Nature Moment

[lollardfish]

While I was playing ultimate frisbee this morning, three bald eagle soared over the park beside Lake Nokomis. You could see the white feathers just perfectly as they banked back and forth. Suddenly, one flew up to the other and struck it in the mid-back with its beak. The one struck dropped something - prey of some sort. It looked like a tiny dark speck, perhaps a mouse I thought, but now I realize that they were high enough to skew with my perception and it may have been bigger. As I was tracking the falling object, I took my eye off the birds, so don't know which soared back into view and plucked the falling object easily out of the air. The wind took the birds across to the other side of the lake.

My friend Tim and I slapped hands, giddy with just how beautiful and cool the whole thing was, and went back to our practice.

If I were an ancient Roman, I'd interpret this as an omen of upcoming victory. Of course, I have no battle planned ... well, except the upcoming election.

Comments

[neugotik.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds amazing. I love watching birds, and birds of prey are so fast when they fly & dive ... and Eagles are so large to boot, .. and then it's our national symbol. Could be, who knows? I can imagine watching Eagles fight over prey would be quite stunning - they're so amazing when they're just chillin' anyway.

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

Seems to me you and the Button have a HUGE campaign planned, that will last the rest of your life. Granted it doesn't start for a few months yet, but considering when you learned that this particular engagement was upcoming, the gods were reasonably timely with their omen.

Of course, I hope and trust that it won't be a battle. Was just thinking that an omen of victory might not be unwelcome. :)

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

The mouse (or whatever) falling from the sky only to be eaten by a bald eagle was a much better metaphor for Bush, though. :)

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Three bald eages were playing ultimate frisbee?

(Sorry, the editor in me started reading your post, and the image just captured my attention. But really, you don't want to let your students think such a construction is acceptable!)

[zinzinzinnia.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, though, they were, weren't they? Seriously Ultimate Mouse-frisbee, as played by soaring eagles.

But yeah, those dangling modifiers can be a bitch. :)

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I fixed it.

"no battle planned ... well, except the upcoming election"

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Do you want to lit drop?

The IRV campaign is advertising routes, some probably right across the street from you, and I was thinking about going. Someone to walk with might be nice.

K. [if B. doesn't want to... I admit to learning about this a few minutes ago, and haven't asked him yet]