To Research

We drank this nero d’avola, a wine from a grape I did not know about. It is grown, made, and bottled on a fief that calls itself a fief (the Feudo Principi di Butera) and has existed since at least 1543. We toasted research, which we are now undertaking in rebellion against some of the … More To Research

That Writing Group

This was not a good week, due to post-hurricane teaching, service and administrative avalanches; research was accomplished but goals were not met. These avalanches will continue, however. The coming two weeks will be as bad as the last. The plan this week is, one work block per day, first thing, every day but Sunday and … More That Writing Group

Occitan

This is 12th century Occitan, and it resembles Catalan. It is part of a Cathar ritual. (The Middle Ages are such a strange country, I find.) [2.1] Nos em vengut denant Deu, e denant vos, e denant l’azordenament de santa Gleisa per recebre servisi, e perdo, e penedensia de tuit li nostri pecat li qual … More Occitan

Guillaume de Poitiers, prince d’Aquitaine and forerunner of Mallarmé

Je vais faire un poème sur le pur néant : Ce ne sera pas sur moi ni sur d’autres gens, Ce ne sera pas sur l’amour, sur la jeunesse, Ni sur rien d’autre, Il vient d’être trouvé tandis que je dormais Sur mon cheval. Here is the original in langue d’oc, with a good deal … More Guillaume de Poitiers, prince d’Aquitaine and forerunner of Mallarmé

En bicicleta

At last I put the bicycle together and rode it back and forth from work. I have not had a bicycle with good gears except for a few hours once, decades ago, before it was stolen and I can now say that bicycles with good gears are an entirely superior experience. It is stressful to … More En bicicleta

An American day

For Labor Day I worked on repairing my deck, and then went kayaking in a lake. After that, I fixed bicycles. I called a neighbor to borrow a tool, and gave him a beer. All of this was very American, with that Indian summer feeling of water and sun and and exercise and sweat. Now … More An American day