Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 126
August 6, 2009
Worldcon is Way Cool. (Anticipation in Montreal)
Five Things That Are Cool About Worldcon (Anticipation in Montreal)1. Anticipation is having programming in two languages, English and French. This is especially nifty because most years, "Worldcon" takes place in an English-speaking country, and that's usually the only language used for panels. Japan is a recent exception.2. Is this not the coolest program item ever? "TimeTravellerTM" is a
August 5, 2009
Montreal, day two
Yesterday was our trip to Pointe-à-Callière, the archaeology museum I'd really looking forward to seeing. It's built on the foundations of the old customs house, and down in the basement you can see various foundations and the results of excavations in the area, which had centuries worth of human occupation. There's also a nice observatory, and a temporary exhibit on pirates (way too crowded,
August 4, 2009
Some Montreal Food
Tea and tarte citron on Monday afternoon. The smudge in the meringue was my fault.Monday night's Mongolian fondue. The pot has two kinds of broth, one spicy and one mild, into which one drops slices of meat, vegetables, and tofu. It was way yummy.Dessert from Tuesday's lunch--the fire alarm at the museum went off right after I took this picture, and I carried the plate down several flights of
August 3, 2009
Montreal day one
Made it to Montreal only two hours late (plane had mechanical problems at previous origin point). Our hotel has goldfish! In a giant pond with little bridges you can walk on!C. and I looked at lots of architecture then spent a really long time at the Basilica of Notre Dame wandering around and admiring it while listening to a rehearsal of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. It's full of dark,
Off to Montreal for Worldcon
Today, my friend Charlotte and I are flying to Montreal for several days of sightseeing before we attend Worldcon.It's a first trip to the city for both of us, and there are quite a few things we hope to see, not to mention visiting a whole list of great restaurants.The Biodome sounds marvelous, and I am dying to see the ring-tailed lemurs that are there temporarily. They also have penguins!We
August 2, 2009
Edmund Blunden, "Premature Rejoicing"
Premature RejoicingWhat's that over there? Thiepval Wood.Take a steady look at it; it'll do you good.Here, these glasses will help you. See any flowers?There sleeps Titania (correct--the Wood is ours);There sleeps Titania in a deep dugout,Waking, she wonders what all the din's about,And smiles through her tears, and looks ahead ten years,And sees the Wood again, and her usual Grenadiers,All in
August 1, 2009
Edmund Blunden, "Thiepval Wood"
Thiepval WoodThe tired air groans as the heavies swing over, the river-hollows boom;The shell-fountains leap from the swamps, and with wildfire and fumeThe shoulder of the chalkdown convulses.Then the jabbering echoes stampede in the slatting wood,Ember-black the gibbet trees like bones or thorns protrudeFrom the poisonous smoke--past all impulses.To them these silvery dews can never again be
