Friday, November 7, 2008

Book Tagged!

Palamino Girl tagged me in the latest round of book-related fun.

The RULES:
  1. Grab the nearest book.
  2. Open the book to page 56.
  3. Find the fifth sentence.
  4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
  5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one - pick the closest.
  6. Tag five people to do the same.
As I commented to Palamino Girl, given that I lapsed into procrastination & checked my bloglist at work, her tag could have resulted in something really weird. (Currently on my desk - Preschool to the rescue, The craft of intelligence, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Will our children have faith?, and The world of Dylan Thomas among other things!)

But as luck would have it, on the top of the out-going stack is Man, Beast, Dust The Story of Rodeo by Clifford P. Westermeier. Scanning down page 56 for the fifth sentence took me half a page - man, does this guy like looonng sentences...
This latter group includes trained animal acts, novelty roping and riding acts. The genuine rodeo contestant has little time for this type of thing but realizes that it is a drawing feature and essential for its entertainment value. In the first group mentioned, it is obvious that strained but friendly relations exit between bronc riders and calf ropers. This is a rather serious aspect which has led to professional jealousy and, in the long run has brought about many changes in these events.

A second characteristic of the man in rodeo is his youth. It is something that should not evoke surprise on the part of the observer, for only youth has the essential spark, power, dash, and the freshness which ar essential in sports of any type.
Okay - that addressed the men. I had to flip ahead and find out what the author had to say about the ladies... and round about page 84 he gives them their due:
The cowgirls are not only addicted to riding broncs, trick riding and relay races, but several have been adept with the rope and have given exhibitions of steer and calf roping. Some have taken up the hazardous occupation of bulldogging steers and steer riding. The women of rodeo have entered into all phases of the work and have put on as great exhibitions of skill, nerve, and daring as the men.
Cool! And pretty amazing for something written back in 1947. I may have to read further when the book comes back.

Now, on to who's IT:
And anyone else who'd like to play, feel free to join in the fun!

3 comments:

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Hope you guys are fairing well. This lovely "little" storm is nasty and you guys are probably getting hit with the worst of it by now. The wind has finally gone down for the most part. That was the worst of it, as with all blizzards.

Thank goodness we aren't in the Hills huh? They are going to be digging out for days.:(

Anonymous said...

What an interesting title and excerpt...1947? That even predates me! How did you happen to have the book out?

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SunnySD said...

BECG - we're finally seeing just a peek or two of sunshine! Hooray!

SMR - I work in a library, and the books on my desk the other day were heading out to various libraries across the country. Can't remember where that one was bound, though. This time of year I envy the ones headed for parts southern & warm, that's for sure!