Back from Danny’s birthday party… Typical for him, he had a pokemon theme, as his 40th b-day also as usual, I enjoyed the kids much more than the adults. (excepting Dan, of course) Denise, a 11 year old Chinese girl just here 6 months, and a *total* sweetheart. She and I drew pokemon characters on a sketch pad, and she did a fine job of capturing the likeness of pikachu and charzard…. while my squirtle and bulbasaur were sorely lacking. We swapped drawings and I think I came out ahead.

Sara was the other little girl, maybe 12. not as graphically inclined, but spent most of the evening chatting and gabbing and speaking and talking…very chatty….gabby enough to hold up both sides of the conversation, but charming enough to not make you mind.

Made a lot of small talk with the grownups, but nothing worth any real mention… Most of Dan’s pals aside from myself seem to speak mandarin or cantonese, sometimes both.

I ate a copious amount of sheet cake, appetizers from the relish tray, and cheese… ack… totally bad for me, but it’s a party, right? I think I’m entitled to splurge once in a while.

After the party, Dan and I went out to the Mai-Kai (instead of dave and busters, away from the show, just the Molokai Bar off in the corner) for a couple of rum drinks and quiet conversation… we both reminisced for a bit, and gabbed about our assorted woes, neutrals and good times. We’re going to head to D&B’s later on this week, when we’re both more up for the noise and hubbub.

hum, hrm… hoom

Well, it’s time for Scotto to go help Danny with his Birthday party… we have about 20 people to feed, and entertain. Not really in the mood for it, but It’ll be more fun once there, I hope. Newtie will have to hold down the fort while I’m gone… I think he’s up to the task. I’m moving at Ent-speed today. Hoom. Hum. *shuffles & trundles off*

See you kids before sundown.

Well, between light pollution and a cloudy sky, I was mostly out of luck with the eclipse. Using a pair of 7×50 binoculars helped some and I caught a slight change of shading, but overall vision was poor. The upshot was that it was warm enough to walk outside in my shorts and a t-shirt. I can’t reccomend binocs for an amateur skywatcher enough… you don’t have to set up as much as with a scope, and with something like the moon or other bright sky objects, I think they are actually easier to use.

One of the better sources for info – http://www.earthsky.com/ – a well put together site.

Chapter IV
Treebeard

The Ent and the Ent-wife
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‘There was an Elvish song that spoke of this, or at least
so I understand it. It used to be sung up and down the Great River. It was
never an Entish song, mark you: it would have been a very long song in Entish!
But we know it by heart, and hum it now and again. This is how it runs in your
tongue:

THE ENT.
When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!
THE ENTWIFE.
When Spring is come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;
When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;
When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,
I’ll linger here, and will not come, because my land is fair.
THE ENT.
When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold
Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;
When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is best!
THE ENTWIFE.
When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;
When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;
When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,
I’ll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best!
THE ENT.
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again!
THE ENTWIFE.
When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;
When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past;
I’ll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again:
Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!
BOTH.
Together we will take the road that leads into the West,
And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.’