Guys and Balls - MenKnit Saint Cloud

A picture from our first meeting of "Guys and Balls."

Guys and Balls 2

One never knows when the homosexual is about. . .

Oh but come on it's funny. Please see the William Shatner version if you don't understand.

~Eikon

DND

Oh the dorkery!!!!

~Eikon

My pretty baby and pretty puppy.

~Eikon

On the making of Pascha

Flopper: Gross you're using wholewheat flour in your Pascha?
Eikon: What do you think my people used to use?
Flopper: Well sure, they used the wholewheat until bleached flower was cheaper, and then never again. . . the thrifty wenches.

A terribly sadistic coffee commercial

Brought to you by the ever adorable but fiendishly
scandinavian Peatmoss and the fine people at Folger's.

~Eikon

It's September 11

I feel like it's heartless not to say something. I didn't listen to NPR today. Someone complained that their programming the other week over-emphasizing Katrina. The listener suggested they call their afternoon show "One Thing Considered." I imagine today was similar. It's a date that needs to be remembered with an open mind and an open heart. I share two items in memory of the events of September 11th.

1. When I was a high-schooler, I did a series of "reports" on the life of a senior in high school for the local NPR station.It's interesting to go back and listen to it now. Some parts of it seem so selfish to me - like worrying about the draft or when I say "why does this have to happen MY senior year" as if the entire world revolves around my circle of life.
2. There was a lot of crappy memorial music written after 9/11. There is one song that is far from that, which has stuck in my head today.
   

In Yayse Barnwell's song "Let Us Rise in Love" she sings to an infant:

"DEAR ONE,I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD WITNESS SUCH A TIME
I HEAR YOU CRY.
DEAR ONE,
THERE IS A REASON FOR THESE THINGS, BUT THERE’S NO RHYME.
I HEAR YOUR WHYS.
I DON’T HAVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS
I DON’T HAVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS
BUT I KNOW THIS IS A MOMENT OF TRANSCENDENCE
IF ONLY WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO CARE.
LET US, LET US RISE IN LOVE
LET US, LET US RISE IN LOVE"
(Read the rest of the lyrics here)

There are two things that stick out to me in this text- the first is that "There is a reason for these things, but there'y no rhyme" and then later "I know this is a moment of transcendence". This sort of stoic confidence comforts me. It's so easy to "fall back" on nationalism in times of tragedy. I guess that's ok, maybe it's a way of grieving, but that's not what this song is about. It's about action - about rising in love. It's beautiful. Click on the CD cover to go and hear a clip of the song at Amazon.

Group Home Woes

There is something distressing about cleaning up another persons shit. I can't quite put my finger on what it is though. I dislike being disturbed and not knowing why.

~Eikon

Savanah Flowers

Pretty; Flopper liked these flowers.

~Eikon

Oak Savanah

This peculiar ecoystem is obly endemic in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and most notably California. The monks at Saint Johns have bits of it preserved in their arboretum.

~Eikon

Preacher Man

Apparantly every year this fellow ,who goes by the name of Brother Judd, comes on the first day and preaches the word in a patently offensive manner. His schtick is that he goes to various campuses in the upper midwest and when he manages to piss people off enough to be assaulted he then sues the respective institution for not providing for his safety. He then takes the proceeds and repeats the process. Isn't religion grand?

~Eikon

Food Line

The local grocery store hands t Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese on the first day of classes.

~Eikon

Fantasy Dog Park humor

Giggle,

~Eikon

Last night and fritters Hat

This is the hat I am making for Fritter. It's cotton and made on #7s using Fair Isle.

~Eikon

The passing of the computer of Flopper

Flopper's laptop entered it's death throes yesterday and is not expected to recover.




~Eikon