Tag: personal blog

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow

Posted on by Shawshank

I’m very disappointed in TinyTown today. I got to the cenotaph at 11 am, and promptly shovelled it out. there were some snow drifts around it, and I wanted it to look good when the ceremony started momentarily.

At the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, I stood by myself in the cold and wind on an empty street.

Empty.

From what I could see the Royal Canadian Legions parking lot was packed. I didn’t bother going over, because I’m not a member.

I could be a member, my grandfather was a veteran of the Second World War.

In the snow, while I shovelled, I didn’t see any fresh foot prints or anything to show that they actually even did the ceremony.

So I did my own thing. Marched up, saluted, and laid my poppy on the cenotaph for my grandfather. Stood up, marched away, and simply walked back to the flat.

According to last weeks town newsletter, the time frame for the ceremony was at 10:50. That means they started early, finished early and were inside the legion drinking when THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HONOURING THE FALLEN.

I’m very disappointed in TinyTown today.

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead, short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields In Flanders fields
And now we lie In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields In Flanders fields
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Book club – Bats of the Republic

Posted on by Shawshank

Hey book nerds! According to my last book post, I finished Orange is the New Black, that means I can start a new book!

Last week, I got a book from Crystal – Bats of the Republic by Zachary Thomas Dodson. I told myself yesterday, that I’d only read the first chapter – you know to take my time and stretch it out. I ended up reading 49 pages. It’s so easy to fall into this book.

There’s two stories going on in the book – one in the 1800s and one 300 years in the future. Both stories are intertwined in one family.

This should be really good, and I’m excited to take it 1 hour at a time!

Have a great Sunday, book nerds!

Book review – Orange is the New Black

Posted on by Shawshank

Hello book nerds! This is gonna be a quick review on Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman. Let’s just say that this book pretty much just shares the name with the tv show.

It’s a 295 page book, that some how got stretched into a 7 season tv show. How they did that, I have no idea. The book basically captures what it’s like to be in prison. Mostly about the spoken and unspoken rules within the walls.

Some basic plot points exist between the two, however, the book is so much more condensed that the show.

It was a very very quick read. Even with only reading an hour or so each night it only took two or three days to finish it.

I already knew the basic ending because I hit that part in the show. I’m only on season 3 but that’s pretty well where the book ends. The book for the most part really feels rushed. Even at the beginning it felt really condensed.

If you like the show, that’s great. But I’d recommend that you read the book before you watch the show.

All in all, the book is simply ok. A good read, but not a stellar one.

Birthday month book haul!

Posted on by Shawshank

What’s up, book nerds?!

So yesterday, I’m sitting at home – as one does on a day off, and I hit refresh on the 4 packages that I’m tracking from the beautiful Crystal. After the page refreshes, it says I have a package at the post office. It’s noon, and TinyTown shuts down from 12-1 everyday. I’m serious, an air raid siren actually goes off every day at noon.

So I wait an hour to go and get my package. I know what’s in it. I remembered a couple of nights ago that it’s ponies – custom My Little Ponies, and some DVDs. No biggie. I walk over and get the slip out of my PO Box. But there’s two tags on it, meaning that I have two parcels.

TWO PARCELS!

I get the box of ponies, and there’s another. I don’t look at it. It’s an international package, that means that there’s a customs sticker on it saying what’s in the envelope. It sits upside down on my kitchen table for 9 hours. 9 HOURS. I won’t open a birthday present without Crystal watching on Duo.

I open it, and it’s a book! It looks very cool, and Crystal says that it was suggested – if you liked House of Leaves, you’ll love Bats of the Republic.

I can’t wait to start reading this! It looks strange and different, and has a ribbon bookmark!

Fancy!