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Greetings from Missouri.
When life gives you snow, make snow angels. At least that's the way we used to think as kids, right? And I think the key to living a good life is to never stop being a kid.
The other day we had a ten-inch snow. Fortunately for us, Trish and I happened to have our 5-year-old granddaughter (not to mention two grand dogs--a pug and a chihuahua) for an overnight stay. When our granddaughter got up in the morning and saw the snow, we suddenly had no problems coming up with activities for her. It was all about the snow.
We made a snow man and a snow fort (by the way... making a snow fort involves more hard work than I remember from when I was a kid). And of course we threw snowballs and made snow angels.
Now here's the problem: If granddaughter hadn't been here, we wouldn't have done any of these things. The question is, why not? Why not play in the snow in the winter, look for snails and roly polies in the spring, stare up at the stars in the summer, and jump into a pile of leaves in the fall?
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The next morning I decided to go for a hike in the woods. Why? Well, my granddaughter, pictured above, would give the best answer I can think of: Because it's fun!
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Quick update for fans of the Bridgers series
If you've been reading the Bridgers series, you know that Books 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been published. You know that things keep getting worse for humanity. And you know that Infinity Fowler is one butt-kicking, world-hopping bridger. But you don't know who she was before all this started. And you don't know what she had to go through to become an elite bridger.
But soon you will know. I have almost completed the book, INFINITY. It will be released in February!
I love creating fascinating characters, and Infinity has been one of my favorites. That's why I decided to write INFINITY before proceeding to Bridgers 5 and 6 (but don't worry, those will be coming soon, too!).
Do you want to be ready for the release of INFINITY? Well, you've got some reading to do.
Bridgers 1-3 Box Set
and...
Bridgers 4
If you think saving the human species is going to be easy, think again.
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Awesome Animal - Seahorse
Yesterday I asked Trish what animal I should feature in my newsletter. She didn't hesitate. She reminded me of the time we took our kids out snorkeling in the wide, shallow bay at Cape San Blas, Florida. We rented a couple of canoes, paddled into the center of the bay, and spent the day splashing around and looking for interesting creatures. The next day, we told a commercial fishing guide about that, and he said, "I wouldn't get in that water. A guy caught an eight-foot bull shark there the other day." Hmm. That would have been good to know 24 hours earlier.
Anyway, while we were snorkeling, we found a seahorse. It was only about two inches long, but it was exciting because we had never seen one in the wild before. I can't find a photo of it because back then the only waterproof cameras we had were those plastic, disposable things that used film. Remember film?
So, what the heck is a seahorse?
Seahorses include about 40 species of fish in the genus Hippocampus. They live in shallow tropical and subtropical marine habitats, hiding in seagrasses, mangroves, coral reefs, and other sheltered areas. These fish are best known for their upright posture, prehensile tail, and the fact that their heads and necks vaguely resemble that of a horse. But few people have seen them in the wild because they don't move around much, and they blend in with their surroundings.
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Amazing facts about seahorses
Seahorses are ridiculously bad swimmers. Top speed: 150 cm per hour. Their tail (called the caudal fin on other fish) are not for swimming, so they swim mostly using their small dorsal (back) fin. This fin flips back and forth furiously, but as Ze Frank says, “Imagine trying to propel yourself on a skateboard solely by waving a Denny’s menu back and forth really fast.”
(by the way, zefrank1 has a collection of funny nature videos on YouTube... but avoid them if you are offended by slightly-raunchy jokes)
In spite of their slow swimming speed, seahorses are predators, feeding on small crustaceans. Obviously, they don't chase down their food. Instead, they wait motionless until their prey swim by, then they suck in the prey through their tube-like mouths.
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Seahorses don't have a stomach. Seriously. And no teeth. Their food passes through their digestive system so fast that they have to eat constantly. A young, growing seahorse will eat up to 3,000 brine shrimp every day! I like shrimp too, but sheesh!
A group of seahorses is called a herd. Well, duh.
Seahorses are amazing at hiding. This helps them avoid being eaten (remember, they can't swim worth a hoot), and it helps them catch their prey (they are ambush hunters). Can you spot the seahorse in this photo?
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Okay, that one was easy. How about this one?
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Check out this video of camouflaged seahorses.
What's up with that prehensile tail? Instead of caudal fins for swimming, seahorses have a tail that can wrap around coral, seagrass, or just about anything else. This holds them in place in rough waters or when there is a current.
And these tails serve another important purpose. Seahorses have elaborate mating rituals. In an attempt to impress a female, a male will lock its tail around the female and wrestle with her in an attempt to impress her. If the two pair up, then the real dance starts. And I really mean dance. The two seahorses begin an intricate series of movements that can last for hours. Sometimes with their tails wrapped together. That's almost romantic.
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But there's something else amazing about seahorse reproduction. Are you ready for this? The males are the ones that get pregnant. How does that work, you ask? After their elaborate courtship dance, the female lays eggs into a special oviduct in the male's body, in the structure called the brood pouch. Then the male swims to a safe place and sits tight during gestation, which can last weeks. When the babies are ready to be born, the male starts having contractions that force the babies out. Depending on the seahorse species, there can be as few as five babies and as many as 2,500!
Unfortunately, baby seahorses have little chance of surviving. Studies show that as few as 0.5 percent (1 out of every 200) live to adulthood.
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So, the Seahorse deserves a place in the D.A.H.O.F.
(Dandy Animal Hall of Fame).
FUN FACT: If the word dandy sounds old fashioned, that's because it is. The first recorded use of the word was between 1770 and 1780. Dandy has two meanings. The first is "a man who is excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance." That use of the word is rare these days. Today, the more common meaning is "something or someone of exceptional or first-rate quality." And there is something about a seahorse's appearance that makes me think the word dandy is perfect. So, dandy is another way to say awesome!
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More Book Bargains
More book promotions to help you discover new books and new authors!
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The January 2019 Sci-Fi Takeover (Bookfunnel)
January 11 to January 31.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/scifitakeover/cm0lxw300t
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Invaders from Above (Bookfunnel)
January 15 to February 9.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/alieninvasion/z2vjuvvl4i
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Birthday Book Party (Bookfunnel)
January 20 to February 10.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/birthdaybookparty/lsiath2bi3
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That's it for this bi-weekly email. My next regular email will be on Monday, February 4.
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Where the road ends, adventure begins.
Stan C. and Trish Smith
(photo from Warrensburg, Missouri, USA)
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