too much
going on...I've just gotten overwhelmed with all the things I should be writing about, so I haven't written anything... but I guess now's as good a time as any. so here goes:
probably tops is that Chellis bought me World of Warcraft, the most massive MMORPG (Massive Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game) in the world. at any given time there are about 5,000,000 (yeah, that's million...) people online. all three boys are serious experts, and Chellis has two level 60 characters (which is good). they have been bugging me to start a character and play, but I have enough trouble keeping up with just watching them. but, Chellis convinced me, and bought the game, and I'm actually enjoying it, mostly. I got a bit tense this afternoon when I died for the third or fourth time while trying to complete a quest, but I stuck with it, and finally triumphed! I am now level 10! my character's name is Gaack, and I'm an Undead Mage. I was initiated into the Guild (the Eye of Mshami) that Chellis belongs to, and I think I got special dispensation because I'm his Dad... (Luke, I am your father...) I'm sure that I will waste more time with it over the next few weeks and into the summer... pretty fun.
we had school concerts this week, and so did Emerson and Lincoln. Chellis videotaped their concert for me, so I need to watch that. mine went very well, and they said theirs did, too.
if the weather holds out tomorrow, we're going to pack a picnic lunch and go to Burlington, probably on the waterfront somewhere. Chellis suggested it, and said we need to play some frisbee, and I think it's a great idea! should be fun.
I bought a small air conditioner at Sears this weekend, because I didn't want to go through another summer in this second floor apartment like last summer. it should at least keep things cooled off a bit. I got that installed today. we were in the mid 80s this afternoon, so it got it's first workout today. seemed to help!
lots of other news, I guess, but it's going to have to wait. I'm done for the night. have a great week!
on Mother's Day
Julia Ward Howethanks, Melissa. Happy Mother's Day.
Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
stupid
comment spam...sorry, I've been getting slammed with really stupid comment spam this morning. it's stupid anyway, but this stuff doesn't even include a website link. what is it that they want? I won't be able to delete all this stuff until later this morning... grrr.
some seemingly
random links...no commentary on these, I think I'll just let them stand on their own:
Kircher Society
which led me to this:
Savant Syndrome - Islands of Genius
which led me to this:
Stephen Wiltshire
and totally unrelated, perhaps:
Creek Running North
explore...