Ok, Was That Worm Sign, or Are The Tectonic Plates Doing Their Thing?

A 5.7 quake from out in Yerington, NV.

It was interesting how I heard the quake before I felt it. A tick-tick-tick sound as the house was quietly swaying.  I’m sure it was the quake proper; it just grew in intensity as time passed. But yes, we can be like the animals and notice these things as they happen.

Starting to Release the Inmates in Syria's Saydnaya Prison

This is extraordinary - starting to release the more than 100K political prisoners in Syria's Saydnaya Prison.

#Syria: those are the first moments after Rebels reached the infamous Saydnaya prison N. of #Damascus and started to liberate prisoners. pic.twitter.com/OprYkMN8r2

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) December 8, 2024

Green Valley VerteFée Cabaret - Let's Get Elfed Up - December 6, 2024

It was a good time, at First Christian Church, 3901 Folsom Blvd., just a short distance where I once lived (1992-1995). It was great seeing Rachel perform, and also seeing old friends like Nick Thompson and Tilly O'Laughlin. Plus, Ashley, and I didn't realize Dana was in the show. Dana used to be a ballet regular; need to make her a regular again.

The description of the show says much:

We love the holidays, which is why we eviscerate them from the inside out! We hope you’ll join us for the The VerteFée Cabaret’s special brand of holiday cheer! Green Valley Theatre Company has revived the time-honored tradition of the cabaret. In this ever-changing and evolving show, some of the most talented (and depraved) performers from Sacramento and beyond cast aside convention (and often their bras). The VerteFée Cabaret is a bohemian, absinthe-soaked extravaganza in spirit of French cabarets and the raunchy, satirized Weimar shows of 1930’s Germany. In keeping with the vaudeville tradition, The VerteFée presents unique yet classic humor that straddles the line between witty and blasphemous, where offense is not intended, it’s just a bonus.

I particularly liked the segments on the Nutcracker, and Dad Jokes.

I Didn't Feel That Earthquake on December 5th

I was driving to my new job, so didn't feel it.  I bet my dog Jasper felt it, though.  The wood frame of my house amplifies vibrations, and I've felt tremors that others didn't.

Emily Wilson on "The Iliad"

Speaking of the classics, here is Emily Wilson, our translator of "The Iliad."

 

"The Return"

Since I'm in Gabe's classics book club, I suppose it's mandatory to see this! The return of Odysseus to Ithaca. Now showing at the Tower Theater. It stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche (who also starred in my favorite movie of this century, "The Clouds of Sils Maria").

Which reminds me, the book club will meet again on Tuesday evening.  Must reread Chapter 14.....

 

"Wicked": The Movie

 It's good - go and see it!

Substitute Teaching Assistant

I haven't had a regular job for more than eight years. Still, there's no denying that some kind of regular, part-time job could help with finances. But what job? After a false start earlier this year, I found something that I hope will be suitable, at least for awhile: Substitute Teaching Assistant for the California Montessori Project. So low on the totem pole that I'm subterranean. And today (December 5th) was the first day of work (at their Capitol campus; all grades). 

It was a sensory overload kind of day. My job today was to assist with lunch and recess, for kindergartners and older kids too, plus monitor them prior to their parents picking them up towards evening. Lots of time on my feet. 

Most of the kids were a bit wary of me at first, which I expected. I'm a new man, much older than anyone else in the school. Still, some of the kids approached me, as kids will, out of curiosity. I talked to one ten-year-old boy. He was the classic lonely boy in a new school, having troubles with adjusting.  We talked about long-duration space flight.

Still, the 5-to-6 year old kids were the most charming. One girl explained that she was the Queen of Hearts and that she daydreams a lot. Another girl, with a slight Russian accent (Sacramento has a large Russian community) explained that she has three birthdays (about which I still need clarification). In midafternoon, a boy felt overwhelmed by fatigue and tried to nap by kneeling at the foot of a slide and using the slide as a pillow, which caused problems when the other kids used the slide as designed. Several girls spilled dirt across the tops of several basketballs, added wood chips and pine needles, and played hair stylist. Several kids showed me loose baby teeth, absent baby teeth, and new permanent teeth. 

All pretty charming. And if I'm good at this maybe I can aspire to the lofty goal of Substitute Teacher. 

(It’s interesting to be the rule enforcer when I have no idea what the rules are. “Can I go outside?” Well, why not? It’s a free country and it’s a beautiful day outside.)