h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We are already at the end of the Month, I only have to press the 'Store' button to complete the challenge!

Back on day 16 cactuscafe asked me a few questions about my writing the Leib stories. I thought this might be a good time to reflect over the last month.

The first decision I had to make was whether or not to commit to the project. I started by creating a folder in my h2g2 directory for NoJoPoMo. I then opened my text program (I use open Office, but that is not important) I made sure my spell check was set to British English, added a few blank lines and added my signature to the bottom. and saved the file as 00. I added a blank header line with the number 01 I saved a half dozen more copies numbered 01 to 06.

I then went back to 00 and wrote out my message for the sign-up thread. I still had no idea what I would write about so I just saved it on the hard drive. and started looking for interesting topics.

Fortunately November the first was on a Saturday so I could spend most of the day working on journals before I had to commit at F22143516?thread="smiley - cheers" title="cheers" class="smiley" src="http://www.h2g2.com/h2g2/skins/Alabaster/images/Smilies/f_cheers.gif"/>

F S

PS I do apologize for not responding to all of the fine Entries and postings I have read, thank you all for your time and efforts.

It was interesting and very enjoyable FS. Thank you for the effort

I confess to being interested in Florida's history. What other state could have served up the kind of locale that "Swamplandia" used? Or the Okefenokee Swamp, which straddles the Florida/Georgia boundary line. I adored the "Pogo" comic strip in the fifties and sixties.

I grew up between two swamps. To this day I feel at home in swamps. I love the vegetation and wildlife that one finds there. Well, I imagine a subtropical swamps might have some life-forms not found in the New England swamps I know, but the possibility of rare and beautiful orchids ["Adaptation"] would only enhance the pleasures. Now, if only there weren't the chance of run-ins with alligators and poisonous snakes [though we have poisonous snakes up North, too...].

'We have met the enemy, and he is us!' Pogo 'Possum - probably the best line ever written.

Some of the neighbours get upset when I use the word 'swamp' From where I sit I can see the north-west corner of the large 'pond' with a hammock in its centre (Island, not sleeping device).

We have Opossum, Raccoons and Armadillos for land mammals. We sometimes spot an otter in the pond.

Our birds include ducks, Ibis, Wood Storks and hawks, the occasional Sea Gull sometimes comes this far inland (about 4 miles from the coast). Some of the birds are migratory, but most stay here year round. We also have Jays, Mockingbirds, Red Wing Blackbirds and Bob Whites, for song birds, although the Jays don't sing much - they mostly just scream.

As for reptiles we have the ubiquitous Anoles and Skinks or chameleons. Snakes of several species, both poisonous and harmless, Frogs and Toads (some Toads are extremely poisonous if eaten by a dog or cat, we are in a pet friendly park so this is a concern). It is a common argument whether or not we have a resident Alligator, as they usually travel between ponds it is quite likely we have one - at least part time.

The pond is surrounded, and contains, dozens of Cypress trees. Some drop their needles each winter (the Bald Cypress) while others are evergreen.

Just thought I'd share a sight or so.



F S

Next time we're over on holiday Ill have lots to tell the kids now!

[Amy P]