...having survived his battle with the fearsome Balrog and been made even more powerful by his trial.

more George-isms

16th Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.
(pretty self-explanatory)

17th Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play'd Withal.
(don't flatter, and don't tease people who don't like to be teased)

18th Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask'd also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.
(don't bury yourself in a book when others are around; don't look over somebody's shoulder)

19th let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.
(keep a nice expression but be serious when it's appropriate)

20th The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.
(keep your hand motions etc. appropriate to what you're talking about)

21st: Reproach none for the Infirmaties of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof.
(don't make fun of people who can't help the way they are)

22d Shew not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.
(be a good sport, even with people you don't like)

23d When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always shew Pity to the Suffering Offender.
(it's ok to feel that justice has been done, but be sensitive to the punished one)

24th Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Publick Spectacle.

25th Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremonie are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.
(don't be all gushy, but give a compliment when it's deserved)

To all you people who have been at our house within the last year....

They're gone!!!!

things I'm looking forward to

~monolog

As this year comes to a close, there appear in my mind a few things that have not yet come to pass which I would like to share with you. Some are close at hand, some are quite distant, yet they all have one thing in common: They are all eagerly awaited by myself.

I'm looking forward to...

blogging more
I do intend to start trying a little harder in the Blog arena. It is healthy, you know.

having my sisters at home for a little while

getting another iPod at some point in the future
When Steve was stolen at the beginning of the semester, I was crushed. But I recovered quickly, and now once again enjoy the pleasure of not feeling the need to "phone up" every time I'm...doing...something......all the time, basically. But the joys that Steve did bring are ever filling up my memory space. I miss that little guy. All 2GBs of him.

going in January and again in February to the Sacred Harp singing held in Oxford, MS

Punch
Highly acclaimed mandolin virtuoso and musical master Chris Thile has formed a new acoustic band, Punch Brothers. Their debut album from Nonesuch Records, Punch, is slated to be released February 26, 2008 (at the release of their previous album, How To Grow A Woman From The Ground, they were ticketed as the How To Grow A Band). It's gonna be groundbreaking.

Grace Chapel's December meeting

reading Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
It's fiction, and it's by C. S. Lewis. Apparently, it's a "must".

finishing some of my music
I'm becoming more and more aware that you sort of have to put some gritty work into a song or a piece of music. You can't just scribble a little bit whenever the Muse comes along. Sometimes she's pretty shy. Especially during the school year.

Through the Window of a Train
The underrated bluegrass group Blue Highway will release their 8th record also in February. All 12 tracks on the record were written or co-written by the members, so it's completely fresh work. Their last album, Marbletown, which was nominated in 2006 for the IBMA's Best Album award, was super good. But this upcoming record is thought by the band to be their strongest yet!

voting!

track next semester
I've really enjoyed running cross country this year. It's been extremely beneficial. I once wrote down 10 pros to running in a little notebook, but I lost it, so, I'll try to remember as many as I can.

1. Physical strength
2. Concentration and focus
   
3. Bonding with fellow runners
4. Healthy use of energy
5. Physical coordination
6. Self control

getting to Romans

diminishing the contents of the bin of sentimental junk under my bed
Slowly, but surely, I'll get it down to the bare essentials. I'm not the sort of person that takes his box of Stuff down the driveway to the trash barrel in a moment of truth-and-revelation and dumps it in without looking. No, I get rid of it bit by bit as my attachment to it slowly peels away so as to make it not hurt. Like a band aid on your arm hairs.

In which I fly

I am going to fly for the very first time on Tuesday. Or, rather, on Tuesday I am going to fly for the very first time. I look forward to this experience with no trepidation. Some I have talked to have described flying as something that one should look at as a Pekingese dog would look at a vet when going to have its monthly shot. But I am very excited about trying my wings and am looking forward to a rough take-off. I like excitement of that kind, you see.
However, never having done anything like this before, I was hoping that you could give me some advice about what to take/do on the trip over. I think it will be only an hour flight, nevertheless, I want to have all the experiences of flying that I can in that flight. Oh! And I will have the flight back in which to revel. Yay! I'll be going with Dan, so he can show me what to do, but I'd still like some input from our loving blog followers...if we have any left, that is. :-)

Note: This post is dedicated, with fondest love, to Rebekah.

For a certain Rebekah Ceridwen

Post.

There. I posted.

No really... an interesting post is coming up. One that can be waited for with bated breath.

Thoughts on our Refrigerator

Magnetic Poetry is a wondrous thing.

chocolate
love
prince

wish
spring

friends
too

fun
summer

you
laugh

boys
band

fall
rain

dance
silly

family
smile

happy
way

winter
play

cheese
princess

little
giggle

cute
life

(While this may not be a Glorious Waterfall, it is somewhat more interesting than Stagnant Mode.)

we have now downgraded to stagnant mode.

Wilson vs. Hitchens

Fairly New: Two well-known intellectuals do battle in a well-written theological debate hosted by Christianity Today. It may sound boring, but it's actually pretty easy reading—readable but substantive, witty but serious.

Source

Make that a combo.

What Davis is having for supper:

spicy fish.
a tortilla.
chocolate milk.

amazon.com

Nickel Creek

Nickel Creek
Sean Watkins
Chris Thile
Daniel Gooch
Lisa Ault

Yesterday Molly and I went with two of our friends from choir, Daniel and Lisa, to see Nickel Creek at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. We left at 3pm to drive 3 1/2 hours one way and didn't get back till 2am, but it was well worth the trip!
Nickel Creek was of course, as Daniel put it, ridiculously incredible. This is their "Farewell For Now Tour" because they are breaking up the band after this, but plan to reunite in a few years.
They played all the old favorites, opening with The Fox, and closing with The Lighthouse, and also some new ones. They have grown up but still connect with the audience in an incredible way. During the third number the audience on the ground floor rushed the stage; we stood about 4 feet from the stage for most of it...you couldn't stay seated for anything - the music was too intense. It was so incredible to be so close to them while they played. Seeing their faces added a whole new dimension to the performance. I wished for all of you who love Nickel Creek to be there with me.
All four of us bought t-shirts that are very cool. We would have stayed till they came out to their van but it was Tuesday night and we had a long way back.
We realized half way there that none of us had brought a camera, which was really aggravating; but we did use our camera phones, so these pictures are really little. Daniel and Lisa look a little crazy...but they are really nice!
Great, great experience that can't really be described with words. You know.

Coming to Bookstores Soon

Might I direct your attention to a post by Dr. George Grant...

Read with a southern accent, very fast.

"I was getting along fine with Mama, Papa-Daddy and Uncle Rondo until my sister Stella-Rondo just separated from her husband and came back home again. Mr. Whitaker!"
-Why I Live at the P.O.


Have you ever heard Eudora Welty read any of her work? You should. It's great! We have this wonderful tape of her reading some of her stories and this is one of our favorite passeges to quote 'cause it's so hilarious the way she says "Mr. Whitaker!" at the end.

I don't know. You just have to hear it.

"How come nobody has ever written an action story about penguins?" - Julia

weren't she the cutest thing?
.

BOO!

did i scare you?

Argh!

caption, please.

_

fill in the blanks

"I'm having _______ soup with ____!"

-- ____ ______

Who said...?

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger..."

Happy Birthday to Mr. Incredulous!

Shafer is Eight today!

Happy Birthday, Small Wonder.

Shafe the Waif

A face only a mother could love...

We're late! We're late! for a very important date!

Happy birthday to the best Papa in the whole wide world!

We love you. More than you can possibly know.

does anyone happen to know where the post title comes from?

for RoBear

"What I do and what I dream include thee,

as the wine must taste of its own grapes..."

~E.B.Browning

EBB: Sonnett XXIX I think of thee!

I had decided I'd post a love poem every day, but hadn't chosen them yet, when I saw that Beatrice posted one of EBB's lovely sonnets. Ah, yes! You just can't get any better than those sonnets...so here's a favorite of mine. btw, someone had a thread going on 'long distance relationships,' and I don't know how that dialogue ended, but if you want to know how the Browning's relationship was affected by long distance, just read Sonnets from the Portugese. They'll knock your socks off. (My Little Portugese was Robert's nickname for Elizabeth. The sonnets are not written in a foreign language. ;-)

I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud
About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see
Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee,
Drop heavily down,--burst, shattered everywhere!
Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
I do not think of thee--I am too near thee.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

(belated) Poem Sunday: Yeats

He wishes for the cloths of heaven

Had I the heavens embroidered cloths
Enwrought with golden and silver light
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light;
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.

~William Butler Yeats

...Be Mine...

Happy Valentine's Week!

Me and LG

This is me with my tortoise, LG. I found him at Grama'nGrandpa's, and grandpa carved my initials in his shell so that people would know it was mine.

(click to enlarge)

Poem Sunday: Stevenson

The Celestial Surgeon

If I have faltered more or less
In my great task of happiness;
If I have moved among my race
And shown no glorious morning face;

If beams from happy human eyes
Have moved me not; if morning skies,
Books, and my food, and summer rain
Knocked on my sullen heart in vain:

--Lord, thy most pointed pleasure take
And stab my spirit broad awake;
Or, Lord, if too obdurate I,
Choose thou, before that spirit die
A piercing pain, a killing sin,
And to my dead heart run them in.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

i call it ---

regatta by e

by egreen

Mark Twain on Domestic Strife and Politics

I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet retired spot and kill him.
- Autobiography of Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

~hat tip to ro-bear

everywhere.

snow is falling.

Winter Comforts

The Badger's winter stores, which indeed were visible everywhere, took up half the room---piles of apples, turnips, and potatoes, baskets full of nuts, and jars of honey; but the two little white beds on the remainder of the floor looked soft and inviting, and the linen on them, though coarse, was clean and smelt beautifully of lavender; and the Mole and the Water Rat, shaking off their garments in some thirty seconds, tumbled in between the sheets in great joy and contentment.

from Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Graham

Poem Sunday: Sir Walter Raleigh 1552-1618

from The Pilgrimage

Give me my scallop
shell of quiet,
My staff of faith to walk upon,
My scrip of joy,
immortal diet,
My bottle of salvation:
My gown of glory, hope's true
gauge,
And thus I'll take my pilgrimage.

'I love you like eskimos love furry hoodies'

speaking of furry hoodies, i got a furry hooded coat/jacket. it is pretty much the sweetest thing since sliced bread. it is army green with sweet pocket detail on the arm and lined with real synthetic rabbit fur! then it has got this wicked awesome trim around the hood and when you put it up, you look like one of those eskimos with awesome fashion skills. ever since i got it i've been wearing it around the house enjoying the soft warmth of it and the way i feel so secure in it. i don't know what i'll do when i grow out of it, or when the big poofiness of it goes out of style. actually, i do know what i'll do: i'll wear it anyway. who cares about style when you feel so wonderful?



thank you, mama and old navy.

In case you need something to think about...

"An onion can make people cry but there's never been a vegetable that can make people laugh."

Eudora Welty on the 'word'

One of the most amazing paragraphs I have ever read:

"In my sensory education I include my physical awareness of the word. Of a certain word, that is; the connection it has with what it stands for. At around age six, perhaps, I was standing by myself in our front yard waiting for supper, just at that hour in a late summer day when the sun is already below the horizon and the risen full moon in the visible sky stops being chalky and begins to take on light. There comes the moment, and I saw it then, when the moon goes from flat to round. For the first time it met my eyes as a globe. The word 'moon' came into my mouth as though fed to me out of a silver spoon. Held in my mouth the moon became a word. It had the roundness of a Concord grape Grandpa took off his vine and gave me to suck out of its skin and swallow whole, in Ohio."

Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings

~hat tip to MJ Tate

Poem Sunday: Herbert

Redemption

Having been tenant long to a rich lord,
Not thriving, I resolved to be bold,
And make a suit unto him, to afford
A new small-rented lease, and cancel th' old.

In heaven at his manor I him sought:
They told me there that he was lately gone
About some land which he had dearly bought
Long since on earth, to take possession.

I straight returned, and knowing his great birth,
Sought him accordingly in great resorts--
In cities, theaters, gardens, parks, and courts:
At length I heard a ragged noise and mirth

Of thieves and murderers; there I him espied,
Who straight, "Your suit is granted," said, and died.

--George Herbert
(1593-1633)

more George-isms

6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

7th Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Drest.

8th At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.
(if someone comes to join your game or group around the fire, give your place to him)

9th Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.

10th When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.
(keep your feet flat on the floor)

11th Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.
(don't wiggle around when you are with company, and don't bite your nails)

12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.
(don't be obnoxious)

13th Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexteriously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.
(don't squish bugs with other people around (unless you're showing off for a girl), and if there's gunk on a friend's clothes, take him aside and get it off)

14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.
(don't turn your back to someone talking to you, don't bump a table when someone is using it, and don't lean on people)

15th Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Shewing any great Concern for them.
(keep them kempt, but don't be vain about them)

George Washington's 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

~monolog

We've got a little white book called George-isms. I'm going to put the essence of the introduction to the book here...

When he was a boy, George Washington was given by a teacher (possibly his father) a list of one-hundred-ten rules for living. George had great ambitions as a boy, and he knew that these rules would be invaluable to him. He wrote out the rules in his own handwriting and kept them with him all his life, trying his best to follow them. His intelligence, leadership and vision were not the only things that were part of his success but his gentility and courtesy as well. They took him from the farmlands of Virginia to the battle-fields of the Revolution and eventually, to the first presidency of the United States (under the Constitution; there were multiple presidents before him under the Articles of Confederation but that is neither to the point nor of considerable importance). He knew how to talk to heads of state and common soldiers; he knew how to behave in royal courts and local taverns. The 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior is a standard we would all do well to imitate.

Here and there I will post a few "George-isms" in the original spelling, sometimes giving a paraphrase so one won't be obliged to sit and puzzle out the meaning if one is already late for one's bath...


1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

2d [sic] When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usualy Discovered.
(don't figet or scratch unseemly parts of the body in the presence of others)

3d Shew Nothing to your Freind that may affright him.

4th In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

5th If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face and turn aside.
(I recommend it being your handkerchief )

Today I shot an airbourne moth with a rubberband.

monolog
don't pay attention to this part.

Happy Birthday ~e ! You sweet thang, you!

15. Yep Fifteen! Hard to believe, isn't it. Why, only yesterday...blah, blah, blah...
You know we love you, ~e --- our SweetBabyGirl. May sound cliche', but you really do fill our lives with music. In so many ways. ~Love, Muth

Poem Sunday: Cowper

When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently cleared my way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravished heart?
But thou canst read it there.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Hath made my cup run o'er;
And, in a kind and faithful Friend,
Hath doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.

On Second Thought...

...this poem is worth seeing in its entirety:

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

~Alfred Lord Tennyson