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"I'm a failed farmer with nothin' but a half-feral cat." He cast about looking for his tux? What the heck? Sad self-description--good luck Joe. Laughing as I read this. Thanks for posting this clip. Last two lines are great. I needed that inspiration this morning as I pen of a man from Pig Hill and Waffle House diners. v

Kai Adomeit performs the Adagio from Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel's piano concerto in D, Op. 26 Adagio 12:26

I’ve missed my favorite Lego minifig head! ;–) This is an interesting concept. It’s unclear to me just how much hearing Anders has. He uses implants, but was he lipreading the delivery guy’s words or does he have limited hearing? We know that Nico is interested in Anders, but how do Tommy and Tyler fit into the story? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I need to wait to read the following chapters. ;–)

The gang is clever to exploit the talents of young Damien, Mattie, and Reggie. Lots of adults would dismiss the information they discovered. (But then again, lots of men would dismiss Harry’s assistance as well due solely to misogyny.) It should be exciting to reread Henry’s adventures uncovering the antichrist. The rise of the megachurch phenomenon is frightening. Of course, being an Agnostic, the increase in power and influence of any organized religious organization or institution scares me.

Review of Poetry Anthology 2015 Was in the mood for thoughtful brevity and wasn’t disappointed by this collection of four pieces: Crack in The Wall by Aditus Aditus has created an apt metaphor defining permanence and transiency in recollections as they’re tied to feelings. Quick sketch of walls as boundaries, protection, simultaneously creating limitations. Thank you for the time and effort you took to whittle these concepts down to their essence. “Its size deceptive, its meaning clear.” Beyond by Dolores Esteban This short piece is the voice of billions unable to shape the progressions through life so clearly, succinctly. The cut and the hope, for these I thank you, Dolores Esteban. A poet that pokes me out of my comfortable apathy feeds my soul. Memories by jian_sierro Graceful summary of triggers and memories, their fading and the emphasis some gain through time. To me, this piece profiles of the life of neurons and how they’re reshaped as continual stimuli crowds in around them; ebbs and flows leaving slight alterations. This piece left me grateful that memories do change; some are hard in their making. Whitman’s eyes and Cavafy’s Day by AC Benus I had to step back after reading Whitman’s eyes. This piece is a tribute to open-minded people who collected and preserved writers with unique, often controversial perspectives and the courage to state and life them. Without the historical scaffolding to drape these scenes on, they might not have been so impactful. The connection was rich. Handled poignantly and with ease. Looking forward to the next Poetry Anthology MCVT

Every time I thought I’d hit rock bottom, I found new, lower levels I could sink down to. Homelessness was the most humiliating and frustrating thing I’ve ever endured. With lots of help, especially from many people who didn’t know who I was, I was able to climb out of that black hole and become housed again. If not for my obsessive (stubborn) personality, I might not have succeeded… ;–)

;–)

Billy clearly has Cognitive Dissonance – just like me! ;–) People have told me they like me because I smile all the time – I think I’m either frowning or neutral in my expression, but many people around me have a permanent scowl so the difference might make me look cheerful in contrast. Other people tell me I’m a nice guy, but I’m only following the suburban Social Contract I was raised with (which is very different from the more urban Social Contract where I now live). I have an excuse for everything… ;–)

IQ doesn’t have any connection to ‘common sense.’ There’s no association with EQ (Emotional Quotient) either. I can personally confirm the latter. ;–)

Okay, so Henry ‘Atwood’ has just completed his triumph as presenter of Eurovision. And Ed has just wrapped up the Dressner/Josseran crisis with Rudi. This tells us where this story fits in the saga! While I’ve read this story before, I am hopelessly forgetful when it’s been literally years since. I remember bits and pieces (as usual). But I can’t remember the basic plot anymore. Too many Rothenian tales read out of order! ;–) I look forward to being thrilled all over again! ;–)

The Billy Club sounds painful! ;–)

Ah, the director commentary track! ;–)

The widower of one of my best (female) friends shares your birthday, but he is a quarter century older than you! They got married the year before you were born. ;–)

I grew up in Navy-town San Diego in the Seventies (I graduated from high school in 1977). While they have had LGBTQ+ and allies in office, San Diego still has a core of deeply conservative residents. There are many retired and former Sailors and Marines living there (not all of them were honorably discharged). Orange County is experiencing a demographic shift, but those usually mean the people who are feeling displaced react poorly to that change and dig their heels in. The eastern parts of Southern California remain extremely conservative, as are the rest of the eastern edge and far northern end of California. Coastal California, in general, is more populous and more progressive than the rest. The core areas of the Bay Area and Los Angeles regions are what you probably perceive as ‘California.’ Even within the very progressive Bay Area, there is a clear and obvious ‘lessening’ as you proceed into the suburbs and beyond. But even in the suburbs, what is seen as conservative here, is seen as left of center in other parts of the country. And the politics of Silicon Valley differ from San Francisco/Oakland/Berkeley by being more Libertarian-ish.

I mentioned one easy, non-chemical strategy in a comment for the last chapter… ;–)

In Orange Is the New Black, Tiffany (aka ‘Pennsatucky’) is diagnosed as dyslexic in the final season of the show. She is taught to use a highlighter to help her identify what she has read. (To say anything more would be a spoiler.)

Just stringing us along, huh? ;–)

Lots of foreshadowing that’s only obvious in hindsight! Very clever, Darth Squirrel! ;–)

There are sayings that acknowledge that. When we describe someone as having married their mother, it’s not so much an Oedipal thing as echoing a pattern. My favorite cousin married a man who resembles my favorite Uncle in personality: both are intelligent, calm, gentle, and loving men. (She is two years younger than I am, but I think he’s older than I am.)

;–)

1913 recording of Gabriel Faure playing Faure Pavane, Op. 50. It's really nice

More Ron Weasley/Weasley Twins (who aren’t really redheads)/Eddie Redmayne fetish. I’m not into tattoos, so not really Ed Sheeran. Seth Green is kind of cute, but too short. Jesse Tyler Ferguson hasn’t aged well. ;–)

Barclay with red hair and aquamarine eyes seems tailor-made for me! ;–)

I’ve heard of a restaurant that James and Barclay could visit! ;–) I was reminded of Stranger from a Strange Land. I think James became their blood brother. ;–)

Surprised to find this. Thanks, v