Lux Fantastisch

In pursuit of the waterfall.

2008-09-15T00:06:00.000-07:00

Jude let me take a picture of him while on our hike through the dense and dark woods in pursuit of our neighborhood waterfall. We were determined to find a path that led to the bottom of the falls, but it was not to be. The waterfall drops a good 30 or 40 feet, so naturally there is a ravine that continues from that point. To get to the bottom of it, we followed a series of deer paths that eventually lead to a place where the deer can drink from the small stream. But once there, it is a matter of staying as close to the stream as possible, which is actually impossible. Being that this is a jungle, any amount of sunlight coming through is opportunity for ferns and salmon berries to grow. This makes it difficult to find a way. I kept telling Jude that I wish we had a machete (or a handy rapier, which worked for the Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride). The other (non-)option is walking straight up the stream. However, we'd need better/different shoes for this. The works are slippery, and the creek, well, wet. Anyway, this picture shows as far as we did get. Jude took a picture of me at that approximate spot, which is now my facebook profile photo. Jude was definitely a trooper and was more optimistic that we'd find our way and was in dogged pursuit of the waterfall. But in the end, we realized it wasn't reasonable and turned back. We never did actually get lost, but sometimes we like to pretend that we are a family lost in the woods.

A deepness in their eyes.

2008-09-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

The picture at the top of this blog is of Joan Miró.

I've been captivated by the photograph ever since I first saw it. This picture was originally sent by Pat Bennett, along with a few other pictures of 4s. We have been trying to sharpen our photo-typing skills. I had submitted a picture of a friend who is a purported 4 that displayed a face that seemed un-4ish to them. So they sent some pictures of other 4s for comparison. Included was a photo Joan Miró.

If you are wondering what a 4 is, it might be helpful to read the description of a 4 at the Enneagram Institute website. (By the way, I consider myself to be a 4: do the descriptions sound like me at all?)

A couple others submitted:

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Gertrud von Le Fort, whom I still don't know much about

T.S. Eliot

Connexions via the internet.

2008-09-13T00:07:00.002-07:00

Looking back on the blog posts I've put herein, I'm quite frankly aghast. When did I put all of these in here? Still, I'm happy to have put some kind of web-scrapbook (I cringe at using this word because of its connotations, but I guess it works in its literalness) together for us to look back on, if not for the whole world to see.

Truth is, who really cares about my life that much? Okay, I know there are a few of you out there. But I doubt very much that it (the blog, not my life) has been frequented recently. Heck, I haven't frequented it in quite sometime.

Well, if anybody checks this out, go to the bottom of the page and follow other links which include recent pictures of us and videos (soon to be further updated). I also have a link to my very choice mixtapes put up on 8tracks.com.

By the way, I'm still mourning the loss of Muxtape. You might also notice an embed for an 8tracks mix I like.

Will this someday become a place to submit my rantings and ravings about all manner of things (including politics)? I'm actually, truly afraid to put this out to the world. Discussion of politics is between Elise and I, I guess. Perhaps I'll defer to fivecentbeaver.blogspot.com for that platform.

Oh, by the way: the reason I've gotten back into this has to do with Jude's desire to put his Pokemon characters on the web. He has been sketching these incredible ink drawings and giving them fantastic names and coming up with their various stats, etc. Check 'em out.

Cheers and good day.

Whoever you are.

2007-03-23T00:04:00.002-07:00

i've done more typing on the typewriter lately, not counting my typing for school things, of course. but when it comes to random journaling, i've put some stuff on the smith-corona.

our new place is quite beautiful. you'd like it (whoever you are).

couple more pictures.

a little washed out, but that's because of the great amount of sunlight, which has been meager lately, but boy is surrounding area green. i call it the emerald grove, or something.

mei is helping kind of. this is before we painted this lovely piece a kind of light olivey-green

more better pictures some other time.

Diversions

2007-03-22T23:52:00.000-07:00

i haven't been here lately because i've been busy with other things. school, you know. since being in our new place we've been obsessing over it.

check this out.

last pic at the apartment

first pic of mei, munchin' on sumfin'

jude busy with his studies

Return of the pictures.

2007-01-25T22:34:00.000-08:00

Just Ezzie in these.

1) Mei-Mei with her new kitchenette (on Christmas morn):

2) She's very sad here (and cute). Jude took this picture to document her sad times (of which there are way fewer than happy times):

3) Finally, this one's quite recent. Her auntie Sarah and cuzzie Finn came to visit. Aren't they darling?

Where have I been?

2007-01-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Not around blog-land, that's for sure. Away long enough to see the format changed and with no idea how to handle it.

I'm putting up some pictures soon. And a YouTube vid. Weird about all this Google buyout stuff. They've bought blogger, and then YouTube. I also have a gmail account. So everything is Google. I hope they continue with their "don't be evil" mantra.

The Snow.

2006-11-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

And this is the fun we had in the sun...um, I mean snow.

2006-11-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

Bombs away, look at that arm!

Elise getting in on the action.

The snow was perfect for crafting this work of art. Imagine. In the snowy Midwest, one snowfall out of twenty was ideal for making snowmen, and here we are in the "rainy" Pacific Northwest building one from a chance snowfall.

And here's Esmé standing proudly by her baby.

Snow here of all things.

2006-11-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

That's our lovely white Subaru (even whiter now). Darn, I forgot my scraper/snowbrush. Thought I wouldn't need it.

And here is the delectably sugared arboretum across the way.

A hallowed eve.

2006-11-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I'm short on words, and this is from nearly a month ago. Please enjoy.

Jude was a pirate.

Esmé was a kangaroo.

I was a typewriter inspector.

At the last: apples and honey for all participants involved.

2006-10-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why Jude looks so surly here. But anyway, he picked all those apples himself. Despite the grimace, Jude did have a wonderful time at that farm. When paying fo the apples, Jude was getting excited about sticking various objects - mostly little decorative gourds - on the big scale that they had there. It was cute. We had 10 dollars, eight of which went to the beautiful 25 pounds of Jonagolds, and two of which went to homegrown blackberry honey. Mmm.

Apples, again. This is where I start to ramble.

2006-10-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

We don't always remember our camera when going to cool places. Well, we brought it to the apple farm, and finding that the picking was so easy (big apples, only getting a heaping 5 gallon bucket's worth, most of the apples low enough for Jude to reach, and Jude's ready hand for picking the apples), I was freed to take lots of pictures. Oh, and the kids were extra cute that day (as on most days) and wearing bright colorful clothing, and Jude had painted his own face.

This is the reason you are seeing so many from this series. Note how blond Ezzie's hair has gotten. It seems to be getting blonder despite it being well past summer now. Jude's on the other only gets thicker and darker. No surprise there, I guess. He has just recently gotten his hair cut, by Elise, who does a wonderful job. Anyway, she did it special for his school pictures. He is going to be rather handsome in them, I'm sure. Can't wait to see them.

The Apple Cart Kids.

2006-10-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

I'll admit that I posed them for this one. The cart was just so quaint and Esmé insisted on sitting in it though it was intended for the apples. Thanks to Sarah and Andy for the snappy boots, which they got her while in the Netherlands. They make for shnazzy pictures.

Hand-pick your own apples. Jonagolds.

2006-10-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

"I picked this apple myself! Oh, and that fantastic face painting: that was a Jude original work of art."

Couch 2: The Davenport Disgrace.

2006-10-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

A comment: Esmé in a rare display of obstinancy in picture posing. Something about that perfectly lovely pink polka dot dress adds to the character. Note: this picture is actually from the middle of August but I hadn't put it up like I thought I had. Now it is here for all of you.

A couch picture. Looking studious.

2006-10-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

He just looked darn cute. This is from his second day of school. Isn't he looking skinny? He looks summery, too, like his mama.

Blues for three.

2006-10-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

This was when we had a serious jam session.

School Day, Pt 3

2006-10-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Esmé cried when they left Jude at school the first day. She has learned to love her time with just her and mama.

School Day, Pt 2

2006-10-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

School Day, Pt 1

2006-10-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

This was the first one.

Finally, some new pictures.

2006-10-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

For your viewing pleasure only.

Spidey, Jr. and his trusty sidekick KangaKid.

The Knit Sessions

2006-09-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

Chronologically these pictures come before the previous ones (taken in North Vancouver). But whatever. The basic premise here is that our good friend Kimberley visited our place for the day and we had a lovely meal together, and then gave us a session in beginning knitting. It was good fun. The third picture is Kimberley and Jude together. Can't you see how much love Kimberley has for her godson? How cute.

These are pictures from our picnic on the shorerocks of North Vancouver.

2006-09-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

In addition to Jude on one end and Esmé on the other, are Ava and Christian Quissy. We were trying to capture something similar to two years ago on Galiano Island. But that was before Esmé. Shotly after this photoshoot, or what happened to be the abrubt termination of this photoshoot, Esmé slipped off the log and into the water. It was a minor tragedy. She didn't go in or anything, but it was a little unnerving. I heroically plucked her out and delivered her to a towel and her mama.

It think this was before the incident. I just like the way the picture turned out.

This is a bonus picture for you all.

2006-09-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

Esmé likes to layer her clothes. She's not too picky. Hey, Superman is cool.

Kewpie meets punk and has kids and puts them in the bath.

2006-09-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

I can't claim responsibility for these two, though I wish I could. My kids have the best hair.

Kids in sweaters.

2006-09-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

The beautiful sweaters Jude and Esmé are wearing came back with my parents after their visit to Ireland. These delicious photos came out of their irresistable photo-friendliness.

Jude and Esmé are having fun and feeling cozy in their warm woolen sweaters from Ireland. And they're very happy because they have a new piano. Jude happens to be a (folk & rock) compositional virtuoso. I'm glad we got a piano if only for a creative outlet.

Esmé sure likes to look at the water fountain and the sculpture is very cool to her. She loves being with her family, doing things like taking walks to the university, and so forth.

While walking, Jude cruised along on his "Razor" scooter, which I'm so glad we got for him. When we goes on foot he can be quite pokey and the walk moves along at snail's pace. But on scooter he zooms ahead forcing one or both of us to chase after him which of course provides a good work out. In this picture he is obviously going up a grassy hill, dragging the scooter along. I thought it looked like a good picture, but he wouldn't look at me. I liked the result anyway.

Known as "Teddy Bear Cove County Park" to the outside world.

2006-09-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is part deux. Three more pictures of that lovely place. You might see even more later on, from the time I went with Jude and our friend Mark.

Jude willingly posed for this one. Lookit them mus-kuhlz!

Another Jude pose. But not exactly. He looks to be posing like a merboy... unintentionally of course.

Elise is looking tough and cool nursing on the beach. Someday I'll compile all of her nursing pictures and write a book called "Nursing is just cool."

A new place of escape.

2006-08-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Down at one of our favorite places: Teddy Bear Cove. You first drive along Chuckanut Drive which follows a ridge that runs along the coast. A twisting drive through the thick green trees, a precipitous drop on your right. If you are not looking for Teddy Bear Cove, you'll likely never find it. And the walk down is almost treacherous. A snake path designed more for mountain goats, or to keep the less adventurous (and non-nudists) away.

First picture is a miraculous shot of Esmé looking docile in her car seat. This has nothing to do with the Cove, but it was a good shot, and she is picturesque and photogenic.

Second is Jude running, if you didn't know. Shows the backside of our trusty Subaru, and a glimpse of the ocean through the tall pines.

Last is a shamelessly posed shot atop the rock looking out over the Cove. I planned the sailboat coming into view.

Enjoy.

The Dragon Wagon, Kettle Corn, and those Ubiquitous Peruvian Panpipe Players

2006-08-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hello and more pictures for you all. This is "The Fair" series. We went to the Northwest Washington Fair up in Lynden and had a grand old time. I mentioned this outing in a previous post. It was Jude and Ezzie's first fair and they enjoyed themselves immensely. Lots of animals. The swine being the most forgettable - we were foolishly imagining a lot of "Wilburs" but they were just stinky and gross. Even Esmé came away saying "pig poop" while holding her diminutive nose. The goats and sheep were just lovely and compared to the truffle-sniffers, clean. I personally loved the beautiful draft horses. Such magnificent creatures. The bunnies were also a big hit. We'll have to get some someday.

Jude petting a darling kid. We had the distinct privilege of watching some goats being milked. That's cool stuff.

Mei-Mei looking tough on the Kobelco digger. They had lots of these utility vehicles set up just to look at and admire. Fun.

Look quick at the bottom for Jude living it up on the Dragon Wagon. He's wearing red.

Tidal crabs, part deux.

2006-08-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

Jude exemplifying his best crab-catching maneuver.

A successful catch!

A short time on the tidal rocks poking around for crabs.

2006-08-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's Jude giving us his best crab impersonation.

And, right again, that's Esme' practicing for the photo shoots that will accompany her superstardom as a rock drummer.

Dang, but those kids love popcorn.

2006-08-20T00:42:00.000-07:00

Fresh kettle corn at the fair is an unparalleled experience. So sweet (and salty) and good. Oh, Ezzee was chowin' it the rest of the night. But Jude on the other hand... he took one bite and got a little hostile. He's a supertaster you know. Popcorn (in his superior estimation) should not be sweet. Only salty.

Here they have it the right way in the safety of our home.

Weak stomachs beware!

2006-08-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

Eeeeuww! Bloody toe. Jude inflicted this upon himself while playing soccer in his sandals. Instead of losing it, he went home and took this picture. The blurred effect is part of the shot but it perhaps not a bad thing.

The kids just having fun, chillin', being kids, just loving on each other... blah, blah...

2006-08-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

Two selections from atop the Sehome Arboretum...

2006-08-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Mé was running away as I took this. Yeah, I know: brilliant comment. I love how naturally she takes pictures. Just wait to see what else we got.

The second is taken from atop the lookout tower. You can see the harbor of Bellingham through the tree. I believe the hill and tower combined are about 500 or 600 feet up, so it gives a good view. This little gem is attached to the university (Western Washington) and is directly across the road from us. Cool, huh?

Yeah, Elise and I went through our more recent pictures...

2006-08-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

This one made the cut because, I mean, come on. First of all, well taken, My Love. Jude looks classic and beautiful. And what is this he is framing? Yes, a yarn creation concocted out of his sweet little head. This kid is going somewhere. We are in the midst of a game of Monopoly (the Star Wars Saga edition) and he is easily beating me. And that is with magnanimously granting me 400 dollars for nothing. Anyway, enjoy this pic.

I'm not sure how best to do this...

2006-08-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

I love these two. Don't worry, Ez, you'll get your due. I'm constantly overcareful about not preferring one kid or the other. It is nice that both are such strong personalities and that one is a boy, and the other is a girl. Also, since the boy reminds me of narcissistic self and the girl reminds me of the older girl whom I worship, it is difficult to prefer one over the other.

Quasi-smiles

2006-08-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

I centered this picture on my computer desktop in a sea of milk chocolate brown. The decision to encase it in that color obviously has to do with the sepia-tone that I converted the picture into. After that was all done, I liked it so much I wanted to share it with all of you. Jude is of course as charming as ever. He is immaculately photogenic. I'm not sure about my self with my rockstar cum zoolander quasi-smiles. I do like the fact that you can see my wedding ring and the cool deskmug I'm holding. You should all check out the lyrical description about berry picking placed by my wife in the last post (look for "anonymous"). I suppose there will be more pictures to come. Just be patient already.

Lost amongst the overgrown Himalayan blackberries somewhere along the Skagit River.

2006-07-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I finally changed the template of this here blog. I got just plain bored of the previous one. I'm all about minimalism, but after awhile it turns out to be maximally plain.

Today we drove over an hour to the south and east to pick organic blueberries in this totally random place. But it was all good in the end. This implies not so good at first. Mostly that has to do with our children being fairly opposed to driving long distances (read, over 10 minutes). But the blueberries were divine and it was simply beautiful. The weather was quite cool, barely sixty, cloudy, a virtual mist/drizzle in the air. But the green simply overtakes you the air feels heavy with life somehow. So we came away with about 10 pounds of blueberries and a large canning jar full of fresh-pressed cider from early-crop sour apples. And everybody helped pick blueberries (yes, even Esmé, except all the ones she ate ended up in her tummy). Our children are in their element out in nature. Therefore we are quite thankful to be living in this beautiful environment.

Enough of that. I have a new site devoted to randomness and fun kitsch. Check it out.

No post is complete without a pic. Enjoy!

Doughgirl and cuzzin'.

2006-07-25T21:40:00.001-07:00

Elise took this one while Esmé was obviously helping with making bread. This clearly proves that she is the female answer to the Pillsbury Doughboy.

And then the other is Es. with her cousin Finn(egan) and Finn's mom Sarah. Finn doesn't walk yet, so I guess Es. is helping or something.

Two in the park.

2006-07-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, Elise took both of these pictures while I read a book in the shade (it was hot that day, which means like maybe 80 degrees here - Canadians think mid-20s). I try to take cool artistic shots, and then Elise goes and takes these gems. Anyway, as you can see they are having a ball.

Smatterings (Beware! I changed this post).

2006-07-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

I'm back with more posts. And I added a snappy picture to grab your attention. There more pictures above. I also wanted to note the fact that I'm listening to internet radio which is streamed through iTunes. Nice. I was inspired to do so after listening to the Western Washington University radio, 89.3 KUGS. I listened to it all day while painting and it is already like a drug (thanks Byron). In a word, it is eclectic. Unfortunately, it is not on iTunes, but we live across the street from the radio tower. So the stereo picks it up despite lacking an antenna.

I really have no idea why I'm saying all this. But I guess this website is "an attempt to describe my thoughts, blah blah blah." Oh, by the way, my name according to the info to the right (above), is "5cent". This was in no way a reference to that rowdy hip-hopper 50 Cent, just my weirdness (and inspiration from a piece of Canadiana). I've also started a really random blog. More on that later. (You might find a link for it above. I encourage you to be daring.)

It could happen to U.

2006-07-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry about this not being in the spirit of this blog as of late, but you absolutely MUST check out this site. It is just TOO funny. Thanks. Peace and cheers.

--> Do you suffer from "Bono Fatigue"?

You've just won a $1000! To claim your prize, click your heels together three times.

2006-07-03T23:23:00.000-07:00

To all of you dying for the latest post on Isaiah's world-class blog, here they are. I think I just added like 13 or 14 posts or pictures or something. You should all see them and post a comment to let me know that you were here. Cool. Thanks.

A birthday party ain't a birthday party without cheesecake.

2006-07-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

These are in reverse order, just to warn you. These are from Jude's b-day (and the day before).

Jude demonstrating his newly invented water sport: bark skipping. Look at that beautiful form!

It's hard to see Jude in this one (he is the one in the middle), but I wanted to show this late day scene on Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver with the backdrop of mountains and oceanliners. Jude adores swimming and here he is aided by a swim ring. This is his ideal b-day.

And it ain't ideal without cheesecake. Yes, a boy after my own heart: "What kind of cake do you want for your birthday? Cheesecake (with chocolate graham cracker crust and mini-chocolate chips in it)!"

This is the inseparable siblings hamming it up in Jude's bed. They are best buds, which means, yes, they can annoy each other with immaculate success.

Hamhocks.

2006-07-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here's some cheeseball pictures of Ezzie hammin' it up for the camera. She is really saying "Cheese!" at the moment of the shutter click. She is quite proud of that brand new pink bathing suit.

Deliciousness in a pail.

2006-07-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

More fotes (that's short for "photographs" and is a synonym of "pix") of our vacation.

Jude is clearly having a good time. He would literally fill the bottom of the pail with thumbnail-sized rock crabs which crawled around like ants among the stones after the tide receded. It was his virtual heaven.

This kid is also a very big fan of campfires, even in the absence of well-toasted marshmallow. There was a second fire across the field that night, and it was very big, a "bomb fire". Jude wasn't too impressed with our puny fire and declared that "It's not fair: they always have a bigger fire."

There you have it: proof that Esmé is bigger than Jude.

Gimme summa dat!

2006-07-03T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all. More pictures here. Don't you love my blogs as of late? So verbose, I know. Just look at my beautiful wife and children. They are the words that need to be said.

This is where we spent a few days "vacationing". It's Birch Bay State Park. Lovely, eh? And just twenty minutes from where we live. Crabs galore, eh Jude?

The lovelies enjoying a strawberry cream smoothie made with love and devotion and the aide of our new kitchen-aid blender.

Can the skies be "friendly"? What does that mean?

2006-06-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Space bars. (Would you like that scotch "on the asteroids"?)

2006-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Finally and at last. Internet is hooked up. Elise asked if we'd ever talk again, or something to that effect. Very funny, I said. Actually, I think I emphatically said "Absolutely not!" I still have my misgivings about devoting my life to the cause of blogging. I've said that it will be mostly a picture blog. It will be the place that our friends and family can go to look at how beautiful our life is, etc.

We got a new keyboard too. Big deal? Yes, of course. Ever since Esmé tipped some iced coffee (which included some cream and sugar) on the original one, space bar doesn't work. No good, eh? So I broke down and bought a new one.

First set of pix here! Three at a time, I guess.

Ezzie pointing to the plane. She takes in new experiences with a vengence and a luscious smile (sometimes a smirk!).

If only they knew what they were getting themselves into! Actually, I guess we're the ones getting them into anything. Bless those dear little ones.

Self-portrait outside the R-Bs. The city of Vancouver is quite nice, I must say. A city for walking filled with verdant plants. We loved our time there. Maybe someday it will be our permanent home.

You would do best to simply ignore the first paragraph.

2006-06-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

I don't have any idea what I'm about to write and don't much care except that I hope I don't type a stream of profanities. Of course, not that I have any reason to such as anger or frustration or intense pain, and not that I have Tourette's Syndrome. But mostly because I tend to romanticize swearing, especially it's cool look in type and if I were to include some choice words then I might offend certain personages that might care to read this blog.

I should cut to the quick, but instead I'll end the blog and say this first: things are good, as good as could be expected when uprooting oneself and only to transplant in another country, even though that country is still in North America and speaks understandable English and watches plenty of American (that is, from the U.S) television.

Okay, and I'll that Elise and I and the kids are immeasurably breathtaken by how beautiful the city of Vancouver is.

For those of you wanting more details: more is to come, but be assured: We are alive and well!

O Land of Beautiful Greenery and Gracious Folk

2006-06-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

That is a funny post title, but that is my last impression from our walk this morning. We are staying in the heart of the city and are amazed the beautiful plants and kind and lovely people that we have come in contact with. Yes, we are sure we will stay in the city of Vancouver.

Okay, I'm done. I have some people around who are giving me a hard time for blogging. Bye.

It's like a thriller.

2006-05-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid I will not be able to top the controversy of the last post. (Unless I say this: I was at a middle school today where I had access to "P of A" in the room and realized I needed to finish the book.)

Anyway, so you should all know that we will be leaving for Vancouver in nearly two weeks. Can't say how totally thrilled we are. The dream is becoming reality.

Another thought: Elise and I just saw "The Graduate" for the first time. What a brilliant movie. Says so much about the America of the late 1960s in such an efficient way. So beautifully directed, scripted and acted. See it if you haven't yet. See it again if you have.

A broom now in pieces like a raisin in the sun.

2006-05-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Have read about 200 pages of "Prisoner of Azkaban" and decided that it is such a compulsively formulaic and utterly ridiculous drag that I will not read any more. Why should I care about H.P. in the first place? Well, to start with, because I was in Holland when it got big and so many of those pathological, uptight, Evangelical moralists made a big deal of it. Then I got a shirt from the thrift store that was a kind of Gryffindor quidditch team jersey (which embarrassingly enough I was too chickenshit to wear because of the witch-hunters that were going to burn me at the stake). Then everyone surmised that I was "Harry Potter, The College Years" incarnate. Later we discovered many new friends that were all up-ons about H.P. and finally I decided to get sucked in. I quasi-enjoyed "Chamber of Secrets" but the third-in-series just plain blows. You see, I wanted to read for myself what was all the Hula Hoop about this series of hopelessly Scooby-Doo-ish books that made the once-homeless Rowling into multi-gazillionaire (second only to Dan Brown in the literary world).

Hell, I'm not even sure why I rant.

In other news, I recently found out that I am a "4" which means I am something of a Romantic/Individualist, although I have very Observer/Investigator tendencies. This is my latest obsession. It is called the Enneagram and it is a personality categorizer similar to - yet quite different from - the familiar Psych 101 Myers-Briggs test.

By the way, I am positively uninterested in this blogging nonsense. How ironic, eh? It strikes me as some kind of reverse-voyeurism, a self-absorbed and narcissistic indulgence - and in the most graphic terms, a sort of psycho-analytic masturbation. The more forthright and gruesome, the better: read, read, read and never get enough!

I prefer human relationships. Let this ugly cur-bastard-child of a replacement for personal human contact pass away, and dry up like a raisin in the sun.

Man, I love to rant. What a self-congratulatory waste of time for all parties involved.

But the 4 in me gives this last caveat: I'm a passionate SOB when I want to be (which is usually always), so take my words with a salt shaker handy (is that mixing metaphors?)

Recentish.

2006-04-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

Still substitute teaching. Still planning our big move to Vancouver. Still reading books (see more additions to the right!). Haven't written/posted in awhile. I'm not as in to blogging as I used to be, and hope never to become addicted. If we had internet access in our place of dwelling, how much time would be sucked up by the blogmonster? We'll see yet.

More pictures of the little ones? The only thing that matters. These are sorta recent. More later (someday, of course).

All the muss/fuss/cuss about books and books we should read and books we should keep our kids away from and speculative fiction, etc.: Part 3 of 8.

2006-03-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

So I'm back to reading several books at once again. I was good for awhile. The Brothers Karamazov was a highly absorbing book and quite long besides, so I absolutely had to focus on that book alone. And I finished finally (this was about a month ago and it was started in early fall of last year). Then I read one of Elise's favorite stories, Their Eyes Were Watching God and had no trouble finishing that one without picking up something else because it was short and highly absorbing.

***

I'll admit that I actually did pick up another book, but read only a little of it. That book was The Mystery of Things by A.C. Grayling. I saw it on the new books shelf at the library and on a whim checked it out. I came to enjoy it quite a lot. From there I got interested in quantum mechanics and got a book about it. I'd like to read some more (I've only just begun) but am distracted by other books, and plus I have misplaced it somewhere in our apartment. I have recently read a little T.C. Boyle short stories and also decided to read Catch-22 because it is supposedly one of finest works of 20th century English fiction. It is a difficult book to read.

I found a stack of the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the classroom where I'm substituting today. I've been wanting to read that book and even requested a hold on it at the library. So I decided to try reading a little of that instead of reading Catch-22, which I even brought with me.

***

One last book that is in the process of being read is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which I read snippets of here and there during freetime substituting at elementary or middle schools. I'll admit that I like this one better than the first, which, after reading, I decided I would not read any of the rest. Now I can probably see myself doing just the opposite.

Still, I'm not sure what the big fuss about these books is.

But don't get me wrong... I've drastically reversed my once-held belief (espoused at least three and half years ago) that the Harry Potter books were pure evil and it was a shock that every pulpit in America was not denouncing them or some such utterly moronic ridiculousness. I have no problem with them whatsoever. They are fiction and fantasy and if a child cannot see the difference between the books and reality then I feel terribly sorry for their well-being. I might even read the books to my own child when he is ready for chapter books.

That said, I'm not exactly sold (yet) on their literary brilliance or something. There is perhaps much better writing to engross ourselves in, many such works of classic literature that should be read first. And I'm not worried about my child not reading (for those of you thinking that, well, at least they are reading). Still, I would not bar him from reading Harry Potter for any reason whatsoever.

***

This page of inquiry of idiosyncracy started as a discussion-blurb about my compulsive desire to read many things at once. It ended with a small discussion-rant about Harry Potter. I don't know what that means, but if anyone can tell me, Great!

The mystery of being godless: an inquiry of idiosyncracies part 2 of 8.

2006-03-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it turns out that my new little friend, Mr. A.C. Grayling is something of a secular humanist. I still like his writing, but boy-oh-boy is he critical of "the Church" which I take to mean the Roman Catholic Church, because much/most of what he says in regards to "the Church" is more or less true of that Western institution (sorry, now I sound slightly critical).

But now, let's see, I once read somewhere that the Christian faith, that is true Christian Orthodoxy, is the true materialism; and it would not be a stretch to say that it is the true humanism (after all, didn't Christ exalt humanity by His very embodiment of it?).

"The Mystery of Things" has made me think and there is much, much, much that is quite good about it. Still, I'm not about to become a secular humanist. There is too much stain and fallen-ness upon the human record to exalt it to an "ism". I prefer to aspire to be a little Christ. Christ is the true religion, and yet devotion of Him is ultimately the opposite of religion.

Yes, I've said enough.

All my... inadequacies... intricacies... idiocies... imbecilities... inconsistencies... Idiosyncracies! revealed. Part 1 of 8 (?)

2006-03-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been reading various things. I somehow got drawn into the world of quantum theory/mechanics. I'm reading a book called Quantum, in fact. It is fascinating stuff. It simultaneously makes me question human existence and the "reality" of a spiritual world, while giving me a newfound awe of this world created by a Power greater than creation itself, indeed a Power that Himself becamse a part of creation and died a very mortal death. Do me a favor and look up A.C. Grayling's The Mystery of Things. Read the whole book. It is a lot to chew on, but for being highly philosophical, it is quite readable.

Elise made me my birthday present (at long last!). It is a brown corduroy bag, a satchel, or "man-purse" if you please. I love it to death. It gives me a more professorial air; much more, that is, than the high-school/tech-looking backpack I previously used. Do I sense more respect and recognition of my actual age coming from peers/co-workers?

I have many idiosyncracies. I like my hair and the fact that I am often considered much younger than I actually am. I like working at Starbucks for the mere stipend that I receive. I thoroughly enjoy black licorice, and even the so-called "salty licorice" (zoutedrop) from the Netherlands. I am currently learning German because I couldn't find tapes or CDs for learning Dutch (but I did get a book about spoken Dutch). There are many more things idiosyncratic about my life, including the utmost devotion I have for my family and how beautiful--how much more profoundly beautiful than all others--I think they are, and also how I often question my faith and motivations for being religious while realizing I'd be horribly empty and depraved without that element of my life. God has blessed and I like who I am. That much I can say.

We live as we must, in a big little world surrounded simultaneously by light and dark: "Let us take upon's the mystery of things..."

2006-03-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

(Life on a Saturnian moon?)

Don't become jaded by this minimalism called industry co-mingled with post-modern pop music.

2006-03-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Downtown Wheaton. A freight train is passing through. I turned off the car except for the tape player, which was playing Peng! by that group Stereolab. The sunroof was back, because it is a sunny day and 45 (7) degrees. You can tell spring is approaching when a cold sunny day makes your car a comfortable oven. So the sunroof goes back. Stereolab is great driving music. It was a delicious accompaniment to the industrial art of the freight train passing.

O Canada, home of the oil sands, plus other obvservations I've just recently stumbled upon while staying with my parents a couple days.

2006-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was my parents who informed me that the Conservative Party gathered the most votes on election day, Jan 23, making Stephen Harper the new Prime Minister. I remember him running in '04 while we were there. He lost, Paul Martin, Jr. won. Now Canada is fed up enough with the Liberal Party that they decided to put a Conservative in power.

So I was curious what this Mr. Harper was all about. Besides finding out that he is something of a Canadian George W., I discovered that the U.S. depends on Canada for oil more than any other country (yes even more than the House of Saud). I thought that was interesting.

N.B. I hope that I have not insulted any Canadians who voted for Harper by calling him a "Canadian George W." I realize that Bush is something of a swear word to many of you. I simply mean that what I read of him in a few articles made him sound like a U.S. conservative a la George W. Bush. Please correct me and inform of the facts. Cause darn it, I'd frankly like to know.

Found sound in a sweater vest behind daylit lazyboy that makes frequent appearances in my photographs; plus bonus pic of us being ultra-cheesy.

2006-02-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Jude wanted to listen to U2 "In God's Country" from The Joshua Tree (happens to be my favorite song on the album). However, Esme' was sleeping so Elise had Jude throw some cool big earphones on to listen. He was sitting in the chair so cute, and then I had to take a picture, but he of course mutinied. He then went behind the chair. I also went behind the chair to snap this delicious photo. Don't you love the sweater vest (and such a tastee word too).

Elise and I have a cheesefest with some thinmints (Girl Scout Cookies, that is; you Canucks don't have those but do have Girl Guide Cookies, right?). Taste-tacular!

Elise makes two appearances but simply by accident: the original intent is hidden in the foreground subject and general aura of the photo.

2006-02-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hm. Let's see what we have here (and make sure you click on the picture to see a large and beautiful version):

Elise's comment on this: That's so cool: I'm nursing with an attitude. Indeed. I didn't intend to capture this in particular. I have this weird obsession of taking pictures of my legs and shoes and floor or sitting down with my shoe crossed over my knee looking out at the world. This is what I came up with.

Experimental landscape shot: that is, I used the landscape setting which puts everything at same focus which I found out means mostly out of focus. Oh well. Also I forced the aperture to stay open to get more light (I simply despise pictures with the auto-flash: it is always washed out and unnatural looking).

I liked her outfit so I had to snap a picture. I love her little scrungie face. What a beaut. Elise makes another cameo.

Surreal windows.

2006-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

There is no message or comment here, just so you know. But still I can't hold myself back from saying something.

Elise took this digital photograph. Cute kid, hey? This kid has so much spunk it scares me. Mr. Passionato. And what an actor.

And okay, aren't these kids just too cute. They love each other. They is best of friends. Jude especially loves it when Ezzie destroys his puzzles or games or something. He freaks out sometimes.

Episode number 65: Filmed moments before the snow spontaneously melted and caused a minor flood in the nether regions of the prairie state.

2006-02-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some real great recent shots.

The family chillin' in the snow. Elise and Esmé matching like the pros. We had lots of snow a couple weeks ago. It was beautiful. Jude had fun throwing snowballs. But then his hands got cold. And then I took this picture. The sour look is his reaction to frozen fingers.

The kids are lovin' life here. How do you like my sepia-tone treatment? Yes, that is me in that background. It's all you get. No face for you.

I like this one of Jude after church. He seriously looks like he's posing for an album or magazine cover or something.

I'm just a sub dude.

2006-02-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

Wow these posts have been more and more infrequent. Sorry to all of my blog-fans. Speaking of fans I just gained about 150 more. Fifth graders to be exact. I swear at least half these kids think they some famous guy for a substitute. Most times its Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day. I've gotten Cilian Murphy who was in Batman Begins and Red Eye not to mention Jack White from White Stripes. "Weren't you on TV or a movie or something?" If ever I make one peep of singing or start to groove to the music they immediately think "Perfect material for American Idol." These kids must not be as discerning as that Simon guy. Today I did a little lunch duty and decided to walk around the cafeteria. As I got closer to completing the circle they got louder and louder with their clapping and cheering to the point where many were actually on their feet and making an awful racket with me wondering, I just don't get this Who do they think I am, and the volunteer lunch ladies are further mystified by this sudden outburst. Often times they ask for my autograph. Don't worry all because I'm ultra-humble about it just waving them off dismissing their silly behaviour.

But I have been reconsidering my chances on American Idol.

Who is Thames Mortimore?

2006-01-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

I've been bad about postings lately, as those who are kind enough to frequent this site can clearly see. I wonder now, perhaps, why I even bother with it. I haven't been exactly horribly busy lately. But somehow I've decided that there are more important things than coming over to Wheaton College to use their internet service and write something.

Perhaps I'm always worried about writing something of worth, something worth commenting on. Such a stupid sentiment. I remember that I made a commitment to leave posts that could be read in less than a minute or whatever. That was a genuine and prudent sentiment.

What I am doing now? Long or short? What is it about? Will we someday colonize Mars? And lastly, Who is this Thames Mortimore?

We want to go to Vancouver. But we don't to be cop outs being dissatisfied with living in Chicagoland (for whatever reason). Secretly I want this job at the Juvenile Detention Center because it would make things easier. If I don't get it, I have almost no reason to stay here and figure we might as well pack up for Vancouver.

If we stay, how long will it be before we return to Canada? I say return because hardly a day passes without thinking about our friends (particularly the Quissys and the Rigden-Briscalls, but so many others too), and thinking about what a beautiful place it is. Somehow it feels like home. Why and how? Well, it feels more like home than Michigan or Chicago.

This is a dumb confessional. I continue to struggle to figure out life. Currently I am reading The Brothers K. by Dostoevsky: the astounding philosophies of that book together with my lovely family and going to liturgy every week are the only things that make sense to me. But I'm grasping for more.

A whole year (of Queen Esmé)

2006-01-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

Jude introduces the Queen.

She's pleased as punch, knowing that, yes, it is her day.

Diggin' in to the birthday cake. Her birthday bouquet is featured in the foreground.

A fun time reading at the end of an exhausting night.

Smattering.

2006-01-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

As promised, a number of recent pictures for all of you out there. Enjoy.

Gatherin' 'round to read at Christmas. Elise (and all of us) attested to Gary's outstanding reading abilities.

The brother and sister chillin' together. Jude might have been a little upset out me taking a picture. Esmé was far away enough that she didn't get mad about me having the camera instead of her.

Ezzie loves her little vintage highchair: it means she gets to eat!

We thought she looked like a Japanese rock star. This was her Christmas Eve outfit.

Jude playing Junior Mastermind with his favorite cousin (and my favorite niece) Marta.

The broken is whole.

2006-01-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

We moved Esme' (that is to say, her crib where she is supposed to sleep) into Jude's room. He is very obliging. So Esme' has been sleeping more since this new development, and by inference, Elise as well. Good for both of them (all of us really, but especially them!). Elise nursed Ezzie at around four a.m. (she had been sleeping since 7) and put her back down, but she wouldn't stop crying. Suddenly I heard the door open in their room, and correctly assuming it was Jude coming out -- not Esme' -- I then heard him say "I can't sleep because of Ezzie" or something to that effect. So we went and got the little pipsqueak.

Jude being up, he decided to use the restroom. He brought with him his new little diptych icon of Jesus and the Mother of God, and a broken rubber band, and set them on the back of the toilet. I noticed this and he said to me "I still have my rubber band." The previous day he had discovered the joys of playing with a rubber band. Yes, just a plain old rubber band. I taught him how to shoot it (Not at people, though, Jude!) properly. He was playing with it so vigorously that he broke it. It was now just a strip of beige rubber. When this happened he let me know. So I decided to "fix" it by tying the two ends in a double knot. But Jude wouldn't hear of it. As far as he was concerned, that rubber band was just as good broken as whole, maybe better. I went to work (Starbucks) later that evening and got back when he (and Ezzie) were in bed. It wasn't until that four o'clock incident that I would see him again.

It broke my heart how he insisted on keeping with him two very important treasures while he used the facilities: the diptych and the broken-but-still-very-fun rubber band.

More to come.

2006-01-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

I'll be putting up new pix soon. There haven't been any new in awhile (except for that one of "Walk the Line"). So, stay tuned.

"Close watch on this heart of mine..."

2005-12-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

Just saw Walk the Line with Elise. I'm not going to say "Johnny Cash is God," but I'll admit that I'm tempted. Actually, he was perfectly horrendous in his early career (as were most in Rock & Roll history). Still I've got a soft spot for him in spite of (or perhaps because of) his appalling behaviour. But whatever he was like, the movie was quite good. I was in love the whole time. Everyone must see this movie, at the movie theatre, if possible.

I'm going to be listening to a lot of Johnny Cash in the coming days.

Somehow related to Christmas

2005-12-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

I discovered this article on the Village Voice website. The article, "Searching for Bush's Jesus", is a curious and thought-provoking one. Tell me what you think. Check out the website sometime. The Village Voice is a rag from Greenwich Village, NY. Check it out for the liberal in you. Or, conversely, for the conservative in you find something to react against. I love discussion. One way or the other.

To y'all.

2005-12-26T06:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to y'all! And to y'all a happy new year!

And, now, for a more serious message:

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Inspired.

2005-12-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

I found that "kitsch" article at this website called Ship of Fools. After perusing it, I thought it belonged on my list of "Places to Go" right below "Lark News." Check out the "Fruitcake" section, as well as the "Gadgets for God."

Kitschmas.

2005-12-11T22:02:00.000-08:00

I read this article in the "Controversy" section of the Sunday Chicago Sun-Times. I was surprised to see such a ruthlessly Orthodox-sounding write-up about Christmas in a widely-read newspaper. Incidentally, it is by an Anglican minister who teaches philosophy at Oxford. Click the title here, "The Unbearable Kitschness of Christmas", to read it en toto. You'll be glad you did. Here's a snippet of it to wet your palate:

For the second century Gnostic, Valentinius, Jesus "ate and drank but did not defecate"....The Jesus of Valentinius is thus the kitsch Jesus. And it's this same kitsch Jesus of sentimental benevolence that features in countless Christmas cards and community carol services. The baby in the manger now presides over a celebration of feel-good bonhomie that makes the true meaning of Christmas almost impossible to articulate. Boozed-up partygoers and proud grandparents demand the unreality of "O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie".

TV.

2005-12-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

Check out my tasty little quote down at the very bottom of this page. I'll change it every now and again. Please comment, criticize, etc. I'll write more about it (Linford who?) later.

And now: we are without him.

2005-12-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

I back-posted a little vignette I wrote back in August. I don't know if anyone read it, but I'm now posting it current so you can all read about him.

His name was Clem Hamilton. He was 83. Not really the "old and decrepit" type, but definitely at the end of his years (that much is obvious now). His wife is probably still in a nursing home for her debilitating Alzheimer's disease. Will she know the man whose funeral she is attending tonight? I will see. I hope to go tonight.

I only knew him through casual, yet sincere and serious, conversations while working at Starbucks. He was a regular. Took the bus (he lived in town, his wife near, but not near enough to walk in his aged state). Got coffee. Usually got a donut or oatmeal raising cookie. Somehow he got hooked on our green frappuccino, that Green Tea one that came out this past summer. Maybe that killed him. Maybe the coffee. Probably not, though.

He told me, upon several occassions and my wife upon one, that he had a whole list a books he wanted to read before he died. My wife had the privilege of viewing it and remarked that the ones he had already read were so dark and depressing (but then, most good literature is). His most favorite book, I do believe, was Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. He claimed it was "the most perfect book ever written".

I guess he died in his sleep. I was quite shocked to hear that he had died. I was angry, upset, to say the least. I didn't cry, but I was, and still am, deeply sad. I saw him sporadically, but was always glad when I did. Unfortunately, being on the clock, I was not at liberty to engage in long conversations. If I knew he was going to die, I guess I would have acted differently. But do we ever have a premonition of someone's death (except in the case of terminal illness, naturally)? I am glad to have had a particular interaction with him, which I wrote about later that day. The vignette is in the post below.

One last comment: Let us pray for his soul. His name was Clem Hamilton. May the Lord have mercy upon him. You are worthy, O God, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Clement's Resolve

2005-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

‘John Bayley?’
‘Elegy for Iris’ says the old man.
‘A novel or non-fiction?’
‘It’s a memoir about a woman who died of Alzheimer’s.’
The young man stops his questioning for a few seconds to recall the fact that the old man’s wife is in a nursing home for the same disease.
‘I just hope that if it ever happens to me I’ll have the good sense to blow my brains out,’ continues the old man during the short pause. The young man gives a cute and awkward smirk and the two walk towards the front of the coffee shop.
‘I’m serious,’ comes the old man’s straight conversation closer.
The two break off, the old man complimenting a young lady on having a Macintosh laptop. The young man leaves the shop, gets on his bike and rides home.
‘I didn’t smirk because I thought he was joking, and it wasn’t so much because it was an awkward statement,’ says the young man in his head, ‘It was more because I agree with him and appreciate his honesty.’
The young man knows the old man to be the plain honest type. His favorite novels include Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Andersen and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. He wants to publish a novel he himself has written called Trotville, Ohio. The young man has the first two chapters in his possession and is reminded to finish the second chapter and return them next time he sees the old man come into the coffee shop. He knows that the old man gets up quite early every morning to get coffee in his travel mug and catch the bus to the nursing home to see his ailing wife, whom he has loved over fifty years. He used to write sports journalism in Dayton, Ohio. He has been a Mac lover since Apple II, one of the first personal computers made by Macintosh back in the early eighties. He wants to blow his brains out if he gets Alzheimer’s. This is the short list of facts the young man has compiled about the old man.

The young man, on the other hand, knows no facts about himself.

Frigid.

2005-12-07T13:52:00.000-08:00

This morning driving to work the bank's digital time and temperature display said it was 4 degrees. Some kids at school said that it was 9 below. Our Norther Neighbors, 4 degrees is like 16 below.

I can't believe it. But with sun and no wind, somehow it is bearable.

The weather is as cold and bleak as my emotions these days.

-=o0o=-

I finished Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right by Al Franken. Totally compelling and entertaining -- and, at times, irreverant -- to the very end. It is interesting to note, as I mentioned in my last post, that it was a local Catholic high school that led me to read the book. I saw it on the shelf in the history class I was substituting that day. From the moment I started reading it, I was drawn in. I read at every chance I got. When I left that day and had to leave it behind, I was determined to get it at the library. That was last Thursday, less than a week ago. So I read the book fast. But then, books that are so-called "page-turners" are not necessarily the greatest writing out there, just written in such a fashion as to draw you in. Another book that falls in this category is Harry Potter. I've been reading the second book in fits and spurts over the past couple days. I read the first over a year ago and declared that I would not read another one.

I have not idea what I am saying by all of this and I've probably lost most of you. Oh well. I'll write about Clem now.

Adieu.

A li'l footnote.

2005-12-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

Today while substituting a U.S. History class at the local Catholic College Preparatory High School, I came across Al Franken's Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, which, by the way, I first saw in the airport bookstore a few years ago (which was during a time when I wasn't allowed to even have the appearance of having liberal leanings).

Anyway, I picked it up and read it. I was so obsessed with it that I even checked it out from the library as they were closing tonight. Perhaps my favorite part, so far for I've read perhaps only a fourth of it, is a graphic novel-esque story called "The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus." It is quite savvy and witty and fairly frightening. I'm sure our Northern Neighbors would especially appreciate it.

Check it out.

A rock genius in the making.

2005-12-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

Cheryl asked (in a comment on the post "Cheap Entertainment") if Jude is as musical as ever. That is a resounding Yes! But what's funnier and cooler is that he'll pretend to not only put on a concert, but even have a recording set-up to record it all (and he seems more concerned with how it will be recorded than with the actual composition of the song). His mikes and guitars are the rolls of wrapping paper Elise brought home from Ikea. The recording equipment is the many spools of thread necessary for Elise's serger.

He's a funny kid. He was walking through Ikea with Elise and naming the artist of the particular song playing over the speakers. "That's Coldplay... U2... Moby." Now you know what music he likes. I don't know if he'll ever get any kind of classical music education, but he'll certainly know the ropes when it comes to rock'n'roll.

A little noise.

2005-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

Yeah, good old Sufjan (pronounced "Soof-yahn" by the way) is basically rocking the world of folk and indie rock in one fell swoop. He's even captured the heart of my original source of good music, Andy W. (Elise's brother-in-law). Andy is a hard-sell for artists like Sufjan, but when he titles his latest album after your home state, what can you do?

I was at Hope as a freshman while Sufjan was a senior. He was in a band called Marzuki which I saw a couple times and really liked. Who knew that he'd be the biggest thing since Simon & Garfunkel? (Okay, that is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration.)

Cheap entertainment.

2005-11-28T14:51:00.000-08:00

Lark News: Read if you dare.

What can I say? It made me laugh.

(Thanks Matthew.)

Grace and peace.

2005-11-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

I hope all of our American friends had a blessed Thanksgiving. Ours was wonderful, spent with the Leonards, Elise's dad's siblings and relations. And to all, American and Canadian and otherwise, I wish a joy-filled Christmas season. On the day of (or very near it), I will be glad to say "Christ is born: glorify Him!"

Ritual.

2005-11-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Coffee for Elise and I is a ritual. I prepare it carefully and with precision to produce the finest americanos known to man. We enjoy our coffee, mine with cream, Elise's with cream and sugar, sometimes with chocolate or something else sweet and rich, at least once a day.

Coffee is a ritual for many still. We all have various rituals, usually without even realizing it. This doesn't make us a ritualistic people automatically. Ritualism results when the rituals themselves are truth or an end, as opposed to a means to discover or experience truth. We worship, live, be with actions and motions: to worship the movements themselves becomes idolatry.

This has all become a reality in my mind only since becoming an Orthodox Christian. Praise God for showing me the light.

What you all must know.

2005-11-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

For those who are still confused: All of my blog postings are still here, but you must click on the various months (sidebar to right, scroll down) to see most of them because the homepage contains only ten of the most recent.

All for now.

"Earth's the right place for love:"

2005-11-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

"I don't know where it's likely to go better."

Robert Frost, from "Birches."

Ten per page, please; and a word about poetry.

2005-11-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, V. My blog is limited to (I think) ten posts per home page. If you would like to see all of November (for instance), click on the November 2005 link.

I've been into Robert Frost lately -- er, that is, since yesterday. I picked up a copy of "You Come Too," a collection of Frost poems geared at younger readers. In terms of poetry, I'm an infant. Robert Frost is the perfect pre-school teacher for the world of poetry. Still, this doesn't mean he is a shallow poet. His poems contain a first impression of the natural world, which is cause enough for celebration. There is a depth there as well, though it may be difficult to discover. But I've discovered that the beauty of poetry is first of the sounds, cadences and rhythms present in the words. Deeper meanings can be gleaned and fathomed afterwards.

See above for a lovely Robert Frost quote, right for a link to his poetry, and below for some poems I read that were simply beautiful.

Poems of Frost.

2005-11-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

Blueberries
Birches
A Young Birch
Acquainted with the Night
Christmas Tree
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Going for Water
After Apple-Picking
The Exposed Nest
A Patch of Old Snow

Try these musings.

2005-11-14T15:25:00.000-08:00

Below you will see and (I hope) read. Also: more pictures (encore!).

There is nothing like.

2005-11-14T15:11:00.000-08:00

First: An early line drawing of J. Actually, late. Early would be like less than two for him.

Now: Es. doing her best actress-slash-model pose.

And here: Is us. El. and me, so happy. Taken by J., by the way.

Be sure to click on pic to see a big version!

This blogging thing.

2005-11-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Seems kind of stupid to me. What I really want is for people to read about highly fascinating life and say "Wow, Isaiah, your life is so damn interesting. I want to write a book about you or something."

It is all so stupid because my real desire to communicate with people over long distances, creating some kind of cyber-community which is so god-awful ridiculous it almost induces vomiting.

I spend very little time on the internet because we don't have it at home. I do all of this blogging at library computers (mostly Wheaton College, where I'm not even a student).

I think about how I'm probably inadvertently and apathetically helping develop Big Brother. That scares me a little so I try not to think about it.

I man commented, one I've never met and probably never will and said "Hm, coffee and autism: I like your thinking."

Autism? Maybe. More like Asperger's Symdrome, which explains my feeling like I'm in my own lonely little world.

Who will ever read this? Why do I care so much? What will it ever do to change this fallen world?

I crave only friends. Real ones. Flesh and blood.

But sometimes I feel that way about Jesus.

On taste (mis)pairings.

2005-11-12T20:56:00.000-08:00

Elise made a delicious homemade pizza last night. I bought a delicious beer, a Hefeweizen from Trader Joe’s. I took a draught from the beer first. Delicious! I love weissbeers. So unique. Then I tried some pizza. Good, good. But why does it taste like banana to me? Elise wondered the same thing, after hearing my comment (which I did not give until she pried). Then I took another sip from the beer: Ah: so that’s why it tastes a little off: my beer tastes like banana. Fascinating.

Captive.

2005-11-12T20:40:00.000-08:00

It is. It just is. Probably the best and only word to describe Ravel’s “Boléro” is to call it orgasmic. It is one of the great compositions of all time. A single theme repeated over and over, with only slight variation each time, always with greater intensity than the last time. I suppose acts like Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Sigur Rós, and Radiohead take many of their cues from that single composition, Boléro, whether intentionally, inspirationally or simply because it has affected the world of western music from that point on. It was composed in 1928 and featured in a really bad movie (so I’ve heard) called 10 starring Bo Derek and Dudley Moore. I first gave it a serious listen sometime after Elise and I got married. We both agreed that it was highly orgasmic. And oh-so tastefully composed and performed.

It was brought to my attention again by an article in Wired magazine. The article was written by a man who is working to perfect the computer programming of cochlear implants, which he himself has. They are meant for those who have lost all hearing. Every since he was 15, when his hearing was there yet in need of hearing aids, the music of “Boléro” touched him in a way that other compositions had not. His cochlear implant, gotten after he lost all hearing, allows him to converse with friends and co-workers, etc. The music of Ravel, however, is tasteless and monochrome with his new computer-age hearing aid. It is his desire to hear and experience “Boléro” in the same way as when he still had hearing.

So I just had to go listen to the composition again (for the first time), and I suddenly remembered why it is of such sublime beauty. One theme, lasting a little less than a minute, repeated over and over with slight variation and increase of dynamics, yet captivating for every second of its 15+ minutes. 1928 was the date of composition: it was the birth of minimalism.

"Golden" rules.

2005-11-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

Just published: my ode to coffee and caffeine, "Logical addictions." Also, more on special education.

Sorry that I haven't been looking at your various blogs. I haven't gotten much time on internet lately. I realize that if I expect others to read my ramblings and further pontificate, I should do the say to them (the Golden Rule). But I fall short.

Other stuff: autism. I've been reading about it lately. Interesting. I'm worried that I'm borderline autistic. I just mentioned The Idiot by Dostoyevsky. About a Prince who is seen as an "idiot" meaning that he stood off from society in his own world. Autistic people either don't know or misinterpret the social values making them seem like freaks or geeks. But perhaps many, like myself, are well aware of them, but refuse to obey/follow/practice them because of some made-up or deeply-entrenched moral standard. Perhaps we should ask them sometime.

All for now.

My own little world.

2005-11-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today: more discussion on teaching in special education. I mentioned that I have gotten some recent experience in being an aide for the field of special education, and also that I have enjoyed it and see its benefit to me and to the world. But a comment from a friend (see "Glamour.") was an excellent word on the tendency to act like a kind of saviour to the world for befriending and helping those who are friendless and helpless. I should not say anything at this moment simply because I will start sounding like I have answers, etc, which I don't. (And already this post is sounding incoherent.)

I returned again to a school where I was an aide in a Developmental Learning Program. Why the strong desire to return? for that is what I had. I don't know. Maybe because it felt like being with and educating my own kids.

Dostoyevsky's The Idiot addresses the issue of being with children and the importance of treating them with dignity as you would any adult. Children can teach us more, perhaps, than we can teach them. I would say this is true also of developmentally disabled adults (who act like they are seven) and kids (who act even younger still).

The point is, we can learn much from them. I guess I have nothing more to say right now. My desire is that I could start conversation and discussion, but that is probably wishful thinking. In a year and five years I'll look back at this writing and realize how little I knew then -- and how much I've grown since -- and how much I still have yet to learn.

Glamour.

2005-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Rewarding day. I'm discovering a job that I feel contributes to a better society. Somehow I don't feel that as much working at Starbucks. I have a feeling that it would seem that way working any corporate or business job. Obviously there is a need for all kinds of laborers in our society, and in any society, and that justifies their necessity. But if I am to get paid and make a living, as it were, the world of education seems so valuable to me.

Today I worked with three autistic kids, a couple of wheelchair/non-verbal kids and a lovely boy with dark curls that had some undefined problem. They were all too beautiful. And it was so easy to love them and be with them and work with them. It is not a glamourous job, but so worth it in the end, I'm sure.

I've done much special education over the past two months, and will likely do much more. I didn't think it was something I'd enjoy and feel comfortable with. But it is. I have much love and respect for Daniel, my brother-in-law, whenever I am doing this. I feel that I can relate to his experience and his heart.

A little choked up at the thought of it. I'm brought to tears nearly with many interactions I have with these kids. And someone needs to love them. So why not me?

Logical addictions.

2005-11-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

Ahh... Coffee. A new perspective on life. Dragging horribly mid-shift, whether substitute teaching or at my personal caffeine service station, Starbucks, coffee does do the job. So I’m admitting here: I am a hopeless addict. Or I am getting old. Or both.

When I was a little younger, and much more naive, I scoffed at grown-ups’ inability to abstain from coffee (and for those that cannot stomach coffee, Diet Coke will do). Well, I have not taken to drinking countless cups of weak drip coffee throughout the day no matter its source, as is my parents custom. Somehow my uncompromised taste for quality trumps the need for caffeine. This means I stay away from soda drinks too. Instead, my poison comes in the form of watered-down espresso–otherwise known as “café americano–laced with cream. Occasionally I’ll have the iced version. At home, I make the occasional french press; at work, I’ll grab the readily available drip-brewed cup. It makes a difference during the day.

Can I hear an “Amen!”?