Peony Moss: October 2006 Archives

Any ideas for a Saint costume that involves a sword? (Hambet has flatly rejected St Michael.) I've thought of St Louis; any other ideas?

Every day I find another reason to be happy that we've moved (back) to Virginia, and now that it's fall I find bonus reasons. The colors, the apple cider, the pumpkins.... yes, we had fall colors, cider, and pumpkins in Maryland, but not like this. And twice a day, as I go over the overpass, I can take a quick look out the side window and see a magnificent view that extends all the way to the mountains.

There's one unlovely thing about Virginia this fall, however, and that's the Senate race. Why can't Allen and Webb just go out and fight a duel or something instead of this insane mudslinging? And why are they treating me like I'm stupid? Guys (for gentlemen you are not), would you quit with the hicker-than-thou pose?

Webb's particularly annoying, since he carefully wipes the rouge off his neck as soon as the Rappahannock's in the rear-view mirror. Up here in the D.C. burbs, he attacks Allen as being some kind of throwback, but in the southern counties he paints himself as a Real "Born Fightin'" Virginian (never mind that Allen's an ex-governor -- he was born in California!) And of course the major newspapers don't call him on it. It's disgusting.

I'll never vote for Webb; his party's made it clear they don't want my vote, seeing as I'm one of those pro-life theocrat faithbot extremist types. But Allen's campaign isn't doing much for me either.

The only compelling reason I can think of to vote for Allen is the issue of judges. Is that a good enough reason to pull the lever for the guy?

O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.

-- G. K. Chesterton

usually sung to "King's Lynn"