1. A blessed Feast of the Sacred Heart to you all. "Behold the Heart that so loved men as to spare itself in nothing." May our hearts spare Our Lord nothing in return. 2. My next step in bring order to my inner kingdom is trying to establish consistency, which I've so far completely failed … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Sacred Heart, Consistency, and More
Life
Friday Flotsam: Life Stuff and ‘Merchant of Venice’
1. Talking with my counselor this week, we discovered that I may underestimate my own productivity. I'm not sure about that myself, but I'm starting to track it. Supposedly, the act of tracking behavior alone tends to lead to improvement, sort of a Heisenberg-Maximized-Potential Principle. 2. A couple weeks ago some idiot ran into my … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Life Stuff and ‘Merchant of Venice’
Friday Flotsam: Mostly James II
1. Coming out of a long period of lethargy, depression, and illness that hit me hard as soon as I got home. I've heard from several friends that they've suffered similar bouts recently, so apparently the Other Side is making some moves. In any case, I'm feeling a good deal better, have been to Confession, … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly James II
Friday Flotsam: Illness, History, and Poirot
1. I'm not sure, but I think I got a touch of food poisoning yesterday. This resulted in one of the more miserable night's I've experienced in recent memory as I was repeatedly up and, ah, clearing the pipes at both ends, so to speak. While I no longer feel like my internal organs are … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Illness, History, and Poirot
Friday Flotsam: Abbreviated Vacation Version
1. I'm in Maine right now visiting the kids, and I mean that in both sense of the word. I'm both visiting my niece and nephew, and one of my sister's goats just recently gave birth, resulting in frolicky, happy twins who are indescribably cute. 2. Most people like animals, which is to say they … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Abbreviated Vacation Version
Two Days to Remember
Today's a confluence of two American celebrations which belong well together. First, as everyone knows, it is Mother's Day, which is why I have the Tiger's baseball game on as I write this. My Mom's a die-hard Tiger's fan and is at the game today (my brother got tickets through his work), and though I'm … Continue reading Two Days to Remember
Friday Flotsam: Grammar, Super-Heroes, and Socio-Political Stuff
1. I'm learning grammar at the moment. I figured after five books, a few short stories, and dozens of articles published, it was probably time. Don't want to rush into these things. Obviously, I already knew a fair bit of grammar, but I knew it either instinctively, simply out of use, or from distant recollections … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Grammar, Super-Heroes, and Socio-Political Stuff
The Invisible Fire
Part of the process of building the Brooklyn Bridge (as with other, similar structures) involved sinking pressurized caissons made of reinforced timber into the East River so that workers could dig the foundations into the river bottom. The caissons go to the bottom, are pressurized to the level of the surrounding water to keep them … Continue reading The Invisible Fire
Friday Flotsam: Traveling, Pollution, and ‘My Hero Academia’
1. I'm currently on the road visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Alabama. 2. On the way we've been listening to A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, about the author's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, which alternates between oft-hilarious anecdotes of him and his degenerate, but strangely lovable friend struggling along the … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Traveling, Pollution, and ‘My Hero Academia’
Friday Flotsam: Done With the Job, Men’s Conference, and Louis L’Amour
1. Today was my last day at the Job. Mostly a matter of putting things in order. It's such a relief to be done at last. 2. What happens next is, of course, the big follow-up question, but I have time to worry about that. There are a few avenues I might pursue, but mostly … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Done With the Job, Men’s Conference, and Louis L’Amour