Light posting today

I haven't put much up because I don't have a lot to say at the moment. I know, here I am typing when I don't have anything to say. Just can't help myself.

I am intrigued by the primaries but have nothing to add to the commentary floating about. Not in one of my rant modes at the moment. Fear not, Bush will do something evil or stupid or both very soon and I will be off and running again.

Not full of theological ponderings or spiritual wisdom at the moment either. [You needn't speculate what I am full of because we all know the answer to that.]

A very minor tidbit of news: last night I signed up for beginning Russian to be taught at the University of New Mexico (continuing education program) on Tuesday nights beginning in February. I loved my two trips to St Petersburg and want to go back (and catch Moscow next time around as well). Cassettes and CDs have given me practice saying a limited number of phrases and I have used phrase books to good effect but I want to be able to do more. So, a new linguistic adventure.

Languages for which I have taken classes (of any kind)--plus reasons why I took them:
Spanish - beginning in the 8th grade--because it was there
Latin - beginning in the 10th grade--because I wanted the classical background
French - beginning in freshman year of college and I majored in it--because it was fun
Classical Greek - three semesters in college--because I wanted to read the New Testament
German - one year in college, on review quarter in grad school--so I could understand the Bach St Matthew Passion
Hebrew - one year in seminary--so I could read the Old Testament
Old French - one semester in grad school--to expand my French and read the chansons de geste in the original
Japanese - night classes in adult school but not long enough--because it was so different and I had friends who had studied it in high school; a change to learn a bit more
Armenian - also night classes in adult school but not long enough--because I grew up with Armenian friends and I would be one of the few odars who bothered [an odar to Armenians is like a goy to Jews]
Italian - nigh classes in adult school (plus the menus and operas!)--because it's beautiful, of course
Russian - coming soon at a university near me!--because it is so different from the Romance languages I've studies, has wonderful collisions of consonants, and can get me around in St Petersburg

I have about five sentences of Khmer (Cambodian) just because of Cambodian friends through church. I tried to learn more but, Lord have mercy, have you looked at the Khmer alphabet? I, who learned the Greek and Hebrew alphabets at age twelve (and bits of Russian and Arabic alphabets too), was defeated with Khmer. One can clearly absorb so much more before age 20 than one can after age 55 (over 60 now).

A question for readers: What is the most unusual/exotic/obscure language you have studied and why?
--the BB

On the fifth day of Christmas

Blogging may be a bit slow this weekend. I shall be picking up a house guest from the airport later tonight (yes, flight delays, etc.) and we anticipate being busy tomorrow. Sunday afternoon I will be heading up to Santa Fe with a chum and partying a bit there.

Play nicely with one another.

Be civil, but don't roll over and make nice with renegade bishops and other fundamental apertures. In fact, you may politely tell them where they can shove their miters, but you probably shouldn't. Jesus, being a carpenter and all, is probably selecting just the right 2x4 to whack them upside the head with, in which case miters become irrelevant. To paraphrase Nancy Reagan: Just say No to abuse!

I am looking at the moon through the mini-blinds right now. Hau, Hanwi!

Perhaps if you're very good, or I'm very naughty, I will tell you my little story of the Holy Innocents and the beartoons.

Time to log out for a while.
--the BB

Ladies and gentlemen (and the rest of you lot), we have a winner

Colin Gilmore

Last night I was at an outdoor concert, perhaps two dozen folks gathered around a campfire and listening to young Colin Gilmore play his guitar and sing. Marshmallows were roasted, as is de rigeur when folks gather at campfires. I observed only as I do not really care for marshmallows, raw or cooked.

Scarlet globe mallow (courtesy this site)

A friend and I have been trading e-mails today and discussing marshmallows. I asked if she had ever eater mallows. No. Nor have I. But that led to some googling. And lo, the answer to a question I posed yonks ago and no one had answered. The flower I see around here each autumn is a scarlet globe mallow. One friend suggested that it resembled hollyhocks and, indeed, they are all in the same family. The photo above is of an example in Arizona, the state next door, so I feel comfortable in the identification.

Did you care about all this? Of course not. But I think we should celebrate when we learn new things.

If you are in California, you can catch Colin as he journeys up the coast. Click the "shows" button for the venues. He will be in Culver City, Oxnard, Felton, Berkeley, Grass Valley, and Eugene, Oregon. He also mentioned something about Nicasio Ranch last night but I don't see that listed.

--the BB