Friday, January 10, 2025

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

The spirit of my father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.

 

Orlando

As You Like It            Act I, Scene i, Line 74

Orlando is talking to his older brother, Oliver, who he feels is mistreating him. When their father died, Oliver, being the oldest, got the farm and everything, and Orlando got nothing. Now he’s telling Oliver that he’s had enough of being treated like a peasant, and he’s going to be leaving home.
Ahh, impetuous youth!

This is the very beginning of the story and this is just a set-up, a reason for Orlando to venture forth and have his adventures in the forest; the adventures that make up what this play is all about.

Speaking of getting fed up, I got pretty impatient with Mojo last night, perhaps as much so as Orlando is with Oliver. It’s been cold and windy outside and Mojo has been refusing to pee out there. The problem is that he’s not using the puppy pads inside, so it seems like he’s not peeing at all. Obviously, it’s possible (probable) that’s he’s peeing inside on the sly somewhere that he’s not supposed to, and that’s not good, so we’re trying to make sure he pees outside, which he’s been pretty good about doing - until lately.

So I decided that this morning I would not be in a rush when I took him out. In fact, I walked him all around the back yard. Well, the little bugger took a nice long pee on Sam’s tree right outside the garage, so I didn’t need the long walk. But hey, that was the plan, so I stuck with it. And It’s all good. We didn’t have quite the adventure that Orlando does in the forest of Arden, but I don’t think Mojo and I were really up for anything like that anyway. And the important thing is that Mojo peed and Pete didn’t get all worked up, and we both got a bit of a walk and some fresh air in the process.

And there you have it.

So, I did notice a few interesting things on our walk.
First, the big pine tree has dropped tons of little four-inch lengths of branch ends with the needles intact, so that it looks like a carpet of these little things underneath it.
Second, the mimosa tree on the back boundary line is really getting big. We haven’t gotten a good pink bloom out of that tree yet, but I’m looking forward to one this year.
Third, the ground back in the corner of the yard where the old shed is is crinkly. Yah, crinkly. When you walk on it it collapses an inch or so - kind of weird. 

Anything else? I think just that I enjoyed the walk. My feet are still warming up from it, and Mojo is tucked deep in my robe warming up, but the walk and the fresh air was good, very good. A nice way to start the day. Next time I'll bring my phone and take a few pics so you can see what I'm talking about.

Maybe Orlando just needs a good walk and some fresh air to clear his head. 

Or maybe not.



 


 Trust me, Mojo Leadbladder is tucked in there in my robe, warm and cozy and out of sight.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

Come, assay, --There’s one gone to the harbor?

 

Desdemona

Othello              Act II, Scene i, Line 121

 

Well, what do we have here. Iago has just been talking about his wife, Emilia, and then Desdemona asks him what he would say about her, Desdemona, if he were to praise her. Iago protests, and Desdemona presses him, Come, assay, but then just like that her attention is diverted and she’s talking about some guy running by.

Assay is a modern, albeit seldom used word, and it means try. It's also a commonly used noun used in scientific parlance having to do with the testing of something in the lab. So there you go, your word for the day.

I’m not sure I’ve got anything else to say. Should I assay to come up with something? 

 

Mojo doesn't care if I assay or not; as long as I don't assay getting him out of his cozy little spot.

 

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

What, hath the firmament more suns than one?

 

Saturninus

Titus Andronicus      Act V, Scene iii, Line 17


Hey, this is a good line, and one that you can use. Let me explain. Saturninus, the emperor, comes on the scene and Lucius, who will be challenging Saturninus, does not bow to him. Simply put, Saturninus is asking the rhetorical question, is there someone else (besides me) who’s the boss here? He's the sun, and the rest of the world is the firmament. Get it?

So, next time you’re in charge, and it can be just about any situation - work, parenting, etc., when someone is not doing what you tell them just unload with What, hath the firmament more suns than one?

Oh, that’ll frost ‘em, all right. Might confuse them a bit as well, but that’s okay.  

Yes, there is only one sun in the 341 Radmere Road firmament, and it sure as hell ain't me. 
And yes, I let him drive when he wants to. 
What can I tell you: He's the sun!

 

  Today’s Totally Random Lines   The great Achilles,—whom opinion crowns The sinew and the forehand of our host,-- Having his ear full o...