From mi hermano...

[taerowyn]

Comment on this post. I will choose seven interests from your profile and you will explain what they mean and why you are interested in them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so that others can play along.

Conveniently, schwa242 picked several interests that are linked

Trad

Shorthand for traditional music. In this case I mean Irish trad, but it can mean any culture's traditional music.

Example (and I love the fact that's from a pub in Dingle...that I've been to)

Seven Nations

They're a band that takes trad and gives it a modern, rock and roll flair.

Like so...

Popcorn Behavior

Yet another band...in the trad style. Although, apparently I'm out of touch as they've now changed their name to Assembly. I think I like the old name better.

Of note (at least to me) is that college roommates of mine got engaged at a Popcorn Behavior concert. Their song "Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy" (hear it here) had special meaning as his job at the time often took him to sea...plus they like trad just as much as me. Anyway, the band was coming to town right around their anniversary. When he told me he had a surprise, I totally knew he was going to pop the question...so I got to help!

Basically, there was a concert at a church, then a reception across the street. As we left the reception I "realized I lost my keys," so we headed back to the church. In our search we "stumbled on" what SHE thought was a private rehearsal as the band was in a room playing.

He led her in and the band played their favorite songs (including Lovely Nancy) while the two of them danced. I hung back (and took a few pictures, which earned me the finger from her...until later when she realized the event I was actually immortalizing). Anyway, she apparently just thought it was an anniversary present he set up...until he got down on one knee. Lots of gasping, crying, saying of yes...it was just...gah...so glad I could share it (and when I have a relationship where talk turns to marriage I'm totally sending the guy to my friend for tips on how to ask).

Reactions

This is one of my more general interests that I think harkens back to when I first signed up and was still a science geek, chem student...liked the fact that it can be chemical reactions, people's reactions, eliciting reactions, reacting to life etc.

Pictures

I like pictures. Looking at them. Taking them. On occasion (despite the fact that I suck) drawing them.

Annie Dillard

Got introduced to Dillard's work in a college class all about the art of the essay (in fact, that may actually have been the title of the course). Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is probably her best known book. The best way I can describe the book is it's like Thoreau with a firm grasp on modern science. I still remember her interpretation of what you see is what you get.

Chet Raymo
Somewhat similar writing style to Dillard's, but somehow...more. Probably my favorite non-fiction writer. My favorite book is Honey from Stone (and not just because it's written about Dingle Ireland...told you there were lots of connections), but his most well known is probably The Path. He used to write a column in the science section of the Boston Globe and still writes weekly on his website.

He just does an amazing job of weaving science, philosophy, literature, religion, art, history...the best (and sometimes worst) of human thought, culture, and experience into these essays and books that expand your brain and leave you awestruck at the universe itself. Basically...I dream of writing like him.

Comments

[schwa242.livejournal.com]

Example (and I love the fact that's from a pub in Dingle...that I've been to)

So have we! It was about a milekilometer up the road from where we stayed on our last night the most recent time around.

Pictures

I knew what the first link was going to be before clicking on it :)

Well, I didn't know but that was my best guess.