(no subject)

Last night I wasn't feeling well so I checked my temperature and found it was a bit too high to be healthy. I crawled into bed with hopes of sleeping off whatever I caught. Despite a demonic mosquito that wouldn't die, I did manage to fall asleep. Woke up several hours later when ben came home. I was soaked from sweat. I took my temperature again and it had gone completely back down to normal. A quick shower after that made me feel a lot better.

I hope whatever I had has been sweat out. I cannot afford to be sick right now.

Book - Diplomatic Immunity

I am finally caught up in the Miles Vorkosigan universe (minus a short story or two).

I was pleased that the story was in quaddiespace, which is something I have been wishing for for a long time. I think the quaddies are pretty interesting. I am glad they have been doing well since their last book.

The story was a little bit too predictable, but I still enjoyed it. It's like when you watch an action movie, not for the plot, but to see stuff explode. In the case of these books, it's to see Miles explode. (Sometimes literally.) And in the end, Miles manages to avert galactic war (again) and they all live happily ever after.

Why haven't they made this series into a movie or a tv series yet? It seems so logical. It's fluffy and fun and the main character is totally insane. It would be an instant hit.

I'm really not sure what I plan on reading after this. I guess I'll just skim through my bookshelves and see where whim takes me.

Bits from Life on the Mississippi

In the West and South they have a new institution--the Broom Brigade. It is composed of young ladies who dress in a uniform costume, and go through the infantry drill, with broom in place of musket. It is a very pretty sight, on private view. When they perform on the stage of a theater, in the blaze of colored fires, it must be a fine and fascinating spectacle. I saw them go through their complex manual with grace, spirit, and admirable precision. I saw them do everything which a human being can possibly do with a broom, except sweep. I did not see them sweep. But I know they could learn. What they have already learned proves that. And if they ever should learn, and should go on the war-path down Tchoupitoulas or some of those other streets around there, those thoroughfares would bear a greatly improved aspect in a very few minutes. But the girls themselves wouldn't; so nothing would be really gained, after all.

The drill was in the Washington Artillery building. In this building we saw many interesting relics of the war. Also a fine oil-painting representing Stonewall Jackson's last interview with General Lee. Both men are on horseback. Jackson has just ridden up, and is accosting Lee. The picture is very valuable, on account of the portraits, which are authentic. But, like many another historical picture, it means nothing without its label. And one label will fit it as well as another--

First Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Last Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Jackson Introducing Himself to Lee.

Jackson Accepting Lee's Invitation to Dinner.

Jackson Declining Lee's Invitation to Dinner--with Thanks.

Jackson Apologizing for a Heavy Defeat.

Jackson Reporting a Great Victory.

Jackson Asking Lee for a Match.

It tells ONE story, and a sufficient one; for it says quite plainly and satisfactorily, 'Here are Lee and Jackson together.' The artist would have made it tell that this is Lee and Jackson's last interview if he could have done it. But he couldn't, for there wasn't any way to do it. A good legible label is usually worth, for information, a ton of significant attitude and expression in a historical picture. In Rome, people with fine sympathetic natures stand up and weep in front of the celebrated 'Beatrice Cenci the Day before her Execution.' It shows what a label can do. If they did not know the picture, they would inspect it unmoved, and say, 'Young girl with hay fever; young girl with her head in a bag.'