Mystified

"When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up - then you're going to mystify a lot of folks."

- Bob Dylan

Free Book From Neil Gaiman

Over at Neil's blog he has announced that he is giving away FREE downloadable copies of his book American Gods for the next month. You can get your copy here.

For some odd reason people seem to think this is wrong.

Happy Halloween!

I'm not dressing up this year, so this will have to count as my costume :)

Coincidence

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

- Albert Einstein

Silver Creek Falls

Last week I took a ride to Silver Creek Falls with my friend Misti, her boy Indy and a friend of her husband, who was visiting from Florida. She has posted some great pictures from the trip on her blog (here and here) and I thought I should share a few myself, especially since she has failed to post any pictures of me!! ;)

I Bet He Outranks GI Joe!

I ran across this and think it si too cool for words. From Civil War Standard.com:

Ulysses S. Grant 12" Figure

The most successful general of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant led the Army of the Potomac to victory over Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and later went on to become the 18th president of the United States. This highly collectible, limited edition figure features 30 points of articulation and includes an officer's sack coat, a belt with a U.S. eagle buckle, breeches, boots with spurs, an officer's slouch hat, a cigar, a flask, two maps and a map case. Measures 12" tall. #0C60311
Price: $39.95

They also have a General Robert E. Lee figure and a great Maj General W.T. Sherman (complete with map of Atlanta!) among others.

Stumbling Over the Truth

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick
themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened. "

--Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

War, what's it good for?

A couple quotes I ran across recently:

"Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace."

-- General Ulysses S. Grant

"There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword."

-- General Ulysses S. Grant

Since being back home I've been spending 95% of my time hanging out (and practically living with) my old friend Misti and her family. They recently relocated to a lovely house across the street from Burkart Park in Albany. We often claim that we only spend so much time there because of Indiana, her toddler, but truth be told I think we all enjoy being at the park from time to time. Sometimes you just gotta swing!

In the picture: Duck, Indy and I swing while Macy takes a break on the bench (Misti wisely stays out of the pictures by holding onto the camera!)

Now I Just Need a Lamp Post to Lean on...

Note: If you don't understand the title to this post, don't be alarmed. Its a George Formby in-joke.

My New Toy

As my guru George Harrison often said, you can never have too many ukuleles! I recently picked up this vintage (circa 1940s) "British Made BH&S Melody-Uke" banjo uke down at a little shop in the Village. I've been wanting a banjo uke/banjulele for quite a while & couldn't resist this baby when I saw it. Its a little beat up, but plays like a dream. As one would expect with a banjo head on it the sound is much louder and brasher than a normal ukulele. Its a sound that some uke enthusiasts don't care for, but I think it sounds great (But I've been told I have questionable taste in music ;) )

Sometimes Its The Little Things...

After weeks of searching and finally giving up all hope, I finally found my sunglasses!! They were hiding in a box of miscellaneous crap left over after the move from PA, which I could have sworn I'd looked in already.

Happy Birthday, cousin Spike, wherever you are!

Today, 24 February 2007, marks the 64th anniversary of the birth of our late Wilbury cousin and ukulele virtuoso, Spike (aka Nelson Wilbury, aka L'Angelo Mysterioso, aka George Harrison). Spike left us five years ago last November and is still deeply missed.

Anyone Know When That Damn Bird is Coming Back?

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

!יום הלדת שמח, מיסטי

And I would like to wish my good friend Misti (aka Dak-Ind of The State of Indiana) a יום הלדת שמח, a (very) Happy Birthday! May the coming year bring you happiness and fulfillment!

The Day The Music Died 48 Years Ago

Buddy Holly
(Charles Hardin Holley)
7 September 1936 - 3 February 1959

Ritchie Valens
(Richard Steven Valenzuela)
13 May 1941 - 3 February 1959

J.P "The Big Bopper" Richardson
(Jiles Perry Richardson)
24 October 1930 - 3 February 1959

3 February 1959: The Day The Music Died

The Colour of Oregon

One of the many reasons I'm looking forward to living in Oregon again is Faira's garden...





First Colour

Akkadian Gift

A while back I blogged about a coffee mug Eisenbrauns was offering around the time of last Fall's AAR/SBL Annual Meeting. My Akkadian professor was kind enough to acquire enough of these mugs for my whole class! A very cool surprise (well, for an Akkadian nerd anyway!)The text is the first two lines of Enuma Eliš, the traditional Babylonian creation story.

e-nu-ma e-liš la na-bu-ú šá-ma-mu
šap-liš am-ma-tum šu-ma la zak-rat

"When on high no name was given to heaven,
nor below was the netherworld called by name..."

The smaller insription, which is just above "eisenbrauns.com" reads:

LÚ.DAM.GÀR kib-rat erbe-tim

"Merchants of the four corners [of the Earth]"

The--extremely esoteric--joke being that "of the four corners" was a common epithet of the Neo-Assyrian kings!

Zoo Anybody?

Still going through old pictures. Found this one taken at the Washington Park Zoo in Portland, OR in circa 1978: