I'm back! I hope everyone is enjoying a restful and peaceful holiday season. Thanks to all who sent emails and cards - I loved each and every one! - and thanks to thrihyrne (the friend who brought me to LJ in the first place) for the special gift of LJ mistletoe.

Happy belated birthday to primsong! I hope you had a wonderful birthday and will enjoy a fabulous new year.


A couple of quick notes:

* R.I.P. Gerald R. Ford (1913-Dec. 26, 2006). There is a most wonderful picture of him here as a child with two Boston terriers, a truly touching visual piece of history.

* R.I.P. Margery Krueger (1940-Dec. 20, 2006), who published novels and short fiction under the name of Jayge Carr, including 1980's Leviathan's Deep. (Thanks to marthawells for this news.)


And a couple of memes:

So appropriate!...


And here I was, feeling rather inexorable anyway...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Reverend Lady Eldritchhobbit the Inexorable of Colquhoun St Cahoon Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The leaves drift toward the earth like ships to land,
A voyage launched from timbers' great lofty berths,
Toward harbors safe, concealed from raider bands,
Of icy galleons coursing wintry dearth.
Squirrels don thick coats against Wind's numbing dare,
Mount last determined searches 'long the ground.
Brown grass conceals the season's paltry fare,
As hopeful birds scratch for what may be found.
Through frosted windows glow the hearth's warm light,
As fading day casts shadows 'cross the lawn,
And grey meets grey as winter gathers might,
Undaunted as the chimney starts to yawn.
Farewell brave day as twilight draweth nigh.
Perchance on morrow sun will gather high.
- Dan Young, "The End of a Winter Day"