Illyana Rasputin's Limbo

I can never be an anarchist because I love sitting inside warm when it's single digits outside.

mmm overusing resources...

Great great scene.
A bit from it:
"At last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I was sitting in Mr. Davies's back-parlour, after having drunk tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson unexpectedly came into the shop; and Mr. Davies having perceived him through the glass-door in the room in which we were sitting, advancing towards us,--he announced his aweful approach to me, somewhat in the manner of an actor in the part of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on the appearance of his father's ghost, 'Look, my Lord, it comes.' I found that I had a very perfect idea of Johnson's figure, from the portrait of him painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds soon after he had published his Dictionary, in the attitude of sitting in his easy chair in deep meditation, which was the first picture his friend did for him, which Sir Joshua very kindly presented to me, and from which an engraving has been made for this work. Mr. Davies mentioned my name, and respectfully introduced me to him."

Kudos to Bosewell to allowing himself to appear so foolish and slammed by Johnson (somewhat unfairly...and showing what a prick Johnson probably was or at least appeared to be most of the time).

Bosewell seems to me to be like Peter Petegrew or maybe Neville if he hung around "the three" as more of a hanger-on.

"No, you're not going to get away from us, and you're not going to be different, but you're going to be the same as you've always been; with doubts, everlasting dissatisfaction with yourself, vain efforts to amend, and falls, and everlasting expectation, of a happiness which you won't get, and which isn't possible for you."

And it's ALWAYS better to feel like CC Bloom.

The Countess Nordston and Levin got into that relation with one another not seldom seen in society, when two persons, who remain externally on friendly terms, despise each other to such a degree that they cannot even take each other seriously, and cannot even be offended by each other.

"Why, of course," objected Stepan Arkadyevitch. "But that's just the aim of civilization--to make everything a source of enjoyment."

"...his master kindly interested himself in procuring his release from a state of life of which Johnson always expressed the utmost abhorrence. He said, 'No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.' And at another time, 'A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.'"

Unfortunately right before this there is some racism that I frown against. *sigh*

"Stepan Arkadyevitch had not chosen his political opinions or his views; these political opinions and views had come to him of themselves, just as he did not choose the shapes of his hat and coat, but simply took those that were being worn."

DONE

Gads it took me way too long to do this one.
*checks list*
I still like it.

So nakano and I are reading some daily lit together. http://www.dailylit.com/ Check it.
Nakano had voiced the desire to read more classic literature but found it difficult/boring to just sit down and power through some Dickens. This seemed the perfect solution.
So the first book we read together was Alice in Wonderland. He had never read it.
Good times, great book. It was 37 segments long and we read 2 a day...so took 2 and a half weeks.

Last night I asked if we could do another, and Nakano was all for it, having enjoyed the first one.
Now I was expected him to pick Alice Through the Looking Glass or perhaps something by Stevenson, a kind of pseudo-classic something with lots of adventure. Whatever it would be, I'm sure it would be something short. Something we could get through in another couple weeks.
What did he pick?
Anna Karenina
!
*hugs nakano*

And those three are:
The Cambridge History of American Literature
Wieland
The Federalist Papers

For the third of these, I actually got a collection of a lot of documents from the time... The introduction was sleep inducing boring. BOO. I am going to sample some of the other works (speeches and essays) and then dive into the Federalist Papers. If I have some difficulty making it through them, I will skip around a bit more. Hope to dive into Wieland this weekend.

What is everyone else reading?

DONE!

Glad I got to do this. It was $$, but it was some good memories. One of the good reasons for doing this 101 list was to get out and do things I've wanted to and get good memories from it.

NOT DONE

I am not as convinced that is something I absolutely want to do...
I mean I want to read 75% of Shakespeare and not the "wow that was a phone it in play now, wasn't it Willie"
We shall see once I get going though, I think it would be a few 4 month project.

"The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative."

This quote was mentioned in this interesting article about the recent resurgence of vampires in pop culture.
http://www.esquire.com/features/thousand-words-on-culture/vampires-gay-men-1109?src=rss

And concentrating on positive things!
I have the most expensive pedometer evar! Yes, got one of the new Nanos (thank you Ryan), in red as I decided I =do= hate AIDS. So far I have only had a chance to use it on a run once...and it was a short run with the Nike+ Ipod thing. I want to explore that more... But for now I am using it as an pedometer. It is nice in that it saves the totals each day. I will be using it as my main source of audio probably starting this Saturday. One of the reasons we wanted to get another ipod is so that nakano and I could listen to audiobooks at the same time: key. The screen is so pretty, and the "killer app" for me so far is goodness. More as I learn more.

Going to sushi den and Shostakovich concert tonight! Should be lots of snooty fun. I am listening to the music that will be played at the concert right now on old skool keepin' it real ipod. I like the Shostakovich 5th better than the Bernstein 1st...though I do like the first movement of the Bernstein. And I have never been to sushi den! Omega 3s will rulez the dinner.

Re-started Letters From an American Farmer; got distracted by something shiny when I was reading it before. It is a good read, but better to do not at 11:00 at night.

Starting my volunteering at the hospital close-by starting on Sunday (yes during the Broncos game, I am dedicated). I am shadowing a veteran volunteer on Sunday to learn what my job will entail. I think it's mostly being a gopher and having someone for some people to talk to. But will see, it may be something more or less. Will report back! My regular day/time will be Fridays 4-8.

OK, need to get back to it. I hope to post once more today to thank all of my friends for their support on my post a few days ago.

That's all I have time for, but needed to share.

But first I need to learn counterpoint.
*hm*

http://boulder.craigslist.org/hea/1404434442.html
Title says it all: Medical Marijuana Grower/Caregiver

http://boulder.craigslist.org/etc/1406819680.html

Anyway!
I keep meaning to post and I am daunted by: OMG, I have this long post I need to do, then of course......I don't do it!
So forget that, I'm gonna post, and when I get time, go back and do those longer posts.
Rossini piece went well!
I got to play it yesterday with my new peep Janelle. Right now she is flirting with the idea of getting a...I think Masters in Piano playing (it may be whatever is above that...can you get a doctorate in Piano? Dr. Piano) so...yeah she's good. And I hope one day to be that good!
Really the ability I...okay I'll use the word lust, the ability I lust after is being able to just sit down and play a piece at like 85%. So not, say, concert-ready, but pretty darn well! Right now I'm looking to be able to do that with the stuff 2 levels beneath me...so I guess I should be able to do it with Prep level stuff. I need to try that...

And on that thread: metronome you are my friend. I thought you hated me like I hated you, but no...you just wanted to help me. I am sorry I cursed you in the past and did not use you. With the Rossini I have found that if I just figure out some notes basically then start really slow, you help me learn the song much faster. You don't let me cheat as much on finding the next note: there is a time limit...even if that time limit is 65 beats per...hour? Minute? What do your numbers mean? I look forward to using your help in learning all future pieces. Thank you for being there for me metronome.

Denver Major League Sports teams: you 3/4th rock this season!
GO BRONCOS! BEAT THE COWBOYS!