Finally

It's comforting to know that scientists have such good taste. A giant prehistoric sperm whale has been identified and named for Herman Melville. Leviathan melvillei grew to about 60 feet and ate other whales. Yum.



Thanks to Will for alerting me to this.

The only one on my block

While spending the evening with my parents in Pinehurst, I received a very exciting gift. My bedroom down here is nautically themed and filled with books, paintings and knick-knacks relating to whaling, pirates, sailing and sea life.

Each time I stay here I usually find a few new books or little items my parents have picked up for my collection. This time, my dad presented me with several excellent items. In addition to a ship's model and glass decanter from the New Bedford Whaling Company, I got a blubber hook that was supposedly actually used on board an old-fashioned whaling ship. I cannot tell you how much that excites me.

Herman Melville is one of my favorite authors (as you will notice in the title of my blog) and I love anything to do with the era of New England whaling. I told my parents that if it wasn't so dangerous, I'd sleep next to my blubber hook. I couldn't find a good picture online, but it looks like the thing the murderer runs around with in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

I figure I'm one of the few girls my age who gets excited by whaling memorabilia and the only kid on my block with a blubber hook.