Fits and starts

In which Liam tries to catch up with his LIJ friends while fretting about the Red Sox.

• I guess the only way to really connect with me is to see me in the "real world." I have not been keeping up with LJ all that well. I saw a ton of LJ friends at the SCA demo on Boston Common yesterday. Gorgeous day, well-planned demo and lots of curious people. rising_moon and dreda did an excellent job of running it, and I would estimate that 10 folks on my friends list were there. It rocked.

• I recently received the game "Ticket To Ride," as a birthday gift, and while I have not played it on the board, I have used the code inside the box to play online, which is pretty spiffy.

• Tomorrow, I will have 30 or 40 kids at the local senior center for an "Opening Day" party, where the seniors will watch the Sox-Yankees game, and our students will serve hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Should be a hoot.

• Five school days until a vacation that will include two Red Sox games and some minor league games.

• Anyone who has talked to me about beer or food knows that my favorite place is the Anam Cara Publick House, 1248 Beacon St., in Brookline. Publick House. It recently hit No. 1 on the Beer Advocate. I have been there five weeks in a row, and the beer and food remain outstanding. I heard yesterday there might be a new menu up soon.

• Finished reading ""Fox on the Rhine" by Doglas Niles and Michael Dobson, and I just started on "Fox at the Front." These are alternate histories where the counterfactual is that the bomb plot against Hitler succeeds in killing him, and Himmler become fuhrer in 1944, drastically changing the Battle of the Bulge.

• Also on the "To Do" bookshelf, are the third and fourth books of Chris Bunch's "Lost Legion series and the third and fourth books of Wen Spender's "Ukiah Oregon" series. One of each of those is partly read. Other books -- all paperback at this point -- include "A Damned Fine War," by Bill Yenne -- Patton lives and goes after the damned Russkies -- two modern-dayish submarine novels -- "Thunder in the Deep," and "Deep Sound Channel," by Joe Buff and "Orphanage," by Robert Buettner, a freebie from Boskone. This does not even begin to scratch birthday books. Perhaps I should read on vacation

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• I liked this line from the National Parks Service application form: Providing your Social Security Number is voluntary; however, we cannot process your application without it. I love the government.

Answers to questions . . . .

In which Liam finally gets around to answering some questions.

I am missing one set of questions, which I misplaced. If I have not answered your questions yet, please tell me.

And as far as I know, I owe questions to rhodri, hfcougar, dreda, ladytat and chrystie69.


From new_man

1. One of your daughters has moved out of state, the other is sticking around. What's the best thing about both situations (having T far, and n near).
I wish Theresa was closer, but we quarrel a lot less. I like being such a big part of Nicola’s life and, more importantly, I love watching her succeed. I was amazed at her role in the demo yesterday. Not every 18-year-old kid can do that.

2. You clearly love the SCA, and you clearly love history, yet you "historical" or "persona" parts of the SCA are the ones you seem least interested in. How come?

Do not mistake lack of period dress and my snarky comments about peanut butter or (S’mores) for a lack of interest. I am interested. But for me, the SCA is about doing other things, like carrying stuff and talking to people and getting things done. A vague attempt at period garb is all I need to do these things. Yes, I know it would seem like more of a commitment if I dressed better, but it’s part of who I am.

3. You've been both a professional journalist and a professional teacher. Which do you like better, and why?

Teaching is more stressful but gives bigger rewards. (Although I have received awards for Journalism as well). Since I am teaching right now, I would love the chance to be a reporter or editor again.

4. Are you worried about your health? If not, why not. If so, what do you do about it?

Again, do not mistake the fact that I do not seem to care for myself to mean I am not worried. I ebb and flow with this. Right now I am carefully taking all my medicines and walking a bit more than I did.

5. You can talk to one of your grandparents again (I'm assuming they're all deceased) for an evening of conversation. Which one and why?

See, now you might think this is an easy question, but it’s not. I would be hard-pressed to make a choice and would probably go with my Grandmother Toscano (nee Donovan) because I never met her. I want to know why she married an Italian in a town where that was really frowned upon 80 years ago. Yet, I would want to ask my Grandfather Toscano whether he was in the mob, and I would like to ask my Grandfather Mello about his life because he died when I was eight. My Grandmother Mello is the one I loved the most. I would like to talk to her so we could cook while we were talking.


From sokmunky

1. JPII gets sent through time to be Pope during the 30 Years War. What happens?

Believe it or not, I am not that well-versed in that part of history. I would guess, thought, that his being Polish would have an impact.

2. What is the coolest thing you've ever done?

Marrying Nataliia and helping create two extremely cool human beings.

Seeing my students react when our NHS chapter won an a national Oustanding Service Project award. But then that’s happened three times, and each has been cool. Also, diving into the ocean for Special Olympics and covering the Special Olympics World Games in 1995. Oh, and watching the Red Sox win the Series on TV.

3. Which is more important; honor, respect, or love?

Respect. Hard to explain why.

4. You're being attacked by Zombies. What do you do?

Run like a motherfucker. Unless I have a flamethrower.

5. If you could resurrect any modern historical personage, who would you bring back, and why?

OK . . . If I say "Jesus" then the world ends, I think. Part of it depends on why I am bringing them back. If it’s to talk to them, then Lee Harvey Oswald. If it’s to get them back in their prime and put them to work, then Gen. George Smith Patton, and I would send the Third Army to Irag if it’s not there already.