February 10, 2003 - A
"Fascinating History"
One thing that fascinated me was the 'Gadsden purchase', which concerns the track of land, south of the Gila river, on which I've lived for nearly sixteen years. I did some web research and learned some 'dirt' on our westward expansion.
(from 'Library Life')Besides what I revealed in the chapter, I learned that Gadsden would have bought even more land, all of 'lower California', or what they call down south, 'Baja California'. It's a fairly long strip surrounded by ocean, directly south of our California, divided into 'North and South' Mexican states, or 'Norte y Sud'. Santa Ana would have been even more unpopular than he was if he'd have gone along with that! He might have 'lost' his other leg. I learned in an earlier attempt to regain popularity, he had had a leg he'd lost during a previous battle dug up and paraded through the streets! Weird, Yes?
He now read of what was going on elsewhere in his vast country through the newspapers the library carried. Beyond his eastern position, American territories advanced westward at a fast rate. He read with amazement of the vast 200,000 square miles acquired from Mexico for only $15,000,000. In 1853, five years later, perhaps in a fit of conscience, or to 'more firmly maintain the peace', the Gadsden Purchase acquired another 45,535 square miles, at the southern edge for $10,000,000. No matter, the deal was so unpopular in Mexico that Santa Anna, who had signed it, was unseated as dictator and banished.
Anyway, Gadsden, too, was recalled in 1856 for 'exceeding his instructions'. Somehow, I don't think next December 30th, when the 150th anniversary of his purchase occurs, there's going to be any huge festivals celebrating it. I'll correct myself if I am wrong.
This history is fascinating.
And I also found the Bram Stoker 'Dracula' online, which Michael needed 'to read', and yes, it was appropriately depressing as I thought it would be. Fortunately, I could scan through the twenty seven l o n g chapters for the juiciest bits. They had a way of drawing everything out back then that was rather irritating. Maybe people shocked easier then than they do now.
I am up to forty eight chapters now, but they are SHORT ones! And there are no more gaps in the story line! Yay!
Sebastian is now deep in the bowels of Sardok's lair, where he is having quite the experience. The latest chapter, Sardok Unmoved is number FORTY EIGHT!
But, fear not, dear reader, they are short!
February 10, 2003 - B
"Wine And Cheese"
Usually I take one sip or two and give the rest to Julia. But this time, I asked for the second half-glass full. I'm not sure it's good to write 'under the influence', but a little is good for one, I know.
That's all I feel moved to write about tonight, the perfect cheese and the perfect wine. Simple gourmet pleasures, that's all.
February 13, 2003
"Book Finished!"
And now I wonder, will there be a second book? Will there be more adventures? Right now, I like to imagine myself as a teenager who Sebastian visits nightly, sneaking through the bedroom window. (As I play both parts, I enjoy imagining myself as 'Sebastian', as well!) If anything will come out of that, other than pleasant idle fantasy, I do not know.
I rejoice in what has happened in their lives on the stage for others to share. It is a great feeling, the sense of completion. Some parts still need refinement. I should find a map of OLDE England and name the villages Seb travels to and from. But 'all things in good time', right?
February 14, 2003
"It Must Be Lived"
They are quiet Islands, particularily the Northern ones. The southern ones, such as the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, and the small Channel Islands, are more colorful, but still hardly what one calls 'tourist traps'.
Isle Of Man's Flag
I would not want to live there, on those islands. The sun rarely shines, and it is cold. I am glad I 'have been thrown' into Yuma. We will stay here. Still, Julia and I were glad to visit there as we did. Julia has been to some of the islands physically back in the seventies. During intermission, she spoke of Tobermory village on the coast of Mull. She spent a couple of weeks in this town, only 600 large then, and expanded to 800 now, not much of a population explosion. There may be only 2000 people on the entire island. It once had ten thousand, but the Scottish Clearances drove the people off so the wealthy could occupy the land. During this time, many of those evicted migrated to the United States.
I'd heard Capercaillie. singing about the 'clearances', in ''Waiting For The Wheel To Turn'', but had no idea what they were. ''Here come the clearances, my friend, silently our history is coming to life again, we feel the breeze from the storm to come, and up and down this coast, we're waiting for the wheel to turn.''
Now I understand their often haunting music much better.
Feeling in such a thoughtful mood, it was only natural I give 'the muse' a chance to express herself.
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Not to the standing of stones,
Each moment a mystery,
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February 15, 2003 - A
"Of The Stars"
Another worthy singer, has NO American sites about him, save two references I made to him, one on August 24, 2002! UGO FARELL is virtually UNKNOWN here! The most informative article was from a gay news site in the Netherlands!
All I could learn is Ugo Farell is a French counter tenor of Spanish/Egyptian origin, and was born on March 12, 1974. On the seventh page of Google, an unfinished website came up for Ugo, (well after the two earlier references I've made to him) and I learned the additional information that he was born in Lille, France. He may be short. The site refers to "the destiny of this little Pisces, Scorpio ascendant . . .". Would his destiny widen if his reserved nature did not frustrate journalists?
frozen from a video of Ugo singing
Is it a homophobic music industry management that decides that a musician's music will not appeal to the American public? It is only by luck that a Tucson area Border's had Farell's record. There are a myriad of reasons why one ascends and another descends.
By whatever descending lucky star that fell into my lap, I am glad to have 'met' the elusive singer.
If the stars ascend, or if they descend, if whatever stellar arrangement has our destiny already mapped, I do not know. By the stars, some guide their lives. By the heavenly stars, a few guide their lives. By the earthly 'stars', a few others guide their lives. I hope to seek the brightest light and know what it has for me.
That I dream at all, as I lift my eyes to the studded night sky, may, too, be 'pre-ordained'. But I suppose it matters not:
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"Que Sera, Sera Whatever will be, will be, The future's not ours to see, What will be, will be."
Words and Music: |
I am simply glad I am alive to dream.
February 15, 2003 - B
"Rich And Worthwhile"
in remembrance of Triad yum!
Monarch's Rest was the only place at which I wanted to eat to celebrate Valentine's day. For Laura loved this restaurant, and we can feel her spirit there. I mused to Julia, as we waited for our food to arrive, speaking of a book I'd been reading and its significance to this day. I'd given up on plundering straight through The Witching Hour. But I did rush ahead to the juicy parts, where Lasher seduces Rowan, and read from there on. Lasher was a spirit who so longed to materialize in human flesh. Sitting there in the high wooden chairs, I could ALMOST force Laura's spirit into materialization.
I almost had that power. Julia replied this wasn't necessary. Of course, I know it isn't. But I like to imagine with such fierceness that I could, for just a few moments. Though I know in my heart she was with us, truly glad we were enjoying a good meal and the good conversation, and later, the beer festival being held just outside.
I know that, and it warms me so. Earlier this week, an intuitive friend was speaking at a healing circle for another of our friends. She sensed many accurate things about me, and I worried when she spoke of sensing Julia's lonliness. I mentioned this later to Julia, ''Do I spend too long at the computer? I am always writing, writing, writing. Do you feel abandoned?'' She assured me she didn't, anything interpreted as lonliness was more of a general weariness.
In response to my worry, she answered it in her Valentine's card to me:
''To Dearest Joan, you DO make my life rich and worthwhile''
In my card to Julia, a bought one, but carefully chosen, I assured her ''I love you with all my heart, more each day, more each year.'' Indeed, each day we spend together, there is a deepening of the love.
I rejoice in all the deep flavors of rich love I've been privileged to know. In memory and in present savoring, which will also join the collection of memories, I am blessed.
February 16, 2003 - A
"Fun Of These Things"
It came to 437KB. As a point of reference, since many of you readers have read Laura's BIO, her book consumes 1.16MB of space. So mine is a smallish novel.
While copying and pasting files, this older computer has the older Windows 98, I noticed a folder named 'APICTS'. ''What could be in there?'' I asked myself, most curious, and found quite a few lovely goodies, some of which I'll share with you.
The first that drew my attention was a picture of the TRIAD, taken in June of 2000!
Joan, Julia and Laura, June 2000
The next two are fascinating treasures. I was not present the day these pictures were taken, and I do not remember why. This was back in May of 1998. I was not yet bitten with the vampire obsession, so maybe I regarded Laura and Julia's play as silliness. But there they are, vamping it up royally!
Shayna as a willing 'victim', May 1998
If I can recollect, Laura and Julia went to visit Serena and Shayna. This was shortly after we first met them.
Shayna was pleased by the attention, having some fascination with vampires herself, having written a vampire story some years before.
But her mother wasn't quite as keen, the whole concept being entirely too visceral:
Serena as a very uneasy 'victim', May 1998
It's quite amusing to me now!
Back then, I had little interest, but currently I can't seem to leave off the vampires. The charming creatures of my first story will not let it end there. So I'm off and running on book number two! Here is the teaser beginning of the first chapter.
In this book, I envision Golden as really coming into his own strength, and of course, there will be an excellent adventure, much more expansive than in the first book. I have no idea what baddie they will battle yet, but he (or she or they???) will be bigger and badder than Sardok. Ah, that's the fun of these things. They evolve, and I am just along for the ride.
