I love these kinds of stories. An ancient sarcophagus has been found in Cyrpus. The 2,500 year old burial vessel bears "vivid color illustrations from Homer's epics". I understand from the article that it is the best one of these ever discovered, that the other two -- in museums in London and New York -- are not as colorful.

Fascinating:

[T]he coffin painted in red, black and blue on a white background dated to 500 B.C., when Greek cultural influence was gaining a firm hold on the eastern Mediterranean island. Pottery discovered in the tomb is expected to provide a precise date.

Experts believe the ornate decoration features the hero Ulysses in scenes from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey both hugely popular throughout the Greek world.

In one large painting, Ulysses and his comrades escape from the blind Cyclops Polyphemos' cave, hidden under a flock of sheep. Another depicts a battle between Greeks and Trojans from the Iliad.

Just in case the article link expires, I reproduce the whole of it in extended entry. more...

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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For what, I cannot say. But I feel poised, balanced, suspended between what has passed and what will occur. To a certain extent, we all are, aren't we? Every second of the day we live in a moment until the moment is no longer and we are in the next one. But sometimes, rarely, but sometime we can sense that exquisite tiny balance. Sometimes we become aware of how precariously we are perched in the present, not quite out of the past, not quite into the future.

I noticed it this morning as I was waiting for my train. It was 5:25 a.m. To my left, a short walk away, is the Long Island Sound and a charming beach. The sun was rising from that direction. It was painting the sky in bands of pink and orange and purple, all clearly delineated as if G-d had finally learned how to color within the lines, thank goodness. Above the colors, it was a very sweet baby blue. To my right, it was still night, complete with moon and stars and mostly black sky. And there I was in the middle, suspended between day and night, between yesterday's darkness and today's light. It was as if time had stopped for a moment, leaving me there to appreciate the balance as the clock ticked over for another day.

Perhaps I feel it because spring has, technically, arrived, although you wouldn't know it based on the serious cold snap we are trapped in. The cold weather actually makes you feel it better, the sense that you are suspended between time. You know spring is coming, because little green things are beginning to poke their heads through the earth, because I no longer travel to and from work entirely in darkness, because you can just feel it. But it is February cold, still, like winter hasn't quite finished with us. We are poised to shed our heavy coats and embrace the weak spring sun but it is not quite ready for us. We are expectant but still anticipatory.

Maybe it is because we are countdown mode for the arrival of our new child. Induction will be, as I mentioned before, on April 21, if he or she does not decide to poke his or her head out earlier. We are both ready (happy for the pregnancy to finish) and utterly unprepared for the birth.

Either way, I feel it -- hung up between possibilities. It can be exciting, sometimes. Like while I wait for a friend to provide introductions so I can continue to explore career change options (or futures, either instrument, really). The possibility is tantalizing, the reality of the perceived immediate professional future significantly less so.

I'm not sure where I am going with this entry but that's ok. I'm not sure what's going to happen when this pause between moments ends and I am launched, however unwillingly, into the future. Care to come along for the ride?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:42 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 497 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I'm there with ya. I have these points in my life where I'm waiting for something, not always sure what, and it feels like I'm suspended in time, nothing is happening but I know something is happening. It drives me nuts because I hate waiting for things, I would rather get the good/bad over with and then get on with things.

Posted by: Oorgo at March 21, 2006 02:59 PM (lM0qs)

2 always happy to come along on your little rides, RP! these little poetic musings are what keep me coming back to your site! good luck with everything.

Posted by: grammarqueen at March 21, 2006 04:31 PM (glf8i)

3 Always our pleasure to ride shotgun with you, RP.

Posted by: Wicked H at March 21, 2006 04:58 PM (BQhBn)

4 As long as I've got control of the stereo, we're good to go. K.

Posted by: Kathy at March 21, 2006 09:07 PM (zgB3S)

5 Aah. It's been awhile since I was out early enough to see a sunrise. Sweet. Thanks for the memory.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 22, 2006 10:38 PM (i0pwT)

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Warning: you will lose a lot of time with this time suck.

That is my suggestion for the day and I make it thanks to the excellent spot by Jeff . Things not happy for you? Kill the day by flipping through over 400 80's music videos. Bear in mind, if you are looking for any Twisted Sister or any of the outstanding 80's metal, this collection will leave you cold. If, however, you are (and I realize I reveal too much about myself with my selections, buuuuuut) excited to see any of the following, then go forth and explore:

*Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

*Echo and the Bunnymen, not to be confused with Pseudoecho and the Bunnyrabbits, not that anyone would do that, right?

*Der Kommissar, by After the Fire

*99 luftballons, Live!, by Nena

*Sunglasses at Night, by Corey Hart

The fun will last for hours.

UPDATE: Found Falco's Der Kommissar and Rock me Amadeus, including a live version. I can't decide which one I like better, truthfully.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:55 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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You learn stuff taking the subway that you never, ever could have the opportunity to learn by taking a taxi to and from Court. I went to/from Court yesterday on an emergency application by taxi and learned nothing. Parenthetically, the client called me at 8:30 that morning with his very real, very serious emergency and by 4:00 I was at the court house with an 18 page complaint, three affidavits and an order to show cause with a temporary restraining order. Now, that's an example of service-oriented, can-do legal practice, my friends. But, back to the subway.

Today I was not in a hurry. I could take the subway, which was faster anyway at rush hour, and I could observe away to my heart's content. And today I learned.

I learned an important difference between men and women, today. There are differences, you know. Some of them rather critical. This is one that I never knew although I might have suspected. Curious? Want me to share my hard earned wisdom with you? Ok.

A nicely dressed woman on the subway in New York City will never, no matter how hard she was digging away in there, no matter how much force was applied to the problem, no matter how great the effort expanded to obtain a successful resolution -- she will never eat her own boogers. I can't say the same about a man.

Interesting what you can learn on the subway, ain't it?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 03:12 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Overheard today in the lobby of my office building, the following:

She says the most dumbest things some times.

No irony here, folks. Nope. Just move along.

Needless to say, perhaps, but it tickled me mightily.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 04:49 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Stupid is as stupid does...

Posted by: Wicked H at March 14, 2006 08:18 PM (BQhBn)

2 *snorrrrrt*

Posted by: Margi at March 15, 2006 02:12 AM (BRtaN)

3 I too am amazed at some of the things I hear nowadays.

Posted by: jules at March 15, 2006 11:28 AM (K76f7)

4 That is most upfucked!

Posted by: Mark at March 16, 2006 12:48 AM (AhD3/)

5 Hmm...

Posted by: Hannah at March 19, 2006 09:32 AM (ImQx2)

6 Heh

Posted by: Jim at March 21, 2006 05:26 AM (oqu5j)

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I know that of late my poor little blog has suffered. I know that. IÂ’ve seen the number of daily hits go down. But, between the quite encompassing demands of my job and the demands on the home front, my poor little blog has gotten squeezed out a bit. Couple all of that with the fact that I am a bit down and, well, the blog suffers as my motivation to write declines. IÂ’ve had some time, this week. Not a lot of time, but enough time to think it through a bit and hereÂ’s where I am, hereÂ’s why I havenÂ’t been writing. I have been feeling fey. Quite down, actually. A feeling that I am communicating with only great difficulty here. IÂ’ll explain.

I am feeling overwhelmed by the idiotocracy. The feeling that the forces of stupidity are beating the forces of good. The sense that, looking at the world, we are not in a good situation at this point. True, there are sprinklings of good news here and there. See, e.g., recent elections in Canada as a ray of hope. But, by and large, it looks bad and it has my down and too tired to keep fighting the good fight. If you are unsure about what I am referring to, let me give you a non-exhaustive list:

*Venezuela – Chavez is a nutburger with oil money and strikes me as being a menace.

*Bolivia – Morales. Need I say more? If so, let me note that the Cubans and Chavez’s people have taken over security for him and he has dismissed the entire army general staff. Not good. We need our secret equipment back.

*Jimmy Carter – Hasn’t met a terrorist he can’t empathize with. As for his election to the Presidency, I demand a recount!

*Al Gore – Put a sock in it, Al. Telling the Saudis that we abuse Muslims is so beyond the pale that you, sir, are committing treason in my book.

*Israel – Looks more and more alone every day and seems unjustifiably to inspire more hatred and fear than anyone out there. I fear for her future.

*Jews – The world looks not so good for Jews these day, truthfully. I wonder if there has been more naked anti-Semitism in the world at any other time, WW II excepted. I worry about what I am bringing my kids into.

*Cartoons – Free speech and the great tradition of Western Liberalism has just been shot in the head and buried in a ditch behind the Mosque. Bravo to the Danish Government and brickbats to the craven Norwegians who officially apologized for free speech.

*Islam – This a religion of peace, are you kidding me? This is a religion which seems fundamentally incompatible with world peace and with anything approaching Western values. Why are we tip-toeing around on this? The Islamic world sure isn’t. Am I really the only one who thinks we are in a full blown ideological conflict, the biggest one since the Cold War ended?

*Europe – Further to the point above, by the way, I think it don’t look too frigging good for Europe. Pity. As one comedian once said, “Nice country; we beat them in world war II, you know?”

*Kids, today, or Moral relativism / Multiculturalism – What passes for the willingness to entertain a dissenting point of view today on our college campuses is nothing short of admirable, if your name is Josef Stalin, that is. Colonel Boyington and the University of Washington, springs to mind by way of example. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Google it, rinse and repeat.

*Media – Big media is no longer worthy of trust. Can you believe the amount of ink spilled over Cheney’s hunting accident? Tell me, honestly, that the media has become one huge partisan hack. You can’t; because it has.

*Politicians – of either party. All they seem to be doing is scoring points on each other. They are not doing the people’s business. I am totally disgusted. When will we get politicians who govern instead of this lot? Maybe we get the politicians we deserve, but I’d like to think we deserve better than this lot.

*Africa – Repression in Zimbabwe, so bad that I have ceased trying to record it since the world clearly does not give a fuck. AIDS in every other country. Corruption. Starvation. Everyone dying and no one caring.

*Iran – Are we really gonna let these nice people get a bomb? Enough said.

This list could go on and on. But it wonÂ’t. One more point, though:

*Truth – I leave off on this point. When was the last time someone actually stuck to the truth in advancing an argument? When did everything become spin? This is the last casualty. I am so dispirited by the lies.

No wonder I can only find energy to write about my kids, lately.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:22 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 If you think things are worrying in the US, think again. It's much worse in Britain and ten times worse than Britain just across the Channel in Europe. Remember: in the Netherlands there are politicians who are forced to live on military bases, along with their entire families, because of the current threat. Imagine if John McCain or Joe Liberman were held up in Fort Benning, GA along with wife and kids, all normal existing coming to an end. There are many people, both in Europe and America, who are willing to be exceedingly brave personally, but the mere thought of harm coming to one's family is the most frightening thought. Being a family man yourself you can no doubt sympathise with them.

Posted by: Andrew Cusack at March 10, 2006 03:15 PM (kxskO)

2 I agree with you RP. What has this country come to?

Posted by: jules at March 10, 2006 04:05 PM (6wMtR)

3 This post resonates with me, and I know exactly how you feel. BUT, I also try to remind myself that history is replete with turning points that, more often than not, ultimately bring this old world to better place. In the struggle to establish justice and to secure freedom and opportunity for every man and woman blessed to be born into this rediculous wonderland, there are going to be bold advances, measured steps and setbacks. But the struggle goes on not toward some silly idealistic Utopia, but toward a world where the struggles are for success in life, not simply for life itself; a struggle to make the most of one's freedom, not for freedom itself. We seem to be at a turning point upon which hinges the future of freedom and the value of life itself. Will the champions of freedom and the value of life defend them with all vigor, or will they cower and give up the struggle because it's too hard, or doesn't seem to matter to anyone anymore? I'm not frightened of the future. I believe that we are seeing a three-way confrontation between the forces of oppression, tyrany and intolerance on the one hand; the forces of freedom, optimism and security on the second hand; and the insidious force of apathy on the third hand. But, it's always been this way! There does seem to be a lot more shamelessly callous "spin" these days, but there's also a lot more exposure of that rot. F'rinstance, no DNC chairman before Howard Dean has ever said something remotely like "I hate Republicans and everything they stand for", but, then again, no DNC chairman before Howard Dean has ever looked so rediculous. This technology at our disposal has shoved the tribulations of every corner of the world into our faces, but it'll also bring the wisdom from every corner of the world to every other corner, and we'll be better for it, I trust. The times they are a-changin'. I've often said that we're strong because we're rich and we're rich because we're free. Tyrants, therefore, always lose. They may kill millions in the process, but they always lose. It ain't over yet. Not by a longshot. Keep the faith, my friend!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 10, 2006 10:24 PM (frcLH)

4 Oh, I do so understand. The Republic of Kathyland looks better and better everyday. You and the fam can come and join us if you want. The smokes and booze will be duty free and everyone will mind their own business if it kills them. Come on Powerball!

Posted by: Kathy at March 11, 2006 01:54 AM (zgB3S)

5 Hey RP. I haven't been around much due to my own lack of feeling very gregarious lately; sorry. It hasn't been due to any lack of fine posting on your part. :-) But I do relate to your State of the World impressions. It's why I'm glad/sorry my sister gave us a year's subscription to "The Week" magazine. Now I'm all up to date with how we're all going down the tubes ....yay.... :-(

Posted by: Amber at March 13, 2006 03:16 PM (zQE5D)

6 I've been pretty much the same, RP I completely sympathize. I don't post much about the world, because it's too damn scary and depressing these days. The thing is, events are turning out like I predicted they would and I don't like it when my own predictions come true because I tend to be a negative bastard. I think there are a lot of people sitting back waiting and hoping for normalcy to kick in, but I don't see a future where it will, or at least not the kind that we are familiar with. I was hesitant having children and even now I worry about their future. I don't agree with you on the recent election here in Canada, the only positive thing about it is we are seeing the real Stephen Harper now that he's in office. One example, his plan to dump the ethics commissioner when he found out they were going to investigate his own actions. I feel like both our countries are being run by the great deceiver, and that there are blinders on many of our eyes.

Posted by: Oorgo at March 13, 2006 04:41 PM (lM0qs)

7 Agree. Agree. Agree. Agree. Agree. Multiply times three.

Posted by: Mark at March 13, 2006 11:12 PM (3Kv+F)

8 Hear, hear. It got to where I couldn't even be a freakin' Pollyanna at my site anymore due to raging stupidity. It's enough to make me wanna cry. But I'm not gonna. And besides. . .there are a lot of free blogging sites where I can be incognito. Right? Please don't give up, sweetheart. You're one of the Good Guys. xoxo

Posted by: Margi at March 14, 2006 02:05 AM (BRtaN)

9 I am so dispirited by the lies. I think I'll go back to watching the news. 'Cause that line pretty much sums up every day in *my* life with the 17 year-old from hell. Your headlines up there are very nearly...refreshing...in comparison. Or at least they remind me I'm not the only one who's got it bad. Or something.

Posted by: Jennifer at March 14, 2006 10:46 AM (jl9h0)

10 Yeah, what you said. Then I look back at the moments when Great Events happened, and the times before them, and I think to myself "I wonder if this is how people felt before X happened, that sense of an impending change, that I may be seeing a possible Great Event on the horizon." Almost feels like tornado weather--immense pressure, uncertain winds, and the possibility of something touching down that you can just make out in the distance. I don't think it's the first time in our history that the kinds of events listed have happened, but it doesn't make me feel any better.

Posted by: Mandalei at March 15, 2006 09:26 AM (LcyhB)

11 I know. I just... I don't know. Focus on the good things, I guess.

Posted by: Hannah at March 19, 2006 09:34 AM (ImQx2)

12 You hit the nail on the head. The silver lining on my cloud o' "too busy" is that I only get 2 to 3 hours or so of news coverage a day now (in the car whilst driving). It has done wonders for my outlook on life. My new favorite bumpersticker: "I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than driving with Ted Kennedy."

Posted by: Jim at March 21, 2006 05:32 AM (oqu5j)

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So, there I was in the fitness center this morning, after completing my workout, chatting with a couple of friends, one of whom is off to Amsterdam for her first trip. She's going for business, to close a very nice deal, and one of her business associates suggested that in celebration she get herself a pot brownie. This sort of scandalized my very nice friend and led to me making the following observation:

You know you're getting old, and I feel like I am all the time, when you kindly respond to the offer of a pot brownie by saying: gosh, thanks, but I'm on a low carb diet and I really can't eat that.

Water came out of my friend's nose. A successful snarf.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:07 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 That's hilarious, RP, thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Oorgo at March 08, 2006 04:06 PM (lM0qs)

2 I have a friend who used to know the precise moment when I was swollowing to get water to snort out of my nose. That was a painful year. Great one liner RP!

Posted by: Angie at March 08, 2006 05:45 PM (PQx1b)

3 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! If I was drinking, it would come out my nose too, after that! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Posted by: jules at March 09, 2006 12:39 PM (KTn+k)

4 I'm so very relieved that I finished eating lunch before reading this.

Posted by: Allison at March 09, 2006 02:30 PM (DLrVA)

5 You Americans..

Posted by: dr pants at March 09, 2006 08:28 PM (glVUp)

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We spent much of Sunday going from our house in Connecticut to the birthday of the daughter of our college room mate in New Jersey. Between 3 and 4 hours of driving, all told. The kids were terrific in the car. Just fine.

The Girl Child sang to us almost the entire ride back, making up songs, performing them, and then quizzing us on what our favorite parts of her inventions were. At one point in the ride, the following transpired:

GC: Hey, Boy Child, you sing now while I have something to drink, ok?

BC: OK. [Sings as commanded]

GC: Great! Now, weÂ’re going to sing a rockinÂ’ song!

Me: You mean, like “Rockin’ Robin”? [Which I then went on to sing for her]

GC: No, Pappa. When I said rockinÂ’ song, I didnÂ’t mean a song that had rockinÂ’ in it; I meant a song that was groovinÂ’

Oh. Silly me. Where did she ever learn the word “groovin’”? She's only five.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:50 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 I thought "groovin'" went out in the 70's. Maybe she's 5 in dog years?

Posted by: grammarqueen at March 06, 2006 12:40 PM (glf8i)

2 That's hilarious, my guy likes saying "that's cool daddy!" The other day apparently on his own, he found out he could use the mirror to wipe his bum. In his own words "Make sure there no poop in there". I almost didn't believe that's what he said so I had to get him to repeat it. His mom phoned grandma she was so impressed, she thinks he's going to be the guy to cure cancer.

Posted by: Oorgo at March 06, 2006 11:50 PM (1JIkb)

3 I suspect it's the same place she learned "dirty deeds are done dirt cheap."

Posted by: Kathy at March 07, 2006 02:01 AM (zgB3S)

4 But, but, but Rockin' Robin' IS a groovin' song! Maybe you needed to drum the steering wheel a little harder!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 07, 2006 10:10 PM (G59Qu)

5 Groovin' is easy, as the Electric Flag used to sing!

Posted by: Mark at March 07, 2006 10:16 PM (qzDTG)

6 I just hear the girl child singing. I am experiencing it now and remeber when I did it with my sister.. These are your underated posts..

Posted by: dr pants at March 09, 2006 08:30 PM (glVUp)

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The Viking Bride was at the doctor today for her usual pre-natal checkup and she received some interesting news. Because of her medical complications, which I have not written about here, her doctor told her that he was going to do a planned induction for the baby's birth. This means that she's having the baby by appointment. Her labor by appointment is scheduled for April 21. Fortunately, I don't seem to have other plans for that day. But you never know what may crop up in the intervening days, of course. Still, I will endeavor to hold the day open.

Seriously, my wife is quite happy to at least have an outside date. Given her other pregnancies, this really is just an outside date and, well, you never know.

We still donÂ’t know what the new baby will be: boy or girl. IÂ’m kind of interested to find out, though. Ultimately, as long as the child is healthy I do not care a whit about what s/he has between the legs. Just be healthy. ThatÂ’s all I ask and I hope it isnÂ’t too much.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:16 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 Lykk til!

Posted by: dr pants at March 03, 2006 02:43 PM (glVUp)

2 I was behind on my reading... but to hear that you're expecting another kid - congratulations! Good luck with everything!

Posted by: Hannah at March 03, 2006 02:49 PM (ImQx2)

3 I used to tell people that I wanted a boy or a girl, not a hermaphrodite. That response never really went over very well. Congrats & good luck, RP!

Posted by: grammarqueen at March 03, 2006 03:05 PM (Phwij)

4 Holy cow! That's just around the CORNER! How did this happen so fast?!?!?!

Posted by: Jennifer at March 03, 2006 05:49 PM (y4DOI)

5 Congrats! April 21st will be a good day!

Posted by: Bridget at March 03, 2006 05:58 PM (aot1k)

6 A fine date -- two days after my birthday! April 21 has much to recommend it. Best of luck in the stretch run!

Posted by: MCNS at March 04, 2006 01:17 PM (ShpyL)

7 Some people born on April 21st: Jan van Riebeeck -- Dutch founder of Cape Town, South Africa Catherine the Great -- Emporess of Russia Charlotte Bronte -- author of Jane Eyre John Muir -- Naturalist, explorer of Yosemite Anthony Quinn -- actor, Zorba The Greek Queen Elizabeth II -- Queen of the U.K. Elaine May -- comedienne (Wow, remember her?!) Charles Grodin -- actor, ummm... Ishtar! Iggy Pop -- rock n' ro-o-o-o-o-ll! Tony Danza -- actor, Taxi, She's The Boss Andie Macdowell -- actress, Groundhog Day Robert Smith -- musician and singer, The Cure Congrats, and I hope everthing goes swimmingly, RP!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 04, 2006 02:47 PM (Rki5A)

8 All will be well, my friend. April 21 is a good date; however, whichever day your child arrives will be a blessed day! ; )

Posted by: Christina at March 05, 2006 10:15 PM (zJsUT)

9 Your daughter/son's birthday will be a joyous one, they will be happy and healthy, I can feel it! Congratulations, and try not to explode from anticipation

Posted by: Oorgo at March 06, 2006 11:40 PM (1JIkb)

10 We haven't found out the sex of any children in advance and I've enjoyed having that bit of information spurring me on at the end. April is a lovely birth month. My birthday is a few days before the 21st. Best wishes as the momentous occasion approaches.

Posted by: Jordana at March 07, 2006 12:04 PM (F2YNr)

11 Congratulations! Overlooked this somehow!

Posted by: Mark at March 08, 2006 08:08 AM (z/PEu)

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Margi is hanging up her blog. Go wish her well, will you? She's one of the really good ones, you know. I'll miss her writing, very much.

My only consolation is that she has done this at least once before and decided she couldn't stay away. I'm hoping that history repeats itself in this regard and she comes back soon.

So, instead of good bye, I will simply wish her a nice break and keep my fingers crossed.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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So, the birthday party of the Boy Child was grand. He threw himself around all over the place and loved it. Predictably, the cake was his favorite part. I had a good time, too. I put the camera down and spent as much time as I could chasing him and the other kids around the gym. It made for a very enjoyable party and a nice payoff for all the time I've been spending in the fitness center. In other words, I'm totally in shape enough to play and play hard.

I've actually been keeping a log, since Jan. 3, of my workouts so that I can show the doctor at my annual physical, which physical I need to schedule soon. Since Jan. 3, I have traveled some 130 miles and burned around 22,000 calories. Is it any wonder I have had to bring my cummerbund in on my tuxedo? That doesn't include all the weight lifting and pilates and general daily ab work. I will be, if this keeps up, the perfect picture of pumpitude.

D.C. was great. It was an excellent meeting for an informational interview, ending with an offer to not only continue contact but to have me meet with his colleagues if I thought it would be useful. That is really about as good as it gets with an informational interview. And it was mighty useful, filling my head with interesting ideas and thoughts and information about how to effectuate a career change into the financial services / investment management world.

Speaking of which, by the way, the one guy here in NY I was trying to summon up the courage to call next, just called me to invite me out for a drink because he wanted to learn more about the topic of the speech I gave last night. He heard that my speech was fantastic and he wanted to chat about it. Upon his return from foreign climes, we are going to meet up and I am going to share information with him and then ask him for his thoughts and, if willing, his assistance in making some introductions. This guy knows everyone, is terribly senior, and extremely well thought of. Somehow, he likes me and respects me. That he called me? A perfect alignment in the cosmos, somehow.

D.C. was chilly but beautiful. I know I repeat myself, but I like the place. Something to do with the human scale of the height of the buildings and the real youthful vibe it actually has. I got to steal lunch with my cousin and take the train back to NY with my dearest friend from law school, with whom I spent the entire ride chatting, reminiscing, and catching up.

Now? Well, now I am back in appellate briefing hell while, with the other hand, trying to keep a settlement from blowing up. Would you, dear reader, be so stupid as to let a million dollar deal go down the tubes for the sake of $150k? Well, after three days of intense conversations, I have convinced my clients to be flexible and bid that money goodbye in exchange for receiving the bright shinny other money. Some people, I tell you, can't keep their eyes on the ball.

Anyway, I hope you all our well and happy.

If I know you, and you know what I mean, and you are curious to see a picture from the Boy Child's birthday party, and promise to gush appropriately, drop me a note.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 05:19 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Today, my angelic looking golden haired, green (they seem to be changing color) eyed boy turns three. He is very excited. "People come mine party?!?" Yes, people come his party. On Saturday.

I did an entry last year about his birthday and I doubt I can improve on it, so: The Birth of the Boy Child.

I'm leaving early today to take them all out for pizza, a child's best friend. Hopefully, I will not forget to get cupcakes.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:40 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 Yay, the Big 3! Happy Birthday, BC!!!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at February 23, 2006 09:21 PM (JLnAx)

2 AWWW! Happy Birthday, Little Man!! Many, many happy returns of the day!!!

Posted by: Chrissy at February 23, 2006 09:50 PM (zJsUT)

3 Happy Birthday, BC!!! Hope there was lots of cake...or cupcakes, rather.

Posted by: Linda at February 24, 2006 03:20 AM (4gch1)

4 Yay!! Happy Birthday to the Boy Child.

Posted by: phin at February 24, 2006 01:26 PM (Xvpen)

5 Lookit Me! Today, I'm Three!! [Okay, I'd so totally make that poster if I had anything resembling HTML skillz.] Happy Birthday, BC!! Extra cupcakes and pizza for the birthday boy! Don't forget to get the extra snuggles, Dad. ;o) Love, "Aunt" Margi

Posted by: Margi at February 24, 2006 06:15 PM (p46pg)

6 Happy birthday I hope the party was big fun!

Posted by: Helen at February 25, 2006 03:28 AM (pUQ94)

7 Happy Belated to the BC! Woot! 3 is a fun age!

Posted by: Oorgo at February 25, 2006 09:47 PM (1JIkb)

8 Happy Belated Birthday, Boy Child!

Posted by: Mark at February 26, 2006 02:35 PM (+sgFd)

9 How were the cupcakes?

Posted by: Bridget at February 27, 2006 03:48 PM (aot1k)

10 Oh, I'm SOOOO late with this, but happy belated birthday to the Boy Child! YAY! Three is a very good year!

Posted by: Kathy at March 02, 2006 09:29 AM (zgB3S)

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Tomorrow finds me leaving the house at 5:00 (right around my usual time, come to think of it) to head off to D.C. for a morning meeting. One meeting. Many hours of travel to partake in said meeting. While in D.C., after my meeting, I will have lunch with my cousin and ride back on the train with my bestest and dearest friend from law school. It should, from a social perspective, by quite a snappy day.

Oh, and the meeting, if it all goes swimmingly, could just result in a change of career somewhere down the line. It is an "informational interview". You know, you get to ask all sorts of questions while the other guy gets to decide whether you are smart enough to interview for a real job without any pressure to make a decision. At least, that's how I hope it will all pan out. We will see, won't we.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:36 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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I read the following statement by a curator of a new exhibit and it filled me with joy, the kind of joy you can only get when you realize you dodged a blivet (a fifty pound sack filled with one hundred pounds of horse manure):

"This exhibition is about arriving at a point of hypervision, where our senses are acute and we finally perceive the act of looking as a physical, emotional and transformative experience,” said Markonish. “The artists participating in ‘Hypervision’ bring viewers into this space of increased perception and make them conscious of their own act of looking."

Can you imagine spending your days in an environment where such language was not only acceptable but actually encouraged?

*exaggerated shudder*

I'm happy to keep thinking about art. Its the reading about it I can't seem to do anymore.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:33 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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When nursing a hangover brought on by mixing too much bourbon, white wine, red wine and a lovely post-prandial MacCallan 12 year old and then trying, but failing to sweat it all out after 60 minutes of working out (890 calories burned), it is just the height of unfairness for the guys laying carpet in the hallway outside of my office to be playing the Bee-Gees. At high volume.

I have no idea how I am going to get that song out of my head today.

I just hope it happens before I have to give remarks to 75 people at a dinner tonight at 6:00.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:16 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Sorry for all the quiet. My office has been receiving a new paint job and new carpet. I have moved out and back. I have helped others move out and back. I am exhausted. Regular posting to commence again shortly.

I'm off to put on my tuxedo and have a drink.

Pax tibi.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 04:43 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 I'm going to insist that my husband put on a tuxedo when he has a drink from now on. I'm sure all the husbands are going to 'love' you, RP! :-)

Posted by: Jocelyn at February 21, 2006 09:32 PM (jkRb/)

2 I have no doubt you cut quite the dashing gentleman with that drink. ; )

Posted by: Christina at February 21, 2006 10:03 PM (zJsUT)

3 Thanks! We had dinner, too, actually.

Posted by: RP at February 22, 2006 10:22 AM (LlPKh)

4 In the immortal words of Pepe LePew: LE ROWR ROWR!!

Posted by: Margi at February 22, 2006 12:26 PM (nwEQH)

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At least two days have passed and there has been no news from the Vice-President's office. Not one word. No interviews, no statements, nothing. And you know what really bothers me? The media is totally complacent and not calling him on it.

Vivi escaped from her cage at the airport two days ago. Despite a massive search, no one can find her.

It was all over CNN this morning like it was an issue of critical national importance.

And yet the Vice-President still hasn't spoken.

And the media still hasn't asked him to.

What is happening to this country?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:35 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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I have been way too swamped to put together a decent, coherent post. So, I choose instead to punish you all with a post consisting of semi-coherent, not totally thought out reflections. Your choice to read it, of course. No one will force you.

* * *

Defer my gratification? Please. I don't do that so well. I am not a good waiter. I am not patient in lines. I don't see everything as a plot to frustrate me when I am waiting in line, I just don't like it.

The same goes the other way. Good news? A present? I cannot wait to share them. I can barely wait for the birthday to roll around to give my wife her gift. Good news is the same thing. Even if it is a secret or if discretion is the better part of valor, I burn to share my happiness. Of course, that doesn't apply if it is somebody else's secret; those I can keep without a problem.

So, care to hazard a guess about what state I am in right now after being told that something marvelous is happening? Something splendid? That the chances of the something happening have now gotten way, way more better? But that the something I am referring to won't really start to be great, if it happens at all, until the end of 2008?

Two years to wait. Two years to count down until I know for sure. Two years before . . . I'm not even close to sure how to finish that sentence.

I got two years to count before I know. A lot can happen in two years. A lot of things can change or slip or mutate. Wars take place, circumstances are altered, capital markets can collapse. The Girl Child will be almost 7 by then and the Boy Child 5. The New Baby, assuming everything goes well, will be looking forward to his/her 2nd birthday.

So, here's to change properly directed and more good news in 2008.

* * *

Cheney in a hunting accident and CNN can barely keep its panties on. Does anyone really care about this? Would it be any different if he had whacked some guy in the face with a frisbee? Or smacked someone with his squash racquet?

I spent an hour in the gym listening to CNN go on and on about all sorts of things. I can't recall hearing one single positive word about America or our government. I don't get it. Really. According to CNN we are either Satan's spawn or terribly incompetent. For goodness sake, just pick one already.

* * *

New pictures of old abuse in Iraq. Timing of release? Suspicious. Behavior of news media who mention, as if an afterthought, that the pics are from 2003 and are not current, horrid.

* * *

Danish cartoons. Islamic reactions. Over-reactions, really. Can you imagine, if you tried, a more prickly less self confident group of people than those who are so terribly wounded by a Danish newspaper?

Come on, we're talking about Danes, here. A people so placid that their Prime Minister (or maybe Foreign Minister, can't recall) said that this was the worst foreign relations crisis for Denmark since World War II. Must be nice to be Danish.

Cartoonists pick up pens and people die. Just goes to show, the most dangerous thing in the world is not a nuclear weapon, it is an idea.

* * *

Work is, once again, kicking my butt. I think a new career is in order. I've been saying that for some time, however. Next Friday, I venture down to Washington D.C. to meet with someone who, if all the stars are aligned, might actually be able to help me. Maybe I can squeeze in a drink or late lunch with my cousin on the same trip. That would be nice.

* * *

I am feeling more curmudgeonly with every passing day. At this rate, I am going to just calcify in place.

Good thing we're having another baby. That keeps you young.

Or leaves you so tired you can't remember how old you are.

* * *

They are painting my office on Monday. That means I have to pack the whole thing into boxes and move it out into another room so they can paint. Everything has to go.

Tomorrow I wear jeans to work. And throw out a lot of stuff. Time to be ruthless since the situation is forced upon me.

I look around at the accumulated shite and I shudder. Probably easier to just fire to the whole thing and dance around it like some savage.

* * *

I learned that it is not true that you have to drink a bottle of vintage Port the same day you open it. This is happy news. You can keep it for between four days and a week, depending on which of the two experts I spoke to you care to believe. I err on the low estimate. Either way, I am glad to hear this.

* * *

Back to the salt mines.

Pax tibi.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:49 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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The Time Suck of the Day, been a long time since I found a decent one is: Ask the Experts at Oxford about Language.

What word rhymes with orange in English? There isn't one. Know what the other color is that doesn't rhyme with anything? Go check out the link and find out. Find out what is so interesting about the word "bookkeeper". (Hint: oo-kk-ee).

Hours of fun, I tell you. Hours.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:11 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 I used to always cheat and rhyme orange with lozenge. okay so who would really want a poem about oranges and lozenges but it *kind* of worked.. for a few seconds. (I'll mention that it was when I was 8 :p)

Posted by: Zya at February 09, 2006 04:05 PM (eTH/D)

2 Was I really the first commenter today? Sheesh. I never managed to beat everyone here!

Posted by: Zya at February 09, 2006 05:47 PM (eTH/D)

3 From a lyric I wrote in college: ...the jamb and the door hinge were both painted orange...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at February 09, 2006 11:24 PM (bwxYl)

4 Actually you raise an interesting point, TS. I guess the authors of the article use British pronunciation. Under other pronunciations, there may be very different rhymes. For instance, I've always been amused by the thought that only in NY does the following rhyme: Send a salami to your boy in the Army

Posted by: RP at February 10, 2006 09:14 AM (LlPKh)

5 Oh, and nice to see you again, Zya!

Posted by: RP at February 10, 2006 09:15 AM (LlPKh)

6 Thanks RP. Glad to be back, again :p Wonder if this time it will last a bit longer... Forgive my hermitting, comes with having one of those hectic lives that kind of just take over. I had missed your blog, yet again I'm happy to be back!

Posted by: Zya at February 11, 2006 06:54 AM (fAk2U)

7 Dammit! I just lost an hour to that site! and I'm about to lose a couple more...

Posted by: TeaFizz at February 11, 2006 12:34 PM (kwHYi)

8 Thanks for this wonderful link. I can visit while working without feeling guilty. Also, I hope you stay "electrified" where you are. We already have almost 2.5 ft of snow where I am and this is headed your way next.

Posted by: Michele at February 12, 2006 10:58 AM (beN4P)

9 Cool site. If I can get my keister out to NY, I'd take you up on that drink! Thanks for stopping by! Things are better now.

Posted by: Mark at February 15, 2006 11:28 PM (QcBlt)

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We were adults last weekend. Childless adults. If you have kids, you know the kind I'm talking about. The kind who dress beautifully for dinner (because nobody is there to smear food on you by accident), the kind who goes to museums to spend as much time as they want there, the kind who gets up an hour before breakfast is served at their quaint b&b so that they can read Civil War history without fear of interruption or demands that other books by read to small critters, the kind who can imbibe adult beverages whenever they felt like it, the kind who could sleep without baby monitors buzzing away, the kind. . . No. Here I stop. You get the idea and if I keep this up the memories of my pre-child days, most of which I have carefully locked away, will return and drive me batty. No, instead, I will simply review our weekend.

Since it is a very long entry, the rest is below in extended entry. more...

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:20 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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