The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

 If you are feeling at all down in the mouth I suggest you do not read The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis. The story of Hattie Shepard starting from the 1920's into the 1980's follows her migration from the Jim Crow south of Georgia to Philadelphia. She and her husband, August, are searching for a better life. Hattie was only 17 when she started having children. Hattie herself narrates some chapters and some of the children or grandchildren narrate the rest of the book. All the characters in this novel are distraught, confused and overwhelmed. Hattie is trying so hard to keep everyone safe and fed she doesn't have time to offer comfort or kindness or even a smile. I was entertained by this story but saddened by the bitterness of Hattie's life.

Bardon's Peak

Today I hiked from the Magney-Snively trail head to the road where I left off last time when I hiked Ely's Peak. The view from Bardon's peak is so vast I had to take three pictures to capture the scenery from east to west.

Here is the middle view with a good look at the Saint Louis River.

This is the western view. I had a beautiful hike with nice weather and only a few mosquitoes.

Here is where I left off last time. Time to turn around and go back to the car.

I spotted some jewel weed on my way back. Today I added 2.3 miles making my new total on the Superior Hiking Trail 124.1. I have 208.4 left to go.

 

Minnesota's Geologist

 A sibling lent me a book called Minnesota's Geologist; The Life of Newton Horace Winchell by Sue Leaf. I have read other Sue Leaf books including the one she wrote about the ornithologist T.S. Roberts. Newton Winchell was a mentor to T.S. Roberts so that could be where she heard about him. Winchell was hired in 1880 to complete a geological survey of the state of Minnesota. He was given twenty years to get it done. Besides geology he also surveyed plants, animals and archaeology. He traveled by train, canoe, sail boat and horse. He is one of the notable early scientists of this state. His office was at the University of Minnesota. He was also charged with the task of creating a natural history museum which he did and which is now known as the  Bell Museum. Winchell's life is interesting in part because he grew up in a poor family and there were no funds for him to finish high school or go to college. He borrowed money from his relatives to go to school. As an adult, he lent money to his younger relatives so they would have the same chance that he had. He was a strong believer in education and during his career he taught at the high school and college levels. Winchell was a family man but wasn't home much because he was traveling across the state of Minnesota for his work. Besides his work as a geologist, he founded a Geologist Society and started a professional magazine for geologists. I thought this book was a detailed and loving look at a profoundly scientific man.

Ely's Peak

Today I hiked from the Beck's Road Trail head halfway to the Magney-Snively trail head. I could have gone the entire way but I had to get home and showered for a 5 pm phone call. The first half mile from the parking area was super easy on the paved Munger bike trail. After that the next half mile was straight up to Ely's Peak. I thought it was hard but while up there I discovered a group of 7 pre-schoolers with two adults. I was dressed in two pairs of socks, water-proof hiking boots, hiking pants, long sleeve quick dry sun shirt and hat. This tiny 4 year old girl in shorts and a sleeveless top and tennis shoes asks me, "Why are you hiking?"  I said I wasn't sure. 

After a series of rocky outcrops with scenic views I descended into a basswood, aspen, maple, oak forest. Here I cross the U.S. Steel creek.

Here I came to Skyline Parkway where I turned around and headed back to my car.

I think this is a toad.

It's chubby and lumpy like a toad.

 

I am descending from Ely's Peak back to the Munger trail. This is so steep they built a ladder in one spot. This ladder was easy to go up but looks intimidating on the way down. Today I added two miles making my new total on the Superior Hiking Trail 121.8. I have 210.7 left to go.

Election Judge

 I recently decided to be an election judge. I thought this would be a chance to learn something new, engage with people in my community, and try something different. Yesterday was the primary election and I worked 14.5 hours from 6 in the morning until 8:30 at night. That. Was. A. Long. Day. I was not needed at my voting location. I was assigned to a location in west Duluth. So I didn't really meet anyone from my community but I did meet people in the Morgan Park community. I arrived and met Marilyn, the head election judge and the other judges Annette, Katie, and Sarah. Only Marilyn lived in this area. The rest of us were all new and from other parts of town. Luckily Marilyn knew what she was doing. She had 16 years of experience as the head judge. Her mother was an election judge at this location before her. The five of us worked well together. The polls opened at 7 and every hour we rotated jobs. The jobs were greeter, registration table, handing out ballots, keeping an eye on the voting machine and sanitizing voting spots and pens. The person who handed out ballots had to give a mini civics lesson on primary voting and sticking to one party. As the day went on the explanations of sticking to one party got more and more detailed. People acted as if they understood but many did not. If they made a mistake the machine would tell them. The ballot would be rejected by the machine and the voter was given another ballot to try again. The most common problem is that people voted in one of the two main parties and also voted in the Cannabis and Marijuana parties. The second most common problem was that they stuck to one party but voted for every single person in that party. Of our total 196 ballots cast in person we had 33 spoiled ballots. A couple people had to do it over 3 times before they got it right. Both of our machines broke down but a city employee drove out to fix them. Sometimes we had to call the city for advice. For example a person came to vote but told us she got a mail in ballot yesterday which she left at home. The advice was to allow her to vote and ask her to tear up the mail in ballot when she got home. The city also took her voter number down. I was impressed at how careful and efficient the process was. When the polls closed we counted the tickets to see if they matched the number of ballots the machine processed. The voting machine spit out a seven foot long piece of paper that detailed the results. The judges signed that piece of paper in three spots. We put the ballots into an envelope and sealed it. All the judges signed the envelope. We put all the supplies back in boxes and hauled them out. The community center we were at had closed abruptly in March and this is the first time it has been used since then. Most likely the center will remain closed until we vote again in November. By 8:30 I was tired of being indoors all day and tired of wearing my mask. Marilyn asked if I would come back in November. I think I will. November should be a busier election and the day will go by faster. For the most part people were very nice. I had a good day but I am still content with being retired.

Eligible

 Curtis Sittenfeld (a female author) wrote Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Now the five Bennett sisters are living in modern times in Cincinnati, Ohio. Liz Bennett is an author of a women's magazine in New York City. Jane is also in New York City teaching yoga but they all come home to Cincinnati when their father has a heart attack. Mr. Darcy is a neurosurgeon at the hospital in Cincinnati. This silly book was entertaining but over the top in some parts. Jane's beau also works in the emergency room of the Cincinnati hospital but he was the star of a TV show called Eligible which sounds just like the Bachelor although I have never watched the Bachelor. Of all the characters in Pride and Prejudice I think Mr. and Mrs. Bennett stay the truest to form in Eligible.

What Is Left Of Me Is Yours

 Last week I read an article on the BBC News website about a Japanese service called wakaresaseya, otherwise known as relationship saboteurs. For a fee you can hire someone to seduce your spouse or your spouse's partner in order to get a divorce. Proof of infidelity is necessary for contested divorces in Japan. How crazy is it that you can hire someone pose as a romantically interested person to court your own spouse? I think that is really insane.So when I came upon the book, What is Left Of Me Is Yours, by Stephanie Scott, I wanted to read it. This book is based upon the 2010 murder of a Japanese wife by a hired relationship saboteur. In this case the saboteur wanted to have a relationship with her. Once she found out why he got to know her she wanted nothing to do with him. As she was in the process of leaving he killed her. After that murder the wakaresaseya services were regulated and much less available. But now such services are advertised again. Normally I am not a fan of crime books but this was a good one. I enjoyed reading about the culture, the food, and the landscape of Tokyo.