PS -Read a wonderful review of one of Galen Rowell’s books by an unidentified reader which sounds very much like you might have written it. LR

Oh Joan, there are too many questions and I fear the owners will kick us off this site. It must take ages for the Russian atomic vessel to travel from North Pole to Antarctica. (Also - “so it can’t be squashed” ! Ouch) ! LR

More than one allowed ? 

Edward Lear - Book of Nonsense.

 Antoine de Saint-Exupery -The Little Prince

 Johanna Spyri - Heidi

 

Fascinating photo - the situation would frighten me - looks awfully dangerous and very unsettling. Not my cup of tea. Would have imagined helicopter viewing to be verboten because it would frighten the Emperors. LR

Briana Baran I enjoyed your stories especially the one dealing with “cussing”. I was never much into swearing. Friends and family often remarked very favorably on my language control. After our only child started to grow up I would take her everywhere I went in the car because she just loved going for a drive with her Daddy, and I loved being with her as much as possible. After some time we noticed that every now and again she would come out with remarks that hinted at profanity. Of course we checked here immediately. Once, when we were gathered in our living room speaking with out visiting pastor and a couple of nuns from the school, my wife asked our daughter who she saw yesterday when Daddy took you to meet Grandpa returning from Rome. She smiled proudly and said, “Louis”, which she always called my father. He had just returned from Italy where he had visited the Pope. The pastor and the nuns gleefully laughed at how cute my daughter answered. The priest then asked Maddy, “And what did you do when you first saw your grandfather getting off the plane”. Quick as a flash, my daughter raised her arms and started waving as she did when she first spotted Louis coming through the gate. They found this so cute. The priest continued, “and what did you say, when you saw your grandfather”. Another quick and loud answer from Maddy, “Go to hell Louis”! Well we managed to live through that embarrassing moment, but as time went by her profanity vocabulary increased remarkably. We couldn’t figure out where she would be picking up such cuss words. Well, after a while my brother, who knew me so well, told me that little Maddy was learning all these great cuss words while driving with her Daddy. Apparently my good manners just went out the window when I got behind the wheel. So it became a matter of Maddy quitting traveling with Daddy, or I had to cut out the bad habit. Well it took a while, but I managed to “curb my enthusiasm”, so to speak, and I began to notice how much better my fellow travelers on the road were driving their cars. Now, Maddy often drives Daddy around…and I still can detect “untidy murmurs” when anybody cuts her off or blows their horn at her.

Joan, this one caught me off guard. Didn’t expect to see your signature underlining the posting. It’s an absolute scream. How can I properly convey how funny I find it? Maybe from this old vaudeville gem, “I haven’t laughed this much since my grandmother died”. Joan in French we would say this one is a “Trois Cloches”, and “trois cloches” always took the prize. You have to be in good standing with this entry. LR.

Dear Joan, when writing what I meant as most complimentary, tombstones were the farthest thing from my mind. But now that you mention it, I would very readily accept the words you write as quite complimentary and acceptable to me for use on my tombstone, “thanks to LR who manages to think of everything”. Sounds good to me. Thanks Joan.

I think Deniseann that you know exactly what you are doing and obviously you handle and cope with your life problems in a decidedly positive way. You are to be commended for that. Not many could go through all the  trials you have had to face and be able to live through it so well and so good-naturedly as you have. You have every right to ramble and it’s so nice that you have the WOW site to turn to as you would turn to a friend or neighbour, because that’s what we are here on WOW. I always look forward to your postings. LR.

Perfect choices from a slew of great captions. Congratulations to the winners.  Well done.

Joan Larsen - American writer and poet. (and darned good, and fast, typist - over and out).

I would be reluctant to describe your admitted habits as “silly”. But I must agree they seem quite unique…and that I would accept from you because you are a special lady and a unique person. (Was it the cats or dogs who said the little characteristics of your behavior were “silly”)? LR.

Joan I must confess I am not surprised by the extensive diversity of your interests, nor in your statement showing marked preference for non-fiction, since most of your interests are obviously of such a highly scientific nature. When we first met, in an effort to offer a note of friendly humour to our introduction, I categorized you as sharing identical interests and qualities with Richard Halliburton, whom I have always admired and worshipped as the ultimate contemporary explorer and adventurer of my youth. I think I came very close to making a strong and credible comparison between two very adventurous individuals. It is unfortunate that the postings on this site are controlled and limited to the particular topic at hand because I am certain that I and many of the other members of WOW would be ecstatic to learn more about your fabulous adventures. I am so appreciative of the stories of the various journeys and ensuing adventures you have already been able to share with us, considering what I understand to be the limits permissible by the site founders, regarding remaining "on topic".  Perhaps a method can be formulated so that you would be allowed to further expand and elaborate to us, more extensively on the many exciting and extraordinary adventures you have experienced. It could make for a very interesting and thrilling series. Do you think there would be any way of having such an idea considered by the founders of WOW? Another thought occurs to me. Am I possibly not aware that you already have a published book of your adventurous life. A fact that possibly all the others know about and that I, as a naïve respondent to the WOW site am completely in the dark about? I would hate to appear to be the unknowing dunce on the premises? Have I missed something somewhere along the line? If a book doesn’t already exist, I am certain that there must be at least one in the works ?? LR.