#also somehow

I did zero prep work for him. At no point have I ever trained a competition heel, and we only kind of sometimes have a loose leash walk on a flat collar. So the LLW portion involved me going at a normal pace while he went at around Mach 20. But we pulled through! Everything else was easy for him.

I joked afterwards that he can sit and recall, he just can't walk on a leash.

Below is my well-mannered dog refusing to pose for a photo because he wanted to be Running.

I’d been struggling to get through another book because of the State Of Things, so when I saw The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society at my local bookstore, I thought “sure, why not?” and bought it. I sat down to read it that afternoon, hoping for some cozy comfort, and emerged from a trance 30-ish hours later having finished the book in one big gulp. It was just what I needed.

I was charmed by C.M. Waggoner’s style from the very start; even the dedication of the book made me smile and go running to my wife to read it aloud to her. The narrative voice leans hard into cozy-core from the outset, and the events of the book (murder. demons. opinionated library customers.) provide a refreshing level of counter-point without undercutting the cozy vibes. Sherri Pinkwhistle (our POV character) is fun to follow around, and snarky enough that her inner monologue sometimes feels like a guilty pleasure to read.

Within the first 30 pages, I had a few “hmm” moments about the story that gratifyingly paid off in the last 90 pages…a solid mystery novel structure. The various twists and turns of the plot were very well-paced, and Waggoner does a good job telegraphing her moves just enough to give the reader the perfect half-step-ahead feeling of a good whodunnit. The book pays heavy homage to Agatha Christie, while somehow also feeling like it’s nodding to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Although it’s a little too self-aware for my taste at times, the overall effect works well.

50: Breaking the Rules [Xavier/Gaspard]

Here is a thought to consider.

The translation of the Old and New Testaments into the vernacular is to be considered groundbreaking regardless of whenever and wherever it happened. Now God speaks to us in all languages, and in turn, we are encouraged to speak of his glory in whatever tongue suits us best - but we must never forget that it wasn’t always so, especially not in the Catholic tradition. Jerome it was, with his cave and his book, who first made Latin holy; and so holy his book stayed until the year of our Lord 1979, the Vulgate only then revised short of the second millennium. There were nearly fifteen hundred years in between. One must never forget that such a level of dedication exists in the Church, if not admire it outright. 

It follows, then, that the followers of that Church are often similarly dedicated. 1979 was not such a long time ago, after all. And now, with that thought in mind, Xavier de Rosnay must stand with his Bible in hand and regard his best-beloved pass by, the one with dark curls and a grave countenance and a laudate Dominum de caelis still stubborn on his lips. For years, while everyone else bowed their head and murmured in their native French, Xavier’s friend kept his back straight and answered the liturgy in the sacred language; well, given that he has been newly-ordained, his faith has paid off, that’s for sure. He and the Nova Vulgate are cradle-mates and he took to the latter with great enthusiasm, to a degree that still makes Xavier jealous, despite knowing how ridiculous it is. 

Laudent nomen Domini quoniam ipse mandavit et creata sunt,statuit ea in saeculum et in saeculum, praeceptum dedit et non praeteribit.

They meet eyes. Gaspard acknowledges him with a nod, but no smile. Xavier can’t say he’s enchanted, but even when Gaspard does smile at him, it’s never the kind reserved for the wonder of their Lord, anyhow. It drives Xavier half mad with desire just as much as frustration. How he loves Gaspard, this man of faith, this fundamental contradiction. As much as he tries to hide it, Xavier knows the truth too well: Gaspard’s insistence on the Latin liturgy is no sign of obedience, and it never was. It was in the sixties that the current French liturgy was permitted. Neither of them were alive to see it first implemented, but they were not so far behind that there weren’t a lot of approving stares from the elders in their direction when they heard the ancient language. Xavier remembers finding this excruciating on a weekly basis, but Gaspard simply had to do what was right. It was not until Xavier got older that he realized that being right has nothing to do with adhering to rules, especially not that of human beings. Using Latin is just as arbitrary a rule as the other, surely, it just happens to be an older tradition - and that’s not even getting into the fact that the French liturgy is just as blessed by the Church as the Vulgate was. And if Gaspard is willing to kick certain rules to the curb for his faith, who knows what else he’s willing to cast aside for his own gain?

Iuvenes et virgines, senes cum iunioribus: laudent nomen Domini.

Gaspard hasn’t thought that through, or if he has, he’s trying to deny it.Xavier never confronted him with that knowledge, as it would have been cruel. Under the right circumstances, however, it would be liberating. Gaspard is at the front of the church now, hands pressed together in silent prayer. His eyes, closed; his mouth, soft; the lean stretch of his body, wholly pure.Xavier watches with hooded eyes and intoxicated smiles. Yes, he’s waiting for the right moment to tell Gaspard, he has been for a long time; ever since he was first young and fruited he was waiting, dreaming of the day he would kiss the veil from his friend’s eyes. There is nothing else beyond the body, Gaspard, he would whisper, and at first he might wince and plead Xavier to recant - but ah, it won’t be long before he sees, before he learns to contemplate Xavier at a closer distance, golden bodies and wine-drenched lips and their ecstasy made holy. 

Confessio eius super caelum et terram, et exaltabit cornu populi sui.

He can’t wait. But for now, he too closes his eyes and prays.He knows to believe, after all. Rules or no rules, that is yet another truth.

cleaned the uncountable amount of boxes out of my room

did all dishes and put them away (except my coffee mug which is dirty again)

put cabinet stuff away in cabinets

cleaned shower and vanity

washed clothes, sheets, towels, and random mats and rugs i have on the floor