A Single Layer

Two days back from Prague, and I am still not sure how to summarize the trip. A few exerpts from my journal, then, interspersed with explanations and such: (what you can't tell is that a vast and lovely night view of the city is stretched out behind us.) 18-05-07 the Amsterdam Airport, a layover I just finished an apple and almond tart which I shared with a beautiful sparrow - or some such bird - that seems to have made it his home in here. It did occur to me that it might not be wise to encourage dependent habits in the bird, but the thought came to me that it is my duty, or at least my role, as a daughter of Eve to give to those creatures of the wild as they have need. The bird was not unusually plump, and I did not give it more than two pinches of tart flakes. So I don't think it is any more spoiled from me than it would be from scavenging empty trays in the food court. When I arrived at the hostel, 'The Boathouse,' Courtney was waiting for me on the lawn next to the...

A quick update before I go on my way . . . 1. After about eight months of ridiculous inconvenience, I have finally purchased a belt. I'm pretty sure this is the first belt I've ever bought in my life, though it's only the second or third that I've owned. I've been wearing it for a grand total of ten minutes, and already I feel better. Note to self: do not purchase brand new jeans immediately before making radical changes in physical lifestyle (i.e. walking alot). 2. I got my hair cut again by a lovely professional named Lisa. She's a senior stylist at Mosco, but since I booked with a junior stylist who fell ill, I got the better experience for half the price. It looks more or less like it did last November, so there's no need to upload fashion photos or anything. Besides, there will be pictures enough when I return from my trip to . . . 3. Prague! On my way there sometime tomorrow morning. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision to go, but I'm glad ...

Here's a sampling of what I'm writing dissertation-wise: The clothing of socio-political concerns in a mythic narrative, or any narrative for that matter, is hardly the sole habit of the Enlightenment. Even Macpherson himself, in the dissertation with which he introduces the 1762 publication of Fingal , writes: ‘This is the true source of that divine inspiration, to which the poets of all ages pretended. When they found their themes inadequate to the warmth of their imaginations, they varnished them over with fables, supplied by their own fancy, or furnished by absurd traditions’ (xi). Whether Macpherson is subtly identifying Ossian’s own heroic tales as fables or accidentally giving us a hint towards his own manipulation of the epics might be too presumptuous to assume. Regardless of the specific applicability of the statement, the assertion remains – fables, myths, and all tales of more imaginative than realistic content serve the purpose of embodying those ideals which in p...

In case anyone wonders what I do every day here in Scotland, I swiped some photos from friends off of facebook to illustrate: Standing over the oven... Baking somewhat crazily... (the saucepan on the left serves as a mixing bowl, and yes, I am cracking the egg into a wine glass. you learn to be creative when resources are few.) Possibly one of the most attractive meals I've ever made, this could not have been completed without Courtney knowing just when the salmon and asparagus were done. And oooh, wasn't it tasty. That's a butter sauce with lemon, basil, red onions and garlic, topped with reduced balsamic vinegar and diced tomato. A variation on the scallops with kataifi served at our Greek dinner a year ago. I know, I know - that's a different outfit. And a different dessert, too. This strawberry shortcake (half a teaspoon more salt than there should have been, and not enough strawberries by half) was the featured dessert for my birthday, now weeks past. But since the...

Can someone please explain why my Quicktime isn't working? Anyone with prophetic awareness of my little Atlas, none so old but recently behaving so?