Ramblings

Well, what a week! I'm battling a cold today. I really hope it doesn't turn into a full-blown malady. I took two packets of Immunocal (a supplement) and some zinc lozenges. Then I let myself take the day off. I hope that doesn't leave me too far behind. Last weekend I was so happy I was on top of all my work. Oh well, I guess this is what I get for staying so busy.

Well, George, I'm glad you liked my "lecture." We'll have to see what topic I go for next time I get on my soap box.

On summer vs. winter
Nora, I do need to set you straight on a small matter regarding the Earth and her love life. Hardly a time for revelry, Summer is marked by endless labor. The sun scorches Earth's tender skin while she squeezes out brilliantly colored produce. Long, hot days are filled with tiresome hours of exertion. All this for the benefit of the poor souls who depend on her for life. They dig into her, scrape her, grab from her food and covering.

Finally, the cool of autumn ends the long work day. She finishes her annual chores and wraps a red and orange sweater about her tired arms. The trees stop their work and plants no longer push through her to reach the sky. Rivers quiet themselves and finally stop altogether. For a few weeks she rests, 40 winks before the evening's doings.

Soon she will dress herself in delicate snowlace and sparkling diamonds. As the room is laid in plush white carpet and the ceiling draped in black velvet, she freshens her face in the mirror of the lake.

Then the festivities begin. Night after night she dances beneath stars no longer hidden by Summer's hazy atmosphere. Through Winter's crystal air Earth spins deliriously until exhausted she falls into her bed.

Like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, her gown and jewels melt away. Soon she is clad in nothing but mud and brown grass. Once again she awakes to the toil of a servant's life, wondering if it had all been just a dream.

On names
On to another of Nora's topics. I, too, have difficulty naming my characters. I have entire epics in my head filled with unnamed people. Sometimes I manage to get a "working" name for temporary purposes. But finding the real thing is another story (no pun intended).

The problem is that I'm too picky. The name has to sound right and mean something too. Take one of my few heroines to be so blessed: I puzzled over her name for the longest time. She is a strong character and very independent. In looking at various words from all kinds of languages, I landed on the idea of an eagle. The Latin is aquila. Now interesting things happen to words as they travel from language to language. Can you tell that eagle comes from aquila originally? K sounds can change to g and vowels can disappear or be added.

So here's what I did: The qu became k and the i-sound moved after the l. The initial a either was dropped and a vowel added between the consonants or the a itself was moved. Some changes in spelling resulted in Kalya. As an "eagle," my heroine can soar alone when needed although she will have to deal with that tendency before the novel's done.

Now if I could just name the guy she's supposed to marry…

On alternate heating sources
If you hear of anyone who can't afford to heat their home this winter, please let me know. I have a new experimental method. All you have to do is put Terry in a room and give her something to read with which she don't agree.

I got the inspiratioin this evening watching my sister read first one book and then another. The steam was rolling. I tell you, give her an hour and she would heat the whole room.

It wouldn't be expensive. You should be able to supply her from the library for no cost at all. If you run out, interlibrary loan would serve for a good while—at least 'til spring. Actually, that's where one of the books was from…

On sleep
Now I think I should treat my cold by going to bed and sleeping. I'm writing this on my mom's AlphaSmart so I won't be get it posted until tomorrow. You shouldn't be up reading this on a Saturday night anyway! Go to bed so you can be well rested for church.

Good night, all!