Last week I went for a walk around campus and ended up at the library. Ok, who am I kidding? I always end up at the library. Anyway, from the top of the Terrell Library you can look through the skylight and see down into the rotunda. It's a beautiful building.

On the ground floor of the library there were rows of chairs set up, along with a baby grand piano and a few tables. I decided to find out what was going on- hoping there was a recital I could stay for. As I entered the library, I saw a large sign with a photo of John Tarnai - it was a memorial service. Tarnai worked for more than 30 years in the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center. He had served as the director of SESRC since 1996.

I know all this because a nice woman came up as I was looking at the sign and asked if I was attending. I told her I had never met Tarnai, and asked her who he was. After telling me about his service at Washington State University, she directed my gaze to a table on the edge of the room.

The long table was covered with library books. There had to be more than a hundred - most were pretty unique from their neighbors. There were books on writing and journalism, entomology and chemistry, research and economics and many others. The woman let me take them all in before telling me they had placed them there so attendees could understand a little more about Tarnai's personality. She told me all of the books on the table had been found in his office after his death. All of them were books from libraries on campus and, from what she said, the majority of them were recommendations. She said he would come to the library to check out a book a colleague had recommended, or he had been wanting to read, and he would leave with several books recommended to him by the librarian who helped him. It sounded like he tried to read them all.

I couldn't stay for the memorial, since it started later and I had to get back to work, but I am told they shared stories about Tarnai that had been sent in by people from all over the country. People who had worked with him, corresponded  with him, or knew and used his research.

I hope there are such stories about me when I die, and I really hope they involve books.

I did some research this past week on the veterinary science research being done at the University of Idaho — specifically with cattle. My mom was here visiting so I took her along and we were given the full tour by a very handsome gentlemen. While it was a hardship to tear my eyes away from our guide, I did learn some interesting stuff and got some fantastic pictures.

I've decided I really like cows. When I was young our family had a cow named Dodger that grew up to be beef for dinner, but before that my siblings and I loved to be around her. Touring the dairy and Steer-A-Year facilities kind of brought all that back. I think it did for my mom as well.

We were able to see all the beautiful new calves that have been born and pet and be licked by some other gorgeous cows. Their noses are so soft and velvety. All in all it was a great experience and I think will make a wonderful article. We will see how it pans out after I transcribe all my notes.

Mom getting her jacket licked by a research cow.

My mom decided this cow had markings on its face that would look at home during Dia de los Muertos.

A mom with her new calf hiding behind her.

One of the huskier new calves at the barn.