Critters

And a far from terrifying tiger. 

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Critters

Here's a pensive looking panda.

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Colorful critters

They're part of a large herd that takes up residence in Orono every June. 

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Right Call (juvenile fiction)

 "He [team manager] just...he always gives the umpires a hard time, you know? And also he...Like, he fires up my dad about how important everything is all the time, almost like it's life or death and not a baseball game. Always talking about how the scouts are going to be there and all that crap."

     My Adam was in Little League back in the day. He liked playing the game and being with his friends. He knew he could quit if it stopped being fun. Fortunately he had coaches who kept things in perspective, who saw kids' sports as a way to learn life lessons while having fun with peers. I was horrified at the pressure some parents and coaches put on the kids and the inexcusable things those supposedly adults said to referees and kids on opposing teams.

     Now things are exponentially worse. As Tommy Greenwald shows in The Right Stuff, this can lead to pretty bad consequences. 

     When Cal, Greenwald's protagonist, started playing baseball he wasn't all that great.

"He couldn't hit all that well, and fielding for him was an adventure. And where he threw the ball, it tended to go everywhere except where it was supposed to."

     Things changed when Cal developed an incredible pitching arm. Suddenly there were special coaching, summer camp, encouragement to play all year round. And Cal's father, who had previously spent game time on his phone or chatting with friends with occasional glances at the field, becoming way overinvolved...

     ...until a post game incident leaves him arrested and a ref in the hospital.

     Greenwald wrote the book because of his concern about the rise in referee and umpire abuse in youth sports.

     "There has been an increasing pattern of arguments, screaming matches, and yes, even violent episodes across the youth sports landscape, from high school down to the pony leagues. In fact, it has become so serious that there has been a growing epidemic of game and seasonal cancelations--at all levels and age groups--because leagues simply can't find enough umpires, referees, and officials to work the games."

With school just about out for the year, The Right Call would be a great addition to young athletes' summer reading lists.

On a purrrsonal note, my summer is being delightfully busy. Last Friday I was able to get plants to fill out my garden. It looks so lovely now: a space of magic and enchantment for my evening reading. Sunday was the Orono community picnic. It was out behind the library. I went with Bailey. It was really fun. There was a good turn out even though it was misting out. The food was great with lots of stuff I could actually eat. There was a local musician playing. Yesterday the weather was perfect for a very profitable Goodwill run. Today Bailey, Cam, and I had a picnic at Orono Community Garden and I got to show them around. They were quite impressed. Now I'm hanging out in the library reading until it's time for gardening. 

A great big shout out goes out to Bailey and Cam who remind me so of me and Eugene when we were newlyweds. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Book challenge

This is the back cover. The endorsement by Maine's own horrormeister, Stephen King, is one of the main reasons I chose it. Some people think these blurbs are unnecessary. I totally disagree. I find them really helpful in choosing future reads. 

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Book challenge

This is the free book I chose. 

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Goodwill haul

Yesterday I went to Hannaford to do some shopping for a picnic Bailey, Cam, and I are going on today. Of course since I was in the neighborhood I checked out Goodwill and was very glad I did. Check out these finds!

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