[Error: unknown template qotd]
Bit of a late answer, but I think this sums it up neatly:
http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/
Bit of a late answer, but I think this sums it up neatly:
http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/
Writer's Block: R.I.P
Oct. 28th, 2011 10:41 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
After all the usable parts have been removed, I think I want the rest cremated and scattered on or near the Fairfax Stone.
After all the usable parts have been removed, I think I want the rest cremated and scattered on or near the Fairfax Stone.
Writer's Block: It’s about to get hairy
Oct. 18th, 2011 04:13 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I've had a mustache since early in college, and I think I started my beard ca. 1994. I don't miss shaving every day (it's easier to get away with a bit of stubble when it's just the periphery of the beard...), and I think it makes my face look better- adds a bit of gravitas if nothing else. And monsteralice (as well as others whose opinions I value) likes it.
On other folks, it varies.
I've had a mustache since early in college, and I think I started my beard ca. 1994. I don't miss shaving every day (it's easier to get away with a bit of stubble when it's just the periphery of the beard...), and I think it makes my face look better- adds a bit of gravitas if nothing else. And monsteralice (as well as others whose opinions I value) likes it.
On other folks, it varies.
Writer's Block: Desert island
Sep. 23rd, 2011 06:01 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Only three?
"Real Magic" by Isaac Bonewits
"Tao Te Ching" (John C.H. Wu translation is what I have in my bag, but any really...)
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien
... and I will add in "Five Denials on Merlin's Grave" by Robin Williamson, since it's just a chapbook... but it has had the most profound influence on my poetry other than Eliot's "Four Quartets"...
Only three?
"Real Magic" by Isaac Bonewits
"Tao Te Ching" (John C.H. Wu translation is what I have in my bag, but any really...)
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien
... and I will add in "Five Denials on Merlin's Grave" by Robin Williamson, since it's just a chapbook... but it has had the most profound influence on my poetry other than Eliot's "Four Quartets"...
Writer's Block: Happy, happy, joy, joy
Mar. 10th, 2011 04:26 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
There are lots and lots of them that qualify... but we can start here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7yd4-aHJSA&feature=related
There are lots and lots of them that qualify... but we can start here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7yd4-aHJSA&feature=related
Writer's Block: If I could find my way
Feb. 17th, 2011 03:21 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Usually, I don't have an answer to this question.
Last night, for a few hours, it would've been "back to the moment before I let the dogs out so I could check the gate."
In general, though, there are times where I would like to slow time, but looping back... time travel gives me the pip.
Usually, I don't have an answer to this question.
Last night, for a few hours, it would've been "back to the moment before I let the dogs out so I could check the gate."
In general, though, there are times where I would like to slow time, but looping back... time travel gives me the pip.
Writer's Block: Pet central
May. 3rd, 2010 12:41 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I think that's just silly. It's not a balanced relationship. I'm sure our cats look on me as their servants, and our dog as something between a deity and a parent...* but they are our pets, not children or anything like that. I similarly object to the idea of calling them "fur persons", etc. They are our pets... most of the time I tend to think of us as their people, but we are their owners, not their guardians. And in our case at least, they are not familiars or magical animal companions, either. That's a different and also valid interrelationship, but not the one that exists with us.
---
* yeah, and I know that's anthropomorphization. So what? That's part of the joy of having a pet in the first place.
I think that's just silly. It's not a balanced relationship. I'm sure our cats look on me as their servants, and our dog as something between a deity and a parent...* but they are our pets, not children or anything like that. I similarly object to the idea of calling them "fur persons", etc. They are our pets... most of the time I tend to think of us as their people, but we are their owners, not their guardians. And in our case at least, they are not familiars or magical animal companions, either. That's a different and also valid interrelationship, but not the one that exists with us.
---
* yeah, and I know that's anthropomorphization. So what? That's part of the joy of having a pet in the first place.
Writer's Block: Young and driven
Apr. 30th, 2010 11:55 am[Error: unknown template qotd]
It's 21 right now, but it has a bit of an odd history here in VA. The former difference between the drinking age for beer and for other alcoholic beverages always amused me. There was at least one occasion when I was in school where I went to a club that carded at the door (making sure that you were old enough for beer) but didn't card for ordering drinks.
I'm not sure what the age should be. There are plenty of kids who are responsible about alcohol who are well below 21*... and plenty of "adults" who are over 21 who should never be allowed to touch the stuff again. Whatever the age is, I think it should be the same as the voting age and the age where you can join the military. If you can vote and you can die for your country, you should be able to have a drink.
---
* I'm not claiming that I'm the best example of this, but I attribute my general moderation in that area at least partially to my parents- they demystified alcohol pretty early on for my brothers and I. We were allowed to have tastes of their drinks and token amounts of beer and wine on certain occasions... raised to less token amounts as we grew older.
It's 21 right now, but it has a bit of an odd history here in VA. The former difference between the drinking age for beer and for other alcoholic beverages always amused me. There was at least one occasion when I was in school where I went to a club that carded at the door (making sure that you were old enough for beer) but didn't card for ordering drinks.
I'm not sure what the age should be. There are plenty of kids who are responsible about alcohol who are well below 21*... and plenty of "adults" who are over 21 who should never be allowed to touch the stuff again. Whatever the age is, I think it should be the same as the voting age and the age where you can join the military. If you can vote and you can die for your country, you should be able to have a drink.
---
* I'm not claiming that I'm the best example of this, but I attribute my general moderation in that area at least partially to my parents- they demystified alcohol pretty early on for my brothers and I. We were allowed to have tastes of their drinks and token amounts of beer and wine on certain occasions... raised to less token amounts as we grew older.
Writer's Block: Too scary!!
Apr. 21st, 2010 01:13 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Sirens. Especially ambulance sirens, but fire truck and CD sirens would freak me, too. You see, someone (I recall it being one of my parents, in a fit of exasperation) told me at a very impressionable age that the ambulance was going to come and take me away (and I would die or never come home or something like that). For some reason that stuck with me, and I was dead scared of the sound for years.
It wasn't 'til I was second or third grade that I was cured of it. I was playing in a neighbor's back yard, on top of a rowboat that they had upside-down next to their basement stairwell. Mom had told me not to play on it, and Mom was right! I slid off the prow, right between the stairwell railings (somehow without clocking my head) and straight down eight feet onto concrete. Luckily, I landed on my arse... I apparently staggered up the stairwell steps and collapsed, gasping "get Mom"... quite dramatic, really.
So Mom called an ambulance. The driver very kindly offered to keep the siren use to a minimum, but I told him it was OK... nothing else could really bother me at that point (I remember being more in shock than in severe pain). So I went to the emergency room, where they found out I hadn't actually broken anything, amazingly enough... although I think this is where my bad back comes from.
After that, sirens were just sirens.
Sirens. Especially ambulance sirens, but fire truck and CD sirens would freak me, too. You see, someone (I recall it being one of my parents, in a fit of exasperation) told me at a very impressionable age that the ambulance was going to come and take me away (and I would die or never come home or something like that). For some reason that stuck with me, and I was dead scared of the sound for years.
It wasn't 'til I was second or third grade that I was cured of it. I was playing in a neighbor's back yard, on top of a rowboat that they had upside-down next to their basement stairwell. Mom had told me not to play on it, and Mom was right! I slid off the prow, right between the stairwell railings (somehow without clocking my head) and straight down eight feet onto concrete. Luckily, I landed on my arse... I apparently staggered up the stairwell steps and collapsed, gasping "get Mom"... quite dramatic, really.
So Mom called an ambulance. The driver very kindly offered to keep the siren use to a minimum, but I told him it was OK... nothing else could really bother me at that point (I remember being more in shock than in severe pain). So I went to the emergency room, where they found out I hadn't actually broken anything, amazingly enough... although I think this is where my bad back comes from.
After that, sirens were just sirens.
Writer's Block: Taxmen and Poetry
Apr. 16th, 2009 02:10 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Well, it's not tax day any more, but still-
That's a tough one... favorite line?
How about Julian of Norwich:
All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
If we can expand this a little bit, to a short poem, perhaps Emily Dickinson:
There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry --
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll --
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears a human Soul.
Well, it's not tax day any more, but still-
That's a tough one... favorite line?
How about Julian of Norwich:
All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
If we can expand this a little bit, to a short poem, perhaps Emily Dickinson:
There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry --
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll --
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears a human Soul.
Writer's Block: Dream Trip
Feb. 17th, 2009 12:57 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
In the "someday" category: Bhutan, Nepal (in particular Tengboche for the Mani Rimdu festival), Mongolia, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, the Orkneys, Tory Island
In the "more likely/sooner" category:
Scotland, etc.- fly into Manchester, visit York, Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh, thence into the Highlands and hopefully Skye
Ireland- this time, rent a car and get up into the Connemara, etc.
Iceland
Cruising- especially if Carnival keeps running cruises out of Baltimore; also Alaska
Nova Scotia
Seattle and Vancouver
Chicago
San Francisco
England- back to London, and this time Glastonbury and Cornwall...
Wales
We are definitely planning to go to Mexico next year (more on this later), and I'm thinking of revisiting Austin for the Maya Meetings...
In the "someday" category: Bhutan, Nepal (in particular Tengboche for the Mani Rimdu festival), Mongolia, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, the Orkneys, Tory Island
In the "more likely/sooner" category:
Scotland, etc.- fly into Manchester, visit York, Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh, thence into the Highlands and hopefully Skye
Ireland- this time, rent a car and get up into the Connemara, etc.
Iceland
Cruising- especially if Carnival keeps running cruises out of Baltimore; also Alaska
Nova Scotia
Seattle and Vancouver
Chicago
San Francisco
England- back to London, and this time Glastonbury and Cornwall...
Wales
We are definitely planning to go to Mexico next year (more on this later), and I'm thinking of revisiting Austin for the Maya Meetings...
Writer's Block: Left Behind
Feb. 2nd, 2009 02:11 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Cremated, and scattered around the Fairfax Stone, or at the cabin.
Edit: After all usable organs, tissue, etc. are harvested, natch...

Get your own valentinr
Cremated, and scattered around the Fairfax Stone, or at the cabin.
Edit: After all usable organs, tissue, etc. are harvested, natch...

Get your own valentinr