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Zero ambition to do anything, zero energy to motivate myself.
Which is okay, I needed this.
New book came via the magic Amazon truck on Friday ...
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At the moment I'm reading a book containing eyewitness accounts from the battle from those French soldiers assigned to headquarters, the Imperial Guard, and d'Erlon's I Corps. Interesting to say the least.
Reading some of these accounts I found myself asking, "Were these guys actually at the Battle of Waterloo?" Maybe they just heard about it through someone else.
Well, they all were there, or at least within a mile or so of the battle, one account was from an aide to Napoléon who got no closer to the battlefield than the Caillou farm. (Which while close, within hearing distance, is not within sight of the field at any point.) Most of what he knows about the battle itself is from other people's accounts.
I've read a lot about this battle over the years, this new book looks to be interesting, perhaps I might learn something new. Something I always enjoy.
Anyhoo, back to my wet afternoon reveries, listening to the Winery Dogs and contemplating the meaning of life.
There are days I just want to chuck it all and go play with my grandchildren, full time.
Soon enough I think.
Just not today.
Be well.
Enjoy the weekend-long timeout Sarge. Yesterday was perfect, not too hot, cloudless, no humidity, a day to spend outside and just smile..... a lot. Today shaping up to be a repeat........a beverage day indeed!
ReplyDeleteSounds just about perfect! Enjoy!
DeleteMan, have I gained a deep appreciation/ longing for “nothing on the schedule” time. But…be careful what you wish for. There are a lot of folks, many of whom are hard, nay impossible, to say no to. They will beg/ask/quasi-demand your time and assistance. Just sayin’.
ReplyDeletejuvat
Well, ya know, you're not really retired. You've got the wine tours and the rental property things going on. Sure, you're the willing minion, and Mrs J is the boss, but you're not really retired. Just sayin' ...
DeleteMy "not really retired" self stays busy four days a week with work and The Missus Herself doesn't task me even on those long weekends, well, the occasional heavy thing has to be moved on occasion, but nothing like your situation.
Hang in there!
For a "retired" guy, Juvat is a pretty busy fellow.
DeleteSarge,
DeleteI musta forgotten to mention it. We had a guy stop by a few years ago and ask if the Wine Tour Company was for sale. We said it could be. He made an offer which as I was about to say yes, Mrs. J stepped on my toes and said, "No, Not at this point." He then made a considerably bigger offer to which we agreed. We had the first wine tour company in the area and there were only about 5 wineries. Now there are probably close to 20 wine tour companies and probably over a hundred wineries. Driving down US 290 east of town is considerably more difficult than it was a few years ago. One must be careful for a lot of different reasons, but one in particular is problematic.
juvat
TB - Far busier than I envisage being in retirement!
Deletejuvat - No, you did mention that some time ago, but you've got this new thing going on now.
DeleteAs to the number of wineries, there's no such thing as too much good wine. But yeah, it can tend to crowd things a bit.
How are the white wines in Texas, dry or sweet, or both. I can't handle dry very well, but a sweet wine, such as a Spätlese or an Auslese is right up my alley!
Sarge, I have come to the conclusion that "I am writing on X" is a fantastic way to cover new books entering the household without being looked askance upon. "It is for research" I mutter as I shuttle the packages to my desk, looking for open space...
ReplyDeleteThat said, I am insanely jealous of the period you have chosen. The paucity of sources for the periods I am writing/researching - Greek, Roman, Anglo-Saxon - are limited and there is so much we have to intuit or try and pull from less reliable sources (For example, trying to pull casualty rates from Norse Sagas presents a "challenge").
Given our current electronic, observational, and data abilities, it is hard to remember for many that battles of previous eras has none of these things. Everyone's view of the battles became a reflection of what they saw or were involved in. There was no instant feedback or incremental adjustments. Warfare can be very precise and managed in the modern era, but it is dependent on so much that seems fragile to me.
The retirement option sounds like a grand plan. Even with my current scheduling instability and unknown job future, the beckoning vision of time to choose to spend (instead of having it spent) is a hypnotic one.
I can't imagine writing of the period you've chosen. Accurate sources are rare, mostly old songs and legends right? Then again, there is a certain romance with having those as sources. Some of the old stuff I've read from then makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I can almost smell the cook fires as some old one tells tales of what went before.
DeleteYou're one day closer! Hooray!
ReplyDeleteI just finished on Friday a bout with the gallbladder. Six weeks of misery, followed by two hours of cutting, sucking and stitching apparently. Back pain gone, Stomach pain gone. Side pain gone. There are new and various holes in me, but I think they'll go away in time. So glad to be returned to the realm of the content retired. Amazing stuff going on inside those big hospital buildings!
Glad to hear you're doing better, LtFuzz. Keep up the good work.
Deletejuvat
LtFuzz - Welcome to the "No Gallbladder Club." I went through that some years back, my doc jumped on the gallbladder issues early, I only suffered for a few weeks.
DeleteGlad you're doing better!
juvat - Ditto, we'd like to keep the old Deuce pilot around a lot longer!
DeleteSounds like a day for a cup of Lapsang Souchong, a fire, a comfortable chair, and a good book.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of that tea before, after reading up on it, I might need to venture forth and purchase some!
DeleteYes, yesterday was one of those days.
I first learned of it when I read "Centennial" by Michener. It fills the mouth nicely, smokey and not very tannic. Good for contemplative sipping. Especially by fire or candle light.
DeleteI also like it as an iced tea and will use it for sun tea.
Looking forward to trying it!
DeleteI share your interest in the battle of Waterloo and have collected many different accounts of the day, one of the most interesting books to me was Bernard Cornwell's "Waterloo The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three battles". I also have a particular interest in the 2nd battalion, 73rd Regimant of Foot which suffered the second highest casualties of any regiment during the battle, as for many years I was the sergeant of the 1st battalion, 73rd regiment of Foot in New South Wales (Lachlan Macquarie, Colonel and Governor of the colony of New South Wales).
ReplyDeleteCornwell's book on the battle is excellent. As are all his books.
Delete