Hello, I am off to college in five days. I leave Friday. I do not know whether I shall continue to post on this blog, but if not, it has been a pleasure.
God Bless
God Bless
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Exercising My Voice
I have been doing exactly what the title of this post suggests. For the most part I have been content to watch the world unfold around me. I have, however, grown malcontent with doing nothing, and have decided to do something.
I have written a letter to the editor of the paper, to a nearby radio station, and to a distributor of asparagus. I may not be making a splash, but a ripple is still a ripple, and a ripple is more than nothing.
God Bless
I have written a letter to the editor of the paper, to a nearby radio station, and to a distributor of asparagus. I may not be making a splash, but a ripple is still a ripple, and a ripple is more than nothing.
God Bless
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Way the World Used to Work
Man has had many interesting theories concerning the nature of the world. He has thought it flat, tetrahedral, hollow, concave, and pyramidal. Now, as interesting as all those theories are, there are books about them that go into greater depth than I can. I am here to-day to add my theory. It is far from complete, and I do not even know if it would 'count' as a world system. Nevertheless, it is below.
When I was much, much, much younger, I was certain--certain, I say--that I had figured out the workings of the world.
Every day was bright and sunshiny. This I knew because my teachers did not encourage drawing storm clouds when we would draw on paper plates. Therefore, all the rain and lightning and thunder must come at night, every night. And that was the weather.
I knew that everyone ate Cheerios for breakfast with a glass of milk. I knew that everyone ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with a glass of milk. I also knew that everyone ate spaghetti and meatballs every night for dinner with a glass of milk. How did I know this? Simple: I did (I thought).
I regret that I never made it quite so far as to postulate things about the planets and their operations. Did the sun really revolve around the earth? At such a tender age, I did not really care, so long as it was bright enough for me to see at recess.
But there you have it.
God Bless
When I was much, much, much younger, I was certain--certain, I say--that I had figured out the workings of the world.
Every day was bright and sunshiny. This I knew because my teachers did not encourage drawing storm clouds when we would draw on paper plates. Therefore, all the rain and lightning and thunder must come at night, every night. And that was the weather.
I knew that everyone ate Cheerios for breakfast with a glass of milk. I knew that everyone ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with a glass of milk. I also knew that everyone ate spaghetti and meatballs every night for dinner with a glass of milk. How did I know this? Simple: I did (I thought).
I regret that I never made it quite so far as to postulate things about the planets and their operations. Did the sun really revolve around the earth? At such a tender age, I did not really care, so long as it was bright enough for me to see at recess.
But there you have it.
God Bless
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Discarded Image
Not many people have read C.S. Lewis's The Discarded Image. It is not fiction, it is not a theological treatise. Therefore, most people do not know it exists.
It is, however, a book that has shed some light on my literary life. In it, Lewis, simply and succinctly, examines medieval literature and the beliefs expressed therein. I found it in the middle of reading Paradise Lost and took a break to peruse its pages. When I returned to Milton, I felt I could grasp it just a bit better. Now I am reading The Faerie Queene, and I am delighted. It is like standing behind the curtains of a drama and seeing every mechanism, every winch, every actor fall into place.
Thankfully, this book is still in print and can most likely be found at a local bookstore.
Just a thought.
God Bless
It is, however, a book that has shed some light on my literary life. In it, Lewis, simply and succinctly, examines medieval literature and the beliefs expressed therein. I found it in the middle of reading Paradise Lost and took a break to peruse its pages. When I returned to Milton, I felt I could grasp it just a bit better. Now I am reading The Faerie Queene, and I am delighted. It is like standing behind the curtains of a drama and seeing every mechanism, every winch, every actor fall into place.
Thankfully, this book is still in print and can most likely be found at a local bookstore.
Just a thought.
God Bless
Saturday, July 30, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird
I was comparing the first sentences of great novels when I recalled there was a copy of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird in the house. I found it, opened it, and without any previous intention of doing so, sat down and read the first nine chapters without interruption.
Most contemporary books cannot do that to me. They are advertised as thrilling, fast-paced, et cetera. They are last-ditch efforts trying to stimulate interest in a market for which the authors themselves have lost hope. It is a shot in the foot, or, perhaps, a shot in the head. We do not need more books like those. It is inflation.
A wise man told me that for every new book I read, read two old ones. That was years ago, and if he had said it to-day I would think it generous of him; read ten or twelve old ones.
Quality requires dedication and time. To bring about a renaissance in the publishing world, there must be a quality to attract the masses, people who would rather play Angry Birds on their iWhatevers. I have not given up yet.
I used to be frustrated that Harry Potter sold more than four hundred million copies in print, but I maintain a different perspective now: it can be done, and I thank God for it.
God Bless
Most contemporary books cannot do that to me. They are advertised as thrilling, fast-paced, et cetera. They are last-ditch efforts trying to stimulate interest in a market for which the authors themselves have lost hope. It is a shot in the foot, or, perhaps, a shot in the head. We do not need more books like those. It is inflation.
A wise man told me that for every new book I read, read two old ones. That was years ago, and if he had said it to-day I would think it generous of him; read ten or twelve old ones.
Quality requires dedication and time. To bring about a renaissance in the publishing world, there must be a quality to attract the masses, people who would rather play Angry Birds on their iWhatevers. I have not given up yet.
I used to be frustrated that Harry Potter sold more than four hundred million copies in print, but I maintain a different perspective now: it can be done, and I thank God for it.
God Bless
Friday, July 29, 2011
I Won
I received some interesting mail to-day: I am one of eighteen artists whose entries were selected as winners for the 2011 Graceful Envelope Contest's Junior category.I thought that was worth sharing, anyhow.
The image you see is a scan of my entry. The theme this year was Time Flies.
The Graceful Envelope Contest, now in its seventeenth year, is a competition in which participants decorate an envelope by hand in coordination with the year's theme and with the stamp(s) attached. Any stamp from any year can be used. The contest is organized by the Washington Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers.
This year's winners will be available for viewing beginning August fifth at calligraphersguild.org.
Perhaps some you will participate in the 2012 competition; I hope so.
God Bless
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Stamp Issues
Hello, all. As you know by now, I love stamps and writing letters, and I want to impart my joy to you.The Post Office has recently released the Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps, a twelve-design issue depicting various products of American industry. My favorite stamp of these twelve is the flatware stamp; I find something winsome about cutlery. I do prefer more artistic designs on stamps, but even I would find an oil painting of a desk lamp a little out of place.
Also, the Post Office will release to-morrow a four-design set of stamps commemorating the United States Merchant Marine. I am going to treasure the Clipper Ship stamp; I cannot think of anything I would like to see afloat than a tall ship in full sail. I do not know what to do with the Auxiliary Steamship; the other two I might use to mail a package. Or, I might buy two of each--we shall see.
God Bless
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Back From Mississippi
I am back from Mississippi. I wish I were still there. I walked in the woods behind my friend's house, saw a snake swim across a stream, and experienced life in the country and in a small town. Coming back to the suburbs has been something of a disappointment. Wherever I go, all I see are houses that look the same.
Anyway, I have to leave soon to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.
God Bless
Anyway, I have to leave soon to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.
God Bless
Thursday, July 21, 2011
And I'm Off Again
I have spent the last week relaxing and recovering from my trip to Brazil, and now I'm off for Mississippi. I feel like all I've done this month is travel.
God Bless
God Bless
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