The Allurium http://www.theallurium.com/ The Website of John W. Randal en Copyright 2008 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:41:58 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Second Cup The light has changed, grown more crystalline and Autumn-bright.  This morning is cool, wet...

I'm sipping my second cup and getting ready for work.  The beach seems like a sweet and hazy interlude that took place ages ago.  Still, it was great to get back to the Outer Banks after so many years.  I'll put some photos up on my Flickr account, soon.  And will continue the writing in my notebook (that I started on the beach).

Right now, though, it's time for more coffee.  And a hot shower -- to wash away the cobwebs...

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/second-cup.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/second-cup.html Weblog coffee light seasons time Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:41:58 -0500 Reach the Beach Ah, heading to the beach -- after an extended absence.  It's been a long time coming...

:-)




]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/reach-the-beach.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/reach-the-beach.html News Avon beach OBX Outer Banks Summer vacation Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:09:40 -0500 August, Already The last month was a blur; the next nine days will be a grind.  August, already -- and I should be rushing toward bed...

I've been lax here on The Allurium, and I'm going to try and be better.  Work has been busy (and getting busier still).  I'm there the next nine days straight -- then it's vacation time!  After too many years, me, Amy and my family are getting back to the Outer Banks on August 9th.  I can't wait.  I'd stay up and write more about it but I have to get up at 4:30 AM tomorrow.

So I'll just say, Hello August.  And hurry to dreamland.

For now.

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/august-already.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/08/august-already.html Weblog August hello time vacation work Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:29:23 -0500 Into July Ah.  Time...

...I'm on a bit of a Cormac McCarthy trip, presently.  I've just finished watching, No Country for Old Men and am currently reading, The Road.  Harsh and clear stuff, all around.   Good, though.

In the middle of a three day weekend, with a beer buzz and some July heat sinking in.  The computer screen is a pale and quiet window.  The fireworks on the 4th were pretty.  It was a blessing to be able to watch them with my Mom and Dad, Joel, Ellen, Finn and Amy.  Summer seems to have gotten ahead of me, though; how can June be gone already?

I bought myself a silver pendant.  It is formed from a mold taken from a 16th century wax seal -- people used to use them to seal letters and such.  This one has an image of an hourglass, with wings.  Above the hourglass is the phrase, Carpe Diem.   I keep trying to do that, but time...

Time flies.

Hello July...
 
]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/07/into-july.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/07/into-july.html Weblog Carpe Diem Cormac McCarthy day off July 4th summer Tempus Fugit time Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:00:11 -0500 Me & Dad Happy Father's Day, Dad.  And thank you for all you have done and continue to do for me!
Love, John
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]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/06/me-dad.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/06/me-dad.html News Dad Father's Day me Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:55:48 -0500 Reaching June The slip from bright to shaded (and the amount of coffee thrumming through my veins) gives the day a dynamic.  A plucked string: vibrating.  Sound pouring out and up into the variable sky.  June one and I'm off and whirling through the hours.  Housekeeping, looking at flowers, sweating lightly in the warming air.  Such a treasure.

Hello, June.

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/06/reaching-june.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/06/reaching-june.html Weblog coffee day off first hello June Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:40:30 -0500 Remembering
Here's to nice slow hours, and to a very happy Memorial Day.

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/05/remembering.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/05/remembering.html News Weblog holiday Memorial Day memories Summer time Mon, 26 May 2008 10:45:13 -0500 Goodbye, Pal
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Pal died today.  Joel said that he was very well-named -- because Pal was a strong and loyal friend, above all else.  He was a good and noble dog and he will be missed.

Goodbye, Big Guy.  I love you.

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/05/goodbye-pal.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/05/goodbye-pal.html Weblog dog goodbye Pal pet Tue, 13 May 2008 21:11:53 -0500 Happy Birthday, Bill I hope your day is a good one -- and that the times ahead are brighter for you.  Happy Birthday!
Love,
John
]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/04/happy-birthday-22.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/04/happy-birthday-22.html News Weblog April 27 Bill birthday Spring time Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:43:20 -0500 A Place in the Sun For someone who is pretty "techie" it's kind of funny that I've only just now purchased my first MP3 file.  I must say, it was very easy...and actually kind of fun.  I got the song through Amazon.com.  At the moment it's getting me a bit choked-up listening to it.

I've been catching bits of the movie, Charlotte's Web at work.  I read the book when I was a kid and enjoyed it a great deal.  The movie version reminded me of what I had loved so much about the novel.  I caught myself wondering, as I watched little bits of the movie, why they rendered Charlotte so realistically.  I've always had a bit of a thing about spiders.  Seeing Charlotte scampering around in the movie gave me the willies.  My first thought was, "Why didn't they make her less realistic, more endearing and "cartoony".  Other than some expressive eyes, she looks very spider-like.

Then I realized that her looking very much like a "real" spider was the whole point.

And that makes a spot for Charlotte's Web on my "favorite movies" list.  It sounds somewhat hokey, but the film re-taught me the novel's lesson about the beauty and worth in all living things. 

There's a song that plays over the end credits of the movie.  The vocals sounded familiar to me, but I wasn't sure who it was.  When I got home from work tonight, I did a search for the soundtrack on Amazon.  Unfortunately, the song wasn't listed.  So I delved a bit deeper, trying out different artists and titles.  No luck.  Eventually I figured, "what the heck" and typed in who I originally thought the artist was and what I was guessing was the title of the song.  When I previewed the song I recognized it right away.

A Place in the Sun, by Stevie Wonder.

I love it.

See?  "There's hope for everyone..."

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/04/a-place-in-the.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/04/a-place-in-the.html Weblog A Place in the Sun Amazon beauty Charlotte Charlotte's Web MP3 Some Pig Stevie Wonder Wilbur Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:09:12 -0500 Bright So the Winter pulls back (leaving a chill behind) and things open-up to Spring brightness.  I'm off and unfolding.  The last few weeks have been long -- free time is sweet.  Time has been flying away in all directions.  I'm hoping for a slower, warmer season, with longer stretches of open time.  That'd be groovy.

Hello Spring!

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/03/bright-1.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/03/bright-1.html Weblog hello Spring time Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:06:37 -0500 Bon Voyage, Amy! I hope that Florida is sweet and warm for you and that you have a wonderful trip, my Dear.  I'll be thinking of you -- and remember what it says on your bracelet: it's true!  :-)

Love,
John

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]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/bon-voyage-amy.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/bon-voyage-amy.html Weblog Amy Florida vacation Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:00:21 -0500 Happy Valentine's Day! Saturated Pink

Venus Significat Humanitatem, baby!

:-)

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/happy-valentine.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/happy-valentine.html News Flickr love rose Saturated Pink Valentine's Day Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:17:00 -0500 Happy Birthday, Dad! I am very lucky to have you as my Father.  Here's to many more happy, healthy and great years ahead.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Love,
John

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/happy-birthday-21.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/02/happy-birthday-21.html News Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:09:14 -0500 This Moment is a Butterfly January is almost gone -- and I feel like I've been neglecting this place.

I want to do more here.  I'm going to have to try harder.  Free time just flies away from me, now.  The moments are butterflies...or snowflakes.  Falling up, fluttering away.  I should do more of this, though, because more of this is more like me.  Or at least more like the me I want to be.

It's colder now.  And dark.  The last hours of my two days off.  They are warning of ice and snow in the morning.  I'm back in, then.  Doing my bit for the money.

Gotta try harder.

Gotta get back to being more like me.

]]> http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/01/this-moment-is.html http://www.theallurium.com/archives/2008/01/this-moment-is.html Weblog days-off dreams time truth work Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:38:01 -0500