Floppy on Electricity

"Electricity takes time to download, mom, -- just like the iPad and flashlights, we have to plug it in and wait until tomorrow for the electricity inside to work again."

-- Floppy, age 5, explaining to mom why the flashlight wasn't working.

Grammarian Reflections

Recently, while composing a short piece, I found myself stumbling over the usage of the word 'different'. Is something different than, or different from whatever I wish to compare it to? I embarrassed myself by opening Google and looking it up -- it is embarrassing to have to submit one's ignorance to the suggestion of rank amateurs, or, as the Urban Dictionary might term, 'wannabes'.
Thankfully, those inner-storage parts of my recalcitrant -- stubborn, slow and grumblesome -- brain managed to catch up with my faltering intellect, and reminded me of an excellent touchstone, which I hereby commend to the attention of my readers.
When in doubt, trace the word to its root or source.
Different.
The source-word (for our current purpose) is differ, which is used to specify that the [two] subjects in question cannot compare, due to their unalike features. Something differs in nature or kind from something else. It differs, therefore it is different. (The accent really ought to be placed more firmly upon the second syllable, rather than allowing it to be slurred into 'diff'rent', which conveys little of the original meaning of the word to the modern, if somewhat less-tutored, understanding.)
The suffix '-ent' appended to the word does not actually modify its original grammarial usage; thereby, in stating that something differs from something else, we may safely vouch that it is indeed different from the other it.

Four Month Hiatus

Such a long time ... Laura has come and gone, Daniel has turned 30 -- and our beloved Boris ran away, after being run over by a car. I have been actively searching for him since August 25, and hope of finding him grows slimmer every day. Are you in Heaven, poor lost wounded pup? If so, I'm glad. I like to think of you in Heaven. Somehow it helps relieve the empty feeling of loss -- I would rather think of you there, than think of you fending for yourself, lost in a cold, cruel slum street, far away from your family who loves you. I can only say, thank God it wasn't one of the children. Even so, the pain of losing a pet in so tragic and dramatic a manner is not an easy thing to get over. Somehow, it took losing Boris completely to make us all realize how very much we loved him. Love you, Boris!

I walked a mile with Pleasure
She chatted all the way
And left me none the wiser
For all she had to say

I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne'er a word said she
But oh! the things I learned that day,
When sorrow walked with me.
                                   --R. B. Hamilton

Amazon Woohoo!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Steampunk Holmes is now on Amazon!
Available in both Kindle and paperback formats, and shortly as an audiobook. (Sniff)
Link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Holmes-Legacy-Nautilus-Martin/dp/1780922469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338424131&sr=8-1

Poetry Corner

This poem, I think, is rather sweet. Dedicated to our dear friend Denise, who died three months ago, on Feb 23, 2012.



Cry for me, but do not weep
Know'st not thou?
'Tis not inside the grave I sleep

For ere you leant o'er silent portrait's brow and kissed,
A pearly tear caressed me through the mist

And if my eyes, bright dazzled 'midst rejoice
Returned in kind a faerie droplet moist--
('Twas not for memory of thee I wept
I cried to think you could not be gladsome and forget
I wished thou couldst share my peace, my love, my joy, delight)
--A tear fell as your sorrow swam before my sight

And crossed anon from sphere divine to seek
My precious, Thou, and plant itself,
A kiss, upon thy cheek.

Otters holding hands

Commemorating the Life of Denise Borowik

Denise Borowik, 1991-2012

Denise Borowik, (1991 -2012) passed away February 23. Her death was particularly tragic and deeply regretted by all who knew her. Her native city of Salta suspended a full day of racing on Sunday (she was a professional runner and athlete) to commemorate her loss, and we in Buenos Aires who could not get away to attend her wake or funeral held a memorial in her honour yesterday in Recoleta Park, in front of the famous Cemetery.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET HER ANGELIC SMILE

A few shots of the event

We sang, played music, lit candles, strewed chocolates and flowers, cried on one another's shoulders, and prayed all together, asking God mainly for closure, acceptance, forgiveness for Denise (she took her own life) and for ourselves, and especially that He would help us to savour life to the full and give as much love to our loved ones as we can, while we still have them with us.

We wrote messages to Denise on heart-shaped cards, attached them to helium balloons, and released them to float away into the sky. This was, excepting maybe the prayer, the most tear-wrenching moment of the event. Letting those balloons go and watching them rise and float away was heartbreaking, and few of us could see anything for weeping. A purely symbolic gesture, one might say, but one frought with so much meaning and significance; we couldn't have felt it more deeply had we known that those balloons would really and truly courrier our mail to Denise's celestial dwelling place. What a relief to know that we hold the keys to the secrets of spiritual communications, and thus are never truly and completely severed from those who pass on ahead of us.


Flowers and chocolates laid on the ground spelled out D-E-N-I-S-E; lit candles

Praying in tears

Denise left behind a legacy of love, smiles, friendship, happiness and buoyancy of spirit. She was fun to be with, witty, pretty, and dedicated; she had a heart for the needy, and loved to give to others. The exact circumstances which triggered her personal tragedy are as yet unknown to most of us, and probably will remain a mystery until we meet again in Heaven. But one thing that struck us all, and for which we gave praise to God, is that--barring our very natural and deep grief--we have the hope of Heaven, and the certainty that no Earthly parting is eternal. Denise is near us, safe in the arms of Jesus, and we WILL meet again in a place where there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, pain, or loss.

TE QUEREMOS DENUS!!

Floppy's Fiver!!!

Yesterday, Floppy turned five. WE LOVE YOU LITTLE ONE!!! Big kiss from Mum, and Papa, and Baby who loves her "siter Lopy" so much!!!

Operation Drumkit

Read this and weep, oh ye pocketbooks, and while you're at it, notice the label to the right. Easy easy easy!

Operation Drumkit Begins--Spread the Know

Around the Christmas season, a worthy lad let his friends and acquaintances know that he is in want of a new drum set. The old set he has played on since he was a stripling of 9 years is no more fit for use than the pots in his mother's kitchen, and we can sympathize with his neighbours there, as this lad takes his practice times seriously.
Right ho, that's where we come in. We need 40 people to pledge 10 dollars towards this end, and one of those people ought to be you, for the simple reason that at least once in your past life, somebody gave you something that you always wanted. And if you've ever had to ask for help towards something you really want, you know how hard it can be.
The lad's name is Kevin, and we made a deal on this one. My part is to extract the dollars from my friends' and associates' pocketbooks, collect them in a safe deposit which one of his dear friends consented to place at his disposal, and when the amount was raised, or near enough, release the lot on him.
He, in turn, is going to continue rousing his neighbours with his practicing, and when the new drumkit is purchased and settled in, (dig this) he's agreed to send me a video of himself and the new instrument, which I will then post in an accessible spot, and inform all patrons and participants, so we can all empathize with the neighbours and rejoice in their new good fortune.
What say ye, people?
The paypal account at the disposal of operation drumkit answers to this address: sunlitmountainpeak@gmail.com
Be generous, folks; this is your chance to do something awesome for somebody even awesomer with a lot of talent, potential, and a great future ahead of him.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The pointers of this engagement are as follows:
- If you prefer to be an anonymous patron, your wish will be respected, just don't forget to say so; if you want to be publicly (or personally) recognized and thanked, don't forget your name.
- The goal is to have the lot raised before the 10th of February. The account will cease to be at the disposal of Operation Drumkit on February 25th, so do the deed before then, if possible. If your payday is after that, I suppose you can drop a line to the same address and let the person know. I think I can safely say they'll be cool about it.
- Share the know, y'all! Don't keep your friends and family away from this project. We're not trying to raise millions here, only a minimum of 400 dollars.
- In the event that the above-mentioned amount is exceeded, I'll notify the lad's parents (who are fulltime nonprofit volunteers with a missionary association in Southeast Asia, I neglected to mention) that the balance may be put towards the continuation of Kevin's musical studies.
Right well, cheerio!