thomryng: (Default)
thomryng ([personal profile] thomryng) wrote2006-08-17 09:50 am

Summertime Blues

I won't even pretend that this hasn't been a rough summer.

Francine's father, one of the coolest human beings I've been privileged to meet, died in July while I was visiting my parents in Chicago. By the time I returned, she was gone to Virgina. She was only back a couple of days when our effort to buy a house failed. Then my sainted1 grandmother died, and I was off again to Chicago. Whilst I was attempting to return to Tacoma, the airports went to Muppet Alert Level Ernie, causing all sorts of fun. As the Pakastani medical student behind me in the security line at O'Hare said, "Today is a great day to fly!"

This past week, I've been working wicked hours trying to catch up and get some more students into our school. Francine's been ill, and meanwhile I keep having dreams involving sixteenth century plate armour, Turkish cigarettes, muskets, and Czech beer.

No proper time for mourning, and yet some moments it all just hits me and I have to remember how to breathe.

The world, of course, marches on with or without our active participation.

Forget the mystery of Planet X, we're now up to XII. I suppose it makes sense - after nine the next mystic number is twelve. Of course, with the Amazing Multiplying Plutons2, we're likely to be up to 23 or 42 before you can say "Planet George".

Meanwhile, they still haven't officially named 2003 UB313. I'm holding out for "Yuggoth".

Not nearly so Pluto-shattering is the news that Johnny Depp will play Sweeney Todd. Pretty much made my morning, that did. Odd how similar their names are...

- - - - -
1: Yes, I mean that. OK, it's not like the Church is likely to take up her cause any time soon, but the woman was wholly holy.

2: I have all their albums.

[identity profile] deadrose.livejournal.com 2006-08-17 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, the demon barber of Fleet Street played by Jonny (Dorian) Depp! That made my day, thank you!

[identity profile] garpu.livejournal.com 2006-08-17 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
There was a chaplain at my college who'd go around greeting people (whether he knew them or not) with, "Hiya, saint!" Chicagoan born and raised, and a Franciscan. I think there are dozens of people who are saints, but aren't in any official listing.

And a Yuggoth planet would be way cool.

[identity profile] pi-radical.livejournal.com 2006-08-17 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I can totally empathize with the whole "some moments it all just hits me and I have to remember how to breathe" thing.

[identity profile] squid-ink.livejournal.com 2006-08-17 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
George is better known as Uranus.

This is the intro to a really sophmoric joke, right...???

hang tough

[identity profile] chordam7.livejournal.com 2006-08-17 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
saw the sweeny todd news too. intruiguing. but, after len cariou, i set the bar pretty damn high!