Bibliophiles Unite!

I'll be you never suspected that I, Philbert, Pink Phlamingo Extraordinaire, Leader of the Phlamingo Phlock, is also an avid reader. I get this from the D half of the dnrseekers, who loves to read. To be fair, the R is a library lover, but he is not as into the reading as D and I are.

So. In the course of our geocaching and waymarking, we found "Bookcrossing Zones". A book crossing is a place where people have dropped off their previously read tomes so that someone else can pick it up, take it home, read it, and then pass it along. It's not exactly hopping with popularity. But it's still a fun way to go.

Bookcrossing has its own vocabulary. Placing a book isn't called "laying a book", which is what I would have called it. Placing a book is called "releasing it into the wild". Finding a book is called "catching" a book. I've had to get used to this vocabulary. As a bird, being released into the wild conjures up thoughts of NO MORE FREE MEALS! Getting caught is eerily reminiscent of a bird cage and BECOMING SOMEONE ELSE'S FREE MEAL! But Diane and Rick have assured me that this is not the case.

It is fun for me to release a book into the wild...or "lay a book" as I would have called it. Just today we dropped one off at a local sporting goods store...someone had left one there before. So we logged it as a waymark visit since someone else said it was a waymark, and logged it on the Bookcrossingzone.com website. It will be interesting to see if anyone picks it up and logs it in as found.

I've never known anyone to release an ebook into the wild. Wouldn't that be great? Instead of one book, it would be TONS of books! But in the meantime, what a great way to recycle and show concern for the environment. Free books...free reading...life is certainly grand. OH! And just so you know, it's not unheard of for a geocacher to leave a book hidden in a geocache. There's a little extra incentive for you to go out hunting...

Since I don't have any photos of me actually "laying" a book, I thought I would show you some of the things I have mistaken for Phlamingo Eggs. Uncle Philbert got caught reading outside a Carnegie Library in Union City, Indiana. Here's the proof! Until next time...

Happy Reading

Philbert

(just for the record, sometimes I get confused about the difference between "on" and "in". And I just learned eggs are more oval than round. Who knew?)

Discovered

I am soooo excited, I can hardly get this out. Yesterday I met a new friend. This is my first non phlamingo friend in quite some time and I just can't wait to introduce him to you. His name is Arnold PiggyWinkle and he is a Geocaching Travel Bug. My people discovered him near a church out in the woods where he had been for a few months, and decided to bring him home, feed him and move him on to another cache. In the meantime, we had a great time together. First of all, we were going to play the Wii.

The problem is, I don't have hands. And Arnold has hands, but doesn't seem to know how to work this thing. I thought he should be an expert in Wii, as I've been told he has gone Wii Wii Wii all the way home. Arnold says he's not that kind of pig.

Arnold is a British pig. And boy oh boy has he traveled! He started his travels in England and has been to places like Germany, Hawaii, Washington State and Arizona. He's not certain how long he has been in Indiana, but his log says he has gone more than 30,000 miles! He began traveling in 2003. Almost ten years of being on the road.

With all that in mind, Arnold and I decided we should make more travel plans for him. I'm thinking of going on the road myself...getting a travel tag and hitting the road. However, I'm kind of dependent on my humans and they really like to pose me in pictures for their Waymarking thing. I have overheard talk...

So while Diane and Rick weren't looking, Arnold and I highjacked Diane's computer. First we went to Travelocity, because we wanted to meet the gnome.

We got a couple of ideas there, but then we decided to do some price comparing. Arnold had heard about some guy that used to pilot a space ship, and since he hasn't been in outer space, he thought that might be a good plan. So we got to talk to William Shatner....

but it turns out that he doesn't drive a space ship anymore. He did give some travel advice on a different website. Good advice!

All that planning made us thirsty, so Arnold suggested we step outside and have a pint. We got all settled in, then realized the state of Indiana doesn't sell beer on Sunday. Not only that, neither of us had anyway to carry drinks outside.

We just chose to bask in the sun. I hear Arnold will be getting a bath soon, and plans have been made for his release back on the road. You'll have to stay tuned to get the scoop on where he goes. In the meantime, I have decided I want to meet another flamingo...my humans discovered they are not the only ones who love the pink birds...I may have kin somewhere named Vooodooo! I can hardly wait to find out if it's true.

Good talking to you all again...

Philbert

Birds of a Feather

Well--things have been very confusing for the Philbert Phlock of late. Actually, the phlock has been separated and there was fear that they might never be reunited. But apparently there are rumors the phlock may be reunited, and even a new Philbert added to the phlock!

See, it all started with a major mix-up with our cousin, Stanley the Stork. Stanley delivered a four month old baby to Diane, and this sent Rick over the edge. The baby in question is actually Diane's grandson. Rick and Diane didn't really explain all this to me, so I'm a little confused on the details. It seems that Rick and Diane didn't exactly spend a great deal of time explaining themselves to one another, except through texts and emails.

But lo and behold, while both of them were in Florida over Thanksgiving, they actually met face to face and had a REAL conversation. And, they took the Philbert to find some waymarks in Christmas, Florida. First waymarking they've done since the last weekend in September. Both of them live in Indiana, and you would think they could have talked there, but no! They had to get together in Florida. And you think I am the bird brain!

The new Philbert says it seems they had a good time and that pictures will follow very shortly. Rick has to get back to Indiana and upload the pics.  The rumor mill says they are still talking to one another, although the great stork mix-up is still something of an issue.

On a personal note--I am very thankful this holiday season that turkeys are the bird of choice, not phlamingos. Condolences to all my distant cousins....

Welcome

Greetings--Philbert the Traveling Phlamingo here. Most everyone spells "flamingo with an F-L" but since my name is Philbert, it has to be "P-H-L-A-M-I-N-G-O".

Now that we have that out of the way...

My life is very routine...but I've become a mascot for a waymarking team. Waymarking is sort of like geocaching. For those of you who are not into geocaching, let's just say it involves traveling and scavenger hunts. I get to see lots of neat places. So far I haven't left the state of Indiana, but there is an awful lot to see here.

I plan to post lots of pictures. I'm open to ideas of where to go and what to see. Looking forward to hearing from you...especially all you flamingo-ettes...

Philbert