Only two hermits remain. The ninth hermit has been joined by a tenth. They live on a small ranch in Central Texas with The Dogs of Hermits’ Rest. He does not hang out in bars anywhere near as much as when he was trying to be Li Po.
Other than family and music and song writing, his interests include writing. He has authored many technical tomes, several short stories, and a novel. He does have a day job or two, and he re-publishes some of his writings for those here.
For more information, see the complete profile.
Giles’ character also undergoes a couple of predictable, if unexpected, twists. Buffy and the other members of the Scooby Gang, however, remain on the periphery and relatively flat.
I enjoyed rereading the set with the acquisition of this volume. Buffy fans should consider it, although I wouldn’t call it a must-read.
I determined that the problem with the lobelias is the heat, not the amount of water, although frequent watering does seem to help them cope with the heat. Last night, I came home with what I call a migraine—a splitting headache that starts where the skull attaches to the neck and tortures the head forward to the eyes. It often encompasses only one lobe. Last night it was the left. Pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen don’t touch it.
I know this isn’t a real migraine. But the symptomatology is similar, and the pain is equivalent (level 3-4). These headaches stem from “something being out” in my spine or neck. The only cure I know of is to lay flat on my back with my neck supported on a “dog bone” pillow for eight to twelve hours. That’s what I did last night.
Anyway—as I dragged myself to the front door, I noticed that the lobelias were sagging almost as much as I was.
When I remembered to check on the lobelias this morning, they had perked back up. They have lovely, delicate flowers that remind me of bromeliads: delicate, colorful petals along a long, graceful neck. I will post a photo this evening when I get home and can work on it.
I was reading Tim Jones’ book blog this morning. He has just published
Tim’s blog linked to a new offering from the New Zealand Book Council, which I am pleased to share here. The Council has a program called Read at Work, which I assume intends to promote literacy and familiarity with literature. Using Windows Remote Desktop, the Council makes an assortment of work available online in the guise of PowerPoint presentations. You can read a book, but if your boss walks by, it looks as if you’re perusing a presentation.
The punctuation and layout of the one I scanned are very creative. It really does look like a bad PowerPoint presentation typical of what passes for business communication these days.
So that brings me to today’s Grateful Monday. I never cease to be surprised by the inventiveness of the human spirit. Read at Work is just one example of that inventiveness—albeit a slightly dishonest one. I am grateful for that inventiveness in all of its expressions. Let us continue to be human and not be reduced to some utilitarian net.
Omnibus, volume 4 (O4) is the best of the series so far. The writing is much close to the quality I came to expect from the series, partly due to the inclusion of the 19-issue, 200-page “Bad Bood” by Andi Watson, who has written the scripts for several graphic novels in the Buffyverse.
But the overall writing is better than the previous volumes. There were times in the first three volumes when I had to make myself continue reading. In O4, I had to make myself stop. Even the supplemental stories were well crafted.
And this volume ties in nicely with Season 3 of the TV series. The characters are more consistent with the series, and the action fits nicely in between the cracks of the season. For Buffy fans, volume 4 is a must read.
I didn’t have to add another course to the expanded front flowerbed, but it was a close call. Several stones ended up buried to the level of the grass, just above the high point of the grade. Keeping the grass out of the bed will require vigilance, but that is much less expensive than another course of stones.
Next project: tree trimming.
After a two-week “vacation,” the feast is back online.
Last night I dreamed of food, breakfast foods in particular. Kolaches the size of my hand, fritters glistening with icing: all of the foods I love, but I wouldn’t let myself eat them. I left the little bakery and went to work someplace I didn’t recognize. Then I went back, and the little bakery had a for rent sign on the door. Sigh.
For the last two nights, we have had a lusty wind. It dances with the trees and brushes them against the house and chimney, making a god-awful noise. Sometimes it sounds as if it will rip the top of the house right off.
So after not sleeping well—I think too much evening caffeine may have had something to do with it—I made a trip to the home center and bought a new electric chainsaw and the stones I need to finish the front bed expansion.
I like the electrics. They are light weight and you don’t have to worry about starting them. Just keep ’em well oiled, and they pretty much take care of themselves.
One trick I learned from an old hand is to change out the cutter with the next smaller size. Since this one is a 16”, that means I will soon be purchasing a 14” bar and chain. While the saw will do well with the larger bar, it will shine with the smaller one.
Suna is supposed to find out today if we can borrow a ladder tall enough to get me on the roof to deal with the chimney sweeper. If not, I’ll get what I can. Anything will be quieter than what we have now.
Yesterday, our intern minister bade us farewell. It was his last sermon as an intern. I waited until today to blog about it so that I could say, “Thank you, Aaron. It has been a real privilege getting to know you while you finished your internship. You are a great speaker and your future is bright, especially in these uncertain times.”
The church hasn’t posted the sermon yet. When they do, I will link to it.
I finished the front part of the expanded bed in the front yard. The back still needs doing. But since I had been acquiring some plants for the expansion, I decided to plant them.
The soil is very clay-y there, and I hope I don’t kill my lovelies, which consist of:
Some time this week or next weekend, I hope to finish the wall. There is enough money on a gift card of Suna’s to pay for the needed stones—unless I have to add another course.
