I’m a big fan of Ancient History, especially of the Greco-Roman variety. Dunno why or where that interest came from but I learn as much as I can. And I read as many books as I can on all sorts of ancient history-related topics. Since my class on Roman History in college I’ve been especially fascinated with Hannibal. THE Hannibal…not the Silence of the Lambs Dr. Lecter. But Hannibal Barca, the general who invaded Italy via the Alps back before there were trucks, cars or trains. He did it with elephants…in winter…uphill. I’m not kidding! Then he crushed the Roman army in several key battles before being stymied. I love his audacity, his determination and of course, his keen strategic mind. Continue Reading »
I borrowed this meme from Lee over at A Curate’s Egg since the questions are nicely random and I haven’t done a meme in a while. Here goes…
1. Where is your cell phone? On my desk next to my laptop.
2. Relationship? Platonic and familial only at this time.
3. Your hair? too long and getting cut next week.
4. Work? still at it even though it’s almost 9 pm - sort of, i am writing this blog ya know.
5. Your sister? the best one i know.
6. Your favorite thing? how i feel after yoga.
7. Your dream last night? a reoccurring one where i live in england in a nice old house and study some esoteric subject in a deliciously old, architecturally interesting uni with no cares about money.
8. Your favorite drink? Depends on the time of day (just like Lee). Now? drinking water but want a vodka lime.
9. Your dream car? a flying one.
10. The room you’re in? office at work.
11. Your shoes? Size 6.5.
12. Your fears? I too fear folk dancing like Lee but I would say that ‘not having on clean underwear when I get in a car accident’ is right after that.
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Healthy, wealthy and wise, living in england or some foreign clime with my love.
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? co-workers and neighbors fri, clients sat, former coworkers sat nite, yoga students sun, myself.
15. What are you not good at? A lot but arts and creative endeavors spring to mind.
16. Muffin? fruit - especially a berry or cran or pumpkin ones.
17. Wish list item? winning lottery numbers.
18. Where you grew up? jacksonville, nc, usa and los angeles, ca, usa.
19. The last thing you did? read A Curate’s Egg blog
20. What are you wearing? flip-flops, tan capris, white sleeveless t, name tag, appropriate undergarments.
21. What are you not wearing? my heart on my sleeve.
22. Your pet? None but fed a stray cat at work.
23. Your computer? gateway laptop.
24. Your life? quite good and i’m grateful.
25. Your mood? good.
26. Missing? my west coast friends and granny.
27. What are you thinking about? what to eat for dinner - tacos?
28. Your car? mazda m3 hatchback and nissan pickup truck.
29. Your kitchen? a wreck.
30. Your summer? humid and hot.
31. Your favorite color? green.
32. Last time you laughed? today with my fabby clients from virginia.
33. Last time you cried? monday at the harry potter movie when sirius died.
34. School? longing to go back to grad school.
35. Love? for my family and one day for someone special.
Found a lovely article from the BBC (again) about the largest Viking treasure every recovered. It’s a fantastic find not only in terms of what it tells us about how far Vikings traveled for trade, pillaging and looting (there’s stuff in there from Ireland, France, Russia, the Middle East, Scandinavia) but also in terms of its worth-approximately $2 million. Continue Reading »
Since I’m not home very much and don’t have time to devote to a real hedgehog, I’ve decided to get a virtual one. Please meet Phineas. Isn’t he adoreeblay?
I sit in my study and try to think of something meaningful to say on this 40th anniversary of my birth. Half of my life is over and I think I should have learned something important to share, some nugget of wisdom. In retrospect, I spent my first 40 years trying to heal myself, trying to discover who I am underneath all these layers and trying to find the courage to be the person I imagine myself to be. Unfortunately, dear reader, I’ve not spent much time in philosophical reflection to have learned anything useful enough to pass along.
But I do not despair this fact. I’m happy to be just who I am. I’m happy to have gone through life just as it happened, tragedy and joy. And I expect to spend the next 40 years not in seeking an idea of who I am but in experiencing who I am–not shrinking in fear but expanding in courage, accepting who I am, being content with allowing that ‘who’ to morph with time, and learning to surrender to something larger than myself. What that thing is I cannot say–God, Spirit, energy–choose what word best fits you. I do know that I am content not knowing what it is. I just know that it is.
This is the only thing I can say for sure. It’s my only nugget of wisdom for you. I tend to seek wisdom in the words of others–those who speak more eloquently than I on matters ponderous. Since UNESCO has declared 2007 the year of Rumi it’s he I shall rely on for something to pass along.
Rumi who, you ask? Rumi was one of Afghanistan’s greatest philosphers and poets. He was a theologian who practiced Sufism, a form of Islam but one that encompasses some Christian and Jewish traditions. After his death the monastic Order of Mevlevi was established to honor him and his ecstatic dancing. These monks are also called Whirling Dervishes. They spin their way to spiritual ecstasy and to know the Divine.
Here’s to the next 40 years–may I whirl myself into knowing the Divine whatever it may be!
Zero Circle - trans. by Coleman Barks
Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace
to gather us up.
We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we’re lying.
If we say No, we don’t see it,
That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.
So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.
