Birthday '08

So yesterday was my birthday, which as one would expect being that I'm in a new area, I spent by myself.  In fact, I read the same volume of Steinbeck that had me feeling down in the last post.  But instead of feeling lonely, I was uplifted, since birthday greetings came in from literally all corners of the continent.  I had best wishes from Florida, California, Alberta, Toronto, Montreal, Utah and here in Tennessee. It's a pleasing feeling to know that one's sphere of influence extends that far.  To all of those that sent birthday greetings by phone, e-mail or Facebook, I thank you.

How to be a Hermit

Lately I’ve been reading a fair bit about the loneliness of successful men.  This includes the biography of Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts; Simple Curiosity, which is a collection of letters from George Gaylord Simpson, well-noted paleontologist, to his family; and John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley in search of America.  All of these books deal with the profound loneliness of great men, who were usually surrounded by people that liked them, or at least in Steinbeck’s case, made friends easily by the application of whisky.  It just so happens that I’m reading these books as I start a new geographic chapter in my life, the way that I start out in any new area: by being completely alone in the crowd.   It is one thing entirely to be alone when one is truly by one’s self.  When I lived out in the desert of northern Arizona, I only remember rarely feeling the pangs of longing for another person.  Reminders that I was missing something didn’t surround me.  Here in Tennessee, as it was when I was working independently in Utah, or traveling to Monterey, I don’t know anybody, not even someone that can make introductions for me. 

Of course, I am more acutely aware of this absence because of the books that I’m reading.  The rain hasn’t helped at all either.  But then, I know of no more sure fire way to stop the rain than for me to buy an umbrella, except possibly for me buying two.  I did in fact buy two, and wouldn’t you know it, the rain has stopped  I consider it money well spent).  Perhaps I should also pick up Cuppy’s How to be a Hermit again.  That is the one book that has ever made me feel much better about my naturally hermitic tendencies.  I suppose a third read through wouldn’t hurt me, although I need to find someone that can repair the book’s ancient binding lest I hurt the book.

I Give it a Tenn

My seemingly continuous travels continue as I now find myself living in the American southeast.  I now reside in Eastern Tennessee, where everyone speaks as though Jeff Foxworthy taught English.  The amusing thing is that few people have commented on my accent.  One administrator was even surprised I said that I'd just moved out here from California.  'Well I guess you do sound different don't you!'  My social circle is currently limited since the only people I've met are in the graduate biology dept, and most of them already have their own social clique.  That in time too shall come about.  I've only been out here a week.

True Love . . . of Spam

What is quoted below is a great example of some spammer, with a translation program, or automatic message generator, producing a hilariously badly worded e-mail.  The English is so bad that I just had to post it here.  The spacing and line changes are exactly as they were in the e-mail that I received.  I removed the e-mail address that it links to so that people won't accidentally click it.

Hello my new friend!
My name is Elena!
how are you? I hope you fine!
I have found yours profile and e-mail on dating site match.com.
I want to find the love.
If you is real are interested, answer to me and we can begin our acquaintance.
Allitle about me. I was born on June 10, 1979. I want find someone man that can
love me,
and i can love him! i went through your profile and read information about you
and what you want to see in a man of
your choice.
And i believe, i can have all part of what you want in soulmate, out of
thousands of people that is on here,
i find you to be my true choice and i hope that you should feel the same way
too.
It's really a wonderful moment as am writing this missive to you
and i pray that i should hear a good and sweat reply from you.
You may be in long distance to me,
but i belief that there's nothing love can not do.
I belief love can move mountain and love turn around man life to precious life
and sweet one.
Ok, i wish that you should write me in e-mail and lets meet to have more
discussions and get to know more about each other.
My new friend I ask you to write to me on e-mail:
12893a*&%)@$#
because the Internet here is very bad, but on e-mail I can check my
mail easily.
I will be great to read a marvellous missive from you.
Hoping in God of love and in power of love to hear from you.
Thanks for the reading.
Elena.