, mulattos and blacks among the eleven families that settled the town.
Editor's Note: Thrughout the season, On This Date is pleased to take a look back a the 1908 Chicago Cubs season, because that was the last time they won the World Series. We know, that was a hundred years ago.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame: Fresh off a sweep of the Cardinals, but still a game behind the Giants and a half-game behind the resurgent Pirates, the Cubs invade Pittsburgh for a three game set, a game which turns out to be a harbinger of clustermess the 1908 pennant race will ultimately become.
This Really Happened: In the bottom of the tenth, with score 0-0 and the bases loaded, Pittsburgh's Owen Wilson singes to center, scoring Fred Clarke, however, Warren Gill, who was on first, decides to join the victory celebration rather than touch second base, like the rules require. Our Cubs, playing their usual heads-up ball, noticed this and second baseman Johnny Evers calls for the baseball, touches second and appeals to the lone umpire for the day, Hank O'Day.
Who is nowhere to be seen. They catch up with him at the water cooler in a dugout. Evers appeals again, but O'Day, who apparently preferred to do whatever the hell he wanted rather than rule in accordance with the rule book, denied the appeal, saying only "Clarke has crossed the plate".
That's Not What He Said, Dipwad!: Evers wasnt appealing that Clarke never touched the plate, he was appealing that Gill never touched second and was in jeopardy of being put out. O'Day, who apparently had dinner reservations or something, couldn't be bothered. Neither could National League president Harry Pulliam, who dismissed the protest out of hand.
Dry, Technical Matter: For those of you unfamiliar with 1908 National League season, remember this play. The pennant is decided on a play exactly like this later. We are not making that up!
Let's Go To The Scoreboard: For their part, the Giants won at Philadelphia 8-1, to move two games up on the Cubs, and they remain a half-game up on the Pirates. The Cubs have the same number of wins as the Giants (74), but they have lost four more games (49).
Gold Mine: On this date, in 1972, in Munich, Germany, American swimmer Mark Spitz becomes the first person to win seven gold medals at one Olympics. His record will stand until a couple of weeks ago, when it was broken by American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won eight.
Thought For The Day: For those to whom much is given, much is required. - John F. Kennedy, stolen from the Book of Luke.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Moamer Kadhafi's title is Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution.
Today's Stumper: There is not a trivia question today! Enjoy the day off.
Threats? Recipes? Trivia question answers? Email The Writer's Shack Here!
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