"It's that other doxy's fault" -- the studly Eric Duke

Yes, I'm referring to that tattooed denizen of the sultry swamps, Ginger Laharpe!

She tempted me and I did eat. You betcha.

So here we go with the Other Names Meme:

1. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names): Victor Bell

2. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad): Charles Victor 
- though I prefer what grandpa was always called: C. B. Victor

3. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 2 letters of your last name, first 4 letters of your first name): Stpaul – oh my, not him again!


4. DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Dog 
(those effing Bushocrats, ¡de ningún manera, José!)

5. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live): Eric Duke – Albuquerque is known as Duke City, so I took liberties
. Then again, when you are starring in the telenovelas you can probably take a few liberties here and there.

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite alcoholic drink, optionally add “THE” to the beginning): NO, this one just is not going to work – The Green Rhône – can I use Russian? Zilony Rhone?

7. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name): Paid – makes me feel like a stamp on an invoice


8. GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Dulce de Leche Pepparkakar – hmmm, how about Dulce Pepper?

9. ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet’s name, current street name): Cocoa Meadows – no pet, so my largest teddy bear’s nickname


10. PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on): Sarge Madison

I don't know about the rest but this method of creating a name for porn acting has long been used, according to urban legend anyway. I have flirted in public with a few porn stars in my day (when I was thirty-odd years younger and sixty pounds lighter) but never actually met them to ask whether it be true.

I tossed in a version of the subjunctive in that last sentence just for Padre Mickey.

You will find several rounds of this in the comments at Ginger's place.
--the BB

Fran did this to me!

A very tidy fantasy of book stacks.
Wish mine were this pretty and tidy.

Really. Honest. Usually someone does a meme or a quiz and I just yield to temptation because I am a weak and silly person, easily led astray. But Fran actually tagged me. She is also a notorious flatterer, calling me "a very learned and wise man" which actually translates to "pedantic and silly," but I'll take what I can get.

It's a book meme.

It goes like this:

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)

Find Page 123.

Find the first 5 sentences and read them.

Post the next 3 sentences.

Well, such a dilemma. Books are piled all around me when I am at the keyboard. Actually, if one is in the library, my office, my bedroom, or my living room there is high likelihood of sitting near piles of books. Some of the books are even on shelves. Many hundreds are still in boxes in the garage.

The instruction, however, says the nearest book of over 123 pages. I almost needed a ruler but the winner is (drumroll, please)....

The Liturgical Dictionary of Eastern Christianity by Peter D. Day (Michael Glazier Books).

The [Royal] Hours conclude with the kontakion, a collect hymn, the Prayer of the Hours, and a Dismissal.

HOZOH (Armenian)
A garment that is put around the shoulders of the dead.

HUDRA (East Syrian)
(also spelled Hudhra, Kudra)
A liturgical book that contains the Proper of the Liturgy as well as the Office for Sundays, feasts of our Lord, and principal saints' days.

For the sentence count I ignored the headers.

I think it is patently obvious that I did not cheat if this is what I came up with.

Quite a challenge--making charming piffle out of this. Fran had much more fun with hers, which included passing mention of somewhere I lived for two months: Montpellier (Hérault). [Fran and I keep triggering each other's memories, journeys, and stories.]

Runners-up in the category of nearest books include A New Pocket Dictionary: English-Armenian / Armenian-English; Contemporary Office Book (the breviary I use for daily reflections); Byzantine Daily Worship; The Photoshop Elements 5 Book; dictionaries in several other languages that I do not speak (Russian, Welsh, Lakota, Turkish) and one I do (French); sundry spiritual writings, a travel guide to St Petersburg; and one mystery novel.

The more interesting stacks of books are obviously elsewhere. Valerie Wilson's Fair Game sits near the comfy glider in the living room. Dom Crossan's God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now is in my briefcase (I was reading it yesterday). Scads of other books are lying around waiting for me to actually pick them up and read them. Someone needs to get offline for Lent, eh?

So, I am now going to go water the fruit trees. Then perhaps I will sit down and read some more Crossan. Today's Lenten reflection will be late.

UPDATE:
Trees and roses were watered. More Crossan was read. Homemade soup was consumed. And I forgot to tag anyone. Which is different from saying I am not tagging anyone. Which I am. Not tagging anyone, that is. But earlier I just forgot. Now I am choosing. BB (Boris Bear--hah! you thought it stood for the Byzigenous Buddhapalian) out.
--the BB

Ten Questions

From Crooks and Liars comes this exercise: questions James Lipton asks of his guests on Inside the Actors’ Studio, inspired by the French interviewer Bernard Pivot.

1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

My answers:
1. I have never thought of it. For mouth feel there is “luxuriate,” in the conceptual category there is “perichoresis,” for life orientation there is “thanks,” and in everyday life there is “yes!” I fell under the spell of words no later than when father taught me to read (i.e., when I was three years old). They have always seemed magical: the mere idea that we can communicate through sounds and symbols amazes me.

2. One I would never use here and find it almost impossible to type in any situation. I find it utterly vile, though I use it when I want to describe certain kinds of despicable behavior.

3. Warm, relaxed, genuine smiles. I melt.

4. Attitude—almost any form of pomposity, especially among bosses and clergy. Get over your effing self (see # 7 below); we’re not impressed.

5. The cry of a hawk, the gentle sound of water in a brook or fountain in the background, someone moaning or purring with pleasure (in any context), cellos, and lots of silence (see # 6 immediately following).

6. Any noise intruding on nature: leaf blowers (an abomination), portable radios outdoors (or any car radio that can be heard more than three feet away from the driver), cell phones used on public transportation (your wife does NOT need to know you just got through the tunnel and will be home in twelve more minutes; she expects you, for God’s sake, and we don’t want to listen to your fucking conversation (see # 7 below; it’s escalating).

7. Based on frequency of use in almost any situation? The f-bomb, hands down. Off limits in sermons and with children around; otherwise liable to explode anywhere.

8. Teaching (formally; I’ve done it informally all my life). And, of course, being a published author with several books in print.

9. Sales; I loathe pressuring people and I dislike sales pitches aimed at me. If I am already interested, by all means tell me the benefits of what you offer but do not push. (Taurus here; it’s a bad idea to pressure me.)

10. Kazan is waiting for you just inside; here’s a Swedish pepper cookie so you don’t have to greet him empty-handed. Btw, you loved my world and fed my sheep. Welcome.


By now y’all know I don’t tag but I do invite. So have at it if you wish. Post at your place and let me know (or you may answer in comments). Have fun!
--the BB