Delineating Des

In 1811 Thomas Egerton of Whitehall, London published Sense and Sensibility . Quick math shows it has been two centuries since Jane Austen became a full-fledged author. Quite an anniversary, indeed. A celebration, I declare . Blogs regarding the publication anniversary of this romance novel picture Jane Austen 's engagements whilst making the final touches of her manuscript from Sloane Street. In letters to her sister Cassandra, Jane gave accounts of her shopping for muslin, the party that their brother Henry and SIL Eliza gave; mentioned several acquaintances, and referred to her book as S and S . As a fan I wonder which between sense and sensibility did JA deem more important since she portrayed both attributes equally well. I'm obliged to enthuse over my S & S reading experience. Alas, I only managed fourteen chapters before getting sidetracked by another novel, the very first that JA wrote. I will resume and complete my affair with the celebrant before 2011 end...

The Rumford is a much more efficient way to heat a room than earlier fireplaces.... ( Wikipedia on Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, designer of tall, shallow fireplaces which are now known as the Rumford, was an Anglo-American physicist known for his investigations of heat) Living in the tropics, I have been in close proximity with only three fireplaces in my life. There was an unused one in the home of my college professor in the Philippines. The other one from which I could feel the heat and see the fire dancing was in a hotel lobby in the Yorkshire Moors. Picture taking was quick. Two old ladies were having tea by it, but that was my first ever real fireplace experience, and I loved it. The latest I have touched is the one in Jane Austen's imaginary Northanger Abbey. The fireplace, where she had expected the ample width and ponderous carvings of former times, was contracted to a Rumford , with slabs of plain though handsome marbles, and ornament over it of the prettiest Eng...

Purple, heather, Rod Stewart with beautiful pictures to boot. The decision is unanimous :) I couldn't shake white snake off when I checked this week's theme. Searched Youtube and found it's "White Lion." A mammal not a reptile, silly. Forgetfulness progressing. Being divorced does not keep me from liking  Til Death Do Us Part. When I saw scenes depicted in this video, I said Pride and Prejudice does it; this is it: This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

These are words that begin with Q and not followed by U; in random order. Is there anything that's not new to you or have you used some in speech, writing, or word games? 1. qadi - an Islamic judge 2. qat - leaves chewed like tobacco or used to make tea 3. qabala - an esoteric or occult matter 4. qi - circulating life energy in Chinese philosophy  5. qiang - the Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Sichuan 6. qepig - 100 qupig equal 1 manat 7. qabalistic - having a secret or hidden meaning 8. qibla - direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for daily prayers 9.  qatari - a native or inhabitant of Qatar 10. qing - the last imperial dynasty of China 11. qaid - Muslim tribal chief 12. qiviut - musk-ox wool 13. qanat - underground tunnel for irrigation More here and on crosswordsolver. Thanks to Megan and Janet for hosting Thursday Thirteen

"All the heroical fictions of ecclesiastical quixoticism" That, claims, Wikipedia, is the first time quixoticism is mentioned, giving Pulpit Popery, True Popery as the source. Urban Dictionary defines quixoticism as unattainable idealism. Let's take ism from quixoticism and we have quixotic . Anyone who knows Don Quixote would have an idea what the adjective is about.  Merriam Webster defines it as foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action . "It doesn't do to be quixotic. Telling the truth to people who misunderstand you is really promoting falsehood." ~ Anthony Hope Then we take ic from quixotic and finally we have quixote . Enter (drum roll please) Don Quixote of La Mancha, the windmills, skinny Rosinante, ladylove Dulcinea.... Chivalry at its quixotic best!  "The Quixotes of this Age fight with the Wind-mills of their owne Heads" - John Cleveland...

Shattered Dreams became a hit in 1988 (US; 1987 UK).  As I was more on loving the beat I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics. Or maybe deep inside I knew the song described about 80% of what I was going through thus I avoided it. Thank goodness I'm so over 1988. Now I can dance to this tune with my two left feet. This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

Remember that 1995 Sense and Sensibility scene in which dashing Mr. Willoughby recklessly drives a phaeton around town with Marianne Dashwood? The novel was published in 1811.  Fast drag your imagination to 2011 and the two lovers are today's rich hunk and a happy-go-lucky, attractive chick speeding on say, a Lamborghini Reventon. In Pride and Prejudice, obsequious Mr Collin declares, "she (Lady Catherine de Bough) is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." pha·e·ton   (f -tn) n. 1. A light, four-wheeled open carriage, usually drawn by a pair of horses.    2. A touring car. ( The Free Dictionary) Jane Austen in Vermont Two ladies in a high perch phaeton. The owners of these sporty, open-air and lightning fast carriages actually drove the vehicle, as there was no place for a coachman. Phaeton seats were built high off the ground, the sides of the vehicle were open to the elements (a to...

As Bangkokians brace for "what now?, what next?..." the end of the country's worst flooding in 50 years seem drowned in the depths of either two major bursting dams. Blame, criticism and serious politicking affect flood (mis)management further.  The situation could be Thailand's halloweenish watery scare. I personally just went out yesterday to pick a few items that will somehow ward off starvation should the waters rush in to where I live. If most Thais are at a loss to understand what exactly is the government trying to say, what and how could anyone who does not speak the local language grasp anything at all?  Maybe Friends of the Nation editorial cartoons can help. A quick fact by the way: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is sister of former PM in exile Thaksin Shinawatra. 1  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Thanks to Megan and Janet for hosting Thursday 13 .

In the 80s we had a neighbor who played Senor Don Gato repeatedly on his cassette. The sound was loud enough to reach other houses. Fortunately, the song was amusing - a very cat-like human voice would respond "meow, meow, meow."  It probably helped that I'm an animal lover so I didn't mind hearing the song over and over.  Mozart, my fur kid looks very much like this pooch. See how he dances :) And here's thoroughbred Little Red by Patty Shukla  Some of the things I love about living in Thailand are the elephants ! They are called "chang" here. This is a clip of Thai children singing karaoke about a chang. This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

Beautiful, sarcastic, funny, pessimistic, creative, to-be-verified, positive, sad, true. Facebook has it all covered. These are shout outs I noticed friends have posted recently.  My faves are those that ring true. 1." Which would you rather be...divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?" - Anne Shirley 2. What is real happiness ?...It is when you feel fine even if there is nothing left in your pocket...It is when you enjoy life inspite of the problems you have...And most of all,when you still know how to smile and thank God for His blessings even if you are the poorest person and has the least important job on earth... ‎3. ♥ Before Marriage ♥ Boy: At last i can Hardly wait! Girl: Do you want me to leave? Boy: No don"t even think about it! Girl: Do you love me? Boy: Of course, always! Girl: Have you ever cheated on me? Boy: No, why are you asking? Girl: Will you kiss me? Boy: Every chance i get Girl: Will you slap me? Boy: Hell ...

There's a marriage celebration in a castle where the bride is hassled for a campaign tagline. Everyone would die did you just sigh? Back to the title Melancholia must be that high. ~ Hazel, Stasia Desiderata Cannes Review Has anyone seen Melancholia yet? I haven't. My coffee and movie meetup group sent me an invite to watch this film which is shown this week in Bangkok.  According to summaries around Lars Von Trier creates psychological devastation.  The sooner we get over it, the better: nobody survives. "In a way, the film does have a happy ending," remarks Trier.  Everyone perishes and there's a happy ending(?). That might send me to the theater to find out how true, how come and why. There are beautiful scenes in the trailer. Watch. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

"from Tripoli to the Yellow Sea, from Peru to Cebu..." Quite international: about 16 other locations are referenced on Enya's Orinoco Flow which topped the charts for weeks in the 90s. The mention of Cebu brings me to the summer of 1990.  I was 18, traipsed Cebu and said to myself - one day I'll go look at what's beyond this old city. That is not the only reason I like Sail away (incorrectly thought of as the title).  The arpeggiated harp intrigues me as well. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I do. This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

"...I'm single. I eat in the kitchen sink." - Sarah (Diane Lane) in Must Love Dogs Well, I'm single too, and I eat on top of the fridge facing a rickety bread toaster and a good, old reading lamp amongst pens, receipts, stray ear rings and notes bound for the loony bin.  In this one particular case when I had been in bed too long, I stood on my 5th floor porch for some fresh air. These are oat patties I managed to conjure err... make during one Saturday when I was unable to eat out.  Tuna chunks, pancake flour, evaporated milk, a large egg, Knorr soy sauce, and shitake bits. There are no spices at all; can't be bothered. Just mix, fry and voila! Every piece turned out yummy. You would expect me to fidget while trying to leave some for a friend who was coming to dinner. The AC machine became the next table. And then a thought struck. This plate is royal bone china. It falls and hits a sedan on the parking lot below and I'm going to mourn my loss for a long t...

Built in world war two the Spanish house stood along the road Capiz shells made up its windows Mom and daughter upstairs went down the exterior staircase to join the family for evening stories downstairs They chatted for hours until the wind howled and the heavens poured as they adjusted the cord to record memoirs Uncle Roth began "farewell my motherland...." they pressed the play button to hear how the verse got on Out came "yakan, yaweh..." children voices sang tuneless, dwarfish, wee dear Lord what's up with Thee not a word from motherland! Nervously they laughed at how the recording turned out but when they did a dusty laughter they heard from the empty upstairs As if to mimic and mock their jaws to shock and brittle their hairs to convert them into believers.   Ancient Digger Until now I still don't know what 'yakan, yaweh' is. I scoured the net for hints with very little success. The words are as fresh on my mind as I heard them 28 year...

The pictures space in my e-library contains a folder named Anastasia's Looking Glass.  It is where I store photos that inspire me. Recently I stumbled upon this website called vi.sualize.us where you can "bookmark your favorite images and share them with everyone." So far I found 12; (thought I'd include one of me to complete the list as I like it the way it is), and I'm sharing all with you.  A link to the source is placed before each photo. My 'favoritest' are nos. 2 - 13. Got yours? 1. Reading blurbs @ Dasa Book Cafe. February 2011 2. reading http://piccsy.com/2011/05/reading-88r2ws7ph/ 3. Untitled / Lauren Treece http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/user/12221102..../style 4. reading http://piccsy.com/2011/05/reading-88r2ws7ph/ 5. Beauty of childhood / via ver2go (tumblr) http://ver2go.tumblr.com/ 6. Sisters / Mig_R http://flickr.com/photos/fawbs/2819244943/ 7. 163 / 365 - Felix Felicis / Noukka Signe http://beautyineverythi...