Lirazel

Ahem.

Before reading further, please note: All opinions expressed here are my own, and do not represent any position of Oracle Corporation.

Hi there!

If you're seeing this, it's because you're not currently listed as my friend on LJ, and I've made this journal Friends-Only. I've just begun a new job, and while I'm not the most incendiary writer, there's some things--and some comments from some of my pals--that don't need to be paraded about.

My plan is to back up this journal, and then go through and open up specific items. But that won't be for a while, as 1) I'm kind of busy with new job, new house, existing spouse, etc., and 2) it's a long, long job. And new postings probably will be friends-only for quite some time.

It may be that you are a family member, in which case I'm sorry but I sometimes like to talk about family here and I don't want to hurt your feelings. Which doesn't say I'm talking trash. But, siblings especially, remember how we'd all listen in when Mom talked about us on the phone in order to know what she really thought of us? You can't do that here, and it's a GOOD thing.

Otherwise, maybe you're a co-worker, or a former co-worker, or a total stranger, or an acquaintance, or someone who just wanted this user id. Drop me a line, and perchance I shall friend you or tell you why not!

On my way to work today, in my usual morning daze, I was rudely jarred from my meditations by a truck in front of me trying to drive in the (entirely legal) right lane and bumping a light pole.

Which was OK, until the light fixture plummeted to the ground, shattering all over the road and missing a cyclist and two other cars by inches. Which was still OK (no one was hurt), except the driver just kept driving.

I followed him, called 911, gave in his licence plate number and a description of the truck, and then went on my way to work. When I got there, I called the PD again to give my name as a witness.

"Oh, we don't need you. They didn't even issue a citation, because he admitted he clipped the light pole."

Reeeeeeally? And what about the not stopping to make sure no one was hurt? I do believe that's called "leaving the scene". One wonders what the driver would have admitted had the driver not seen the fat lady with the cell-phone behind him, that one does.

Of course, one might find something to say on the subject of a light pole that's leaning over so far that a truck of standard height and with both wheels in the legal roadway can clip it. Like, "Who the hell put THAT thing up???"

Not really sure why... but now that we've moved and I can buy the manga, I am fangirling all over the place.

The manga is much, much less gentle than the anime, which was pretty un-gentle itself.

My son's grandmother, Janet, died today around noon.

She was a woman of many gifts, and used most of them in her work as a home-maker and mother. She was not an easy person to love, sometimes, but I loved her deeply.

Her greatest talents lay in her hands, in the way she could coax materials of various kinds to do her will. But she also had gifts in music, writing, cooking, and administration (and if you think raising five boys with the "help" of an absent and absent-minded husband doesn't require administrative gifts--well, just try it, knowhamsayin?)

I would be sad... and I probably will be sad, many times, for her sake. But I also sense that she is deeply relieved. The last two or three years have had few pleasures for her, and the last two months were dreadful. As in, "I dread having to go through that myself."

Those of you who are the praying kind, please pray for her husband, Bill, who is already nearly lost to Alzheimer's and will be doubly lost without her; and for her sons: Calvin, Charles, Nick, John, and Ted. The warm and cranky heart of their family is gone, and they will have to find a new way to be family.

There was a snow warning all over the place yesterday and today, but all we got near our current abode was rain and a bit of wet snow early in the morning. Out here, though, 20 miles north, a long, slow, lacadaisical snow is falling. It's hard to tell what going home is going to be like.

I'm hoping to spend some time tomorrow at the new place, and also some time throwing stuff out. We need to get this move on the road.

Well, I wrote a loooong screed about how many people have "issues" with the sense of obligation that can arise next door to gratitude. It then diverged into the many things my parents did for me (beginning with finding each other mateable), and rambled around among my teachers (Clysta Dow, the Best Teacher EVAR), and was sentimental and made me sniff when I read it.

And I decided it would probably bore you all. So I am omitting it. Aren't you grateful?

But I am going to inflict on y'all a neat bit of Scripture. It was one of my dad's favorites, and it was read when Bravest and I married. It's also one of the readings for All Saints Day.

Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach (44)

1 Let us now sing the praises of famous men and women,
our ancestors in their generations.
2 The Lord apportioned to them great glory,
his majesty from the beginning.
3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
and made a name for themselves by their valor;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
those who spoke in prophetic oracles;
4 those who led the people by their counsels
and by their knowledge of the people's lore;
they were wise in their words of instruction;
5 those who composed musical tunes,
or put verses in writing;
6 rich men endowed with resources,
living peacefully in their homes--
7 all these were honored in their generations,
and were the pride of their times.
8 Some of them have left behind a name,
so that others declare their praise.

9 But of others there is no memory;
they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
they and their children after them.
10 But these also were the godly
whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;
11 their wealth will remain with their descendants,
and their inheritance with their children's children.
12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;
their children also, for their sake.
13 Their offspring will continue forever,
and their glory will never be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
but their name lives on generation after generation.
15 The assembly declares their wisdom,
and the congregation proclaims their praise.

So, tomorrow is the first day at the new job. I probably won't have Internet access, though, and when I do I'm not going to be posting here from work for some time. Nor will I be checking the home email often.

If anyone feels that they would like my cell # and you don't have it yet, leave a note here and I will send it along tomorrow night. That will be the best way to reach me for a while.

We went to CVS for our Halloween candy. Spent $45 on candy (Hey, it's a busy street, and Bravest wants his cut) and $0.99 on a travel-sized tube of toothpaste. Oh, the IRONY!

My pumpkin looks like last week's New Yorker cover. Which was a snarly Dick Cheney pumpkin. Mine's not as snarly (it's hard to shade pumpkin carving), but it's pretty good.

The Last Halloween In the Old Home... *pause for sobs*