The Sparrow arrived yesterday. Brief Lives arrived today, with all pages intact. There were more pages missing from the previous copy that I originally thought. A few stories flow better now. How To Be A Perfect Stranger arrived in today's mail. That is a wonderful book.
Friday, April 16, 2004
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
In the game of Diablo II, right before you go up against one of the Big Guys, you equip yourself with your best weapon, your best armor, and your best magic. You stock your belt with the highest levels of potions to heal yourself during the battle - but it's a good idea to equip one slot on your belt with a Town Portal scroll, so you can escape back to the safety of town when your death looks imminent.
That's where the analogy ends. In Diablo II, unlike real life, you have a chance to portal back to the battle, with renewed life, and maybe better weapons, and pick up where you left off.
That's where the analogy ends. In Diablo II, unlike real life, you have a chance to portal back to the battle, with renewed life, and maybe better weapons, and pick up where you left off.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Books
What I'm reading these days:
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Essence of the Heart Sutra, by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama (on loan from Lynn)
What's on hold at the library:
Brief Lives, by Neil Gaiman
Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell (a recommendation, with reservations, from my mother)
What's coming in the mail from One Spirit:
How To Be A Perfect Stranger, edited by Stuart M. Matlins and Arthur J. Magida
What I'm reading these days:
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Essence of the Heart Sutra, by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama (on loan from Lynn)
What's on hold at the library:
Brief Lives, by Neil Gaiman
Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell (a recommendation, with reservations, from my mother)
What's coming in the mail from One Spirit:
How To Be A Perfect Stranger, edited by Stuart M. Matlins and Arthur J. Magida
Last night, we had a lovely Easter Vigil service at church. I read two pieces: "Creation," from God's Trombones by James Weldon Johnson, and Ruth I. We have a good church.
Yesterday afternoon, I gave myself a tarot reading. I hadn't done that in a long time. I am strictly an amateur at the tarot. I did a five-card horseshoe spread (with no reversals). I used the Aquarian Tarot deck.
Card 1: My Present Position: The Emperor (time to take control of the situation, to have the courage of my convictions)
Card 2: My Present Desires: Two of Cups (a reconciliation, a balance of opposites, a partnership of equals)
Card 3: The Unexpected: Knight of Pentacles (a slow and steady progress toward a goal, life slows down - there's time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life)
Card 4: The Immediate Future: Five of Pentacles (a loss of income, a lack of something needed, support comes from an unexpected direction)
Card 5: The Outcome: Four of Cups (disenchantment, boredom, it's time to adopt a fresh approach)
Interesting.
I meant to write this earlier, but I forgot. There has been a notice on the Seattle Public Library web site that read: "The Seattle Public Library will be closed Sunday, April 11 (Easter) in anticipation of low usage." I think that that is a clever, non-secular way of stating it. It's a lovely way for The City to recognize a religious day without celebrating it - a way to observe a holy day in a strictly business manner.
Yesterday afternoon, I gave myself a tarot reading. I hadn't done that in a long time. I am strictly an amateur at the tarot. I did a five-card horseshoe spread (with no reversals). I used the Aquarian Tarot deck.
Card 1: My Present Position: The Emperor (time to take control of the situation, to have the courage of my convictions)
Card 2: My Present Desires: Two of Cups (a reconciliation, a balance of opposites, a partnership of equals)
Card 3: The Unexpected: Knight of Pentacles (a slow and steady progress toward a goal, life slows down - there's time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life)
Card 4: The Immediate Future: Five of Pentacles (a loss of income, a lack of something needed, support comes from an unexpected direction)
Card 5: The Outcome: Four of Cups (disenchantment, boredom, it's time to adopt a fresh approach)
Interesting.
I meant to write this earlier, but I forgot. There has been a notice on the Seattle Public Library web site that read: "The Seattle Public Library will be closed Sunday, April 11 (Easter) in anticipation of low usage." I think that that is a clever, non-secular way of stating it. It's a lovely way for The City to recognize a religious day without celebrating it - a way to observe a holy day in a strictly business manner.
