Entry tags:
Nosþyrel - Nose Hole
I'm totally going to start calling my nostril, my 'nose hole' 😀
In Old English class, we are reading Ælfric's preface to his translation of Genesis (as as aside, I think he was a bit too proud of his own skills -- 'ofermod' I might even say. )
Anyways, he uses some words for body parts, so I thought I would start exploring the names for body parts.
Nose hole. Ear hole. 😃
In Old English class, we are reading Ælfric's preface to his translation of Genesis (as as aside, I think he was a bit too proud of his own skills -- 'ofermod' I might even say. )
Anyways, he uses some words for body parts, so I thought I would start exploring the names for body parts.
Nose hole. Ear hole. 😃
Entry tags:
He has...sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people
US Declaration of Independence:
He has ... sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people....
... transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
It has really disturbed me to see videos of ICE bounty hunters kidnapping people off the street. The latest showed bounty hunters using tear gas.
I say bounty hunters because I think that is indeed what they are -- unidentified hired thugs, masked to hide their guilt and the shame they bring to their families and ancestors.
He has ... sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people....
... transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
It has really disturbed me to see videos of ICE bounty hunters kidnapping people off the street. The latest showed bounty hunters using tear gas.
I say bounty hunters because I think that is indeed what they are -- unidentified hired thugs, masked to hide their guilt and the shame they bring to their families and ancestors.
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Y'all Need Jesús
My favorite sign tonight at the No Kings protest was "Y'all Need Jesús". It took me a second to get it.
Lots of people at the protest for little ole RVA. We decided to just do the Bell Tower part at the capitol and not the march. Here's a collage of some photos.
Seemed more important than before after the political assassinations of a MN Democrat Senator and Representative -- husband and wife, murdered in their home today by a man pretending to be police.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8rNJqNX/
Lots of people at the protest for little ole RVA. We decided to just do the Bell Tower part at the capitol and not the march. Here's a collage of some photos.
Seemed more important than before after the political assassinations of a MN Democrat Senator and Representative -- husband and wife, murdered in their home today by a man pretending to be police.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8rNJqNX/
Summer of Me!
My contract is ending. Figure I'll take off the summer and decide what next. Technically, I really should put a bit more away before retirement. But we shall see.
Things I want to do:
Wine at a friend's house tonight, then back on my porch afterwards to enjoy the evening. There was an orbweaver web on the porch...badly chosen I think because one of the guy lines was connected to my porch chimes! And when I was kneeling on the porch, I cut one of the guy lines, so the poor web disintegrated!
Things I want to do:
- Bring the camera out more. Take pictures!
- Visit Utah again. I have always found the state so beautiful!
- Visit Mont St Michel -- I am not sure why that spot is on my list. But considering my interest in Old English...I can only speculate!
- Visit a friend in Asheville again. Asheville had a horrifically destructive flood in the last year, and they are still recovering.
- See my friends more!
- Gawd, do some maintenance work around the house that I have been putting off!
- Continue the Old English.
- Visit Pompeii and Herculaneum.
- Never been to Gr. Britain! Seems easy-ish to do because not too much of a language barrier!
Wine at a friend's house tonight, then back on my porch afterwards to enjoy the evening. There was an orbweaver web on the porch...badly chosen I think because one of the guy lines was connected to my porch chimes! And when I was kneeling on the porch, I cut one of the guy lines, so the poor web disintegrated!
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Lots of Sneks at the River Today!
These 2 Watersnakes were mating. I almost felt like I was intruding to be taking photos!
Entry tags:
Dystopia
Now this is some disytopian bullshit ☠️
"https://newrepublic.com/post/195904/trump-palantir-data-americans"
"https://newrepublic.com/post/195904/trump-palantir-data-americans"
Entry tags:
Dream / Daniel Radcliffe
Warning! Dumb dream. And bathroom related! 😅
I think I had gone to sleep thinking how sometimes people get Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood mixed up. They don't look the same, but I guess it's because they are of similar height, face, skin and hair color, both played leads in major fantasy movies.
In the dream, I needed to find a bathroom. and was wandering through long, dim hallways and through multiple doors. Finally, I came to what looked like a gymnasium where I met up w/ my friend Daniel Radcliff 😆. There was someone else too but I don't remember who now.
Anyways, he had to go too, so we set off in search of bathroom. Next scene, I'm in the stall with him, just sitting around chatting and laughing (shooting the shit so to speak) while he's on the toilet. But he wasn't comfortable doing the needful while I was in there, so I went out of the stall.
There was more to the dream, but I don't remember it now.
It was not at all a sex dream. And the only reason I think Radcliffe showed up was what I had been thinking about when I was drifting off to sleep.
Come to think of it...the guy actually looked like Radcliffe, but with bigger eyes (like Wood)!
I think I had gone to sleep thinking how sometimes people get Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood mixed up. They don't look the same, but I guess it's because they are of similar height, face, skin and hair color, both played leads in major fantasy movies.
In the dream, I needed to find a bathroom. and was wandering through long, dim hallways and through multiple doors. Finally, I came to what looked like a gymnasium where I met up w/ my friend Daniel Radcliff 😆. There was someone else too but I don't remember who now.
Anyways, he had to go too, so we set off in search of bathroom. Next scene, I'm in the stall with him, just sitting around chatting and laughing (shooting the shit so to speak) while he's on the toilet. But he wasn't comfortable doing the needful while I was in there, so I went out of the stall.
There was more to the dream, but I don't remember it now.
It was not at all a sex dream. And the only reason I think Radcliffe showed up was what I had been thinking about when I was drifting off to sleep.
Come to think of it...the guy actually looked like Radcliffe, but with bigger eyes (like Wood)!
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Update on Third Old English Class and Other Things
Well...the class is not as fun as the first 2 classes. Reason? The first 2 classes used a graduated reader, designed to progress from easier to harder with 1 continuous story using a standardized spelling. And I'm totally impressed with the guy that wrote the book -- I mean truly, total respect to the author!
In the third class, we are now reading actual texts, but the spelling is NOT standard, and we are reading less interesting things, starting with:
But I soldier on. Next stop, Genesis. I think that this might be more interesting since I'm hoping for some real story lines. I haven't looked ahead because I like to be surprised. Figure we'll get the creation story with Adam and Eue in Neorxnawang (paradise). Also hoping for Cain and Abel.
Then onto the Anglo Saxon Chronicles! Blood, guts, glory!
After that will come poetry -- harder, but preparing for Beowulf. This is something I think I'll enjoy also.
***
Nice song, been listening to lately --
***
Went back to the County to visit Mom and sisters and brother-in-law on Mother's Day. Mom looked good.
She is resting; waiting. I noticed she put some blush onto her cheeks before I got there. Glad she had the energy to think about that 😊
Started with visit with Mom and the sister and bro-in-law who are her caregivers. Then sister closer in age came to join briefly. Then I left to pick cherries with the sister who is closer to me in age.
In the third class, we are now reading actual texts, but the spelling is NOT standard, and we are reading less interesting things, starting with:
- Selections from the Gospel of Matthew
- Selections from the Gospel of Mark
- Selections from the Gospel of Luke
But I soldier on. Next stop, Genesis. I think that this might be more interesting since I'm hoping for some real story lines. I haven't looked ahead because I like to be surprised. Figure we'll get the creation story with Adam and Eue in Neorxnawang (paradise). Also hoping for Cain and Abel.
Then onto the Anglo Saxon Chronicles! Blood, guts, glory!
After that will come poetry -- harder, but preparing for Beowulf. This is something I think I'll enjoy also.
***
Nice song, been listening to lately --
***
Went back to the County to visit Mom and sisters and brother-in-law on Mother's Day. Mom looked good.
She is resting; waiting. I noticed she put some blush onto her cheeks before I got there. Glad she had the energy to think about that 😊
Started with visit with Mom and the sister and bro-in-law who are her caregivers. Then sister closer in age came to join briefly. Then I left to pick cherries with the sister who is closer to me in age.
Earthquake
I live on/near multiple surface faults, but none of them are near as active as the big ones like San Andreas. But we do have earthquakes now and again that we can feel.
In the last 20 years, I remember 2 that happened when I was in an office working: around 2007, and around 2014 maybe. There have been smaller ones that I have not felt.
Today I thought I heard a truck on the street out front, and things rattled inside. I could feel the chair seat and back vibrate. I actually was irritated that a truck that big would be going through the neighborhood, so I got up to see what kind of big truck that must have been but didn't see anything.
Turns out there was an 3.0 earthquake centered about 60 miles away.
To be honest, it seems the fault line is more active in the last couple of years -- but always small ones.
In the last 20 years, I remember 2 that happened when I was in an office working: around 2007, and around 2014 maybe. There have been smaller ones that I have not felt.
Today I thought I heard a truck on the street out front, and things rattled inside. I could feel the chair seat and back vibrate. I actually was irritated that a truck that big would be going through the neighborhood, so I got up to see what kind of big truck that must have been but didn't see anything.
Turns out there was an 3.0 earthquake centered about 60 miles away.
To be honest, it seems the fault line is more active in the last couple of years -- but always small ones.
Entry tags:
Wyrd biþ ful aræd -> Fate is fully determined
Wyrd biþ ful aræd - Fate is fully determined -- a line from the poem known as The Wanderer. Not sure I agree with the sentiment, but the line stood out to me.
Friends and family struggle to comprehend why I am taking Old English classes. And I get it lol! It's definitely a niche interest! By the way, I signed up for class #3, starting next week!
Here are my list of answers to the voiced or implied 'why' question 😅:
1. I have an interest in languages generally. But not necessarily all languages — only certain ones seem to draw me. Sometimes I describe this as having flashbacks to previous lives, meaning maybe in a previous life, I spoke the language that attracts me now.
2. Studying something that has no monetary value seems like a nice fuck-you activity to late stage capitalists. What better way to spend my time than on something they can't capitalize on?
3. It gives me a happy place to get me out of the drear of the current news. I mean, there are worse ways to drown your sorrows! Not meaning to say I will give up my wine though.
***
I have been spending time working around the house -- cutting hedges, mowing the grass, stuff like that. I don't mind saying that the older I get, the harder those chores become!
I have also been reconnecting with friends that I haven't seen in a while -- 1 couple had me over for dinner the other night, and I hadn't seen them since before the pandemic! Lunch with a couple other friends I hadn't seen in a few months. And a birthday dinner for friends, some of whom I hadn't seen since Thanksgiving! I had another couple friends over for dessert the other night. And of course the weekly Friday wine with another friend.
In our current time, it's good to keep people close.
***
I wanted to go to the river trail I favor today, but I was pretty sore from the last hedge clipping, so I chose an easier walk at a park. Got to see this cute green snake!
Friends and family struggle to comprehend why I am taking Old English classes. And I get it lol! It's definitely a niche interest! By the way, I signed up for class #3, starting next week!
Here are my list of answers to the voiced or implied 'why' question 😅:
1. I have an interest in languages generally. But not necessarily all languages — only certain ones seem to draw me. Sometimes I describe this as having flashbacks to previous lives, meaning maybe in a previous life, I spoke the language that attracts me now.
2. Studying something that has no monetary value seems like a nice fuck-you activity to late stage capitalists. What better way to spend my time than on something they can't capitalize on?
3. It gives me a happy place to get me out of the drear of the current news. I mean, there are worse ways to drown your sorrows! Not meaning to say I will give up my wine though.
***
I have been spending time working around the house -- cutting hedges, mowing the grass, stuff like that. I don't mind saying that the older I get, the harder those chores become!
I have also been reconnecting with friends that I haven't seen in a while -- 1 couple had me over for dinner the other night, and I hadn't seen them since before the pandemic! Lunch with a couple other friends I hadn't seen in a few months. And a birthday dinner for friends, some of whom I hadn't seen since Thanksgiving! I had another couple friends over for dessert the other night. And of course the weekly Friday wine with another friend.
In our current time, it's good to keep people close.
***
I wanted to go to the river trail I favor today, but I was pretty sore from the last hedge clipping, so I chose an easier walk at a park. Got to see this cute green snake!
Entry tags:
Just a few things from the Declaration of Independence
Just thought I'd pick a few items from the Declaration of Independence. Any of these sound familiar?
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us....
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us....
Entry tags:
Protests Today
My local city had a protest, but I felt the need to go to DC, so I got up really early and took the train, then metro. I walked so very much and now I'm exhausted!
Also a bird crapped on my at one point, but nature, I guess. 😳🫤😅
Lots of people -- to the point where I had to withdraw to less populated ground -- not a fan of being in the middle of large crowds! I do not believe the police expected such a large number. You could see the police presence expanding during the day -- more cars, and more roads blocked off due to the numbers of people.
My original plan was to arrive early and to find some place to have coffee and a sweet. But instead I started walking -- which is always what I do -- I just start walking!
I visited the place where the protests would be -- around the Washington Monument. This is a photo while I was walking from the metro towards the Washington Monument.
Then I walked to the Tidal Basin in the hopes the cherries would be in bloom, but they were mostly not. I assume I missed the bloom by a few weeks.
Next I walked to the WW2 memorial...I figured I might as well pay homage to the last time we had to deal with this fascist shit.
Then to the Jefferson Memorial -- it's quite a walk from the Washington Monument! I don't even remember if I ever went to see Jefferson -- it's a really nice Roman temple kinda building!
Buddhist monks out hawking their bracelets. You know I love me a good Buddhist monk doing alms. But he wanted me to pay 20 bucks, and I'm like I can only afford 5. So he bowed, I touched his shoulder - and really per the Buddha, a monk is to accept what is given.
The story is that a leper left a coin...and a piece of his finger (!) in the Buddha's alms bowl. So the Buddha ate the piece of finger lol
Then I visited some of the museums on the mall. But really I was exhausted and didn't spend much time. This was in the Freer Gallery.
This was in the Natural History Museum --
Also a bird crapped on my at one point, but nature, I guess. 😳🫤😅
Lots of people -- to the point where I had to withdraw to less populated ground -- not a fan of being in the middle of large crowds! I do not believe the police expected such a large number. You could see the police presence expanding during the day -- more cars, and more roads blocked off due to the numbers of people.
My original plan was to arrive early and to find some place to have coffee and a sweet. But instead I started walking -- which is always what I do -- I just start walking!
I visited the place where the protests would be -- around the Washington Monument. This is a photo while I was walking from the metro towards the Washington Monument.
Then I walked to the Tidal Basin in the hopes the cherries would be in bloom, but they were mostly not. I assume I missed the bloom by a few weeks.
Next I walked to the WW2 memorial...I figured I might as well pay homage to the last time we had to deal with this fascist shit.
Then to the Jefferson Memorial -- it's quite a walk from the Washington Monument! I don't even remember if I ever went to see Jefferson -- it's a really nice Roman temple kinda building!
Buddhist monks out hawking their bracelets. You know I love me a good Buddhist monk doing alms. But he wanted me to pay 20 bucks, and I'm like I can only afford 5. So he bowed, I touched his shoulder - and really per the Buddha, a monk is to accept what is given.
The story is that a leper left a coin...and a piece of his finger (!) in the Buddha's alms bowl. So the Buddha ate the piece of finger lol
Then I visited some of the museums on the mall. But really I was exhausted and didn't spend much time. This was in the Freer Gallery.
This was in the Natural History Museum --
Entry tags:
To Me is Hope
It's weird, but I'm feeling some hope right now, but I can't explain why.
Maybe it's because the latest Hegseth "dumb and dumber" Signal chat exposed just how fucking incompetent they all really are.
Last night, I was reading the latest Old English chapter for next week's class. This line jumped out to me, reflecting what I am feeling: "Me is hyht" -- "To me is hope".
Maybe it's just because it is Spring, but for myself right now, I can say "Me is hyht". 🙂
Maybe it's because the Virginia Bluebells are blooming out front.
Maybe it's because the latest Hegseth "dumb and dumber" Signal chat exposed just how fucking incompetent they all really are.
Last night, I was reading the latest Old English chapter for next week's class. This line jumped out to me, reflecting what I am feeling: "Me is hyht" -- "To me is hope".
Maybe it's just because it is Spring, but for myself right now, I can say "Me is hyht". 🙂
Maybe it's because the Virginia Bluebells are blooming out front.
Entry tags:
Protests Today
I was pleased to see a decent turnout at a local protest in front of the church where Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech.
The boos our Republican governor got were nice to hear.
https://bsky.app/profile/goad.bsky.social/post/3ll2wfpondk23
The boos our Republican governor got were nice to hear.
https://bsky.app/profile/goad.bsky.social/post/3ll2wfpondk23
There are 4 Lights!
The Star Trek scene, now meme, referenced in the title, has cropped up in my head several times lately as a response to the rivers, nay tsunamis, of utter nonsense and bullshit bombarded onto our heads from the Trump-Musk-Heritage Foundation-MAGA-Republican fronts:
https://youtu.be/wjKQQpPVifY?t=95.
It's as if I have to constantly re-orient myself from what I hear towards observable facts. And I know that's part of the plan -- flood with so much bullshit that people have trouble discerning truth from (increasingly horrifying) facts.
While searching for the meme, I came across this related article:
https://klonick.substack.com/p/there-are-four-lights-elon
Lately, the weight on my mod, to use the Old English word for mind/spirit/heart/feelings, is how TSA is treating legal incoming travelers and legal long-term US residents.
It's not only that they are turning back people who have lived in the US legally for years, but how those people are treated while detained.
And none of this even covers the people being flown to El Salvadoran prisons, in defiance of a court order.
https://youtu.be/wjKQQpPVifY?t=95.
It's as if I have to constantly re-orient myself from what I hear towards observable facts. And I know that's part of the plan -- flood with so much bullshit that people have trouble discerning truth from (increasingly horrifying) facts.
While searching for the meme, I came across this related article:
https://klonick.substack.com/p/there-are-four-lights-elon
Lately, the weight on my mod, to use the Old English word for mind/spirit/heart/feelings, is how TSA is treating legal incoming travelers and legal long-term US residents.
It's not only that they are turning back people who have lived in the US legally for years, but how those people are treated while detained.
- Columbia University Student:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj5nlxz44yo - German Hiker:
https://thetrek.co/a-german-thru-hiker-has-been-detained-deported-and-banned-from-the-us-without-a-hearing-heres-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Ananias%20had%20expected%20the%20journey,work%20illegally%20in%20the%20US. - German Electrical Engineer:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/german-national-arrested-boston-airport-210839690.html
And none of this even covers the people being flown to El Salvadoran prisons, in defiance of a court order.
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Some pics from lately
Mural near the pizza place I picked up from the other night for Book Club --
Games group at a friend's house -- this is a sculpture he has in his dining room --
The last Amaryllis for the winter bloom --
The Guardian -- who lives upstairs when the lemon tree is inside, and lives downstairs after the lemon tree is outside --
The poinsettia is still hanging on! I bought this the weekend before Christmas, so I'm pleased it is still around mid March!
Tomato, basil, pepper seedlings I am growing inside under a grow light, for planting later in the season!
Games group at a friend's house -- this is a sculpture he has in his dining room --
The last Amaryllis for the winter bloom --
The Guardian -- who lives upstairs when the lemon tree is inside, and lives downstairs after the lemon tree is outside --
The poinsettia is still hanging on! I bought this the weekend before Christmas, so I'm pleased it is still around mid March!
Tomato, basil, pepper seedlings I am growing inside under a grow light, for planting later in the season!
Entry tags:
Spring Lemon Tree Move and Other Things
Today was the day to move my grandmother's lemon tree back outside. As usual, I have starved it for water a few weeks before the move in order to make it easier to lift -- as evidenced by the drooping leaves!
I'm glad the weather is finally warming up! Lots of daffodils in the yard, which I have been bringing indoors.
The time change did not agree with me last weekend -- I don't remember being quite so groggy. Not helped by this being my week to host book club, so I just ordered pizza, put out a salad from a bag, and made a key lime pie. I didn't have time to do anything more elaborate.
The book was my choice since I was hosting. I picked an old one -- The Waves by Virginia Woolfe - not a great choice - at least I didn't particularly like it, although I understood it was experimental.
Also this past week, I was disappointed not to be able to see the blood moon lunar eclipse this last Thursday morning. I did get up at 2 in the morning, then again closer to 3, but the sky was too overcast to see it.
I'm glad the weather is finally warming up! Lots of daffodils in the yard, which I have been bringing indoors.
The time change did not agree with me last weekend -- I don't remember being quite so groggy. Not helped by this being my week to host book club, so I just ordered pizza, put out a salad from a bag, and made a key lime pie. I didn't have time to do anything more elaborate.
The book was my choice since I was hosting. I picked an old one -- The Waves by Virginia Woolfe - not a great choice - at least I didn't particularly like it, although I understood it was experimental.
Also this past week, I was disappointed not to be able to see the blood moon lunar eclipse this last Thursday morning. I did get up at 2 in the morning, then again closer to 3, but the sky was too overcast to see it.