Dispatch #16:
"Happy (Belated) Birthday! I'm glad you got the books. Am trying to see how to get more out to you. Apparently there are groups who donate them, so am contacting a couple. Next time I have more $$, will, of course send more. More Twain, maybe. Maybe Thucydides. Have you ever read Moby Dick? I think you'd *love* that. Or Plutarch, even. There's so much out there. Wow.
Rough week this week because the girl cat was very sick. Dealing w/it, though. (More later...please take care!)"
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Girl cat is very sick. Through some (in my opinion, extreme) heroics, she's been given another few months. This comes with a price, though: four different medications administered first three times, then twice daily. Girl cat does not like me much. She dislikes me even more when I'm trying to administer pills. She is very stubborn as well, often holding the pills in her mouth and pretending to swallow as many times as she thinks necessary to convince me to let her go. When free, she scuttles across the room and, looking at me all the while, spits the medicine out.
Since she's a serious fighter, I'm scared to death of either breaking her jaw or her neck during these wrestling matches. However, she's no compunction against biting me or scratching me up (even under a towel). I feel seriously out manned here. My hands are poked full of holes where the claws have dug in.
***
A dead French guy once said that, to better understand human nature in action, all one had to do was to observe a couple cats under close quarters. I agree, and will even go so far as to say that one can experience a lot with just one cat under close enough quarters. My struggles with girl cat are, in essence, the distillation of most of my interpersonal relations.
Since she's a serious fighter, I'm scared to death of either breaking her jaw or her neck during these wrestling matches. However, she's no compunction against biting me or scratching me up (even under a towel). I feel seriously out manned here. My hands are poked full of holes where the claws have dug in.
***
A dead French guy once said that, to better understand human nature in action, all one had to do was to observe a couple cats under close quarters. I agree, and will even go so far as to say that one can experience a lot with just one cat under close enough quarters. My struggles with girl cat are, in essence, the distillation of most of my interpersonal relations.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Cambridgeport.
On leaving the doctor's office this afternoon, decided to turn in the opposite direction, partly for the sake of adventure, partly to lay up a stock of vitamin D for the upcoming days.
Always loved this sign; am glad that it didn't get torn down as was threatened some time ago. Does it still light up?
Orange Milkweed! The stuff that grows in my yard is a much more staid shade of mauve.
Okay, I'll bite: what the heck is "Educational Fairness?"
His Latin name is Mimus polyglottus, and what a polyglottal mime he was! We heard his impression of a robin, a titmouse, a cardinal, a couple bluejay calls, a catbird, a gull, a red winged blackbird and a flicker. (Those where the calls we could identify, anyway.)
Trash Day tomorrow (Somerville): Found Pavel standing over it, musing. "You know who'd really like this." "Do you want to carry it? If you'd like, I'll carry your groceries. Won't touch that. Oh, and you can't bring it into the house. Has bedbugs or fleas or God knows what written all over it." "Oh, I don't want to touch it. Why don't you just take a picture of it?"
On leaving the doctor's office this afternoon, decided to turn in the opposite direction, partly for the sake of adventure, partly to lay up a stock of vitamin D for the upcoming days.
Always loved this sign; am glad that it didn't get torn down as was threatened some time ago. Does it still light up?
Orange Milkweed! The stuff that grows in my yard is a much more staid shade of mauve.
Okay, I'll bite: what the heck is "Educational Fairness?"
His Latin name is Mimus polyglottus, and what a polyglottal mime he was! We heard his impression of a robin, a titmouse, a cardinal, a couple bluejay calls, a catbird, a gull, a red winged blackbird and a flicker. (Those where the calls we could identify, anyway.)
Trash Day tomorrow (Somerville): Found Pavel standing over it, musing. "You know who'd really like this." "Do you want to carry it? If you'd like, I'll carry your groceries. Won't touch that. Oh, and you can't bring it into the house. Has bedbugs or fleas or God knows what written all over it." "Oh, I don't want to touch it. Why don't you just take a picture of it?"
Was very pleased to see that my little brother received the packet of stationery I sent. Sometimes stuff gets sent back if it's determined that he has too much or if something's inappropriate.
Was very happy to hear, too, that he's been reading a lot. Told me that he's reading a lot of mass market fiction (James Patterson, Michael Crichton, etc.). Also said that he's reading something on the Battle of Thermopylae.
Since I can send books directly from a publisher/bookseller and his Birthday's coming up soon, ordered some to be sent a week or so ago. Got him a good translation of the Bible (hey, get past the begats & whatall and it's some pretty good storytelling), a dictionary/thesaurus, a collection of poetry by Longfellow (patriotic spirit took over there), Twain's Roughing It, and a copy of the same translation of Herodotus's Histories as I have. (Cosmic, that last one.) This all ought to keep him busy for a while.
Was very happy to hear, too, that he's been reading a lot. Told me that he's reading a lot of mass market fiction (James Patterson, Michael Crichton, etc.). Also said that he's reading something on the Battle of Thermopylae.
Since I can send books directly from a publisher/bookseller and his Birthday's coming up soon, ordered some to be sent a week or so ago. Got him a good translation of the Bible (hey, get past the begats & whatall and it's some pretty good storytelling), a dictionary/thesaurus, a collection of poetry by Longfellow (patriotic spirit took over there), Twain's Roughing It, and a copy of the same translation of Herodotus's Histories as I have. (Cosmic, that last one.) This all ought to keep him busy for a while.
Dispatch #15:
"Happy (belated) Fourth! Hopefully you're doing OK. Here, we've had three days of gorgeous weather (but that's about to change: T-storms tomorrow). Wen up to Salem, MA for the fireworks - really nice. There was also a flyover: something that got canceled in Boston due to rain. Glad you got the designer stationery! Glad you liked the colors! Thanks for clearing the moose/elk thing up for me. I don't think that Ampersand really cared about the potholder. I just added it to my ever growing collection. You take care!"
"Happy (belated) Fourth! Hopefully you're doing OK. Here, we've had three days of gorgeous weather (but that's about to change: T-storms tomorrow). Wen up to Salem, MA for the fireworks - really nice. There was also a flyover: something that got canceled in Boston due to rain. Glad you got the designer stationery! Glad you liked the colors! Thanks for clearing the moose/elk thing up for me. I don't think that Ampersand really cared about the potholder. I just added it to my ever growing collection. You take care!"
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Fourth of July, Salem, MA
A picture perfect end to what turned out to be a gift of a day:
Anna keeps insisting that her brother's adopted. I'm not convinced.
Flyover! The building in the lower left hand corner is the Salem Custom House, where Nathaniel Hawthorne (who, coincidentally, was born on the Fourth of July) worked for a spell.
Fireworks! Salem really put on a nice show. The moon offset rather than outshowed the rockets.
(More pictures here, in case you're interested.)
A picture perfect end to what turned out to be a gift of a day:
Anna keeps insisting that her brother's adopted. I'm not convinced.
Flyover! The building in the lower left hand corner is the Salem Custom House, where Nathaniel Hawthorne (who, coincidentally, was born on the Fourth of July) worked for a spell.
Fireworks! Salem really put on a nice show. The moon offset rather than outshowed the rockets.
(More pictures here, in case you're interested.)
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Happy Fourth!
A really good (albeit long - 15 min) interview with PJ O'Rourke on the Auto Industry, Regulation, Politicans in General. Enjoy!
A really good (albeit long - 15 min) interview with PJ O'Rourke on the Auto Industry, Regulation, Politicans in General. Enjoy!
Friday, July 03, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Who the heck does she think she is?
We're not here to validate her. She should have thought of that before she decided to let her husband run for president instead of her doing it herself. (In any event, the American people aren't here to validate the president, it's the other way around. At least it was before the last generation.)
We're not here to validate her. She should have thought of that before she decided to let her husband run for president instead of her doing it herself. (In any event, the American people aren't here to validate the president, it's the other way around. At least it was before the last generation.)
Icon.
We had The Poster in the basement (my stepfather was really into her. My brother, later on, as well). Is amazing to see her at the beginning of her career. (Her choice is interesting, too.)
We had The Poster in the basement (my stepfather was really into her. My brother, later on, as well). Is amazing to see her at the beginning of her career. (Her choice is interesting, too.)
Classic.
(Yes, I had the album. So did my brother. Two copies of "Thriller" in one household. Imagine that.)
Loved him. Am so sad about the later awful stuff. Hopefully he's at peace now.
***
Megan McArdle has something much older, but just as endearing. Love him during this period, too. Had the crush on him later, though.
(Yes, I had the album. So did my brother. Two copies of "Thriller" in one household. Imagine that.)
Loved him. Am so sad about the later awful stuff. Hopefully he's at peace now.
***
Megan McArdle has something much older, but just as endearing. Love him during this period, too. Had the crush on him later, though.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
She makes some awfully good points here. Problem is, whenever I set myself to writing about some of this stuff, lights (bright ones, white ones) start flashing. Everything from about the hairline up starts to feel like it's on fire. Then either stuff goes blank or the headache gets to bad I need to throw up.
I'm dealing better than when I was younger. It's all still too close (or I haven't learned to cope well enough yet) for me to give it the thought it needs. Maybe that'll change, maybe it won't. We'll see.
(Heck, we'll see if I can sleep after having read a couple of her stories that hit kind of close to home.)
I'm dealing better than when I was younger. It's all still too close (or I haven't learned to cope well enough yet) for me to give it the thought it needs. Maybe that'll change, maybe it won't. We'll see.
(Heck, we'll see if I can sleep after having read a couple of her stories that hit kind of close to home.)
Got another letter from my little brother. When I receive one, it's usually the highlight of the day (if not the week). The sense of humor is shining out more; his writing is improving dramatically. He assured me that he did indeed quit smoking, though that's because it's not allowed at his facility.
Was kind of funny to get his letter, as I'd just gotten back from posting a special dispatch to him:
"Little Bro: Had to drop some stuff off at the post office. Got to thinking of you, so picked up some nifty-looking moose envelopes. Silly question: you don't have moose (not you personally - more of a general question) in the mountains nearby, do you? It's more elks in your neck of the woods, isn't it. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway - the best thing about the (outdated) envelopes is the color scheme - green and black. Very evocative of nature. Love, too, how this is enhanced by the turquoise + silver of the 2 cent stamps the nice postal lady had me affix.
Am sending along some koi cards as well.
(These are what I normally write my weekly dispatches on.)
Don't know if they'd be handy. Are awful pretty, though.
Bought my first pint of local strawberries today. They're tiny compared to the California ones, but very red and with so much more flavor. Kind of expensive, but they're a treat one doesn't have to feel guilty indulging in. Besides, their season is so short (6 weeks tops) that you can't really break the bank too badly gorging on them. Also got a quart of whole milk from a local dairy to serve with them (why the heck not?).
Am still slogging through the book I picked up about Eleanor of Aquitaine and the four kings in her life: Philip Capet (her first husband - King of France), Henry Plantagenet (second husband), Richard Coeur-de-Lion (second son) and "Bad King John" (aka Lackland John) - her youngest son + the one about whom the Robin Hood Legend arose. **Richard had an older brother - Henry - who was the heir to the throne, but he died before he could actually take over the throne from his father. Anyway - am right at the end of things - Richard is taken hostage by the Holy Roman Emperor while returning from his crusade. Eleanor's (now in her late 60s - early 70s) running herself ragged trying to come up w/ransom and hostages to free him. All I can think is that she must have been one heck of a force of nature. (Outlived her two husbands + two of her sons as well.) Am trying to figure out what to read next: Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War, Tacitus's "On Germany," or something on the period between Napoleon I's reign and WWI. (You might say that I'm on a bit of a history kick.)
Nothing much else is new aside from home repair stuff, some bird watching and some knitting. Would like for the weather to get better so I could spend more time in the garden. Maybe hike more and even go to the beach, too. Too rainy to do any of that, though. Oh well.
Really, it's the thought that counts.
Okay, onward. You keep taking care."
***
His Birthday's coming up soon. Found that I could have a book or two sent directly from Amazon. Am giving that some thought.
Was kind of funny to get his letter, as I'd just gotten back from posting a special dispatch to him:
"Little Bro: Had to drop some stuff off at the post office. Got to thinking of you, so picked up some nifty-looking moose envelopes. Silly question: you don't have moose (not you personally - more of a general question) in the mountains nearby, do you? It's more elks in your neck of the woods, isn't it. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway - the best thing about the (outdated) envelopes is the color scheme - green and black. Very evocative of nature. Love, too, how this is enhanced by the turquoise + silver of the 2 cent stamps the nice postal lady had me affix.
Am sending along some koi cards as well.
(These are what I normally write my weekly dispatches on.)
Don't know if they'd be handy. Are awful pretty, though.
Bought my first pint of local strawberries today. They're tiny compared to the California ones, but very red and with so much more flavor. Kind of expensive, but they're a treat one doesn't have to feel guilty indulging in. Besides, their season is so short (6 weeks tops) that you can't really break the bank too badly gorging on them. Also got a quart of whole milk from a local dairy to serve with them (why the heck not?).
Am still slogging through the book I picked up about Eleanor of Aquitaine and the four kings in her life: Philip Capet (her first husband - King of France), Henry Plantagenet (second husband), Richard Coeur-de-Lion (second son) and "Bad King John" (aka Lackland John) - her youngest son + the one about whom the Robin Hood Legend arose. **Richard had an older brother - Henry - who was the heir to the throne, but he died before he could actually take over the throne from his father. Anyway - am right at the end of things - Richard is taken hostage by the Holy Roman Emperor while returning from his crusade. Eleanor's (now in her late 60s - early 70s) running herself ragged trying to come up w/ransom and hostages to free him. All I can think is that she must have been one heck of a force of nature. (Outlived her two husbands + two of her sons as well.) Am trying to figure out what to read next: Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War, Tacitus's "On Germany," or something on the period between Napoleon I's reign and WWI. (You might say that I'm on a bit of a history kick.)
Nothing much else is new aside from home repair stuff, some bird watching and some knitting. Would like for the weather to get better so I could spend more time in the garden. Maybe hike more and even go to the beach, too. Too rainy to do any of that, though. Oh well.
Really, it's the thought that counts.
Okay, onward. You keep taking care."
***
His Birthday's coming up soon. Found that I could have a book or two sent directly from Amazon. Am giving that some thought.
The male cardinal has been coming out to sing his song to his lady lately. Seems always to happen at sunset.
Tonight, in spite of the miserable mist-rain, he sang for a full 20 minutes. Dragged my tired bones out to the porch to lose myself in it and perhaps find him. Didn't see him, though he was very close by.
Tonight, in spite of the miserable mist-rain, he sang for a full 20 minutes. Dragged my tired bones out to the porch to lose myself in it and perhaps find him. Didn't see him, though he was very close by.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
This project's starting to wind down; we're now down to two electricians. The floor guy came today to apply the last coat of shellac. Should be dry by about noonish tomorrow. Am looking forward to things returning more or less to normal. Want to sleep in my own bed again. Want to come and go as I please.
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