Hi, I'm Obsessed with Pleistocene Animals

[MarkGelbart]

Hi,

I'm so obsessed with Pleistocene wildlife and landscapes that I read hundreds of research papers and dozens of books to learn what it would've been like to live then.

The current world we live in just doesn't have enough diversity of wildlife for me. I long for a world with miles of uninterrupted forests and prairies with herds of mammoths, mastodons, bison, musk-oxen, horses, and llamas. I wish for a world with packs of wolves, prides of lions, and lots of bears to look out for. I'm disappointed that I missed the time when flocks of migrating passenger pigeons blocked out the sun for 6 hours.

So I oftentimes live in a fantasy world where I reside in a castle in my home state of Georgia but in a time period dating to 36,000 years BP. (Of course, I bring modern conveniences back with me--can't live without football on television, electrical power, refrigeration, etc.)

I accumulated enough knowledge that I wrote a book--Georgia Before People: Land of the Saber-tooths, Mastodons, Vampire Bats, and Other Strange Creatures It's available at Mark Gelbart's Storefront - Lulu.com

I blog about my book at GeorgiaBeforePeople

I hope that's not considered spam. I'm just trying to connect with that segment of the population who finds mastodon dung, cave fossils, and extinct ecosystems really fascinating.

[goosey]

Hi Mark, that is a hobby and a half, I am surprised you have time for anything else. There must be so much to still find out and you have already covered so much.
Did you study this at university which grabbed your attention to such an extent you actually put that "I could write a book about that" thoguht in to motion, or did an interest become your life?
Good luck with the publication, it is good to have you with us!

[MarkGelbart]

I've been interested in this since I was a kid--back in the 1960's and 1970's.

When I went to college, I didn't study this subject because I thought it wasn't practical. I studied Business Administration, got bored with that, and got my degree in psychology.

Now, I wish I would have studied paleoecology in school and tried to make a career of it. But I was young and didn't know any better.

My real job is taking care of my wife--she's been disabled since 1995.

[Suzanne B]

Hi Mark
And welcome to WAW from me too.
I've just had a quick look at your blog and it looks fascinating and something I hadn't really thought about myself. It all looks very informative, it's lovely to have something that you care passionately about. Its a shame that we don't always realise our dreams when we are young and the paths we should take (I still don't know now) but at least you have got the chance now.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll settle in quickly here and I look forward to reading your posts and seeing your photos of your part of the world in the gallery.
See you around the forums.
Suzanne

[Pudding4brains]

Hi Mark,

I'll second Suzanne's words - fascinating stuff. Of course, as a youngster I was very interested in palaeontology and archaeology, member of a youth club organizing (simple) excavations for practice and so on, but like you made a choice for a different study, mostly based on a distorted vision of a need for career opportunities (technology/engineering based). Lost interest and never really had the urge to do anything "careerish" - now it has gotten so bad with me that I even took an interest in insects in my spare time while taking car of an elderly and handicapped friend - how deep can we fall?

Nice to see you here - Cheers, Arp