So It Goes . . .

I woke up at 1:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep. So I read some more from Hannibal.

Then I opened my current.txt file and wrote about two thousand words describing one of the characters in my novel: Micah Malachai (haven't decided on his last name yet) and then, after feeding Eva and taking her out for a short stroll around the pool, I drank a cup of green tea while reading what I had earlier written. It seemed to be an adequate description.

After a late breakfast of an orange, a banana, and a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch I watched Fox and Friends (Saturday Edition) for a short time, wondering if the sexy smiling blond female news-person could possibly wear a shorter yellow dress and shaking my head in disbelief at the laughingly reported antics and monkeyshines being perpetrated on the good conservative citizenry by the everlastingly corrupt political congregation of know-nothing liberals currently in power.

Much later, after digging up a dead shrub and pulling some weeds around the pool, I came back inside and had a chicken sandwich, some chips, and a glass of Pepsi. Then I played some tug-o-war with Eva and eventually returned to the computer and again read what I had written earlier.

It was bland, uninspired, and downright disgusting, and I deleted the entire file.

So it goes . . .

Wisdom? Whimsey? Or Merely Dogma?

PZ Myers wrote:

One of the terrifying properties of fundamentalist religions is the way they demand conformity: they lay down strict rules to regulate how people are allowed to think and behave, and often how they are allowed to dress and speak. Questioning the dogma is forbidden. Getting into situations where they have to think for themselves is dangerous. The community must be policed so that odd notions do not pollute the minds of their children or themselves.

Biologist, PZ Myers

Associate Professor

University of Minnesota, Morris

Mr. Myers also wrote:

Perhaps the cruelest aspect of conservative religions is the way they insist that all people must follow one straight and narrow path, regardless of the fact that people are diverse, and they impose endless misery on so many people by fostering fear of deviation.

While I do not agree with all of PZ Myers' ideas, I certainly agree with the above.


Speaking of Organized Religion's (radicals?) fervent believers, there is a thought-provoking Youtube video that illustrates how and why so many human beings are so easily led to believe that mankind's penchant for polluting the atmosphere is the sole cause of global warming, or climate change.

Ignorance is as ignorance does.
--Forest Gump's Mama

You can view the short clip if you click here.

. . .

Saturday evening Mike served as Chef and cooked up one of his hugely successful specialties: Grilled Bison Burgers, Cheesy Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Veggies, and for dessert, Whipped Cream topped Fresh Fruit Shortcake. I sneaked a peek at him in the kitchen while he was preparing the potato dish and discovered his secret ingredient -- "Mmmm mmmmm, good! -- Mmm mmm good!"

. . .

Since I am home alone at this writing (Sunday morning) today's lunch is going to be Golden Walnuts in Creamy Sauce over Butternut Squash Ravioli with mixed vegetables. It's one of those delicious two-dollar Eating Right frozen dinners that cooks in five minutes in a standard microwave oven.

(Yes, I wrote the above paragraph yesterday (Sunday)

. . .

Recently in The Atlantic I read this sentence: No one's talking about significantly curtailing corn subsidies and replacing them with fruit and vegetable subsidies; even the USDA has not gamed out precisely how such scenarios would affect the average farmer.

That was the first time I'd encountered the term 'gamed out'. The context indicates the meaning, but why not just say 'worked out' or 'figured out' instead of perhaps confusing a large share of readers? Does it perhaps make the writer feel young and modern?

Hm . . .

. . .

Remember this guy?

You do? You don't?

. . .

I read the following quotation somewhere... don't remember where or when. But it seems particularly relevant to the current situation facing citizens of the United States of North America.

I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.
--Voltaire

Middle Of The Week Already

I finally got a picture of a roadrunner. Eva noticed it first and began barking. I looked up and saw the speedy little critter sprinting along the top of the backyard wall. I hurriedly grabbed up my camera and managed to get three quick shots at it before the bird hopped down off the wall and hightailed it through the scrub and out into the desert.



Since the roadrunner was perched atop the wall at a distance of about 75 or 80 feet (approximately 24 metres) my little camera would not zoom it any closer than the following cropped closeup.

Where's Wile E. Coyote when he's needed?

...

The new word that I learned today is:
epigraph
noun:
1. An inscription on a building or statue.
2. A quotation introducing a book or a chapter.

I once knew that word... epigraph...but had forgotten its meaning. I have always enjoyed reading epigraphs that introduce a book or a book chapter. Especially those clever and entertaining epigraphs penned by Mark Twain.

...

Yesterday I watched a movie that was a remake of the old Jimmy Stewart film, Harvey. In this version, Harry Anderson played the part of Elwood P. Dowd who has a companion named Harvey, a pooka in the form of a six-foot tall rabbit. Leslie Nielson was also in this one. In my opinion, it was not nearly as good as the original. Of course, I have never been a fan of Harry Anderson (nor Leslie Nielson), while Jimmy Stewart was one of my favorite performers of all time.

...

After lunch (Chicken Tenderloins, Nacho Cheese Doritos, Baked Beans) I developed a craving for something sweet, a dessert of sorts. So what do you suppose that I chose?

Chocolate Chip Fiber Plus Antioxidant Bar.

It was quite tasty. But horribly overpriced.

Can't think of anything else to write about right now. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day...


I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.
--Abraham Lincoln

Where Do The Weeks Go?

First, just for my own amusement, please allow me to present a picture of this morning's breakfast.

Nutritious And Delicious

I read in a learned paper that delusional psychiatric patients who believe themselves to be God, or Jesus, or some other Divine Being cannot be simply "talked out of" their delusions. Their certainties are considered to be pathological beliefs, reflecting a warped or broken understanding that is not, by definition, amenable to being reshaped by reality.

Does this then also include, I wonder, the great number of obviously delusional religious fanatics of the world?


Speaking of 'delusional' -- it occurred to me that talking to dogs can be rewarding if not overly-revealing... especially regarding the effective description of a character in your novel. Eva is an excellent audience for my explanations. She is a quiet and seemingly-contemplative listener. And she rarely offers an opinion.



Yes, I am still working on that book...been at it for around fifty years. So? It's not being stubborn; it's called persistence. I will fail only when I quit trying. Or so I've been told.

Today's purchases at Circle K were two small packages of Planter's peanuts (2 for $1) -- four bananas (20 cents each) -- two bottles of Yoohoo ($1.00 apiece) -- and five Powerball tickets ($1 each) and then I carried them (walking, of course) back home.


Last night Mike pointed out a well-camouflaged horned-lizard on the rocky path outside the swimming pool fence, and I managed to get a picture of it.

It sure blends into the background, doesn't it?

Nature is a curious phenomenon. It always fascinates me. Makes me think. Makes me realize how insignificant I am. And I wonder if others feel the same way.

And this is a picture of today's lunch.

A gourmet I am not.

...

Slow Sunday

JoAnn is running in a half-marathon here in Tucson this morning and then later, around noon, we are going out to lunch at El Charro Cafe.

For some reason I am just not in the mood for blogging, nor for writing of any kind.

Maybe later...