check out this divine apparatus...

Machined, milled perfection...form follows fuction, barely. It is actually rather diminutive, about one inch in length but with a sublime balance unseen in today's mass produced, stamped out, throw away societal refuse...It is an Alvin Brass Bullet Pencil Paper, made in Germany, of course. I covet this knurled gem with it's precision honed blade and gratifying heft and utility.

Do I sound Rachelesque? using all my adjectives... She says that I am uncouth and need to use my words to set myself free, not literally said it all together like that, but she has said it in pieces, in the 1000 intimations, insinuations, hints and pregnant pauses where she looks into me with a combination of pity and amazement. Rachel is writing up a storm lately in addition to all this math...she's doing a couple of essay competitions (with 1000's of dollars in prize money) and one for the Women's Equality Day.

Has anyone who has known my beloved Rachel longer than these few months that I have noticed that she is full of witty one liners that only she gets and they immediately put you in this state of confusion because she carrys on like your the obtuse one for not following her OBVIOUS train of thought. I feel defensive and confused as I think back over the last few minutes of conversation to see what I had missed. Like JUST now, out of the blue," Are you judging me?" in this agressive demanding tone. I think we were talking about the movie "Gladiator" or "Smoking Aces" last, so of course I was not judging her...it is a neutral judge-free zone. Now come to find out it was something we had spoken of 10+ minutes ago that she had ruminated on until she was good and spicy about something she had misconstrued that she thought I had said but really only meant and was afraid to say or ... BUT listen it gets better, at least all this is somewhat sane and can be followed, how about when you are woken up by her piling every scrap of blankets and pillows, RUG! and night gown on your head while she huffs off to the loo because of a bad dream she had where I tried to sneak up on her and scared her...

We just had some sweet, dark, pink watermelon from the DFAC, Dining FACility, Amen.





There was a partial sandstorm today, but still hot as blazes. We have got to find a way to efficiently and frugally harness all this solar energy and maybe the wind too. Rachel allowed me the pleasure of bathing her feet in sun heated bottled water here in the confines of our little sanctuary. It is sort of like living in a small boat where everything has its place...and when things ar not put back where they go,"ship-shape", it is easy to generate a real mess and


..."Now I understand, I really understand.." Rachel just said that out of nowhere..



Here is a picture of where I slept out on San Juan Island last X-mas week-end. I went to sleep in the rain and woke to snow that just kept coming down. I miss it pretty badly too. I can't wait to get out in it all with Rachel when we get back.

Anyway, friends M