My Best Shot of 2023

 Not too shabby:

Tuesday Afternoon: photo by Cliff Hutson

Some say that December is a good time to reflect back on what happened before the year slips away. However, I feel that the beginning of the month is too early to start publishing "best of" lists. Who knows what may still lie ahead? Still, when I saw that Flickr was asking for "Your Best Shot 2023" I went ahead and submitted the above photo. It was taken in June, but odds are I will not do much better before the end of this year.

I like it for a couple of reasons. One is that I planted the seed(s) from which the plant grew. The other is that I took photos over the course of several days, and times of day, until I made the image I wanted. Thus, the title "Tuesday Afternoon." 

Looking forward to 2024, I am thinking of doing more work with my iPhone SE, or may be taking up another Photo a Day project. There will be photos in any event. See you in the new year.

A Small Step for a Man

 A Giant Step for Mankind?

Giant Step for Mankind: photo by Cliff Hutson

Not quite what Neil Armstrong really said when he took his first step on the moon.

Reading Log: November 2023

 The books that I finished reading in the month of November 2023 -

November 2023 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Below the Belt," A.J. Stewart

"Making the Drop,"  A.J. Stewart

"Chasing the Ghost Bear: on the Trail of America's Lost Super Beast," Mike Stark

"The Gods of Guilt," Michael Connelly

Cliff's Notes:

"Belt" and "Drop"

As previously noted, I have very much enjoyed Stewart's Miami Jones series. And, I believe that finishing these two brings me current. They did not disappoint. 

Part of my enjoyment stems from Miami being a former pro athlete who frequently muses on what was and what could have been. Also, each book in the series revolves around a different sport. These cover boxing and surfing respectively. Both of them offer an interesting story offering humor and insights into life.

"Ghost Bear"

I have a great interest in natural history and Stark's book has expanded my knowledge about an animal that I have vaguely aware of for decades, but knew very little about. 

The bear in the title is the prehistoric North American giant short-faced bear. I say that I was familiar with it as I once lived within walking distance of the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles where the remains of thirty some-odd individual bears have been found. The author devotes a couple of chapters to the scientific  work done there and his visit to the George C. Page Museum. He seems as bemused as I was over the cartoonish statue of a short-faced bear on the park grounds. 

This book is a great guide to the Pleistocene and one of the more spectacular animals that during that time.

"Gods"

This book is a "Lincoln Lawyer" novel. I like Connelly's work, but much prefer the Harry Bosch books. But, this is an engaging read filled with a lot of ins, a lot of outs, and a lot of what-have-you's. A reader with a limber mind should enjoy it.

 

National Sock Day

 There seems to be a day for everything:

A clothing company called Pair of Thieves created National Sock Day. According to the company’s website, they started this day “to warm our toes with the commemoration of two toe-tapping historical events that happened on this day.” In 2016, it was officially declared that National Sock Day would be celebrated annually on December 4.

I actually have three pairs of their colorful crew socks. But, as they are they are all in the laundry hamper they are not available for a photograph today. However, I do have a sampling from other textile manufacturers, taken over the years.

It seems that I can add socks to the category of things of which I have too many - along with hats and jackets. And, it is not like that I wear them every day.

#NationalSockDay

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.