Joe Haldeman's Blog, page 92

philosophers and root vegetables

Nothing of great import to report. Went to the hospital and had a CAT scan, which will guide the doctor[s:] in moving the tube that I think runs over the top of the pancreas (and then out through a hole in the upper abdomen to a vacuum receptacle). That will be day after tomorrow.

Another schedule shake-up, keeping us in Cincinnati some days more. (Not a big problem, since I'm not yet physically up to a thousand + mile car trip.) Going to have the little "procedure" Friday on the abdominal ...

stars and tears

Elizabeth, our experience was just like yours. When I first got the Questar, I could use it in the back yard and see lots of galaxies and nebulae. Now, with the football stadium and shopping mall, forget it. At least with a small scope. With my 12" and a Skyglow filter, I can glimpse deep-sky objects. I hope that will also be true with my next scope, a 9.25" Mak.

We do have dark sky about eighteen miles away, in Paynes Prairie State Park. Have to rent a campsite to get in at night, thoug...

war and peace and moon and stars

Mitch, I have to admit that I didn't take note of the viciousness in the attitudes of the crew in the new Trek movie. I'm too inured to it, I guess. You make a good point, though, or a good set of points. The generation that created the pacifistic Star Trek knew what real world war was. The generation working on it now sees the good guys doing their thing in the desert on TV. That's war, and the grainy black-and-white cataclysm of world war isn't even memory anymore, just history.

Not tha...

war and peace

It's interesting to consider the sentiment "There was never a good war or a bad peace." A lot of people (especially those with no direct experience with war; especially males under 25) would go to war to protect vague abstractions. People without personal freedom will nevertheless go to war to protect the freedoms their government claims they have.

Is a peace without liberty preferable to fighting to regain liberty? I have some sympathy for the man who reaches for a gun when the government ...

war, peace

Dave, when I was in the hospital in Vietnam I volunteered to work for the Red Cross. I was sitting in my office typing up a ditto master for the football pool when an old guy knocked on the door and stepped in -- I saw the general's stars on his Air Force fatigues and snapped to. Then a lifelong familiar voice said, "Aw, siddown, soldier," and I saw "Stewart" sewn over his blouse pocket. I shook Jimmy Stewart's hand and stammered something inane. We exchanged pleasantries and he went on t...

getting better

(n sff.net, Geoff Landis referred to an article in American Scholar that analyzes F. Scott Fitzgerald's financial records.) The Fitzgerald article was fascinating, Geoff. No actual surprises, but it was valuable (and astonishing) to see the actual numbers. He and Zelda did party their way through an immense pile of cash.

It's open season on Fitz. The 16 Nov New Yorker has Arthur Krystal's "Slow Fade," an elegaic retelling of the Fitzgerald/Hollywood tragedy. Or can you make tragedy out ...

a day like all days, filled with those events which alter and illuminate our times

Yesterday was pleasantly uneventful. Weather almost springlike, so I got out a bit on my walker. Went to a nice Indian restaurant for lunch, the New Krishna.

I read a couple more chapters to Gay and Judith, and then they went off in search of a ready-broiled chicken for dinner. None to be had, so they got a raw one and handed it to me.

Not much work at all. I did it country French style, slathering it in butter and then squeezing lemon juice all over it. Put it in the oven and then Judith ...

eating, reading

Lunchtime, we screwed our culinary courage to the sticking place and struck out for the nearest Skyline Chili. (They're as ubiquitous as Burger Kings in another city.)

I got a bowlful of everything but the spaghetti, watching carbs, and have to say it wasn't bad, even if (as has been reiterated here a few times) it wasn't chili, either. Greek hamburger stew, a good lunch. Judith Clute protected the reputation of British trenchermen by getting a jumbo five-way, and almost finishing it.

I read...

twenty thousand bottles of wine on the wall, twenty thousand bottles of wine . . .

I'm sort of copping out on Turkey Day this year. Don't have
the stamina to do the usual one-armed-paperhanger cooking. So we've decided
to buy a ready-cooked turkey with all the trimmings. Have a few fans over to
help us with it.

Having a pretty good time being inactive. Watched the zany Liz Taylor version
of "Taming of the Shrew" on teevee, and last night there was a charming corny
1938 movie with Hedda Hopper as herself, "Hotel Hollywood."

Mainly sleeping and eating a lot. Doc said several ...

back from the dead

Hello, there. Joe calling back from the dead.

About two hours after my last LJ entry, in Cincinnati on 19 September, I went back to the hotel from fixing a kettle of vegan chili for the next day's party. I developed stomach pains that became all-thorax pain and then began an impressive bout of projectile vomiting. The last time I vomited was 1954, so I was pretty sure there was something wrong. I collapsed and Gay called 9-1-1. The last thing I remember was the ambulance crew coming throu...