Hononyms

Hanger

Hangar

Another Interlude

I'm packing up today and moving back to Millersville for the fall semester tomorrow! Until then, click the image and enjoy the silly (yet appropriate) comic.

explosm.net

Thunk, and Other Fun Words

The walnuts have begun falling now, a bit early in the season but our black walnut tree is old and so it drops its fruit and leaves before the other trees. They're huge round green things that don't look at all like the lovely walnuts one buys in the store, but the squirrels know what's past the thick rind and carry them all over the yard, gnawing through the pulpy exterior and the hard shell to reach the meat of the nut. Their job is sometimes made easier when the walnuts land on our porch, startling the cats, or when they smack the roof outside my bedroom window on the way down (disturbing my dreams). Some squirrels even take a walnut up the telephone poles with them, sit on the wires that are strung over the roads, and drop their burden in hopes that a car will run over it. It seems so very smart, but then they have to sit in the road if they want to eat their prize.

Utah Mining Cave-In

Bob Murray, chief executive of Murray Energy Corp., issued an initial statement that promised "we will not be deterred, and we will not leave this mountain until we find our people."

That was followed a few hours later by another release, saying: "We will not leave this mountain until we achieve a resolution to this tragedy."

In the Desert

I was flipping through a book of Stephen Crane's poetry in the library today and the pages fell open to this poem, which just popped back into my memory. I hate to admit it after complaining bitterly through my American Lit class, but I do enjoy his poetry. It's so short and enigmatic but makes me think.

In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

Movie Kisses That Make My Spine Tingle

I know, I'm a hopeless romantic...

Brokeback Mountain: not the early ones as much, but the scene where they reunite after however many years of separation is powerful and tinged with desperation.

The Matrix: "So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be... because I love you. You hear me? I love you." Yum.

V for Vendetta: maybe it's not a traditional kiss, but when Evey kisses V's mask, it's so tender and tragic at the same time... it's like she's hoping that somehow, magically, he'll be able to kiss her back, and the audience (or at least me) is drawn into that and then when nothing happens, just the look in her eyes...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: right after they finish demolishing-- I mean... redecorating. Angelina Jolie! Need I say more?

Spiderman I: ok, maybe it's over-rated a little, but that upside-down kiss is still just cool. 'Cause I'm a dork.

I'll probably think of more later.

Breasts!

Ok, now that I've got your attention, yesterday was a very busy day for me. I got my hair cut in the morning, went to work, then helped tidy up the house for the visit of some relatives who arrived a little later in the evening as we were preparing a light dinner. I made an awesome lettuce and fruit salad, inspired by one we made at a meeting of the dinner club, and there was icecream with some of our hoarded lovely blackberries for dessert. Late this morning they'll head out to a conference, then they'll be back on Sunday for another dinner and off again the next morning for another short conference before they head back to the airport to fly back out to California. It's amazing how busy some people's schedules are...

Also, I finally heard back from my new roommate! I knew I should've called her... she said she doesn't check facebook often. Oh well, better late than never. I'll give her a call later this evening (or maybe earlier so I can just leave a message).

Still want to hear something about breasts? Read this article.

Stardust

After some mishaps yesterday, I finally made it to the movie to see Stardust! I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite scenes played out with lovely special effects and pretty people. Michelle Pfeiffer made an absolutely amazing Lamia (the witch), as I knew she would.
One of my friend's main criticisms was that it wasn't as consistently funny as she was hoping it would be (compared to the book). I mostly felt that they played up the squishy romantic aspect a little too much, and changed the ending-- although I can understand why they would have to, cinematically. Robert DeNiro's part was amusing, but as a person who prefers more of a light touch with humor, I thought they could've played down his flamboyant nature just a little bit with the same comedic effect.

All in all, it was a fun time and the inclusion of the pirates didn't ruin the movie or draw comparisons to the Pirates of the Caribbean.

I also saw the preview for the newest Beowulf movie, which Gaiman is writing the screenplay for. It is going to be so beautiful and amazing, and I'm not just saying that 'cause of Angelina Jolie (though I admit to having a bit of a fancy for her). Plus it comes out just in time for my birthday!

Unfortunately, the movie version of The Dark is Rising (which isn't even the first book in the series) looks absolutely HORRIBLE. It's a pity, because I love those books so much....

Books and Bugs

Tomorrow morning I'm supervising a mini-book sale at the library, since the fall book sale won't be until October and book donations are piling up... it's very exciting. I've been singlehandedly sorting all the book donations this summer and worked very hard to convince the librarians to get some tables to put out tomorrow, to coincide with the community's "yard sale in the park" event. Am I awesome, or what?

Also, I was incredibly privileged to see this amazing occurrence on Wednesday as I walked outside the library, and I must share it with you: A cicada emerging from its old exoskeleton :)

Literary Humour!

(click the image to enlarge)

If you don't get it... why haven't you read The Most Dangerous Game yet?

I amaze even myself sometimes.

As a young vampire, Dracula was a bit impetuous, because as we all know, his type isn't known to pause and reflect.

You know I can't resist a good pun...

Blackberries!

(...and I'm not talking about the palm pilot.)




So, yesterday morning I went out blackberry picking with my mother out at the farm where I worked last summer. We each filled a little white basket, although mine was heaped a bit higher. Although sunny and rather hot, it was incredibly peaceful and quiet out in the rows of blackberry bushes-- we were practically the only two people there, and had spread out, so I was alone with the hum of insects and the occasional bird noise and my thoughts... and of course, the blackberries. It was nice being in the midst of nature and picking sun warmed fat black berries. I felt positively Earth-motherly.

I have one of these, myself

Wilting

Meh... it's hot and I am lacking inspiration. Will write something eventually...