“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”
Today is the longest day of the year. The summer solstice, the first day of summer, starts at 6:34 tonight. Mother Nature, usually quite fickle, did her part and came through with a glorious day. The sun is squint your eyes bright, the sky a deep blue, the breeze cool and strong and the temperature is in the 70’s. I can hear my chimes from the backyard.Their sound is lovely. I think today is glorious.
I have always been a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and I mean always. Even as a young kid I read all of the books on the science fiction shelf in the children’s section in my town’s library. There weren’t many. I wouldn’t discover Bradbury, Asimov or Heinlein until I was a bit older. The Lord of the Rings was in my book locker from Peace Corps. It was quite a gift. I think I read them twice. It wasn’t until later I found out about The Hobbit. I read the whole George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Fire and Ice twenty years ago. I waited a long while for books four and five, and I’m still waiting for book six. I have watched HBO’s Game of Thrones from the start. It has been excellent. My sister is the only other person I know who watches. I called her this morning as I really needed to discuss last night. It was the battle for House Stark to reclaim its home, Winterfell. I have never seen a battle such as that with mounds of the dead. Even the wildling giant did not survive, but before he died, he did get the gates of Winterfell open. Ramsey, the heinous enemy, was beaten to a pulp by Jon Snow, the hero. Ramsey wasn’t killed. He was tied up and put in prison where Sansa Stark, who had been abused by him, visited, “Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear,” was what she told him just before freeing his hounds who hadn’t been fed for days expecting they’d dine on Jon Snow. Ramsey screamed and Sansa smiled as she walked away.
Today is dump day. I went the other day but didn’t have a new sticker so I couldn’t leave my trash. It waits in the trunk.
Our trip to Ghana is rolling along. We have our tickets and reservations for a hotel in Accra. We are now working on reservations at Zaina Lodge in Mole Game Park. It is a luxury experience for $350.00 dollars a night which includes all food and beverages, the room and two safaris. They will pick us up at the airport for an added fee. At the end of our stay, we can hire a car from there to take us to Bolga.
Grace, my former student, says she is counting the days. I am too!
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Jon Snow, Mother Nature, Ramsey
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June 20, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Let’s don’t forget to light 74 candles for Mr. Brian Wilson.
June 20, 2016 at 12:46 pm
im6,
OMG, he is 74 today! That is so hard to grasp especially since they are so young in the video!
It is a great choice!
June 20, 2016 at 1:17 pm
‘Solstice’ … what a lovely yet little-used word. Etymologically, it derives from the Latin ‘solstitium,’ or ‘sun stands still.’ That happens becos the sun stops heading North at the Tropic of Cancer and then returns back to the south. In the Northern hemisphere, this means the days begin getting shorter. Oh YAY! Gimme dat solstice! This year, tho’, the Summer Solstice occurs on the same day as the ‘Strawberry Moon’ … isn’t that romantic?
The ‘Strawberry Moon’ is like any other full moon, but marks the beginning of the strawberry season, and these two events coincide once every 70 years. I don’t know about their strawberry season, but we’ve been having fresh strawberries for about a month and a half now … maybe someone should check that calendar again.
Science fiction has been, was, and will always be my favorite genre. Bradbury was my favorite writer. To read his work is like being able to read a painting. He uses words as a painter uses a brush – sometimes bold broad strokes, other times just a feather touch around the edges. Colors and shadings from Renaissance brights to Gothic tonalities. He brings VerMeer’s use of light and shadow to life in words. To be sure, my ‘favorites’ list is long, and includes works such as ‘A Canticle For Leibowitz’ by Walter M. Miller, Jr … it’s probably the best post-apocalyptic work extant. Bradbury’s ‘Martian Chronicles,’ ‘The November People,’ and ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ are classics. It’s such a long list, and I hate to omit other favorites who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these examples … but space is limited, yes?
Grocerying is done. Ich bin zu hause. Cooking will proceed apace shortly. I have four red and three Yukon Gold potatoes which need to be prepared in a manner befitting their potential. The word ‘bacon’ comes to mind … as does heavy whipping cream, shredded Cheddar cheese, onion, garlic, and a bit of parsley for color … did I mention bacon?
The trip sounds as if it’s coming together nicely. Enjoy it and take lots of pictures.
Our Musical Excursion today brings us back to a slower, more sedate time in our history – a bit like the one described by Randy Newman in ‘Dayton, Ohio, 1903’ … This piece is presented by Mr John Fahey and his Orchestra, and is titled simply ‘After The Ball’ … if you listen closely, you’ll also hear strains of a piece in the opening bars titled ‘You Tell Me Your Dreams (I’ll Tell You Mine)’ … it’s also known as ‘I Had A Dream, Dear’ … we used to play both of these to signal the patrons of the club that closing time was upon them and they had best finish gettin’ their drunk on before we ran ’em out so we could go home. And now, to begin …
June 20, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Richard,
It is quite romantic to have both for the first time in forty years, according to the news. Summer seems to last just the day as it will start getting darker. It is cloudy right now so I’m hoping it will clear so I can see the moon.
We also have fresh strawberries, but I don’t know if they are local. I am a fan of strawberries.
When I taught a science fiction course, I used The Illustrated Man. It gave my kids a love for Bradbury, one of my all time favorite science fiction writers as well. One of my favorite series is the Foundation series by Asimov. I have also read A Canticle For Leibowitz. You could have gone on and on with the titles you love.
Okay, you have me salivating with your potatoes. Bacon goes with everything! The last potatoes I cooked were oven fries. They were tasty, but I’m thinking a loaded potato would be so much tastier.
This music takes me back to a different time. I’m thinking women in long frilly dresses waltzing with their partners in the town gazebo on a lovely summer night.
June 20, 2016 at 2:48 pm
I’m really happy I can’t follow Game of Thrones right now, they show it way too late in the evening on Mondays because I think You just destroyed that show for people outside the US who follows it. Lets hope non of Your readers see that series 🙂
I’ve always been a scinece fiction fan too and today I finally watched the last Hunger Games and I did think it was a bit slow sometimes but still a good movie.
I also watched the latest Star Wars movie and liked it a lot. They do however have problems making the evil ones evil enough to be honest. They did it great with Darth Vader and the Emperor, they were just that evil that they need to be. Anakin Skywalker however wasn’t especially good, he suck to be honest 🙂 and the one in this film , well lets say that an evil character shouldn’t have moral doubts, they should just be plain evil. The rest of the gang was just as good as always though.
The weather today has been Meh. Windy, cool cloudy and I heard a few drops hit the window a few minutes ago. It’ll be like this until and beyond we celebrate Midsummer’s eve here.
Happy solstice!
Christer.
June 20, 2016 at 8:42 pm
Christer,
I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me that I was spoiling it for people outside the US. It was just such an overwhelming episode.
I haven’t yet seen the last of the Hunger Games. I don’t think it has been on any of my movie channels. I do keep looking.
I haven’t seen that Star Wars movie either. It was on my pay for view channels, but I decided to wait until it showed up on my free channel. You’re right about evil. They should be evil to the core.
Even now there is a chilly breeze. I had to shut a window. It might rain tomorrow. I hope so!
And a Happy Solstice to you too!
June 20, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Last summer I was in São Paulo Brazil for the week after the solstice. Going from the longest day to the shortest overnight and back again in a few days was interesting and somewhat disconcerting.
I liked SiFi when I was a kid but the fantasy stuff turned me off. At least the SiFi stories had a bit of science mixed in with the fantasy. I knew in the 1950s that I would live to see us go to the moon. I expected we would be exploring the other planets by now but that went the way of flying cars. However, there are several start up companies working on a couple of different designs. The FAA can’t figure out how to regulate toy drones much less flying cars.
I’m glad to hear that your trip is coming together. Sometimes planning a trip can be as exciting as the actual trip itself. Anticipation like the Heinz Ketchup commercial. 🙂
Another hot sunny day here in North Texas. Whenever, I think it’s hot Phoenix hit 119 degrees yesterday and is forecast to hit 121 tomorrow. Of course it’s a dry heat. 🙁 Regardless, it’s hotter than hell.
June 20, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Bob,
I think going back and forth to other countries is totally disconcerting. It is supposed to take a day per hour for your body to catch up.
The space program is pretty much defunct. I read that we probably couldn’t get to the moon today because we lack the scientists, engineers and equipment.
I was also into fantasy when i was a kid. Even now The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite trilogies. I always looked at the moon hoping we would get here. I was in Ghana in 1969 for the moon landing. I had to listen to it on Voice of America. Many Ghanaians who heard it didn’t believe it was real.
I have 3 months before my trip, but we are making reservations at places that could sell out like the park, and the hotel in Accra is usually full.
The heat in Phoenix topped the news today. They took the heat index on stuff like a child’s swing. Some idiots went running and collapsed from the heat and dehydration.
We have a lovely night as well.
June 20, 2016 at 9:38 pm
Going North South has no jet lag. Just an overnight flight in an economy seat is painful but it doesn’t mess with your circadian rhythm.
June 20, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Bob,
I was just thinking of the difference in time when traveling. I never thought of north to south.
When I was younger, I did the overnight to Europe on economy seats. Those were the days when nothing bothered me. Mow I’m doing first class so I can have a bed and sleep a bit. On my last trip I slept 6 hours.
June 21, 2016 at 7:35 am
It must be nice. Once American Airlines had oversold economy on my last trip to the UK and gave me a free upgrade to business class. It was a wonderful experience.
June 21, 2016 at 8:53 am
Bob,
It is nice but costly. I figure it’s necessary. My friends too are joining me in first class.