Brighid of Byrness

Very much enjoyed this one...new to me I'm grading papers (the quarter ended last week...lots of papers to grade!) and just finished listening to this on vinyl (Summer is my favorite concerto):

I was forewarned but followed the link anyway....and loved it!!! The guitar at the beginning hooked me from the start. I can't take too much death growling, but with such hard-driving, gorgeous music, the vocals faded into secondary...he he he...definitely revved me up this morning!!!!!

Muted colors... Sort your M&M's before eating or dump into your palm and funnel them into your mouth?

Brighid slid her chair back from the table; the sound of the thick, oaken chair legs scraping across the rough flagstone flooring drew everyone’s attention away from the sniveling shadow. She stood, and taking a few steps toward the figure, gracefully raised her arms toward him, palms facing upward. With gentle authority she spoke comfortingly words she had learned as a healer in the north, “Cneasaigh! ‘S mi fo chomraig Naoimh Moire.” Instantly, the formless, nameless being regained its composure and slunk back into the corner whence it came. Perhaps it would be coaxed out at a later point in the festivities; although, it was still unknown whether it was a harbinger of approaching good or evil. Brighid pushed back her shoulders, lifted her chin just a bit, and tried her best to hastily flatten the wrinkles in her gown. Giving her golden-red hair a toss, she smiled with genuine warmth at the occupants of the Boaz Room. “Ladies and gentlemen, the dramatic interlude has ended. I suggest we raise our glasses in toast to the talented Swami Noguru, the all-seeing, all-knowing prognosticator extraordinaire!” The dining room rang with cheers and the tinkling of knives being tapped against crystal goblets in Noguru’s honor. The orchestra struck up a Viennese waltz, and Brighid made her way over to the smiling swami. “May I have the honor of this dance, my kind sir?” Brighid asked Noguru, her eyes twinkling with merriment. “But of course, my beautiful lady,” he replied, excusing himself from the table and leading Brighid out onto the dance floor. The vertically challenged swami barely topped Brighid’s breasts, but he led her around in swirling circles with enthusiastic aplomb. Soon, the dance floor was crowded with all sorts of celebrating creatures: elves, belly dancers, fire eaters, dwarves, and a few frenetic squirrels...

My planning period just started, and I'm popping in this Smashing Pumpkins CD to listen to while grading... http://www.allmusic.com/album/oceania-mw0002232972

Marble...or polished stone tiles (like granite). multi-colored Christmas lights or one color?

Mountain -- more chance of wind up there, and I love wind! Wood floors or carpeting?

Also very nice...especially the rhythmic waves Robert Smith and Friday...I'm in love!

Alpine (strange, coming from a person who can't stand to live more than a few minutes from the ocean, but I just don't do tropical for more than a few weeks vacation!) Las Vegas or New York?

Love French or Italian?

I don't have this album, but I like a lot of the electronica music of this era (I think it's called that) I'm listening to some Steven Wilson in the guise of Bass Communion

If we're talking music, analog Opera or Broadway musical?

Yeah, one of the perks of living in England was all the different beers I got to try. Your Kiltlifter reminds me of one I liked over there called Ewe Tosser -- there were some interesting names! I have a friend who owns a small brewery in Maine. Moving back there will be okay because there are lots of microbreweries I long to homestead, but I'm thinking that I'm more the exploring sort. (As long as it doesn't involve sky diving!) East or West?

It depends...I drink both (but not at the same time). I like red wine and lots of different kinds of beer Whine or deal?

All Hallows' Even: What was sown is harvested -- The souls of the dead.

“Reminiscing over a few drinks is all well and good,” Swami Noguru interjected, “but you don’t have to be a potent prognosticator to realize that we have more pressing matters at hand.” The revelers within earshot put down their drinks and glanced in the direction the swami indicated with his outstretched arm. Yasmina gasped in astonishment as a black-cloaked figured stepped from the corner’s recess. His cloak seemed to be sewn from the magical mist of the shadows themselves; its lines were vague and vacillated in and out of an exact form. The man who wore the cloak, for no woman could be large enough to create such a prodigious form, was completely hidden within its folds. Or, perhaps the mystical being was merely the cloak itself and there was no substance within. In any case, all eyes were riveted in the direction of the shadow lord and a deathly quiet had descended upon the Boaz Room. From two tables over, an enormous warrior sprang from his chair brandishing a well-used sword. “Stop where you are!” he commanded the shadow. “Do not take another step forward until you uncover your face and declare who you are.” The shadowed figure started to slowly raise his hand to his hood when all of a sudden chaos broke loose in the forms of Mr. Moog, Pit, and Sil – the latter swinging down from one of the ancient oak beams and landing squarely on top of the hooded figure. Moog and Pit ran dizzying circles around the cloaked figure, creating a hurricane of dust and flying fur as the man careened around the room, swatting at the psycho squirrels….

They will transport you back to a more innocent time (Did you read them when you "still innocent?" It's a weird sensation reading them 35 years later....yes, it really has been 35 years ...and I remember becoming immersed in the fantasy and learning some important lessons, like you must have darkness to have the light.)

Happy Halloween to you, too! Candy, candy, candy.....

A bit harsh?!!! But it made me laugh... Canadian bacon (don't do pepperoni) peanuts or pistachios?

I've never tried a Rocky Road, so I'll have to go with Charleston Chew! Daphne or Velma?

Totally different vibe over here on the east coast

I was in love with Rocky! (I also had a "crush" on the magic flute in H.R. Pufnstuf...not sure what this says about me) Frostbite Falls (I had to google this! I only chose Frostbite Falls because I like the alliteration!) Red or black licorice?

DEEP

What lines? Rocky or Bullwinkle?

Malory's Morte d'Arthur...again...with my class. For fun, I'm re-reading Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series. My middle-schooler started reading the same copies I had when I was his age, so I joined in and am rediscovering why I loved them. (I think I'll pass on the movie version of HP 122AR Oscilloscope...unless it's sci-fi?!)