Chapter 12 of the awesome The Soldier of Raetia is now posted! Go check it out!

Art Blog By Bob

One of my minors in college was art history, which I loved to distraction. The Art Blog By Bob http://artblogbybob.blogspot.com/ is like going to a mini-lecture on a different artist or movement every day.

Today's post is about a Russian artist, Fyodor Vasilyev. Fascinating stuff. Check it out!

'I write a new book every day...a love theme for the wilderness'

Heather Domin's posted chapter 11 of The Soldier of Raetia - check it out!

Also, bonus points for anyone who can name those lyrics!

The Word-Hoard: Illaqueation

Illaqueation: The act of ensnaring or trapping; a snare; from illaquate, to ensnare. (Rev. John Boag's Imperial Lexicon, c. 1850)

Guess what day it is? It's Chapter Nine of The Soldier of Raetia day!

Myths, folklore, and symbolism


"This is a common, ancient, and basic ideogram for a high spiritual dignity."

Get the full story at symbols.com

The Word-Hoard: Bondieusard

Bondieusard: Dealer in articles used for worship in churches. (Albert Barrere's Argot and Slang Dictionary, 1911)

Check it out: Heather Domin explains why Lupercalia is so far superior to Valentines. Hint: It has something to do with S&M and BBQs.

Are you reading Jeff Sypeck's blog Quid Plura?. He's always got entertaining, thoughtful, and interesting posts - today's a meditation on the meaning of tomorrow's holiday, replete with links to both the Smithereens and Marillion. Check it out!

Chapter 8 of Heather Domin's The Soldier of Raetia is now posted. Go! Check it out!

Myths, folklore & symbolism

"The mirror image of this staff sign is sometimes found protruding from the headdresses of hieroglyphic kings and gods that appear on old Egyptian stone reliefs and paintings. It is also known as th augurs' staff, lituus. An augur was a Roman religious official whose task was to foretell the future with the help of signs in nature, etc."

Get the full story at symbols.com.

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
Otter: It is a lunar symbolic animal. In some Native American cultures and in Africa, its pelt plays a role in initiation rites. In Europe it sometimes occurs as a psychopomp. (Herder)

Are you reading Heather Domin's The Soldier of Raetia? If not, you should! Chapter 7's now posted - check it out, or start from the beginning.

The Word-Hoard: Snollygoster

Snollygoster: A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician. Perhaps connected with snallygaster...a mythic monster supposedly found in Maryland. (Sir James Murray's New English Dictionary, 1919)

I just love this site! http://sharksgirlsclub.com/

I don't love the Sharks' (short) losing streak, however. It's a long way to the playoffs, though, so I won't freak out - yet.

Check it out! Chapter Six of Heather Domin's novel Valerian's Legion: The Soldier of Raetia is now posted!

Myths, folklore & symbolism

"This sign was carved into a rock face in Spain in neolithic age."

Get the full story at symbols.com.

Myths, folklore, & symbolism
Seraph: A four- or six-winged being of the upper levels of he spiritual hierarchies, mentioned in the Bible (the names mean 'the burning one.') It also appears as a burning serpent. It is an embodiment of spiritual power and is close in symbolic meaning to birds, fire, and light. (Herder)

Chapter Five of Heather Domin's The Soldier of Raetia is now posted - check it out!

The Word-Hoard: Flagitious

Flagitious: Scandalous; guilty of crimes; corrupt; wicked; from Latin flagitum, a crime. (Rev. John Boag's Imperial Lexicon, c. 1850)

Trinkets

Wrote this last summer, and thought I'd share with y'all.


Trinkets

A memento only (half) understood,
like broken English halting
stuttering on perfect lips,
buried under years and years,
strata of days, beginnings and
endings, broken grass.
A (shining) golden ring, the delicate
handle of a china cup, perhaps
held in a gloved hand (shaking:
will father say yes, you may?).
And so my hopes and fears, soaring
plans and devilish secrets
will rest in another stratum:
a ring, an emblem, buried like all the rest.
Perhaps you will find my ring, connecting
us over years (weeks) and
wonder what life it surrounded, what
good and darkness, what joy,
now lost, a memento of my life.

In our young country, this is
a revelation, a horror, an obsession.
But you in older worlds, living on
the gold and dirt and bones of
generations piled together
must scoff at our (my) fascinations
and musings. Perhaps not wisdom,
but daily use, resignation, making
these memento mori little more
than trinkets.

~ Julie K. Rose, 2008