2013.12.15 13:00 - Solstice wishes

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Aph!
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Wol!
Wol Euler: hello bruce, aph
Wol Euler: back in a sec
Aphrodite Macbain: sigh
Bruce Mowbray: kk.
Aphrodite Macbain: I've lost my camera controls
Bruce Mowbray: What are you sighing about, Aph?
Bruce Mowbray: (or is that none of my business?)

Slow Snow

Aphrodite Macbain: I'm stuck
Bruce Mowbray: OH NO!
Bruce Mowbray: You look GREAT to me.
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks :)
Bruce Mowbray:
Wol Euler: back, reading
Bruce Mowbray: wb, Wol
Wol Euler: camera controls are in the Avatar menu, aph
Aphrodite Macbain: whew
Wol Euler smiles.
Aphrodite Macbain: the snow slows me down enormously
Bruce Mowbray: The snow that's falling or the snow on the ground?
Aphrodite Macbain: the falling snow
Bruce Mowbray: ahhh.
Aphrodite Macbain: looks like great square chunks!
Wol Euler: you can turn it off :) set particles to 0
Aphrodite Macbain: brb
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers. Those gray chunks take a while to rez.
Aphrodite Macbain: ah thanks Wol
Wol Euler: or down to a small number, 500 say, if you don't want them entirely gone
Aphrodite Macbain: done
Wol Euler smiles.
Aphrodite Macbain: how are you both?
Bruce Mowbray: I am excellent -- just returned from Quaker Meeting and am still cold... (room not yet warmed up.)
Aphrodite Macbain: put another log on Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: How are you, Aph and Wol?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm very happy
Bruce Mowbray: t takes a while to warm up - when it's been unheated all day.

Secret societies

Aphrodite Macbain: I've just been to an interesting discussion on secret societies in the 18th century
Bruce Mowbray: and there's a stiff wind blowing outside... and cold!
Bruce Mowbray: Yikes!
Bruce Mowbray: OH COOL!
Bruce Mowbray: They must not have been THAT secret, huh?
Aphrodite Macbain: there were more than the Masons
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Wol Euler smiles.
Aphrodite Macbain: seems almost every "thinker' in the age of enlightenment was in one
Wol Euler: well, there's no point in excluding people if they don't know they were excluded, is there now?
Wol Euler: you *have* to tell people about them :)
Bruce Mowbray: My typist was in a secret society -- in junior high school.... But do say more, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: I am not sure of the purpose of being secret- but I do know the aristocracy didn’t like them
Aphrodite Macbain: and they were often jailed for their anti-social thinking
Aphrodite Macbain: they were for equality for all- a very dangerous notion at that time
Bruce Mowbray ponders anti-social societies.
Bruce Mowbray: Me thinks that's still a rather radical notion....
Wol Euler: they would probably say they were pro-social, but anti-aristocratic
Aphrodite Macbain: anti social as in anti the status quo
Wol Euler: yep
Bruce Mowbray: nods.

The Pope as a marxist and Christ as a Scandinavian

Bruce Mowbray: Rush Limbaugh called the Pope a Marxist this week.
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: some people have such a strange notion of socialism, communism, and Marxism
Aphrodite Macbain: Jesus was a socialist if you get right down to it
Wol Euler: most people who use the words have no idea what they mean
Wol Euler: yep
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder if it is only Americans who think this way
Wol Euler: oh no, ignorance and the presumption that my own ideas are perfectly true are world-wide :)
Aphrodite Macbain: probably some red neck Canadians too
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Wol Euler: like the people who insist on the fact of Jesus as a historical figure
Wol Euler: but think that he was blond-haired and blue-eyed Scandinavian
Aphrodite Macbain: I keep hoping that the more people like Rush L talk like that, the more people will realize how idiotic they sound
Bruce Mowbray: Yikes!
Bruce Mowbray appreciates Quaker's "silence" more and more...
Aphrodite Macbain: all my child’s religious picture books show Christ with aquiline features, long brown hair and wearing flowing robes
Bruce Mowbray: yeah....
Aphrodite Macbain: perhaps a Victorian romantic image
Bruce Mowbray: I suppose lots of folks need "noise" - both graphical and verbal.

Solstice and Christmas plans

Aphrodite Macbain: that's why I prefer to celebrate Solstice
Bruce Mowbray: ah yes!
Aphrodite Macbain: you can’t argue solstice.
Wol Euler nods.
Bruce Mowbray: Solstice will be here in just a few days, too!
Aphrodite Macbain: longest night of the year (in the northern hemisphere)
Aphrodite Macbain: and shortest in summer solstice
Wol Euler: and longest night in winter
Bruce Mowbray: nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: I am organizing a solstice party in Sorrentina at my cafe
Bruce Mowbray: Wonderful!
Aphrodite Macbain: looking for someone who plays a live piano
Aphrodite Macbain: who plays danceable folk tunes
Aphrodite Macbain: that bounce!
Aphrodite Macbain: we will provide lots of grog
Aphrodite Macbain: please bring your flute Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: you can play along
Aphrodite Macbain: Thank you
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha!
Aphrodite Macbain: when are you heading home Wol?
Bruce Mowbray: I'm still looking for the songs!
Bruce Mowbray: Yikes!
Wol Euler: Thursday morning
Wol Euler: actually that's a good question
Wol Euler: 11:26 am departure on the first leg (by train)
Aphrodite Macbain: soon! Hope the flight is short and comfortable and only one stop
Wol Euler: one change, in Frankfurt
Aphrodite Macbain: Frankfurt-Toronto
Wol Euler: only an hour between train and plane, that could be tight
Aphrodite Macbain: hand baggage
Aphrodite Macbain: your presents should be small
Aphrodite Macbain: like candies
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm flying to Calgary - only an hour
Aphrodite Macbain: but then we drive back to Vancouver through the mountains
Aphrodite Macbain: pretty
Wol Euler: nice!
Aphrodite Macbain: but
Aphrodite Macbain: scary if the roads are bad
Bruce Mowbray: Wow. That will be beautiful.
Aphrodite Macbain: we will prob stay over in Kamloops!
Aphrodite Macbain: Have you ever driven that highway Wol?
Wol Euler: many times, but not in many years
Wol Euler: not since I was a child
Aphrodite Macbain: :) the mountains haven't changed much.
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: they’re still magnificent
Wol Euler: the glaciers have :(
Aphrodite Macbain: yes. sigh
Aphrodite Macbain: dramatically so
Aphrodite Macbain: I am happy to no longer be living in the mountains in the winter
Aphrodite Macbain: I like being able to walk everywhere with ease and no snow boots
Aphrodite Macbain: I often get sad at Christmas - missing family celebrations. Do you both enjoy Christmas still?
Aphrodite Macbain: or does it make any difference?
Bruce Mowbray: Well, I enjoy the holiday - obviously.
Bruce Mowbray: But my typist just ignores it, for the most part.
Wol Euler: it's going to be pretty awful this year, I fear. Just mom and I at home, dad in the nursing home, Sis and Bill and their kids elsewhere
Aphrodite Macbain: :(
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, the family stuff can be difficult.
Bruce Mowbray: But it is good that your mother will have you there with her, Wol.
Aphrodite Macbain: perhaps you can go out and see things
Aphrodite Macbain: together
Aphrodite Macbain: not stay inside
Wol Euler: we will :)
Aphrodite Macbain: you can go and throw eggs at the mayor!
Wol Euler: mostly we'll go to see him at least once every day

Memories

Bruce Mowbray: Have you ever thought of putting your mother's words into a recording, Wol?
Wol Euler raises an eyebrow.
Bruce Mowbray: This might be a nice time to do that.
Aphrodite Macbain: words?
Wol Euler: how do you mean?
Bruce Mowbray: Her stories - memories, favorite things.
Bruce Mowbray: My brother's wife did that with my mother...
Aphrodite Macbain: It’s not a bad idea to tape record her...
Bruce Mowbray: and gave all of the siblings that tape.
Bruce Mowbray: I consider it precious.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: She told her daughter in law things that I'd never hear... but now can hear.
Aphrodite Macbain: nice

Wol Euler: that*s a good idea

Aphrodite Macbain: I have my parents’ and grandparents’ memoirs
Bruce Mowbray: Oh, that's wonderful, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- my family felt a need to record their lives
Bruce Mowbray: My typist's memories are contained in about 25 loose-leaf binders.

Aphrodite Macbain: read one binder a night

Prison correspondence

Bruce Mowbray: 99% of that is letters to my inmate friend, Mike.
Bruce Mowbray: Whom I've written every other week for about thirty years.
Wol Euler: is that the librarian you mentioned?
Aphrodite Macbain: and you have kept copies of all yr letters?
Bruce Mowbray: No, Mike is an inmate at the prison where I used to teach.
Bruce Mowbray: He works in the school - as a tutor,
Aphrodite Macbain: ah right
Wol Euler: yes indeed, but did you not say he was librarian there?
Wol Euler: ah
Bruce Mowbray: and Mike was my inmate clerk, where I (my typist) taught there for eight years.
Bruce Mowbray: nope, he's just an inmate and a tutor.
Wol Euler: okay, I'm with you now
Aphrodite Macbain: what does an inmate clerk do?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Wol Euler: dunno why I conflated that with "librarian"
Bruce Mowbray: He helps run and get things, copy things, take attendance, and just help out when needed.
Aphrodite Macbain: sorts and categorizes...
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Aphrodite Macbain: like a librarian :)
Bruce Mowbray: sorting and categorizing.
Aphrodite Macbain: we all need one in our lives
Bruce Mowbray: Not to hog the show here, but Mike has done more work on himself than anyone I know.
Bruce Mowbray: (AND, he also had more work to be done!)
Aphrodite Macbain: hog show where?
Bruce Mowbray: It's a long way [maybe, not sure] from serial rapist to enlightenment. . . (and I'm not saying that Mike is enlightened, only that his mind is now clearer than anyone else that my typist knows....)
Bruce Mowbray: (speaking of categorizations!)
Bruce Mowbray: Yikes!
Aphrodite Macbain: serial rapist!?
Bruce Mowbray: (He's doing 5 consecutive life sentences for serial rape, Aph.)
Aphrodite Macbain: I see.
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder how one knows one has changed if one is in a very limited/restricted set of social conditions
Bruce Mowbray: Good point, Aph.
Bruce Mowbray: And with Mike, we'll never now.
Bruce Mowbray: But I don't need to know, actually.
Bruce Mowbray: I enjoy corresponding with him every other week...
Aphrodite Macbain: No, I understand. I am just curious about the various systems of justice
Bruce Mowbray: and this week I received a Christmas card from him and the guys I send books to all year... signed by over 70 inmates....

Wol Euler smiles.
Aphrodite Macbain: wow
Aphrodite Macbain: I mean YIKES!
Bruce Mowbray: and some of those I recognize from their names (I had them as students 30 years ago!)
Bruce Mowbray: My FAVORITE Christmas card of all.
Aphrodite Macbain: that's wonderful Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Yikes!
Bruce Mowbray: I see that Berti is already advertising.
Bruce Mowbray: Well, it may be 'wonderful,' but I surely feel that my typist has benefited more than anyone in the deal.

Aphrodite Macbain: takes a picture for posterity: smile everyone!
Wol Euler smiles.

Wishes and plans

Aphrodite Macbain: My wish for next year is to get as healthy as I can and to also go to Italy
Wol Euler: sounds fair :)
Aphrodite Macbain: and to be able to climb Deception Pass in the Rockies in September and live to tell the tale.
Wol Euler grins.
Aphrodite Macbain: it will be a motivation
Aphrodite Macbain: I'd hate to be left at the bottom of the pass
Bruce Mowbray: I wish you well with your wishes for next year, Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks
Bruce Mowbray: Sounds wonderful!
Wol Euler: may these wishes come to pass, as Berti would say
Aphrodite Macbain: Do either of you have any particular goals?
Bruce Mowbray: Indeed!
Wol Euler listens.
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Bruce Mowbray: not me...
Bruce Mowbray: just experience, express, and enjoy each day.
Wol Euler: oh, I thought you were indeeding about your goals :)
Aphrodite Macbain: not one Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: Hmmmm.
Bruce Mowbray: I honestly can't think of any...
Aphrodite Macbain: me too Wol
Bruce Mowbray: OH! I do want to take a friend either to New York or to Chicago...
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: that counts.
Bruce Mowbray: and we'll be doing that in the spring...
Aphrodite Macbain: :) sounds like a nice goal
Bruce Mowbray: so, I guess that's a sort of goal.
Bruce Mowbray: He will choose the city and the date.
Aphrodite Macbain: are there other cities you haven’t seen yet Bruce- that you'd like to visit?

Bruce Mowbray: I'm heading over to Berti's now.
Bruce Mowbray: May you both be safe and happy.
Bruce Mowbray: And safe travels to you, Wol.
Bruce Mowbray: and safe journeys through the mountains, Aph!
Wol Euler: yes, berti
Aphrodite Macbain: see you all next week
Aphrodite Macbain: to Berti!
Wol Euler: goodnight aph, or see you there
Aphrodite Macbain: see you there...