My writing projects have recently been able to receive more of my attention. (Maybe that's because I haven't acquired any new old typewriters in the past week.) For the Marginal Mystery project I have been gathering data on Math Department personnel and creating a list of math courses that my campus has offered since 1950. None of this may be of interest to normal people, so let's make a deal: if you don't ask me about it, I promise not to go on and on about it. (Apologies to current faculty member Wesley Hough, whose ear I bent considerably last Friday afternoon.)
For the Black Walnut project, I listened to a different CD of old-time bluegrass music, requested a copy of a recently published book on a proposed reforestation of the eastern United States, and collected two black walnuts that I plan to plant in the future. (I guess this isn't particularly exciting, either.)
Did I mention the weather? There haven't been any Actual Tornados in my neck o' the woods but we have had some spectacular skies. When I saw this sunset last Monday night I just had to run outside with my phone and take photos and shoot videos. I've never seen anything like it.
This afternoon, though, we had thunderstorms popping up from the east — complete with a lot of small hail. We couldn't see it until after it had fallen and bounced on the lawn, so when Eldest and I stared at it, it looked for all the world as if it was hatching from all over the yard. I should have taken a video.
Wishing clear skies to all, especially everyone in Oshkosh for the EAA fly-in.
During the last week I have been making more frequent progress on The Impossible Read. At the same time, I have been adding more books and movies to the list. Take that, progress!
I'm currently on page 373 of The Mists of Avalon. Which would seem like a lot, since there are 876 pages. However, "Book Two: The High Queen" doesn't conclude until page 449. And so much is happening in these pages that I need to pay close attention. I'm so glad that I read Once and Future King first, so that I have an idea of the ground this book has to cover. I didn't enjoy it at first, but now that I have gotten into it I like it more and more.
A couple of days ago I suddenly recalled the existence of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, which is not only a novel but the subject of several movies. I have added the text to my reading list, as well as the 1949 film starring Bing Crosby and the 1995 film starring Michael York. It's a sneaky way of incorporating some time travel into the big reading list; I'm not sure when I'll encounter it again.
Also in the last week, I received notices from many quarters of the recent publication of The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman. A story about the aftermath of the Round Table following Arthur's death? Perfect timing! Add it to the list. But since it's just been published in hardcover, I may need to snag my copy from the library.
Knitwise, I have cast on for the first of a pair of owl-themed wrist warmers. I am now to the point where I will need to switch to US8 needles, of which I always seem to have none.
Impressive, I know. But just you wait! Eventually there will be cabling, textured stitches, and sewn-on eyes. And mattress-stitch side seaming. And then...I'll have to cast on for the second one, whoose pattern is in a mirror image.
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