Author Archives: chick

A Walk in the Snow

I went for a walk in the woods yesterday. The snow was still thick on the ground but not undisturbed. Many other creatures had been there before me. Their tracks were everywhere, zigging and zagging and crossing. Some creatures were … Continue reading

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Thoughts from 2012

It was not a great year for the blog. I probably wrote fewer posts in 2012 than in any other year since I started blogging. But just because there were few posts for the year doesn’t mean I shouldn’t look … Continue reading

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Reading in 2012

I read 42 books this year, which is not as many as I would have liked, but still pretty good. I’m glad that I finally read some books that had been on my to-read list for quite some time, including … Continue reading

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The Determinator

Dear Livia, It’s amazing how determined you are to have things your own way. It’s normal for kids your age to fight for independence, but you have taken it to a whole new level. You’re not just determined, you’re The … Continue reading

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What is YA?

During our departmental lunch earlier this year, I told some coworkers that I hated Stephenie Meyer’s book, Twilight. The subject had come up, so why not voice my opinion? But one of my coworkers, it turned out, was an ardent … Continue reading

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Three Unusual Books

Summerland by Michael Chabon Grade: B+ What would happen if you combined Native American legend, American folk stories, Norse mythology, and baseball? This book. And it is every bit as odd as you’d expect the resulting blend to be, though … Continue reading

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Walking Together

Dear Marshall, I decided a couple of months ago that I needed to get more exercise. It was hard to find the time to walk alone, because I am always either working or taking care of you kids during the … Continue reading

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That Was Then, This Is Now

The Way We Talk Now: Commentaries on Language and Culture from NPR’s “Fresh Air” by Geoffrey Nunberg Grade: B The short essays in The Way We Talk Now ought to have been perfect for me, given my interest in language … Continue reading

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Fall = Love

Having seen no ticks this year (just tiny tick-like things we now believe to have been mites), I finally decided to brave the woods behind the house. I have been up there many times in the last few weeks. Fall … Continue reading

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Saturday’s Mail

I probably shouldn’t like getting mail. I get a lot of bills. But I still eagerly await the mail delivery, sometimes even on Sundays and holidays because I forget which day it is. And sometimes I’m rewarded with good mail, … Continue reading

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