Tweetish catchup

[pjthompson]

I got my most ardent wish for this weekend: it was uneventful. Reading, sleeping, watching DVR’d shows, excessive tweeting… 20 Dec

Here in Westchester we got an inch and a half [of rain] in 24 hours—rather unprecedented for SoCal. 20 Dec

As predicted, after four straight days of heavy rain, the sound of rain falling is not as charming as it once was. 20 Dec

I want to go to Istanbul. I’ve wanted to for a long time but I really want to go now. 18 Dec

I love listening to the rain fall even after two days. It isn’t supposed to clear until Xmas day. Prolly won’t be as enchanted by then. 18 Dec

The android really wanted to make that the Gate du More. Which is kind of appropriate I guess. 18 Dec

And yes arriving in Paris at the beautiful light-filled Gare du Nord. Like stepping into an Impressionist painting. 18 Dec

The Historian: riding across Dutch countryside from Amsterdam to Bruxelles–YES, a wondrous green journey. My v. 1st view of Europe. 18 Dec

Mom and I are completely disconnected from Xmas this year. The good news: no shopping! 18 Dec

It’s rained steadily for two days. Light yesterday heavy today. 18 Dec

Also still watching ghost shows. I find them obscurely comforting which is just weird. What strange psychology is this? 18 Dec

Still loving Kostova’s Historian. Not reading much but love those stolen moments. 18 Dec

Do you ever wish you could hide out in the Bathroom of Life and hope nobody finds you? No, me neither. Just wonderin’. 17 Dec

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[helios137.livejournal.com]

You wrote: " I want to go to Istanbul. I’ve wanted to for a long time but I really want to go now." Those words just triggered a dream that I had last night. I was flying/floating over Sultanahmet the old part of the city. It was a crystal clear day and I could see the Topkapi palace at the tip of the the promontory between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. I then veered to the right and swooped down to get close to the greatest of all standing structures in that city, the Aya Sofia. It was a great dream and I thank you for triggering it. When you do go, I would be honored if you would allow me to recommend a few places.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

I've wanted to see the Aya Sophia since forever. I don't know if I'll get there anytime soon, but if I'm still blogging, I'd love to hear what you recommend. There are so many places throughout Turkey I want to visit, so many.

Have you read Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian? A large section of it takes place in Istanbul. I'm really enjoying it, and that's what's kicked up the longing.

[helios137.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation. Looks like a good book. I am not a 21st century vampire fan, but I did like bram stoker's original dracula. I am still slowly getting through a wonderful book on the Byzantine Empire - "The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire" by Edward N. Luttwak. Its premise is that the empire lasted so long because its rules were able to adapt strategically to diminished circumstances by devising new ways of coping with succesive enemies. The idea compliments Jonathan Harris' central idea in "Constantinople: Capital of Byzantium" which stated that the empire had built up such an incredible myth, with hollywood style bells and whistles, to create an Oz like awe inspiring Emperor who would shock and awe all visitors, including (and especially) each new vigorous new power to emerge in the area. So, yes, I am also fully entrenched in that grand old city.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

One of the things I like about Kostova's book is that it isn't like these romantic 21st, late 20th century vampires. It's dense with history and wonderful European locales and a complicated plot. I'm only halfway through (it's over 600 pages) but I'm still loving it.

I have a handful of books on Byzantium: Norwich, Michael Psellus, some others, but I haven't looked at them in awhile. I was going to set a novel in 6th century Byzantium but that's probably not going to happen. It involved vampires. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro beat me to that idea and besides, I'm not doing vampires anymore.

[helios137.livejournal.com]

There is so much material there to draw upon. One of the most amazing traditions I read about Byzantium was the story of the Stylites. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylite There was this whole tradition of pious monks who would climb on top of pillars and remain on top of them for years or, in some cases, for the rest of their lives.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

There is indeed a rich amount of material there.