http://ziamunshi.com Scratchings and Jotlings on Books, Houses, Pets, Art, the Exigencies of Daily Existence, and Other Ephemera Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:11:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Not nearly as heartwrenching as Henry Hoover's but interesting because it conjures up an era. I have NO idea who this is. Addressed to: Mrs. Sarah Hunt Springfield Clark County State of Ohio Cincinatti August 17th 1829 My Dear Sister I am just getting so that I can enjoy a little comfort in breathing & move about, yet ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/06/and-one-more-letter/ I went to visit my mother about a month ago. She handed over a whole pile of old letters she had found--dating from about 1825 to 1870--which I am slowly transcribing. Alas, some are just tiny scraps of papers, but there are some real gems in there. This is really ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/06/on-old-letters/ Yesterday, I ran up to the house for 20 minutes. Came back, door had been broken into and laptops stolen. Yes, these are adventures in shackitude. http://ziamunshi.com/2008/04/mother-suckers/ I am deleting my Facebook account. There's been a lot lot of noise about privacy and what have you on the Web, and I really don't feel the need to add anything to what anyone else says. They're a company; they sell information--and that's life in the 21st century. The myth ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/04/bye-bye-facebook/ I got cocky. For a couple of months, it's seemed like the area over my eyebrows is a little lighter again, and I have studiously been avoiding it--but dreading getting tan in the summer all the same. Now it looks like it may be getting worse, and to make matters even ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/04/i-think-some-vit-is-coming-back/ Now doesn't THAT sound all art gallery-ish. I have a ton of unframed prints I haven't posted up at the house. Those that come with frames, I lug down to the shack and put up on the many bare walls. Which is where I am, and where my digital camera is, ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/04/recent-acquisitions/ Nor do I want to be a werewolf, a slayer, a fleet commander, or santa. I do not want to plant a green patch or get a free aircraft. I don't really care all that much about six degrees of separation or solving other people's online jigsaw puzzles. This is ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/04/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-vampire/ She has the rather unfortunate name of Peaches, but she's really a love. http://ziamunshi.com/2008/03/foster-pug-2/ Tramp stamp: This is what all the guys on Steve's construction site call those big tattoos that cover a woman's lower back. Sadly, this came about because of the "base girl," a woman whose job is to install base trim, and who is obviously always bending over. The cause ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/03/phrase-of-the-day/ I was going to write a post about my adventures in shackitude, namely the 50 bazillion cars in front of the apartment building next door and the almost constant traffic. I think I'll bypass all that for now, and cut a long story short. I wasn't there--had left about an ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/03/my-shack-was-shot/ I have actually let a whole month go by without blogging. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's longer than a month, but I've been focusing on the fact that my February 2008 listing in the archives will be ... missing. Oh well, such is life. And life is good. The shack ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/03/disgrace-2/ I slung my briefcase over my shoulder this morning, whistled for the dog, and commuted down the alley. This white thing is the official Chez Munshi Shack: Admittedly, every time I come to the front door, I feel like I'm being incarcerated: But it's not so bad when you walk in: Hard at work: http://ziamunshi.com/2008/01/i-commuted-this-morning/ Within 20 minutes of moving out of my office--and we're talking about before my body heat even dissipated, Mr. Demo started his favorite thing. http://ziamunshi.com/2008/01/mr-demo-doesnt-waste-time/ I still have to get curtains up, finish hanging pictures, rearrange rugs, etc. But it's starting to be quite habitable. http://ziamunshi.com/2008/01/new-office-pix/ I read this while we were in Rockford over Thanksgiving, and to be honest, I can't remember that much about it except for the fact that the protagonist's aunt used laurel soap, which sounded lovely and refreshing, and reminds me that I want to order some laurel essential oil to ... http://ziamunshi.com/2008/01/the-girl-in-the-tangerine-scarf-mohja-kahf/