After several of you asked me to make a wishlist, I did so. Shortly after that, one of you sent me a book from my wishlist that I've wanted for quite some time, Dinosaurs of the Air, by Gregory Paul (2002). I just received the book today and I want to thank you, Biosparite, for your kindness. As soon as I pulled it out of its packing, I showed this book to several of my colleagues, all of whom are very interested in it and they all thought the drawings are wonderful, too.
By the way, I am sorry for falling silent for so long. I have been overwhelmed these past few weeks with a paper and with teaching responsibilities, and I've also been rather depressed (unemployment woes, what else?).
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My pleasure, G/S. Have you seen a similar book a few years old now titled ABOVE THE HEADS OF DINOSAURS? Anyway, I picked the book off your list that addressed paleontology, one of my favorite stealth topics as I masquerade as a trial lawyer. I always look carefully when I am collecting in the Cretaceous marine sediments around Austin, TX for bones from birds or pterodactyls. The odds favor my finding one before the sun expands to engulf the Earth.
I also lend books in person or by mail if the recipient swears on a stack of the collected works of Charles Darwin to return the book in a reasonable time.
i would not presume to borrow a book from you or anyone until i have read and reviewed the stack sitting by my bed (there are seven beautiful books there, and most of them are very large, too). i am worried that the publishers will be annoyed that i am not reviewing them fast enough. i try to write one review per week, but really, that's not fast enough, i don't think, unless i skim each book. but i don't want to do that since i specifically request books that i know i will enjoy, so i want read every word -- several times, if i so desire!
biosparite, your concern about the return of books is misplaced. Remember, people keep books they like, and only friends steal your books. Therefor, anyone who returns a book is either a stranger, or unable to appreciate your much-loved tome of knowledge...
Let he who is sinless . . . I once accidentally kept a borrowed copy of Jackson Bate's SAMUEL JOHNSON for two years, since I see the owner, a literary friend of mine, only at Christmas. Nearly two years on after I borrowed the book at Christmas 2002, he fell into despair at finding a good academic job to match his Ph.D in Victorian Lit., so I related how Johnson had overcome so many impediments and continued on to say that I had a scruffy copy of Bate's biography of Johnson and that he could borrow it if he wasn't put off by the bad condition of the cover. I then speculated that I must have found the book on the Houston Library's 75-cent used-book sales shelf since the book was so ratty. At that point he replied, "That's my book." At least I was 1000 miles away and speaking with him on the phone so that my consternation and embarassment were not on view. I returned the book on a Christmas trip in 2004. Sheesh. But in any case, llewelly, I am not going to serve as your enabler re keeping borrowed books.
'... llewelly, I am not going to serve as your enabler re keeping borrowed books.'
Sadly, I have phobias about borrowing things from people I don't expect to visit at least every 3 months. So, I wouldn't be able to take advantage of you even if you were ...