http://216.248.200.215/princesssultanascircle/home.htm
horrid!
http://www.ummah.net/
informational.- http://www.ummah.net/family/
note to self, follow up on both in depth. get the books.
nigh night.
Tag Archives: books
A clear day! I could finally go for a little walk! I went to a nearby canal park, and roamed along the edge for a little bit
Now, fresh from the shower, I rise like the phoenix covered in steam, and I’m ready for today.
I dreamt about the wilderness near the coast last night. I think it was due to a photograph my sweetie showed me of the Lake Conoy. For some reason, I was charged with clearing an area for comfort… raking pine needles, and putting up some sort of tripod gizmo in the trees every so many yards…. I think it was to monitor wildlife (or tourists?) because they had to be hidden so that nobody would see them, but still have a clear line of sight to the sky. The dream took place during the day, but there was a soft yellow haze everywhere. Zombie Mist, again? I don’t think so. Maybe an echo of the Canada smoke I’ve been reading about lately.
Something that makes me giggle and lovey at the same time, from my beloved- is it any wonder that I’m smit by her brand of sugar?
*beso de dulce
mwah mwah mwah
oops, careful of my possum fangs
A man in the wilderness
Asked this of me,
“How many strawberries
Grow in the sea?”
I answered him
As I thought good,
“As many red herrings
As swim in the wood.”
Monster Island, pets and design, a programmable hat, and my local region for bookcrossing.
As soon as I get some labels printed up, I’m going to release Dandelion Wine and It’s Raining Frogs And Fish (I have multiple copies of each)
Where are Newt’s hind legs?
Well, off to bed to read more of A Canticle for Leibowitz … something I’ve been meaning to read for about 15 years now. Not too shabby…*very* Catholic. Interesting perspectives on post-apocalypse rebuilding too. I’m going to take this one slow.
B-52s
Title: Mesopotamia
Album: Mesopotamia
Turn your watch
Turn your watch back
About a hundred thousand years
A hundred thousand years
I’ll meet you by the third pyramid
I’ll meet you by the third pyramid
Ah come on, that’s right, I want
we’ll meet in Mesopotamia
We’re going down to meet it
I ain’t no student
Feel those vibrations
Of ancient culture
I know a neat excavation
Before I talk I should read a book
But there’s one thing That I do know
There’s a lot of ruins In Mesopotamia
Six or eight thousand years ago
They laid down the law
They laid down the law
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
Six or eight thousand years ago
They laid down the law
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
I’ll meet you by the third pyramid
I’ll meet you by the third pyramid
Ah come on, that’s right, I want
to meet in Mesopotamia
We’re going down to meet it
Now I ain’t no student
Hear those vibrations
Of ancient culture
I know a neat excavation
Before I talk I should read a book
Mesopotamia that’s where I wanna go
But there’s one thing that I do know
Mesopotamia that’s where I wanna go
There’s a lot of ruins in Mesopotamia
Six or eight thousand years ago
They laid down the law
They laid down the law
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
Six or eight thousand years ago
They laid down the law
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
In Mesopotamia
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
They laid down the law
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
In Mesopotamia
aa aa aa aa aa aaa
Nighters, dear journal. Loves to my beloved, and hugs to my behugged. 🙂
Odd how nobody’s doing any follow-ups on “no terrorist attacks happened yesterday”.
The fifth Harry Potter book is out! Well, in China, anyway.
If I were J. K. Rowling, I don’t know if I’d be enraged or incredibly amused. The writing is so…absurd…it’s hard to really be offended by the violation. It’s like some pop dada prank.
Goodbye, June. I’m glad yer gone. You’ve been a meanie month to me these last few years. Cut that nonsense out, and I’ll let you come by in another 11 months.
I have the 4th and 5th off from work… I have to call Newtie’s doctor and let him know about our change of address.
Cut the heel and the top of my left foot during walkies… twisted my foot in a funny way… surface scrapes, but they’re going to be tricky heals. Gauze and tape it is, and maybe *gasp* shoes with socks?
Friday might be the day to swing by the bicycle shop.
Reading enthusiasts across the globe have taken to leaving books laying around in public with a web address inside. The idea is that whoever picks up the book may find it a good read, register the book’s current location on the website, then leave it out to begin the cycle anew. A pretty cool idea, if you ask me, and much in the flavor of tracking George Washington – and to think it was all made possible by helium balloon technology, although sadly the romance of the message in a balloon has cynically given way to email indistinguishable from spam.
Newtcam is on, and pointing at his foodies today.
I coughed today, and heard an echo of my father.
I clear my throat in the exact same way. I had no idea until this morning.
Comforting, and sort of disconcerting at the same time. My brother and I have similar voice patterns, but not similar voices. genetic? learned? a little of both, I think.
reread robinson crusoe last night… I never noticed a specific error before… he strips down naked, swims to the ship for supplies, and then puts the supplies in his pockets… what is he, a marsupial?
good deed of the day – gave my all day bus pass to a guy as I got home.. saved him $2.50.
bought cat food, and seeds to plant in the garden area under my south and eastwindows…. sweet alyssum, and moonflowers. I may crossplant some catgrass out there too, for Newt’s friendly visitor.
Well, off to the showers, and a book to read in my NEW bed.gnite, dear journal.
just got home.
Going to hit the sack in about 30 min…
I feel like I have too many irons in the fire… stories to write, programs to produce, a Halloween costume to create, skills in assorted areas to polish.
I’ve got mixed feelings, good, that I’m able to produce… but bad that there are only so many hours in the day to create and learn. I suppose that it’s just a matter of prioritizing, and letting things go where they will.
I found out that Karen and Carmen are now so far on the outs, cohabitation is no longer a valid option. 🙁 that’s too bad, because they’re both very nice people. Well, I can only hope that they manage to find more comfortable living arrangements soon.
The cold seems to be abating, anyway. While I was out sick, Ex-bosses son’s wife turned in her resignation, after telling everyone at the company that the ex-boss would be returning in 2 weeks to take over the workplace again. if that happens, the company will fold as a result of the mass exodus of programmer-folk. Nobody is willing to go back to his regime again, after discovering what working for a real corp is like. As a daughter company to Ramada, we’ve been losing money via bad times for travelling. If we got rid of Ex-boss’s son, that’d free up six large figures for the company to use…. he’s the general manager there now, and all he’s generally managing to do is hide in his office behind locked doors, surfing the web for a 5 or less hour day. He recently pointed fingers at me for surfing and working, which was an attempt to remove blame from himself. Now, I’ve got tracking software installed, monitoring everyone’s “surfitude” I’m poisoning the well a little, only surfing LJ or non-cool sites via Mr laptop. (The reason this post is friend’s only… I know Terri reads my journal without a membership via my homepage.)
I’ve since been assured by the powers above that Wally won’t be returning, and Ramada has stated that Wally’s not only not returning, but there’s a restraining order keeping him from the premises. I will withhold taking that as gospel, but give a good 90-95% chance that Wally won’t be returning.
Enough gabbing about work.
Saw the ‘first contact’ episode of enterprise last night (the only episode I’ve seen, save for the pilot.) It wasn’t bad, but there wasn’t too much to it. guy goes over, touches alien, comes back and finds out he’s preggers, then the crew seeks the aliens back out. That’s really about it. I give it a 5 of 10. blah. Nothing counting for it, but not against it, either. I imagine if the next ep I see is the same, I’ll watch it if I see it, but won’t actively seek it out. (sort of as it stands now.)
I really don’t watch much tube, unless my sweetie is around. Current fun is MAD TV, an episode of COPS, adult swim on the cartoon network, or some discovery channel. I’ll tune in for a meal maybe, but I really don’t have anything that I *must see* to the exclusion of something else.
smallville? Mutant X? nah. maybe in reruns A pity they sacked the lone gunmen.
Ah well. going to lay down and read some Dhalgren for a bit before drifting off. say, when did amazon start putting sample pages in the entries? neat! anyhow, I got the book about a year ago, and pulled it out of a book box after my shelves entry. Looks good! *picks up newtie, and heads for bed*
nigh night.
My Favorite Line From Wizard of Oz
“Come out… come out… where-ever you are. To meet the young la-ady who fell from a star” Glenda was such a cool witch. Seemed like she was out of it the whole time, but then again, she did ride around in a bubble.
Dave might be giving me his old Mac this weekend… which would be very cool for doing development even more cross-platform. Now, I’m thinking about what the Network name on the Hive might be. (Current Network elements are Queen (big Brain), Worker (Lappie), and Drone (Palm).) So far, Pupa was offered, and I like that… but I figure I have until it gets strapped into the network (oh boy! AppleTalk! I haven’t dealt with that in about 2 years…we’ll see how hard or easy it is to add it to the hive at all. I’d like to share the dsl net connection and files) . I’m excited… I had a line on a free mac before, but the bottom fell out of that deal. This machine is the last one before the IMAC candy-colored ones came out… it’s beige. 🙂
You know, one day, I’ll have a lovely library in my home, with overstuffed chairs, wireless net connections, tasty scents of sandalwood and such, high bookcases reaching to the ceiling, and plenty of well read, loved books on the shelves. Meanwhile, I’ll have to be happy with boxes in my closet. Maybe this weekend I’ll get some shelves, and make more of my texts simpler to access.
dreams, the bus.
I dreamt last night that my sweetie was writing a “ransom note” to a co-worker in alpha-bits, and she had me sort the letters out in a fresh box while preparing the text for the note.
No glue or anything on the letters, just arranged on his desk, warning him that doom was soon to befall him… and I think it was implied that he was to eat the note after reading it. I’m not sure… it was a little hazy on that point.
I wonder how the plan of coming revenge on the ‘mad knocker’ is coming along?
I Had a Frightmare! – Bil Keane (Family Circus)
Read the reviews. insane.
dangit… landlord came by, totally unexpectedly… to finish the air conditioning/wall repairs. So, no AC or privacy for the next couple of hours…but I know he’ll be out of here by sundown.
There is such a thing as bittersweet, not just bitter and not just sweet.
Had an interesting difference of opinion. first, a breakdown for those folks that have never read the story.
The Velveteen Rabbit
One Christmas day a young boy was given a brown and white spotted velveteen rabbit with pink sateen ears. The rabbit was forgotten for awhile, but when the boy rediscovered him, the rabbit and boy became inseparable. Fancier toys teased the Velveteen Rabbit because he was only made of velveteen and stuffed with old sawdust. However, his friend, the wise Skin Horse, told him about Nursery Magic that would make him real if he was loved by a child and gave love in return.
As time went on the Velveteen Rabbit’s beautiful fur became shabby, his tail began to come apart and all the pink came off his nose where the boy kissed him. One day the boy told his Nana that the rabbit was real. The rabbit was so happy to be real that he never noticed his appearance and his eyes shown with a look of wisdom and beauty. He told some wild rabbits that he was real, but they teased him and made him sad.
Then the boy became ill and the rabbit stayed by his side. When the boy was well, the doctor ordered that all the toys be burned because of germs. The rabbit was sad and a tear trickled down his nose to the ground. Where the tear fell, a flower grew. The blossom opened and out stepped the lovely Fairy of Nursery Magic, who takes all the old, loved and worn out playthings that children no longer need and makes them real. The rabbit had only been real to the boy. The fairy took him in her arms and flew him to a place in the woods where there were other rabbits. She kissed him and told him to run and play. The Velveteen Rabbit became a real, live rabbit.
Ok… that’s the gist of the tale, less many the beautiful words and images that it contains. I reccomend it as part of a childs bookshelf, and it has a special meaning to me.
Another LJer I was talking to elsewhere said “I can’t believe that we subject children to depressing stories like that. ”
I personally think it’s a wonderful tale about love and the growing that comes from being loved. (see the sonnet, previous, too.) There are some sad parts, like when the boy is separated from something he loves so much, but overall, it’s a marvellous tale, and memory from my childhood.
Somehow the person I was conversing with it about totally missed the point… I feel that children benefit more if shown in a soft way some of the way life works ahead of time, they adjust better than if they get fed the mostly pointless “Barney the dinosaur, no drama ever happens” school of storytelling. It’s a question of taste, and position, I guess. In any event, I’m not going to bother pointing my world view at him anymore as he’s too traumatized by the story to hear it.
His sort of thinking has been a mild irritant to me… his opinion in general doesn’t matter, but when it becomes that of the majority, and will affect how I ultimately raise a child… then I begin to be disturbed by it. I credit some of my common sense and ability to reason to being subjected to a good mix of reality as a kid, not just the “everything is rainbows and cherubs” idea that’s currently in vogue. You don’t have to tell the story of “How Little Billy lost his legs to an Axe Murderer” either.
A balance can be struck. Fairies can be about granting wishes, playing tricks or warning of a coming tragedy. Besides, a story without some conflict makes it look like the hero got off too easy.
Just got home.
Bleah.
Going to bed… got to talk with my sweetie, anyhow. 🙂
The Velveteen Rabbit
“…Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand…” (the Skin Horse)
nigh night. 🙂
p.s. http://www.main.gadclan.de/flash/dengdeng.swf
(silly, noisy, but fun)
I’m still worried for/about her… I’m confident that she’ll be less anxious once she gets ‘back on track’ but I wish I could give her some sort of supplemental happiness, strength or good feelings. I love her so much, and want her to feel maximum goodness, and the absolute minimum downsides needed to make her healthy and complete. I can offer a strong arm, an accepting heart, and a willingness to ride with her through any troubles that may come… and of course all my love.
thanks, Jason, for pointing phoons out to me!
Time to just stop for a moment. Turn off the TV, turn off the radio, fold up the newspaper.
Today is the first truly splendid weather of the new season. I mean, it is fantastic. Standing in front of an open window with no shirt on kind of weather. Big deep breaths of cool air, close your eyes and sigh kind of weather. Summer is over. I hope wherever you are, you manage to get some of this breeze.
Phoons put a smile on my face this morning. Just a bunch of people posing for pictures as though caught in mid-sprint. This Father Serra one is a favorite.
If I was still active in any Champions or superheroic games, I’d have to make a character called the Phoon. it’s just a good word.
(that and now I want to drink mum tea, with my sweetie, phooning.)
I finished Stephen King’s On Writing. I need some time to think about what I’m going to say about it, and when I get there I suspect I’m going to have a lot to say. I’m sure
This book is fantastic. 🙂
The book is organized into sections on “Chaucer’s World” (social, religious, and economic aspects of life), “The Course of Life” (birth, childhood, and adolescence, education, marriage, and old age), “The Cycles of Time” (which concludes with a calendar of the medieval year describing the festivals and events of each month), “The Living Environment” (including houses, villages, towns, and travel), “Clothing and Accessories” (including instruction for making complete medieval male and female outfits and braiding authentic medieval lace), “Arms and Armor” (which describes medieval armor from the point of view of the wearer), “Food and Drink” (featuring a selection of recipes), and “Entertainments” (songs with sheet music and instructions for authentic games and dances of the period). A chronology of medieval England, a glossary, appendixes with information and ideas on organizing a medieval event, and suggestions for further reading complete it. This is an indispensable resource…I’m really quite surprised I hadn’t stumbled over it sooner. It looks to give a true understanding of what it would actually be like to live in 14th-century England.
Now I want the whole set. Maybe Bookfoole can offer me a deal. Some of these are more interesting than others, but I’m greedy and want them all. (it looks like they’re still making more, too..a few of them aren’t’ due out until next year, and the list continues.) Considering that they’re about $50 a pop, I’m probably going to end up with all of them in my library eventually.
Daily Life During the Holocaust (Soumerai)
Daily Life During the Spanish Inquisition (Anderson)
Daily Life in 18th-Century England (Olsen)
Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia (Nemet-Nejat)
Daily Life in Chaucer’s England (Singman) – This is the one I already have
Daily Life in Civil War America (Volo)
Daily Life in Colonial New England (Johnson)
Daily Life in Early Modern Japan (Perez)
Daily Life in Elizabethan England (Singman)
Daily Life in Maya Civilization (Sharer)
Daily Life in Medieval Europe (Singman)
Daily Life in Renaissance Italy (Cohen)
Daily Life in Traditional China (Benn)
Daily Life in Victorian England (Mitchell)
Daily Life in the Age of Sail (Volo)
Daily Life in the Inca Empire (Malpass)
Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1939 (Kyvig)
Daily Life in the United States, 1940-1959 (Kaledin)
Daily Life in the United States, 1960-1990 (Marty)
Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians (Brier)
Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks (Garland)
Daily Life of the Ancient Romans (Matz)
Daily Life of the Aztecs (Carrasco)
Daily Life on the Nineteenth Century American Frontier (Jones)