Category Archives: Ephemera

Random Facts Meme

Once tagged by this entry, the assignment is to write a blog entry of some kind with six random facts about yourself. Then, pick six of your friends and tag them; no tag backs. This explanation should be included.

I don’t do a lot of memes, but when I read a version of this one on Meallanmouse‘s journal a couple of weeks ago I wondered what I’d write if I did it. So when Kino Kid mentioned that she’d be interested in what I’d come up with, since I’ve already done the work, so to speak, I thought that I may as well type it out.

1. I own five copies of Jane Eyre. Every single one of them is different, and I own each of them for a reason.
2. I have very sensitive ears. They itch a lot, which makes me rub them frequently. They get very achy when there’s a cool breeze out, too.
3. I am mildly obsessive about three-second stops at stopsigns. The rest of the world is not. I hate feeling rushed when I’m on the road, especially when what I’m doing is legal and theoretically what everyone else ought to be doing as well.
4. I am very stubborn when it comes to taking medication for just about anything, but once I do, I’m committed to doing it properly.
5. I can’t stand to break a book’s spine, not even crease it by accident. The way around this, I have discovered, is to buy more books secondhand, because they’re generally already broken. Or to read more hardcovers.
6. When one of my favourite books is rereleased with a new cover, I have to fight the impulse to buy it all over again. (Assuming the new illustration is attractive, that is.) This is particularly challenging when the redesign occurs in the middle of a series.

I won’t tag others. But, as Roo said, if you feel inspired, go forth, my lemmings, and share…

Constantly And Unwittingly

Argh! Been tagged by a meme!

I rarely do this sort of thing, but here you are:

The Rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.

Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest, then tag three people.

The book is The Witch’s Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar, because I’m working on references.

“The lover’s unveiling of a woman’s body is a sacred gesture as old as man himself. In our rationalized world, which no longer believes in ritual but which constantly and unwittingly re-creates it, this act has become the strip-tease, an aberrant form of religious worship debased to the level of commercial spectacle” (Markale, Women of the Celts, p.144). We mean it here in the original sacred sense.

If I had arranged my stack of current reference books differently, you might have gotten information on a species of swan, or on medieval technology.

I don’t think I’ve ever tagged anyone in my life, because I’m not fond of being tagged for time-consuming things myself so I don’t do it to others (this was fun, though, which is why I did it.) So with no imperatives involved, I’d be interested in knowing what Meallanmouse is reading, and what books are near Sandman7‘s computer, and I’m always interested in knowing what volumes Dr. Anne has on the go because she is Terribly Smart, and Witty to boot. And frankly, if any of my Gentle Readers are interested in sharing sentences six through nine on page 123 of the closest book, consider yourselves tagged and share!

Because It’s Shakespeare!

And really, quiz or not, how can I resist taking a quiz whose script compares me to the unamed summer’s day of Will’s sonnet? Particularly one whose FAQs, when asked how accurate the test is, reply “In every way save the ones of accuracy. Or comparison. But, chances are, you are lovelier than a summer day. For a start, you probably represent minimal risk of bees, sudden tourists or skin damage to those near you.”

Thee Summer Day Score
Name Owldaughter (134) Friday 12th May (159) 0 : 1
Loveliness Lovelier Lovely 1 : 1
Temperature 98.6° F 60° F 2 : 1
Lease 34.74 years 0.59 years 3 : 1
Complexion 4 : 1
Owldaughter is more lovely, and probably more temperate, than a summers day
Compare Me To A Summers Day

From the Files of the Obvious

In general I avoid quizzes, as they frustrate me; they’re never multi-dimensional enough, and I usually wouldn’t choose any of the answers, so I’m left with a best-of-the-worst-choices selection. Sometimes, though, I’m curious to see how they’re constructed, how they would slot me into a limited, pre-conceived category.

Today, I discovered via the What Style of Witchcraft Suits You? quiz that I am “best suited to Traditional Wicca!! You feel more comfortable in a structured setting, but have no qualms about doing what must be done when necessary.” Which is true enough, and the only answer which even remotely describes my actual practice.

I also discovered this, according to the What Kind of Pagan Are You? quiz, and I’m pasting the whole thing because Dame Maggie Smith is just cool:

Real thing
You are THE REAL THING!
You are just a regular person with alternative
beliefs. You don’t feel you have anything to
prove and are just enjoying life. Good for
you! What kind of pagan are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

(The “all possible results” was a riot.)