Planning a trip down to the LA area this weekend for a potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some of the astonishingly well-preserved Tarim mummies from China will be in a little Santa Ana museum, and considering I mentioned them in my thesis, I am definitely going to see them! To explain my comment about once-in-a-lifetime, I quote…
Interestingly, I recently stumbled across some old high school friends on-line. It was gratifying how pleased they were to find me again (see previous posting re how unlovable I was convinced I was in high school), and I was thrilled to link up with them also. However, I was puzzled at their reactions after my…
This morning the radio alarm woke me to the bouncy, upbeat-sounding strains of Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days.” I like the music, although I confess to some dislike/confusion with the lyrics. Are these people actually believing the best days of their lives were in high school, and everything is downhill from there? What a truly tragic…
A friend amusedly pointed out that I seem to be educationally following Arthur C. Clarke’s “Odyssey” books: I graduated with a bachelor’s in 2001, and with my master’s in 2010. I laughed when he mentioned it, and later curiously checked. Weren’t there supposed to be more books in the series? I was, after all, still…
The other really nice display on a 3-dimensional model was of a 19th-20th century shaman in full regalia. I was inordinately delighted by this (much to the continued amusement of my companions), excitedly pointing out the large, flat, bodhran-like drum (unfortunately unpainted with helpful symbols, which made me wonder if it had actually been used…
We have the same situation of frustratingly half-told stories occurring repeatedly in the Tech’s exhibit. For example, exactly one sentence was dedicated to Genghis’ daughters, stating that one of them led a successful conquest of a particular city. Why wasn’t there more said about her in the signs? We weren’t even given her name! If…
Try any of these books for more on this fascinating and amazing era. The Secret History of the Mongols was written a scant 20 years or so after Genghis’ death, and is startlingly realistic instead of sycophantically complimentary. The author of the other two books is eminently readable and well researched. I especially recommend the…
Thesis has been signed off! Passed with flying colors! Graduation was wonderful! ;) Very sleep deprived. Having occasional weird giggle fits. Conversation with a long-suffering friend on-line: J says “Congratulations at the end of your thesis! Now that it’s over, can I ask… what was it about? :)” Collie looks boggled, “About? Er… they’re supposed…
Laughing Collie has been temporarily replaced by Happy Fun Thesis-Collie. Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to Happy Fun Thesis-Collie. Caution: Happy Fun Thesis-Collie may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds. If Happy Fun Thesis-Collie begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head. Do not taunt…
Having a unique name, such as mine is, has inadvertently led to a big personal surprise: people from my past are actually contacting me and asking to “friend” me on Facebook! I’m touched and pleased to do so, especially since my memories of high school (as a single example) were of me being an extremely…