RIP

Umberto Eco, writer, semiotician

I first encountered his writing when I attempted to read The Name of the Rose. After reading about ten pages, I got up and retrieved my compact copy of the Oxford English Dictionary and a magnifying glass. I have a very good vocabulary but his level of both thought and expression was above me. What an exhilarating challenge it was. And a fascinating story, too. I liked knowing he was in the world, and now he's not. Sad.

RIP

Harper Lee has finally left us, at age 89. I think she wrote a most powerful book that deserved all the accolades it got, but I never wanted to re-read it. I liked her early stories and essays, and enjoyed reading about her young adventurous self.

RIP

Antonin Scalia has died. ding dong the witch is dead / calloo callay frabjous day

Respect for the office, certainly, but not for the man (you'll notice I didn't use his title). Maybe now we can get someone more in tune with progressive politics/religion/etc.

RIPs & Misc

RIP for Glen Frey of the Eagles; Signe Halvorsen of the Jefferson Airplane; and Abe Vigoda, actor, in my memory on the series "Barney Miller."

Tomorrow I'm having a temporary ceiling installed between the lofts to help with heat retention. I'll be using foam insulation boards (4x8) and will use eye hooks and wire to make a web for them to lie on. They're so light that it'll be easy to move one if I want to get up in a loft, or move them all when summer comes and I want the heat to go out the ridge vent.

Both Mateo's and Amy's cars are in the shop (hers just tomorrow, we think) so there's lots of juggling with my car. I may take Mateo to work tomorrow so I can have the car to do errands. I was going to use Amy's car but now that's not possible. Sigh.

My brother and his crew are wending their way down the Mexican coast and will be provisioning at Acapulco to set off on a 34-day crossing to the Marquesas Islands in the mid-Pacific. Certainly wishing them all the best.