What will (aliens) think?

When I see something like this, I wonder what alien geologists and archaeologists (from another country, or another planet--take your pick) will think in a thousand years, when they uncover deposits of red rock underneath all the moss, mold, lichen, and mushrooms?  Will they scratch their heads and wonder?

Bizarre Deeds

Partial lunar eclipse 10/18/13

Last night while dining with friends at Hidden Bay Cafe on Hayden Island, Portland, the news spouted an impending partial lunar eclipse.  We only saw masts eclipse it, even though we kept watch as we shivered through an entire steak dinner outside, overlooking the marina.

Later, when I pulled into my driveway in the dark eeriness of my property where bobcats and bears and black-tailed deer abound, I noticed someone had dragged my garbage can from the top of the driveway down to my house.  If that wasn't weird enough, someone had raked my leaves.

Seriously.

Raked Leaves

This morning I took photos for evidence. Some unknown perpetrator trespassed onto my property (with their own equipment) and raked all the leaves out of my driveway onto the center circle.  I'm caught between a thrill of ecstasy that someone would do such a thing, and a vast curiosity about the miscreant.

Will I ever know?

If Looks Could Kill

I went to Jantzen Beach Shopping Center in Portland, to check on the Osprey nest.

Osprey Nest at Jantzen Beach Shopping Center

 The nest was occupied, but right in front of me a small bird was very busy, taking a sponge bath.

I stood for the longest time, feeling a little like a voyeur, but fascinated with the amount of work a bird puts into having lovely, aerodynamic feathers.

But then he noticed me, and I'm pretty sure he called the bird police and reported me.  I rushed back to my car, vaulted inside, and sped away before the gull police could arrive and plaster my car with droppings.

Up the River without a Paddle

If you have vacation time, and you are looking for something to do for the day, sailing up the Columbia Gorge on a tall ship might be the perfect trip for you.  Board either the Lady Washington or the Hawaiian Chieftain and imagine yourself back in the 1800s.

Lady Washington at dock in Washougal, WA with Hawaiian Chieftain astern

We had our choice of sailing aboard either ship, and although we'd sailed on the  Lady before, we chose her again.

Brig Lady Washington

We Our trip would take us from Washougal, Washington up the Columbia River, through the Bonneville Dam Locks, under the Bridge of the Gods, and end at Stevenson, Washington. Bruce, Ryan and I met at 6am at Starbucks and drove up the Columbia Gorge to drop off a car, and back to Washougal to board.

You see the gangway beside the ship.  That must be hauled in when preparing to get underway.

And we were off, with the Hawaiian Chieftain astern.  The Columbia Gorge is a beautiful drive on either the Oregon or the Washington side, but neither compare with sailing up the river.

Hawaiian Chieftain in the sights of the Lady Washington Stern Chaser

I've been loading some video and hope to have some raising the sails in the next post,

Northern Flicker Woodpeckers

The two Northern Flickers danced around the top of my dead tree for a long time,  The backyard sounded like a jungle of Flicker calls, from cooing, to calling to pecking,

Dead Tree Wildlife Habitat

A couple of years ago, during a wind storm, I began to worry about a 100 ft Douglas fir tree in my back yard.  Dead trees fall over during wind storms.  I called a tree-climber and told him I wanted to leave at least 20 feet of the tree for wildlife. and I wanted him to drop the rest of the tree so it fell into the forest, also for wildife.  He left about 40 feet standing.  I was sure would still come crashing down on my house, but he assured me it wouldn't reach my roof.  I think he was counting on it breaking at least three feet from the ground..

A Pileated woodpecker found it immediately, pecking away one winter morning.

Now a family of Northern Flickers has purchased one of the bird condos at the top of the tree.

First sentences (and how to avoid them temporarily)

What is this bird?

First of all, the above bird has nothing to do with my book, except that it exists on earth, as do my characters, though the bird is alive now, and my characters are alive in 1805.  

How is that for a first sentence for a book?  At first I thought it might be good because it sets the time and the place, but a critique partner mentioned it is from the point of view of a narrator.  Since my book is in 1st person, alternating between the protag and the hero, I didn't want to add a third viewpoint from a narrator.

Plus, my sister and I have been arguing about what type of bird it is.  If one has a picture, one ought to have a caption which is not a question.  We've narrowed it down to a sparrow, but we are still arguing over which type of sparrow.  Still, it was easier for me to move forward with my book if I HAD a first sentence, good or bad.  I'd written the first two chapters before I deleted the above picture and that first sentence and began working on a real first sentence.

For days I'd run the first sentence past my co-worker.  She'd shake her head.  I'd change it.  She'd shake her head.  Change.  Shake.  Change.  Shake.

Here is the sentence I think might be the one.  She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

This time when I was almost killed, it wasn't my fault.

What is the time and place of your book, and what is your first line?

Note to thieves:  All first lines appearing on this blog and in the comments section are copyrighted.