Monday, August 06, 2007

Look What Came in the Mail

I had a splurge attack on eBay last week. I found this complete set of Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds published in 1964 by Dover Publications. This series was originally published through the Smithsonian in 1940. A few years ago I found the two volumes on birds of prey at Half Price Books and have enjoyed picking through them. Now I'm anxious to stroll through the rest!

On a separate auction by the same seller I bought these two books by Witmer Stone- Bird Studies at Old Cape May. The day before, I had bought my plane tickets for the First Birder Blogger Conference at the Cape May Autumn Weekend. I NEEDED these books! My mind was spinning thinking of what I could learn before meeting the FLOCK at Cape May...

The nice woman who was selling these great books told me she was including a little surprise in the box. When it arrived I was thrilled to find a boxed set of five LP records of American Bird Songs recorded by P.P. Kellogg and A.A. Allen for the Albert R. Brand Bird Song Foundation, Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University. I believe it was recorded in the mid 50's. I love the sound of LP's and I'm excited that I believe I'm getting a new turntable for my birthday next month.

Which brings me to another item that came in the mail...

$&*#%!!!
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21 comments:

RuthieJ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KGMom said...

Welcome to the AARP club, my dear. We are all really quite harmless, sitting here in our dotage!

Ruth said...

We have no equivalent to the AARP in Canada which is fine with me.(A CARP card would be pretty corny) No one is senior here until age 65. I love books and it looks like you have some good reading ahead.
ruth

Unknown said...

Congrats on the new (old) books, old lady! But, what do you expect when you are using ancient technology (LPs). The AARP knows these things and they are FAST! :)

Jealous of the old books -- they were published in the year of my birth so I've got a BIT Of time before the AARP starts knocking on my door. Just a bit! :)

Anonymous said...

O my goodness, is that the whole set of bents? Hmm, you interested in selling it?? Only kidding! Great find for sure!

Larry said...

I'ver heard about the bents collection-I'd like to read those myself-sounds like you like to shop!

birdchick said...

It's like looking at my own library. I have all the books you mentioned--all purchased by my sweet hubby (even the Cape May books).

Quick question on the Bent--does your photo show all the books you got in your order? If so, you're missing a couple. You might want to contact the seller.

LauraHinNJ said...

AARP? No way, Lynne!

Those Witmer Stone books are a nice read - the others look interesting too!

Another nice primer for Cape May is *Season at the Point* by Jack Conner (maybe, not sure). See if you can't get it through your library.

Susan Gets Native said...

Good grief, Lynne. You will be Mrs. Bird-Know-It-All at Cape May.

And an ARRP card....Poor Lynne. But take heart, girlfriend! Remember that I will always be younger than you!

LostRoses said...

Oh, I'm so jealous, Lynne, Bent's Life Histories! I always coveted them but never found a very affordable set. You'll have a wonderful time perusing them, I know.

I remember when the first AARP cards started arriving. I thought, what the hell are they sending me that for? Ha ha. I'll stick with senior discount day at Ross, they start at age 55. The only disconcerting part is when they automatically give it to you without you having asked for it!

Anonymous said...

That's a great find on eBay! I'm looking forward to hearing all about the Cape May Birder Conference.

dmmgmfm said...

I cried the day mine came in the mail. Literally sat down right there in the post office and bawled my eyes out. I don't feel AARP old, I really don't, I kept telling myself.

There oughta be a law against them sending that stuff out unsolicited.

Love the books and I bet the records are wonderful. Enjoy the conference.

Hugs,
Laurie

nina at Nature Remains. said...

I LOVE Ebay--I'm either browsing there or blogging here, it seems. Can be addictive!
We get, erroneously I'm sure, a "Seniors" newsletter from our county offices. No better way to ruin a perfectly good day, than by finding that greeting you in the mail after work!!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

kgmom- Harmless? I know better!

Ruth- CARP! I love it!

Liza- Ancient technology-LP'S?? LOL!

Mon@rch- I sure was excited to find and get it.

Larry- I LOVE eBay!

Sharon- You're right! I emailed the seller and she was not aware either. I got everything pictured. Now I'm obsessed with finding the cardinal set!

Laura- I'll look for that book as soon as I'm done blogging. Thanks for the suggestion!

Susan- You little bugger! Just remember young one, YOU'LL be the one helping me over the sand with my walker in October!

Lostroses- the books are great. I'll have lots of time during Minnesota's long winter to read, rad, read.

erie's argonaut- Gotta love eBay!

Laurie- The AARP letter was received with much cackling from my family!

Nina- I spend way too much time on ebay too!

Mary said...

My AARP went directly into the circular file!

Oh, Lynne, you are going to be Miss Smarty Pants in Cape May, aren't you?

You really know how to shop, Lynne!

NatureWoman said...

Cool pile of birdie books Lynne!!!! I love Dover books!
When my Aunt turned a certain age where she could start getting discounts for being said certain age she embraced it!! I hope I can be the same and she was when the time comes!
Have fun reading your books!

Cathy said...

Like Mary - I pitched it. I mean - it just sounds so bad rolling out of ones mouth: AAARRRRPPPP . .
No thanks.

You're going to have such a wonderful time at Cape May.

Deb said...

Now I'm jealous, Lynne...not about the AARP thing, of course! I think The Hermit has gotten a couple of those...:)

Anonymous said...

Whoa Lynne! You did GREAT getting the old Bent series. We have them in the RRBO library and they are treasures.

Any yeah, I've got one of those AARP cards too. I use it as a coaster.

dguzman said...

Oooh, so burning up with envy at your amazing new collection of bird books! Way to shop! EBay frightens me. I prefer Amazon--no bidding wars!

EEK! AARP! I'm SURE they must have been mistaken!

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a great pile of books.

Sorry about the AARP card - as John Donne would have said "Ask not to whom the card is addressed, it is addressed to thee." AS my beard is showing more grey wach day, I don't ask.