Les Bon Mots

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.
--
Dr Seuss

Repeat: Bug-Eyed Fish

Good friends Mike and Steph occupied my thoughts yesterday and today, because Steph was in for surgery this morning and Mike was in bits worrying about her. I chose the Bug-Eyed Fish because I was sure we'd have cause to celebrate (it's a happy occasion pin), and that was indeed the case. All went well, to everyone's relief and delight.

The good news lifts a cloud from our family trip to Big Bear this weekend, where we'll be joining Christy's brother Phil, wife Elke and their girls for snow-based fun. While immersion in cold, wet stuff isn't my first choice for leisure time (this and this are more my cup of tea), I'm making an effort because everybody else is totally into it, and it's been too long since we spent time with Phil and family. And who knows? Maybe I'll find something motorized to play with...

Yellow Jade

Here's another new/old pin, in the sense that it's new to me, but actually an antique. It was given to me by Anne and Kevin for my birthday, who also gave me the Saxophone. As the form is so simple and elegant, I think I'll wear this one for purely decorative purposes, rather than try to imbue it with any deep (and probably artificial) meaning.

The materials are silver and yellow jade (jadeite), making for an uplifting, light combination. There's no name on the back, so I can't say anything about the designer: but the style of the setting is reminiscent of art deco, so I'm guessing it was designed in the 1930s or thereabouts. Don't you love it when friends give you what you want? I know I do.

Les Bon Mots

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
--
B. F. Skinner

Oval Within Oval

Back to it, after a thoroughly restful break, much of which revolved around eating, Bioshock (thanks Christy!) and Rock Band. This lovely new pin is another Christmas present from Christy (she got me many lovely things, actually). I'm not sure what this one will represent for me yet - I'll have to think about that for a while.

I'll post design details later, because I don't have them to hand.

Rudolph

What, you thought I'd be all "bah, humbug!", eh? Not at all. It's Christmas Eve, so naturally it's time to wear Rudolph, confirming that I'm more of a sentimental soul than I'd normally care to admit.

I'm not a religious person, but that's no impediment to appreciating the Christmas spirit, especially the "peace and goodwill to all men" stuff: what a pity there isn't more of that about. But one example of (temporarily) beating swords into ploughshares has endured.

For fifty years, NORAD has provided a Santa tracking service, so you can follow Santa around the globe as he delivers all those gifts. This year, there's even a 3D version based on the stunning Google Earth. And don't miss the Kids' Countdown, even though it's over - there's still fun stuff to explore there.

Christmas is also a time when I remember (all too painfully) those I've loved and lost, most especially my Mum. This was always a special time for her, and she always made it a special time for my brother and me. Whatever your beliefs, hug your nearest and dearest: hold them close, show them that you care. Do it now. And do it often.

Merry Christmas, everyone - and a Happy New Year.

Repeat: Ladybug Scatter Pin

I wore this Thomas Mann pin for luck, the last time. Today I wore it for productivity (the ladybird is an industrious little creature), as I continued to clear out old email, and all the other no-longer-useful digital stuff that accumulates over the year. Much as ladybirds clear out aphids, and other pests, I suppose.

On the home front, Christy has been baking cookies with welcome gusto (six sticks of butter went into yesterday's batch), although our two boys have been more than a match for the output. Few things inspire them to shared enthusiasm, but home-baked cookies are always a safe bet. Not that I'm shy about tucking in myself, of course...