mourningdove

Untangling the Skein

I owe this phrase to the inimitable Chump Lady, who uses it to describe the obsessive phase that chumps (cheated-on partners) often go through as they try to wrap their heads around how and why their cheaters could have done what they did: e.g., watching dozens of videos on narcissism and Cluster B personality disorders;Continue reading “Untangling the Skein”

Amicae Usque ad Aras: Part Two, Cont.

Phemonoe The day that was set for the start of the Pythian Games dawned stormy, fitful, and indeed the Pythia’s augury determined that the opening ceremony should be postponed. This wasn’t entirely unwelcome news among the Hosioi, as we had to prepare not only ourselves for competition but also the oracle’s security. That extra dayContinue reading “Amicae Usque ad Aras: Part Two, Cont.”

Winter Soups: Lemon Chicken French Onion Soup

I know it’s not winter anymore, but…this was just too serendipitous not to post. Sometimes recipe ideas come together sheerly because of what you have to hand, and this is one of those instances. It started with Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken with Croutons recipe, my go-to roast-chicken recipe because of the bang/buck ratio: you stickContinue reading “Winter Soups: Lemon Chicken French Onion Soup”

Amicae Usque ad Aras, Part Two

Dionysia The year following my hosioster was the best of my life. It might not have looked like it from a distance: I killed at least two people; I was beaten badly a dozen times, twice so badly I was in bed for a week; I was told to my face on multiple occasions thatContinue reading “Amicae Usque ad Aras, Part Two”

Amicae Usque ad Aras

Part 1: Phemonoe I was with the Pythia the morning that Archon attacked her. Though nothing like that had happened during her ten years in office, it didn’t come as a complete surprise. Archon came in drunk and belligerent–bellowing like a bull through the sanctuary on his way in about being kept waiting. But thereContinue reading “Amicae Usque ad Aras”

Amicae Usque ad Aras

So, I’m going to try something I haven’t done for a while, which is to write a story in serial installments. It’s going to be a rough draft, so please be forgiving of typos, etc. An amica/us usque ad aras is a “friend all the way to the altars,” an ancient Roman expression designating aContinue reading “Amicae Usque ad Aras”

Aikido and Rhetoric: Women

Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and material, and the best commodities to trade are sincerity and love. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace “‘So you see,’ [Diotima] said, ‘you are a person who does not consider Love to be a god.’“‘WhatContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Women”

Berlin Wildlife

I’ve seen some critters here that we don’t have where I live in the States, and so I decided to do some watercolors of them. Not pictured: the Eurasian jay, but I have yet to get a good picture of one I can sketch and paint from….

Ceramics Saturdays: The Ostrakon and Cancel Culture in Ancient Athens

The Agora Museum in Athens is full of these funny little terracotta disks with a hole in the middle, partially glazed in black, with someone’s name scratched through the black glaze. They’re ostraka, and they were used in special elections called to banish certain citizens from Athens for 10 years. Ostracism was used in casesContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: The Ostrakon and Cancel Culture in Ancient Athens”

Aikido and Rhetoric: Sacrifice

Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace Men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practiceContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Sacrifice”