Vry Staat!!
Friday, October 19, 2007
South Africa in Rugby World Cup final
I apologize if this offends anyone, but I thought it was just too funny not to post.
Vry Staat!!
Vry Staat!!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Beautiful Beatrice bellows out the Beatitudes
Now that mom has erected a shrine to Beatrice in the kitchen and dad has approximately 500 pictures on his hard drive, I thought I'd officially join the "I'm completely obsessed with Beatrice" fan club. (Although Daniel will tell you that I have been a member for a long time.)
On Friday mom returned from Italy. So, on Saturday we all gathered to eat paella and drink Porto Portuguese style. We chatted about mom's trip and looked over various goodies she brought back. Mom had visited Dante's house and brought back a print of Dante and Beatrice for Mike. (It is pasted below)
Now, for any classics neophytes who may be reading, it was Dante's love for Beatrice that inspired many of his works, including the Divine Comedy. Dante saw Beatrice when he was eights years old and instantly fell in love. He often followed her but only spoke to her many years later. In his trilogy Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise, Virgil guides Dante through the three realms but it is ultimately Beatrice who leads Dante to Paradise. As her name implies, it is because of her beatific love, that Beatrice can lead Dante to heaven.
Being a Dante dilettantie myself, I wouldn't rely too heavily on my account if I were you. For a full account of Dante's works go to this site:
http://users.erols.com/antos/dante/
Also from wikipedia, here is where the word beatific comes from. Really beautiful if you ask me!!
In Roman Catholic theology, the beatific vision is the eternal, direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven, imparting supreme happiness or blessedness. While humans' understanding of God while alive is indirect (mediated), the beatific vision is direct (immediate). Thomas Aquinas defined the beatific vision as the ultimate end of human existence after physical death. Aquinas's formulation of beholding God in Heaven parallels Plato's description of one beholding the Good in the world of knowledge
Dante and Beatrice
PS-Sorry about the title. I couldn't resist.
On Friday mom returned from Italy. So, on Saturday we all gathered to eat paella and drink Porto Portuguese style. We chatted about mom's trip and looked over various goodies she brought back. Mom had visited Dante's house and brought back a print of Dante and Beatrice for Mike. (It is pasted below)
Now, for any classics neophytes who may be reading, it was Dante's love for Beatrice that inspired many of his works, including the Divine Comedy. Dante saw Beatrice when he was eights years old and instantly fell in love. He often followed her but only spoke to her many years later. In his trilogy Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise, Virgil guides Dante through the three realms but it is ultimately Beatrice who leads Dante to Paradise. As her name implies, it is because of her beatific love, that Beatrice can lead Dante to heaven.
Being a Dante dilettantie myself, I wouldn't rely too heavily on my account if I were you. For a full account of Dante's works go to this site:
http://users.erols.com/antos/dante/
Also from wikipedia, here is where the word beatific comes from. Really beautiful if you ask me!!
In Roman Catholic theology, the beatific vision is the eternal, direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in Heaven, imparting supreme happiness or blessedness. While humans' understanding of God while alive is indirect (mediated), the beatific vision is direct (immediate). Thomas Aquinas defined the beatific vision as the ultimate end of human existence after physical death. Aquinas's formulation of beholding God in Heaven parallels Plato's description of one beholding the Good in the world of knowledge
Dante and Beatrice
PS-Sorry about the title. I couldn't resist.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Current reads
Every night before I get into bed, I go through a stack of books hoping to find something that will entice my imagination for 40 minutes before I go to sleep. I recently picked up a book Megan recommended a while back . It's a book of short stories called The love of a good woman by Alice Munro. Cortez Island is really good.
Last week when I went down to VA I perused the shelves in the basement and dad's office hoping to come back with some more pre-bedtime entertainment. Below you will find a list of books in the STACK.
Recently purchased:
The amazing adventures of cavalier and clay by Michael Chabon---have read about 100 pages but am finding it a little dense. Otherwise, a great recommendation from Megan
July's People by Nadine Gordimer--Not yet read
You can't get lost in Capetown by Zoe Witcomb-- Finished --good feminist read about colored girl in SA
Retrieved from Dad's office:
Shaka Zulu--Read about half before my surgery
South Africa, A Modern History by T.R.H Davenport--Not exactly a riveting bed time read, but good to have and read from time to time to increase one's historical knowledge.
Retrieved from basement:
MiddleSex --Bought and started to read a couple of years ago but finding it a bit strange, I gave up. The appearance of Jeffrey Euginides on a recent Oprah show inspired me to try again. He seemed so clever and likable and talked about all the research he put into writing the book. It took him 9 years!
Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar--bought a few years ago but never started for some reason.
Last week when I went down to VA I perused the shelves in the basement and dad's office hoping to come back with some more pre-bedtime entertainment. Below you will find a list of books in the STACK.
Recently purchased:
The amazing adventures of cavalier and clay by Michael Chabon---have read about 100 pages but am finding it a little dense. Otherwise, a great recommendation from Megan
July's People by Nadine Gordimer--Not yet read
You can't get lost in Capetown by Zoe Witcomb-- Finished --good feminist read about colored girl in SA
Retrieved from Dad's office:
Shaka Zulu--Read about half before my surgery
South Africa, A Modern History by T.R.H Davenport--Not exactly a riveting bed time read, but good to have and read from time to time to increase one's historical knowledge.
Retrieved from basement:
MiddleSex --Bought and started to read a couple of years ago but finding it a bit strange, I gave up. The appearance of Jeffrey Euginides on a recent Oprah show inspired me to try again. He seemed so clever and likable and talked about all the research he put into writing the book. It took him 9 years!
Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar--bought a few years ago but never started for some reason.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Ahh vanity....
Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd write and give you an update.
Mom is still away on her Italian expedition. She is currently staying in the lap of luxury--sitting in the Four Seasons in Milan in the center of the fashion district, DURING FASHION WEEK!! OMG!
On this side of the Atlantic, my orthotics arrived last week. Daniel and I went to fleet feet to get some shoes to fit them. Eduardo, our enthusiastic sales clerk rambled away in Spanglish about the importance of arch support and lectured Daniel on the detriments of flip flops. We left with a really good pair of sneakers and a pair of flip flops that mold to your feet like shoes. With my new sneakers and Daniel's flip flops we now brave one mile walks almost daily. I can actually feel the improvement in my legs' alignment. God is good.
That being said, I have had to resign myself to the fact that fashionable shoes will not be in my life for a long time. Fortunately, I have chosen to enter a career where comfort is encouraged over style (especially when it comes to shoes). Many teachers can be sighted happily plodding around in crocs, clogs, sketchers and various other fashion atrocities. While my vanity cries out against it saying, "your legs look hideous in those things," I suppress that voice and continue to walk in comfort.
I can still drool over great clothes though. So, while thinking of my mom I have looked up some of the Spring 2008 shows that were showed last week in Milan. Pictures are posted below for your visual enjoyment.
Thought I'd write and give you an update.
Mom is still away on her Italian expedition. She is currently staying in the lap of luxury--sitting in the Four Seasons in Milan in the center of the fashion district, DURING FASHION WEEK!! OMG!
On this side of the Atlantic, my orthotics arrived last week. Daniel and I went to fleet feet to get some shoes to fit them. Eduardo, our enthusiastic sales clerk rambled away in Spanglish about the importance of arch support and lectured Daniel on the detriments of flip flops. We left with a really good pair of sneakers and a pair of flip flops that mold to your feet like shoes. With my new sneakers and Daniel's flip flops we now brave one mile walks almost daily. I can actually feel the improvement in my legs' alignment. God is good.
That being said, I have had to resign myself to the fact that fashionable shoes will not be in my life for a long time. Fortunately, I have chosen to enter a career where comfort is encouraged over style (especially when it comes to shoes). Many teachers can be sighted happily plodding around in crocs, clogs, sketchers and various other fashion atrocities. While my vanity cries out against it saying, "your legs look hideous in those things," I suppress that voice and continue to walk in comfort.
I can still drool over great clothes though. So, while thinking of my mom I have looked up some of the Spring 2008 shows that were showed last week in Milan. Pictures are posted below for your visual enjoyment.
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